Mohamed El Gheriani

I am a PhD student at the Center for Ground Engineering & Energy Geosciences- Department of Civil & Enviromental Engineering. With respect to the role of hydrocarbon fields in subsurface net zero transition, my PhD research focuses on how the geological re-evaluation of giant oilfields can contribute in reducing carbon emissions by storing CO2 in deep sedimentry basins. Under the supervision of Dr. Neil Burnside and Dr. Jennifer Roberts, my PhD reserach will involve two main steps : 

1- Geological suitability assessment for CO2 storage in  oil and gas reservoirs.

2- Geological risk assessment to examine the effect of structural elements (i.e., faults) and in situ stress conditions on CO2 storage security. 

I became interested in geological storage of CO2 in 2014 when I was awarded MSc in Petroleum Geosciences from Heriot-Watt University (jointly with University of Edinburgh)-UK. This opportunity allowed me to explore the extensive research at both institutions on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). In period between 2015 and 2021, I worked as an assistant lecturer at the Geology Department-University of Tripoli-Libya, teaching sedimentry, petroleum and field geology for undergradautes. During this time, I began thinking about pursuing PhD research on CCS and CO2 storage opportunities in oil and gas fields. 

The findings of this research could open the door for a series of studies to deliver net zero geosolutions in hydrocarbon fields, considering the CCS-relevant applications such as:

1- CCS with Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).

2- Co-production of geothermal energy from deep oil and gas wells.

3-Production and storage of blue hydrogen in oil and gas fields.

My research interests are:

1- Petroleum Geology.

2- Reservoir Petrophysics.

3- Fault and Stress Analysis.

4- CCS and Geological Storage of CO2.