Schlumberger funded Industrial PhD studentship: Reduction of Downhole Friction by Electrochemical Effects

School of Engineering Sciences
A PhD studentship is now available within the Engineering Materials and Surface Engineering Research Group, School of Engineering Sciences (SES), which will fully cover University tuition fees and provide a tax-free bursary of £12,300 per year, rising annually in line with the UK Government (EPSRC) recommended rate, for a three-year duration.

This fully-funded, fees paid studentship can also cover the overseas fee, so exceptional overseas students are invited to apply.

A very competitive maintenance grant will be available.

There is increasing demand for reducing friction between surfaces and coatings that are exposed to aggressive fluid environments of downhole operations. High levels of friction can influence the effectiveness of extended reach drilling by excessive torque generation between the drill string and the casing. Friction can also increase the local temperatures at contact points, such as drill bits, accelerate wear and degradation of the lubricant. Corrosion products can be beneficial in some circumstances and in particular when friction between sliding surfaces needs to be controlled or reduced. Tribo-corrosion effects induced by friction can transform the surface films within the contact and alter the shear strength of surface tribofilms. The use of electrochemical control of the friction of sliding surfaces by switching positive electro-active species onto steel surfaces under potential control has shown promise while other studies have looked at friction control by controlling interfacial potential. The objective of this research will be to explore the active control of friction within downhole tribo-systems by electrochemical techniques.

The work will be conducted at Southampton with regular steerage from Schlumberger Boston, USA, and a high level of interaction between Schlumberger and Southampton is envisaged.

The student will join the successful Surface Engineering and Tribology group at the University of Southampton which currently has 4 Postdoctoral Research Fellows, 10 Research Students and one Technician researching into wear-corrosion and erosion-corrosion resistant surfaces and coatings for downhole applications, CVD diamond coatings for choke valve applications, simulation of erosion impacts on CVD boron carbide coated systems using instrumented indentation experiments. Research is also being carried out into electrochemical noise analysis to monitor the performance of coatings under erosion-corrosion. The group has attracted over £3M research funding since 1996 mainly from the US Navy, DSTL (UK MoD) and a Framework V European grant, headed by Rolls-Royce.

SES is a top 5* rated research school with an international reputation. The successful candidate will work with a group of highly motivated, first class research students in the areas of wear-corrosion, erosion-corrosion resistant surfaces and coatings for downhole applications.

The School is a diverse community which is committed to creating an inclusive working and learning environment in which all individuals are equally treated and valued, and can achieve their potential. The School considers all studentship applications in relation to academic criteria and regardless of the individual’s race, gender, or belief.

Entry requirements: The studentship is available to candidates with the equivalent of a first class or upper second class degree in Engineering, Physics or Chemical Engineering disciplines. The studentship is at the standard EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) rate, commencing in January 2007.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Professor Robert Wood, Engineering Materials and Surface Engineering Research Group, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Phone: +44-(0)23-8059-4881, Fax: +44-(0)23-8059-7051, Email: rjw3@soton.ac.uk.

How to apply
The application form can be accessed here.

Please note that applications will only be considered on receipt of a completed application form. If applying on-line, please send supporting documents to the following address:

Julia Zimbler, Postgraduate Admissions, Graduate School Office, School of Engineering Sciences, Room 5013, Lanchester Building, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.

Please include a personal statement (~300 words) stating why you particularly want to do a PhD, why you think you are suited to a research degree and what particularly attracts you to this project.

Please also visit the SES homepage: http://www.soton.ac.uk/ses/ where you can follow links to further information about research groups, research programmes, details of funded opportunities, and studentships.

If you are unable to access the application form, please contact Julia Zimbler:
Tel: +44-(0)23-8059-3389, Fax: +44-(0)23-8059-5167, Email: jfz@soton.ac.uk.

Source of this announcement can be found here.