
Overview
Background
With >35 years of experience, more than 100 publications on the subject, Jim has built a reputation in petroleum hydrogeology, unconventional hydrocarbons and carbon storage research. He is currently President of Petroleum Hydrogeology International and is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland. He is Science Leader Storage for ANLEC R&D, Chair of the Geotechnical Reference Group for the CTSCo Surat CCS Project and sits on the Science Advisory Committee for the Peter Cook Centre for CCS Research. Previously, Jim was Professorial Chair of Petroleum Hydrodynamics at the University of Queensland with the Centre for Coal Seam Gas. He was General Manager Science for ANLEC R&D with an annual research budget of ~$18 million AUS applied to more than 50 active research projects supporting Australia’s CCS demonstration. He was CSIRO Theme Leader for the Unconventional Petroleum and Geothermal Energy R&D program with more than 50 Full Time Equivalents and an annual budget of ~$16 million/yr AUS. He sat on the Sustainable Energy for the Square Kilometre Array geothermal project control group, the Australian Mirror Committee of ISO for Carbon Capture and Storage and he managed the hydrodynamics and geochemistry discipline group within the Australian Cooperative Research Centre on CO2 (CO2CRC). Recently, Jim’s research has focused on petroleum hydrodynamics of faulted strata and the incorporation of hydrodynamics into seals analysis (both top and fault seal). His research has varied application to conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, mining and carbon storage. Jim has an interest in measurement, monitoring and verification (MM&V) systems for assessing reservoir and seal performance. He gained practical field experience on the design and implementation of MM&V strategies for SECARB Cranfield, Otway, Frio and In Salah carbon storage projects. Jim has advised the Canadian, New Zealand, Victorian and West Australian governments and Chevron on carbon storage projects and research programs. Jim has had media training whilst at the University of Queensland and CSIRO, he has experience with community engagement, senate estimates inquiries, and he has worked extensively with executive management teams and Boards of Directors. He has >2100 citations, an h-index of 24 and an i10-index of 51 on Google Scholar.
Jim Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-underschultz/86/737/553
Jim ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jim_Underschultz
Availability
- Professor Jim Underschultz is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Alberta
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Alberta
Research interests
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Fluid flow in porous media and hydrodynamic seals analysis
Recently Jim’s research has focused on petroleum hydrodynamics of faulted strata and the incorporation of hydrodynamics into seals analysis with application to both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons, geothermal energy and carbon storage. At the Centre for Coal Seam Gas Jim has an interest in research on: - CSG Reservoir performance and compartmenalisation - CSG water quality forecasting - Hydrodynamic systems analysis
Research impacts
Jim's early research in Canada, pioneered the characterisation of hydrodynamic systems in thrust fold belts that contributed to successful development of some Canadian foothills conventional gas discoveries.
Jim's work on the initial assessment of coal bed methane potential in Alberta helped form the pre-competative data that provided the foundation of a new resource type to be developed. His work on faults and hydrodynamics brought him to Australia to assist in the first hydrodynamic assessment of Australia's NW Shelf that provided industry a basis for pre-drill de-risking of fault seals.
Jim translated his knowledge of seals analysis unconventional gas to applications for Carbon Storage, teaming up with Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory and participating in the Frio carbon storage pilot in Texas.
His experience provided him the opportunity to take a leading role in the development of carbon storage research in Australia, including the design and execution of Australia’s first carbon storage demonstration at the CO2CRC Otway site in Victoria. The success of Otway led to Australia's investment in the CCS Flagship program.
Jim's current research associated with hydrodynamic processes relating to Coal Seam Gas in Australia is helping lay the foundation for de-risking uncertainty in production performance and aquifer integrity. This supports Australia's ability to capture a share of the rapidly developing international gas market and enables a global shift from coal to gas.
Works
Search Professor Jim Underschultz’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Conference Publication
Water-gas flow in laminated and heterogeneous coal-interburden systems: the effects of gas solubility
Sedaghat, Mohammad, Owen, Des, Underschultz, James, Hurter, Suzanne, Hayes, Phil and Garnett, Andrew (2019). Water-gas flow in laminated and heterogeneous coal-interburden systems: the effects of gas solubility. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 18-19 November 2019. Tulsa, OK, United States: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/ap-urtec-2019-198320
2018
Journal Article
A preliminary study of oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: effects of sodium hypochlorite oxidation on subbituminous and bituminous Australian coals
Jing, Zhenhua, Mahoney, Shilo A., Rodrigues, Sandra, Balucan, Reydick D., Underschultz, Jim, Esterle, Joan S., Rufford, Thomas E. and Steel, Karen M. (2018). A preliminary study of oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: effects of sodium hypochlorite oxidation on subbituminous and bituminous Australian coals. International Journal of Coal Geology, 200, 36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2018.10.006
2018
Conference Publication
Impact of sequence stratigraphy on static and dynamic reservoir models: examples from the Precipice-Evergreen succession, Surat Basin, Queensland
La Croix, Andrew D., Honari, Vahab, Gonzalez, Sebastian, Underschultz, Jim and Garnett, Andrew (2018). Impact of sequence stratigraphy on static and dynamic reservoir models: examples from the Precipice-Evergreen succession, Surat Basin, Queensland. 1st Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference – Exploration Innovation Integration, Sydney, NSW Australia, 18-21 February 2018. Clayton South, VIC Australia: CSIRO. doi: 10.1071/aseg2018abm1_3c
2018
Conference Publication
CO2 sequestration-EOR in Yanchang oilfield, China: Estimation of CO2 storage capacity using a two-stage well test
Honari, Vahab, Underschultz, Jim, Wang, Xingjin, Garnett, Andrew, Wang, Xiangzeng, Gao, Ruimin and Liang, Quansheng (2018). CO2 sequestration-EOR in Yanchang oilfield, China: Estimation of CO2 storage capacity using a two-stage well test. 2018 Applied Energy Symposium and Forum, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, CCUS 2018, Perth, WA, Australia, 27 - 29 June, 2018. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2018.11.003
2018
Journal Article
Fractionation processes of δ13C in a soil-shallow groundwater system of a potential CO2 sequestration site: Wandoan, QLD, Australia
Siller, Adrian, Hofmann, Harald, Underschultz, Jim, Baublys, Kim and Hudson, Nick (2018). Fractionation processes of δ13C in a soil-shallow groundwater system of a potential CO2 sequestration site: Wandoan, QLD, Australia. Applied Geochemistry, 96, 191-203. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.06.009
2018
Journal Article
Numerical modelling of coal seam depressurization during coal seam gas production and its effect on the geomechanical stability of faults and coal beds
Zhang, Yanhua, Underschultz, Jim, Langhi, Laurent, Mallants, Dirk and Strand, Julian (2018). Numerical modelling of coal seam depressurization during coal seam gas production and its effect on the geomechanical stability of faults and coal beds. International Journal of Coal Geology, 195, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2018.05.008
2018
Journal Article
Oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: swelling and solubilisation behaviour of unconfined coal particles in oxidants
Jing, Zhenhua, Balucan, Reydick D., Underschultz, Jim R. and Steel, Karen M. (2018). Oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: swelling and solubilisation behaviour of unconfined coal particles in oxidants. Fuel, 221, 320-328. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2018.02.071
2018
Journal Article
Coal seam gas associated water production in Queensland: actual vs predicted
Underschultz, J. R., Vink, S. and Garnett, A. (2018). Coal seam gas associated water production in Queensland: actual vs predicted. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 52, 410-422. doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2018.02.010
2018
Other Outputs
Using managed aquifer recharge for carbon storage: a feasibility study 7-1115-0268
Khan, C., Pearce, J. K., Zhou, F., Wolhuter, A., Golding, S. D. and Underschultz, J. (2018). Using managed aquifer recharge for carbon storage: a feasibility study 7-1115-0268. Barton, ACT Australia: ANLEC R&D.
2018
Book Chapter
Economic synergies from tighter agri-business and coal seam gas integration
Mehreen, Syeda U. and Underschultz, Jim R. (2018). Economic synergies from tighter agri-business and coal seam gas integration. Agriculture Value Chain. (pp. 199-224) edited by Gokhan Egilmez. London, United Kingdom: InTechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.73195
2018
Conference Publication
A review of recent advances in cost-effective infrastructure system design of the CO2 distribution to CCS injection wells
Dashti, Hossein, Underschultz, Jim, Garnett, Andrew, Honari, Vahab, Sedaghat, Mohammad and Rudolph, Victor (2018). A review of recent advances in cost-effective infrastructure system design of the CO2 distribution to CCS injection wells. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2018, APOGCE 2018, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 23 - 25 October 2018. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/192059-MS
2018
Conference Publication
A review of current knowledge with geomechanical fault reactivation modelling: The importance of CO2 mechano-chemical effects for CO2 sequestration
Altaf, Iftikhar, Towler, Brian, Underschultz, James, Hurter, Suzanne and Johnson, Raymond (2018). A review of current knowledge with geomechanical fault reactivation modelling: The importance of CO2 mechano-chemical effects for CO2 sequestration. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2018, APOGCE 2018, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 23 - 25 October 2018. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/192024-MS
2018
Journal Article
Geochemistry of storing CO2 and NOx in the deep Precipice Sandstone
Pearce, J. K., Altaf, I., Kirste, D., Golding, S. D., Dawson, G. K. W. and Undershultz, J. (2018). Geochemistry of storing CO2 and NOx in the deep Precipice Sandstone. ASEG Extended Abstracts, 2018 (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1071/aseg2018abw8_4b
2017
Journal Article
Linking capillary and mechanical seal capacity mechanisms
Underschultz, J. R. (2017). Linking capillary and mechanical seal capacity mechanisms. Petroleum Geoscience, 23 (1), 3-9. doi: 10.1144/petgeo2016-032
2017
Conference Publication
Incorporating fault properties in groundwater flow models: Gloucester basin NSW, Australia
Underschultz, J., McCallum, J., Banks, E., Mukherjee, S., Xu, H., Noorduijn, S., Copley, J. and Wolhuter, A. (2017). Incorporating fault properties in groundwater flow models: Gloucester basin NSW, Australia. 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2017, Paris, France, 12-15 June 2017. Houten, Netherlands: European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, EAGE. doi: 10.3997/2214-4609.201700638
2017
Book Chapter
Carbon capture and storage
Underschultz, Jim, Dodds, Kevin, Michael, Karsten , Sharma, Sandeep , Wall, Terry and Whittaker, Steve (2017). Carbon capture and storage. Sustainability in the mineral and energy sectors. (pp. 437-452) edited by Sheila Devasahayam, Kim Dowling and Manoj K. Mahapatra. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781315369853-23
2017
Book Chapter
Unconventional gas
Underschultz, Jim (2017). Unconventional gas. Sustainability in the mineral and energy sectors. (pp. 545-560) edited by Sheila Devasahayam, Kim Dowling and Manoj K. Mahapatra. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781315369853-28
2016
Journal Article
Coexistence opportunities for coal seam gas and agribusiness
Mehreen, Syeda and Underschultz, Jim (2016). Coexistence opportunities for coal seam gas and agribusiness. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21 (5), 1344-1355. doi: 10.1111/jiec.12521
2016
Journal Article
Assessing aquitard hydraulic performance from hydrocarbon migration indicators: Surat and Bowen basins, Australia
Underschultz, J. R., Pasini, P., Grigorescu, M. and de Souza, T. L. (2016). Assessing aquitard hydraulic performance from hydrocarbon migration indicators: Surat and Bowen basins, Australia. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 78, 712-727. doi: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.09.025
2016
Journal Article
An overview of the coal seam gas developments in Queensland
Towler, Brian, Firouzi, Mahshid, Underschultz, James, Rifkin, Will, Garnett, Andrew, Schultz, Helen, Esterle, Joan, Tyson, Stephen and Witt, Katherine (2016). An overview of the coal seam gas developments in Queensland. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 31, 249-271. doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2016.02.040
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Jim Underschultz is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Characterisation and parameterisation of uncertainty induced by faults in regional groundwater models
UQ collaboration with the CSIRO
Sedimentary basins host important groundwater resources in Australia. Due to their large size, groundwater can be important to multiple users from multiple industries, including the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) industry. Regional scale groundwater modelling is critical to understand water movement within sedimentary basins and to predict cumulative impacts from groundwater pumping on water users and the environment.
Regional groundwater models are based on hydrogeological conceptualisations developed using 3D geological models and knowledge of aquifer and aquitard properties and boundary conditions. However, the representation of geological structures such as faults and the hydraulic property attribution of aquifers and aquitards in groundwater models are often informed by sparse data, resulting in large scale uncertainties of the model impact predictions.
Available PHD Topic: Characterisation and parameterisation of uncertainty induced by faults in regional groundwater models
This PhD project will focus on the characterisation and representation of the macroscopic hydraulic properties of faults in regional scale groundwater models and quantification of associated uncertainties. The student will apply methods from groundwater and petroleum system approaches for solving a real-world problem of quantifying uncertainty induced by geological structures in the simulation of hydrological variables using a regional scale groundwater model in co-operation with Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA), University of Queensland (UQ) and CSIRO.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated Formation Evaluation using Petrophysical Logs & Digitalisation Technology to Improve Reservoir Characterisation, Resources Estimation and Conceptual Well Design for Coal Seam Gas Field Development Planning
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The governance of hydraulic fracturing in unconventional resources: the elements, form and effectiveness of the regulations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Vlado Vivoda
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Extending the life of gas fields by re-purposing for hydrogen storage to support Australia's energy transition
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Suzanne Hurter, Dr Sebastian Hoerning
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Oxidant stimulation of coal seams to increase coal seam permeability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karen Steel
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
An investigation of numerical facies models for coal seam gas reservoirs; Walloon Subgroup, Surat Basin
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle
Media
Enquiries
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