PhD Fellowship in Modelling for Autonomous Coiled Tubing Operations

Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering

Organisation/Company: University of Stavanger

Department: Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering

Research Field: Technology

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Country: Norway

Application Deadline: 7 May 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Oslo)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 37.5

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Modelling for Autonomous Coiled Tubing Operations at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering. The position is vacant from 15 August 2025.

This is a trainee position that will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.

The hired candidate will be admitted to the PhD program in Science and Technology. The education includes relevant courses amounting to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture, and public defence.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.

The position is funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

Research Topic

This PhD project will focus on modelling of fluid mechanics and tubular forces associated with coiled tubing operations. Coiled tubing refers to a long, continuous, spoolable metal pipe that is routinely used for a wide range of downhole applications in wells, including directional drilling of sidetracks and multilaterals from the mother wellbore, intervention operations in producing wells, and abandonment of aging wells.

An important goal of this PhD project is to improve the current understanding and modelling of coiled tubing forces and operational limits. Specifically, we intend to focus on i) multi-phase fluid flow relevant for coiled tubing operations, and/or ii) mechanical stresses, strains and load limits for a tubing undergoing large deformations. Computational methods, such as finite volume and/or finite element analysis will be used extensively in the PhD project.

Possible research directions that could be addressed relatively early in the project include:

• Fluid flow and viscous friction pressure losses along the tubing wrapped onto the surface reel, including the use of advanced fluid viscosity models.
• Fluid flow along wide annular geometries (i.e. axial flow between the outside of the coiled tubing and the wellbore wall) and evaluation of improved friction pressure loss predictions for coiled tubing applications.
• Computational study of rock particle transport along wide annular geometries where the transport velocity is relatively low.
• Formulation and implementation of a 3-dimensional finite element model for simulating mechanical and fluid forces on a coiled tubing in a curved wellbore.

The PhD Fellow will be affiliated with the project Towards Autonomous Coiled Tubing Operations, managed by NORCE. An important goal of the overall project is to develop new technology and modelling capabilities to enable future autonomous coiled tubing operations. The PhD Fellow will collaborate closely with the project team at NORCE and UiS, and with international collaborators from Technical University of Clausthal, Germany. The candidate will be supported by technical experts and engineers from all these institutions.

Qualification Requirements

We are looking for applicants with a strong academic background who have completed a five-year master degree within mechanical engineering, physics, mathematics, chemical engineering, computational engineering, engineering cybernetics/control engineering, preferably acquired recently; or who possess corresponding qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Stavanger, both the grade for your master's thesis and the weighted average grade of your master's degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade. If you finish your education (master's degree) in the spring of 2025 you are also welcome to apply.

Emphasis is also placed on your experience and skills within numerical modelling; prior experience within finite element analysis (FEA) and/or computational fluid dynamics (CFD), will be particularly emphasized during the selection process.

• Programming skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB, C++, or similar) for simulation and model development.
• Experience within automation, digitalization and real-time simulation models.
• Motivation and potential for research within the field.
• Professional and personal skills for completing the doctoral degree within the timeframe.
• Ability to work independently and in a team, be innovative and creative.
• Ability to work structured and handle a heavy workload.
• Having a good command of both oral and written English.

Requirements for Competence in English

A good proficiency in English is required for anyone attending the PhD program. International applicants must document this with a valid test certificate from one of the following tests:

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90.
• IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5.
• Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge.
• PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62.

We Offer

• A PhD education in a large, exciting and societally important organisation.
• An ambitious work community which is developing rapidly.
• Access to Lifekeys, a digital service for the preservation of personal mental health and well-being.
• Salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 532200 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position.
• Employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation.
• As an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary.
• Relocation programme.

Diversity

Diversity is a resource in the working and learning environment at UiS. When we have different backgrounds and experiences, we can approach challenges from multiple perspectives and find better solutions.

Contact Information

More information on the position (and project description) can be obtained from Associate Professor Hans Joakim Skadsem, e-mail: hans.j.skadsem@uis.no or Chief Scientist Jan Einar Gravdal, e-mail: jagr@norceresearch.no.

Application: To apply for this position please follow the link "Apply for this job". Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• CV with a full summary of your education and experience.
• References, certificates/diplomas and other documentation that you consider relevant.
• Documentation on competence in English if this is required.

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above and that you have attached the necessary documentation.

The appointee will be based at the University of Stavanger, with the exception of a stay abroad at a relevant centre of research.

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