Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
The chair is recognized as a leading center for education, training and research in petroleum production and geothermal engineering with strong ties to a wide range of industries.
We are committed to research programs that meet the requirements of an environmentally conscious and responsible energy recovery including natural gas, petroleum, geothermal energy and other unconventionals. The international and interdisciplinary team of the chair is constantly working on innovative solutions for the future.
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
DPE
Research
Artificial Lift Systems
Artificial lift systems play a significant role in the recovery of oil, gas, and geothermal fluid. The change in reservoir conditions and techniques applied to increase the fluid recovery, alter the produced fluid properties, and challenge the artificial lift systems. The chair is specialized in testing and improving artificial lift systems for the complete range of its application. Simulations, like computational fluid dynamics analysis and finite element analysis, are applied to evaluate the overall performance and improvement of the systems. Mechanical and operational optimizations of the artificial lift systems are studied.
The chair’s pump test facility allows testing artificial lift systems at almost real field conditions and fills the gap between simulations and field tests. The pump test facility allows low testing costs in a controlled environment before expensive field testing is performed.
Geothermal Energy Recovery
Geothermal energy is an inexhaustible source of primary energy, spread globally and in massive amounts worldwide. The recovery of geothermal energy requires only small footprint facilities, and its extraction is known to be CO2 neutral and waste-free. To reach the defined emission limits, a considerable effort will be spent in the early future. A key technology will be to recover geothermal energy from small to large scale, as it provided besides other ground load potential.
The chair concentrates on steady-state and transient heat flow simulations for the conditions in- and outside of the geothermal well. Besides, the investigation of alternative materials for improving the operability of geothermal wells is done.
Simulation and Production Data Management
We are living in the era of data and we must learn how to capitalize its meaning. In Petroleum Production Engineering we are focusing on developing tools based on gigabytes of production data received daily in order to reduce operating costs and risks, increase production rates, contribute to faster and better decision making processes, reduce emissions, all these in order to lead to a more sustainable industry.
Our Chair has already been successful in this area during tight collaborations with several operating companies by building well monitoring and failure prediction tools for artificial lift systems. The outcome has demonstrated an increased data quality, more efficient production operations and more effective decision support tools.
Ultrasound in Oil and Gas Industry
The ultrasonic technology provides a commercial and environment friendly solution to:
- treat different types of scaling, corrosion and precipitations,
- manipulate fluid viscosity,
- clean cuttings/sand contaminated by oil,
- optimize physical properties of cement and
- kill bacteria and algae in fluid media.
Faculty
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Herbert Hofstätter
Head of Chair, University Professor
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 1992
- Dipl.-Ing. Petroleum Engineering, graduated with distinction, Montanuniversität Leoben 1981
Experience
- Head of Chair of Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery, Montanuniversität Leoben since 2007
- Manager HSE & PR, Rohoel Aufsuchungs AG (ExxonMobil, Shell affiliate) 2004-2007
- Drilling Manager, Rohoel Aufsuchungs AG (ExxonMobil, Shell affiliate) 1997-2004
- Production Manager, Rohoel Aufsuchungs AG (ExxonMobil, Shell affiliate) 1994-1997
- Reservoir Engineer, Rohoel Aufsuchungs AG (ExxonMobil, Shell affiliate) 1990-1994
- Drilling Engineer, Rohoel Aufsuchungs AG (ExxonMobil, Shell affiliate) 1982-1990
- Military Service, Austrian Armed Forces 1981-1982
- Assistant, Petroleum Engineering Institute, Montanuniversität Leoben 1980-1981
Scientific Staff
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Rudolf Fruhwirth
Research Associate
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. MBA
Thomas Gäbler
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MBA Innovation Management, Deakin University, Australia 2005
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, University of Leoben 1998
- MSc Petroleum Engineering 1993
Experience
- Assets Operation Support OMV, Austria since 2019
- Operations Manager of OMV Gas Storage, Austria 2013-2019
- Deputy Manager OMV Oil and Gas Production, Austria 2010
- Project Manager Petrom Field Enhancements, Romania 2008
- Assistant to the Executive Director E&P OMV 2005
- Research Fellow at CSIRO, Australia 1999
- University Assistant Petroleum Engineering, University of Leoben 1995
Research Interests
- Work place safety
- Plant integrity
- Continuous operational improvements
- Finance & petroleum economics
Dipl.-Ing., Dipl.-Ing., MBA, PhD in Engineering
Alexander Kolchin
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MBA Strategic Management, Ufa State Petroleum Technological University since 2020
- PhD in Engineering Sciences (1 - Production of Oil and Gas Fields; 2 - Design, Construction and Operation of Oil and Gas Pipelines and Storage Facilities), Ufa State Petroleum Technological University since 2019
- Dipl. Engineer Design, Operation and Construction of Oil and Gas Pipelines and Storage Facilities, Ufa State Petroleum Technological University since 2013
- Dipl. Engineer Interpreter in Professional Communication, Ufa State Petroleum Technological University since 2012
Experience
- Researcher, Ufa State Petroleum Technological University since 2018
- Senior Engineer, AITNG “Integrated Technologies”, Gas Technologies Division 2016-2018
- Senior Engineer, NPP “OZNA-Engineering”, Innovative Development Division 2014-2016
- Associate Professor, Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, Transportation and Storage of Oil and Gas Department since 2013
- Engineer, OOO “Transneft-Primorsk” (PAO “TRANSNEFT”), Operation Department 2012
Research Interests
- Industrial water treatment technologies in direct or cycled systems and improvement of the applied processes.
- Deep hydrocarbon extraction when processing gas and gas condensate at central gas treatment facilities of LNG plants.
- Flow assurance for marine and Arctic pipelines.
- Mathematical modelling of hydrodynamic and thermodynamic processes in production and transportation systems.
Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Clemens Langbauer
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 2015
- MSc Geotechnical Engineering and Tunneling, Montanuniversität Leoben 2012
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 2011
Experience
- External Lecturer Montanuniversität Leoben, Petroleum and GeoEnergy Engineering since 2021
- Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism, Local Mining Authority Leoben since 2021
- Senior Scientist, Montanuniversität Leoben 2011-2021
Research Interests
- Research in the optimization and development of Artificial Lift Systems
- Pump Test Facility (performance testing of state-of-the-art artificial lift technology)
- Recovery of renewable energy (geothermal energy, hydrogen technology)
- Production optimization and flow assurance for oil, gas and geothermal wells
Dipl.-Ing.
Reinhard Pongratz
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 1975
Experience
- Head of Production Technology OMV E&P, Austria, Europe since 2012
- Senior Sales Manager Halliburton Energy Services Austria, Europe 2009-2012
- Senior Principal Consultant Halliburton Energy Services Austria, Europe 2008-2009
- Regional Technology Manager – Europe/Eurasia Halliburton Rijswijk, Netherlands 2006-2008
- PE Engineering and Technology Manager Halliburton Energy Services Moscow, Russia 2002-2006
- Regional Technical Advisor Halliburton Energy Services Jakarta, Indonesia 2001-2002
- Regional Technical Advisor Halliburton Energy Services, Dubai, UAE 2000-2001
- Technology Leader / Technical Project Manager Muscat, Oman 1997-1999
- Technical Advisor, Marine Stimulation Coordinator, Doha, Qatar 1995-1996
- Operations Engineer, Halliburton Services, Bugulma, Russia 1993
- Senior Field Engineer, Halliburton Energy Services, Doha, Qatar 1993-1995
- Operations Engineer, Halliburton Services Offshore, North Sea 1991-1992
- Field Engineer, Halliburton Services Offshore, North Sea 1990-1991
- Engineer in Training, Halliburton Services, Germany, Yugoslavia, The Netherlands, North Sea, and USA. 1989-1990
- Director, Institute of Drilling and Production Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 1988
- Assistant Professor, Institute of Drilling and Production Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 1984-1988
Research Interests
- Artificial lift
- Completions
- Stimulation
- Sand control
- Water control
- Flow assurance
Dipl.-Ing.
Thomas Spörker
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- Post Graduate Studies focus on Economics and Legal Business, Technical University Vienna, Austria 1998
- Petroleum Engineering, Mining University Leoben, Austria 1993
Experience
- Lecture Mining University Leoben Health, Safety and Environment in the oil & gas industry since 2008
- Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy Head of division Mining - Technology and Safety since 2006
- Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor division Mining - Technology and Safety 2002-2006
- Federal Ministry of Economics - Local Mining Authority Vienna 1994-2001
Research Interests
- Safety in Borehole Mining Operations
- Occupational Safety and Health Issues
- Environmental Aspects in Oil & Gas Operations
- Risk Management and Emergency Planning
