Postdoctoral Position: CO2 Capture and Energy Resources: Tracking the
Crustal Carbon Cycle Using Noble Gas Isotopes
Supervisors: Prof Barbara Sherwood Lollar (University of Toronto) and Prof
Chris Ballentine (University of Manchester)

Hydrocarbon energy resources and mitigation of rising atmosphere CO2
levels through anthropogenic CO2 capture and geological storage are now
key societal issues. Safe CO2 disposal and energy security require that we
have a detailed understanding of the processes that control hydrocarbons
and CO2 transport within different geological systems. Central to
understanding all of these carbon systems is the ability to establish a
quantitative model of the very different hydrogeological systems. To
complete the picture we have to identify the key physical, chemical and
biological controls on carbon mobility across a spectrum of systems
(Sherwood Lollar and Ballentine 2009).

Noble gas isotopes (He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) have proven to be an invaluable
tool in addressing these issues, with different isotopes able to provide
fluid source, age and process information respectively. The integration of
noble gas tracers with stable carbon isotopes has been shown to be a
powerful means to decipher not only sinks and sources but controls on the
transport and fate of carbon-bearing gases (Gilfillan et al., 2009). The
Manchester and Toronto laboratories have led the development and
application of these tracers to understand crustal fluid systems.

A PDF position is currently available through a joint investigation of CO2
sequestration processes, teaming the University of Toronto (primary base
for the position) in collaboration with University of Manchester and with
the University of Calgary led Carbon Management Canada Network Centre for
Excellence. The project focus will be determined by the specific
applicant’s interests. All relevant training in the laboratory systems
will be provided in-house. The candidate would ideally have a strong
geosciences, physics, engineering or chemistry background and will require
a clean driving licence and the ability to travel to sampling sites in
Europe, North America or Canada.

Send a detailed CV, statement of research interest and 3 letters of
recommendation         Dr. B. Sherwood Lollar, Dept. of Geology
        22 Russell St., University of Toronto
        Toronto, Ontario Canada M5S 3B1
        Tel: 416-978-0770
        [log in to unmask]

Review of applications to begin Nov. 10 2010 until the position is filled.
Possibility of interviews at AGU.

Relevant Publications:

Insights into deep carbon derived from noble gases
Author(s): Sherwood Lollar, BS; Ballentine, CJ
Source: NATURE GEOSCIENCE   Volume: 2   Issue: 8   Pages: 543-547

Solubility trapping in formation water as dominant CO2 sink in natural gas
fields
Author(s): Gilfillan, SMV; Sherwood Lollar, BS; Holland, G, et al.
Source: NATURE   Volume: 458   Issue: 7238   Pages: 614-618   Published: 200