University of Pavia – Call for applications

The PhD project Thermo-physical characterization and evaluation of the geothermal potential of the area around the Western Alps-Apennines tectonic limit to carry out in 3 years at Trieste university focuses on the geological/geophysical characterization and calculation of the geothermal potential of the Piedmont Tertiary Basin, formed along the tectonic junction between the Western Alps and the Apennines.

The PhD project includes the following activities:
• Review and interpretation of stratigraphic and well data.
• Microthermometric analyses of fluid inclusions (in diagenetic minerals) and thermochronometric analyses on apatite grains on samples taken from representative lithostratigraphic units of the basin.
• High resolution 3D micro-CT images, petrophysical analyzes and acoustic measurements at reservoir conditions, in order to obtain the values of their physical parameters.
• Modeling of the thermal evolution of the basin.

The PhD student will carry out the thermomechanical experiments on the selected samples and will implement the geomechanical and petrophysical model necessary for the calculation of the geothermal potential, during the 6 months he/she will spend abroad at the IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN). The PhD student will also be a guest of the University of Pavia (Chiara Amadori, chiara.amadori@unipv.it) to collaborate in the creation of the preliminary geological model and perform thermochronometric and microthermometric analyzes of fluid inclusions.

The call will be opened for 30 days starting from July 24th 2023. For more details on the application, contact Prof. Magdala Tesauro (mtesauro@units.it).

The PhD project will start in November 1st 2023. All people graduated in Earth Science area within October 31st 2023 can apply.