Missions

Gas hydrates are materials formed by water cages encapsulating gaseous species such as methane and carbon dioxide. The main acknowledged feature of gas hydrates is their high capacity to store a large volume of gases (e.g. Collett 2010). Natural gas hydrates (NGH) – formed from the reaction of pore fluids and gases within the sediments -­‐ occur in the permafrost of Polar Regions and at cold seeps on continental margins (at deep exceeding 500 m). A better understanding of the mechanisms of hydrate formation and accumation in geological matrices clearly represents a key point for improving the estimation of gas hydrates sediments in terms of geohazard, energy source and for clarifying their potential role in climate change related issues. The HYDRACLAY project aims at providing both a fundamental understanding of these mechanisms in geo-­‐inspired matrices (based on clays and sands) and quantitative estimates of the methane amount in marine reservoirs for one or two selected natural sites. The current position deals with the latter issue and the role of the postdoctorate will be to participate in the interpretation of the various campaigns aimed at a fine characterization of NGHs recovered in deep-sea sediments of the Black Sea.

Activités

The postdoctoral fellow will be involved in the processing and interpretation of data already obtained by synchrotron X-ray microtomography and X-ray microdiffraction. New data acquisition campaigns on large instruments will also be carried out during the course of this postdoctoral fellowship. MicroRaman data on the samples will also be carried out.

Compétences

• Knowledge of gas hydrates.
• Molecular modeling
• Physical chemist of natural environments.
• Data processing skills (particularly image processing)
• Detailed analysis of results.
• Motivation.
• Design of artificial systems relevant to the data obtained on natural materials.

Contexte de travail

The work will take place within the three ANR Hydraclay partner laboratories: Phenix at Sorbonne University, IDM in Talence/Bordeaux, and IFREMER in Brest. Frequent travel is expected between the three laboratories and to the synchrotron and neutron radiation centers.

Contraintes et risques

Work with ionizing radiation (neutron scattering center) and class 3B laser for Raman. Possibility of working on-call hours during measurement campaigns on large instruments.