Position Summary
Position:
Department:
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
Institute:
Delft University of Technology
Country:
Netherlands
Research Field:
reservoir engineering, geoscience, geology
Posted Date:
NA
Deadline:
Mar 31, 2026
Offer Period:
2 Years
Offer Start Date:
NA
Postdoc position in Impact of Upscaled Heterogeneity on Reservoir-Scale Prediction
Project Description:
- As part of the CrossScale project within the DeepNL Programme, you will take a leading role in investigating how small-scale geological heterogeneities shape reservoir-scale behaviour and uncertainty. Your work will focus on bridging fine-scale geological detail and field-scale reservoir models by developing and applying robust upscaling strategies, and by assessing how these choices influence uncertainty at the reservoir and field scale.
- You will build a suite of high-resolution reservoir models for a sector of the Groningen field using advanced geomodelling workflows. These models will capture realistic geological uncertainty across different levels and scales of heterogeneity. Through numerical simulations with open-DARTS, you will evaluate how geological complexity translates into reservoir performance and establish robust uncertainty bounds.
- In parallel, you will develop and test a second set of reservoir models aimed at evaluating upscaling techniques and Representative Elementary Volume (REV) scales identified within the wider CrossScale project. You will also explore the integration of newly developed constitutive relations from other DeepNL projects into these simulations, assessing how these advanced formulations affect predicted reservoir behaviour.
- Both the high-resolution and upscaled models will be calibrated using assisted history-matching methods in open-DARTS, incorporating production and compaction data from the Groningen field. Rather than reproducing the full production history, you will focus on recent data, and assess model quality through production forecasting and comparison with the most recent field observations.
You will benchmark the performance of the reference and upscaled models against models built using conventional workflows that do not employ the new upscaling methodology. This comparison is expected to demonstrate clear improvements in history-match quality and production-forecast reliability, highlighting the importance of appropriate REV identification and carefully designed upscaling strategies.
- To quantify these improvements, you will apply global sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of varying REV scales and upscaling approaches. This analysis will identify the combinations that best reproduce the reference models and will provide a ranking of the geological heterogeneities that most strongly control reservoir characterisation and uncertainty at the field scale.
- Through this work, you will contribute directly to advancing reservoir modelling practice by demonstrating that rigorous, geology-driven upscaling leads to more robust models and more reliable uncertainty estimates-insights that are critical for the safe and sustainable development of geo-energy projects.
Required Qualification:
Essential Qualification:
- As a successful candidate, you hold a PhD in reservoir engineering, geoscience, or a closely related field.
- You bring a strong foundation in reservoir engineering and multiphase flow, along with experience in reservoir simulation and programming, and an affinity for working with large and complex datasets. Experience with geoscience, geomechanics and geology is highly valued, but not a strict requirement.
- Because this project sits at the interface of geology, reservoir engineering, and computational modelling, and CrossScale also has a strong social science component, you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary, international, and collaborative research environment. You communicate clearly and effectively, and you are motivated to engage with researchers across different backgrounds and expertise.
- Are you enthusiastic about geo-energy? Do you have a solid background in geology, hydrogeology, or reservoir engineering, and feel that you are a strong match for this position, even if you do not meet every single requirement yet? We strongly encourage you to apply. We are keen to learn about your vision for this project and how your skills and experience could contribute to advancing the planned research.
Preferred Qualification:
Not Available
Employment Conditions and Benefits:
Contract duration:
- Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary.
Benefits:
- A job of 32-38 hours per week.
- Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
- An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
- The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
- Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
- Flexible working week.
- Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
- Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
- Partially paid parental leave
- Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.
Application Process:
Documents Required:
- Recent CV.
- Motivation letter
How to apply:
- Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 31 March 2026 via the application button and upload the documents:
- You can address your application to Sebastian Geiger.
About the Host Lab Group/Institution:
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
- The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
- Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
- At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Who can apply for a postdoctoral position?
Postdoctoral positions are open to candidates who have completed a PhD or will complete their doctoral degree before the start date. Eligibility requirements may vary depending on the funding scheme and host institution.
Can international candidates apply?
Yes. Most postdoctoral positions are open to international applicants. Visa sponsorship and work permit support are usually provided by the host institution, subject to local regulations.
Is prior postdoctoral experience required?
In most cases, prior postdoctoral experience is not mandatory. However, candidates with relevant research experience beyond the PhD may be preferred for certain positions.
What is the typical duration of a postdoctoral contract?
Postdoctoral contracts typically range from six months to three years, with the possibility of extension depending on funding availability and performance.
Are teaching responsibilities included?
Teaching responsibilities vary by institution and position. Some postdoctoral roles are research-only, while others may include limited teaching or supervision duties.
Can I apply for multiple postdoctoral positions?
Yes. Candidates are encouraged to apply for multiple suitable postdoctoral positions to increase their chances of selection.
Disclaimer:
This position is published for informational purposes. Please refer to the official application link for the most accurate and up-to-date details.