
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
2005
Book Chapter
Long-term numerical simulation of a portfolio of possible sites for geological storage of carbon dioxide in Australia
Ennis-King, Jonathan, Bradshaw, John, Gibson-Poole, Catherine, Hennig, Allison, Lang, Simon, Paterson, Lincoln, Root, Robert, Sayers, Jacques, Spencer, Lynton, Streit, Jürgen and Undershultz, Jim (2005). Long-term numerical simulation of a portfolio of possible sites for geological storage of carbon dioxide in Australia. Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. (pp. 711-719) Elsevier Ltd. doi: 10.1016/B978-008044704-9/50072-0
2005
Journal Article
Pressure distribution in a reservoir affected by capillarity and hydrodynamic drive: Griffin Field, North West Shelf, Australia
Underschultz, J (2005). Pressure distribution in a reservoir affected by capillarity and hydrodynamic drive: Griffin Field, North West Shelf, Australia. Geofluids, 5 (3), 221-235. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-8123.2005.00112.x
2005
Conference Publication
Conducting comprehensive analyses of potential sites for geological CO2 storage
Gibson-Poole, C. M., Root, R. S., Lang, S. C., Streit, J. E., Hennig, A. L., Otto, C. J. and Underschultz, J. (2005). Conducting comprehensive analyses of potential sites for geological CO2 storage. 7th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Vancouver, Canada, 5 September 2004. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-008044704-9/50068-9
2003
Journal Article
Hydrodynamics to assess hydrocarbon migration in faulted strata - methodology and a case study from the North West Shelf of Australia
Underschultz, JR, Otto, CJ and Cruse, T (2003). Hydrodynamics to assess hydrocarbon migration in faulted strata - methodology and a case study from the North West Shelf of Australia. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 78-9, 469-474. doi: 10.1016/S0375-6742(03)00123-7
2003
Journal Article
A pressure and fluid dynamic study of the Southern North Sea Basin
Simmelink, HJ, Underschultz, JR, Verweij, JM, Hennig, A, Pagnier, HJM and Otto, CJ (2003). A pressure and fluid dynamic study of the Southern North Sea Basin. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 78-9, 187-190. doi: 10.1016/S0375-6742(03)00105-5
2000
Other Outputs
Hydrogeology of heavy oil and tar sand deposits: water flow and supply, migration and degradation, field trip notes
Barson, D, Bartlett, R, Hein, F, Fowler, M, Grasby, S, Reidiger, C and Underschultz, J (2000). Hydrogeology of heavy oil and tar sand deposits: water flow and supply, migration and degradation, field trip notes. Natural Resources Canada/ESS/Scientific and Technical Publishing Services.
1995
Journal Article
Large-scale underpressuring in the Mississippian-Cretaceous succession, Southwestern Alberta basin
Bachu, Stefan and Underschultz, J. R. (1995). Large-scale underpressuring in the Mississippian-Cretaceous succession, Southwestern Alberta basin. AAPG Bulletin, 79 (7), 989-1004. doi: 10.1306/8d2b21a5-171e-11d7-8645000102c1865d
1995
Journal Article
Large-Scale Underpressuring in the Mississippian-Cretaceous Succession, Southwestern Alberta Basin
Bachu, S and Underschultz, JR (1995). Large-Scale Underpressuring in the Mississippian-Cretaceous Succession, Southwestern Alberta Basin. Aapg Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 79 (7), 989-1004.
1995
Journal Article
Geothermal Regime and Thermal History of the Llanos Basin, Colombia
Bachu, S, Ramon, JC, Villegas, ME and Underschultz, JR (1995). Geothermal Regime and Thermal History of the Llanos Basin, Colombia. Aapg Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 79 (1), 116-129.
1994
Journal Article
Flow of Formation Waters in the Cretaceous-Miocene Succession of the Llanos Basin, Colombia
Villegas, ME, Bachu, S, Ramon, JC and Underschultz, JR (1994). Flow of Formation Waters in the Cretaceous-Miocene Succession of the Llanos Basin, Colombia. Aapg Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 78 (12), 1843-1862.
1993
Journal Article
Hydrogeology of Formation Waters, Northeastern Alberta Basin
Bachu, S and Underschultz, JR (1993). Hydrogeology of Formation Waters, Northeastern Alberta Basin. Aapg Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 77 (10), 1745-1768.
1993
Conference Publication
Deep Waste Injection, Western Canada - Analysis of Data and Requirements for Numerical-Simulation
Underschultz, JR and Lytviak, AT (1993). Deep Waste Injection, Western Canada - Analysis of Data and Requirements for Numerical-Simulation. International Conf On Application of Geographic Information Systems in Hydrology and Water Resources Management ( Hydrogis 93 ), Vienna Austria, Apr 19-22, 1993. WALLINGFORD: INT ASSOC HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES.
1993
Journal Article
Hydrogeology of Formation Waters, northeastern Alberta basin
Bachu, Stefan and Underschultz, J. R. (1993). Hydrogeology of Formation Waters, northeastern Alberta basin. AAPG Bulletin, 77 (10), 1745-1768. doi: 10.1306/bdff8f24-1718-11d7-8645000102c1865d
1992
Journal Article
Regional-scale porosity and permeability variations, Peace River arch area, Alberta, Canada
Bachu, Stefan and Underschultz, J. R. (1992). Regional-scale porosity and permeability variations, Peace River arch area, Alberta, Canada. Aapg Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 76 (4), 547-562. doi: 10.1306/bdff886c-1718-11d7-8645000102c1865d
1991
Journal Article
Tectonic loading in the Canadian Cordillera as recorded by mass accumulation in the Foreland Basin
Underschultz, JR and Erdmer, P (1991). Tectonic loading in the Canadian Cordillera as recorded by mass accumulation in the Foreland Basin. Tectonics, 10 (2), 367-381. doi: 10.1029/90TC02442
1990
Journal Article
Regional Subsurface Hydrogeology, Peace River Arch Area, Alberta and British-Columbia
Hitchon, B, Bachu, S and Underschultz, JR (1990). Regional Subsurface Hydrogeology, Peace River Arch Area, Alberta and British-Columbia. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 38A, 196-217.
1990
Journal Article
Hydrogeology, geopressures and hydrocarbon occurrences, Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin
Hitchon, B., Underschultz, J. R., Bachu, S. and Sauveplane, C. M. (1990). Hydrogeology, geopressures and hydrocarbon occurrences, Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 38 (2), 215-235.
1989
Other Outputs
Hydrogeology, geopressures, and hydrocarbon occurrences, Beaufort - Mackenzie Basin
Hitchon, B., Sauveplane, C. M., Underschultz, J. R. and Bachu, S. (1989). Hydrogeology, geopressures, and hydrocarbon occurrences, Beaufort - Mackenzie Basin. Natural Resources Canada/ESS/Scientific and Technical Publishing Services.
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
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