As Western Australia becomes a major hub for the petroleum industry, The University of Western Australia has moved to appoint leading international geophysicist David Lumley as inaugural Woodside-Chevron Chair in Petroleum Geoscience.

Professor Lumley will address the petroleum industry's need for enhanced tertiary education in petroleum geology and geophysics, while also developing the new Centre in Petroleum Geoscience into a world leader in petroleum geoscience research.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said that the Centre would build on existing strengths in an area crucial to the development of the State.

"Our University strives for international excellence and the appointment of Professor Lumley will further our aim of being a leader in the field of petroleum geoscience," Professor Robson said.

Professor Lumley is an internationally respected expert in time-lapse imaging of subsurface fluid flow, including hydrocarbon recovery, and environmental and global-climate processes such as groundwater contaminant flow and CO2 injection and storage.

Previously based in California as an energy and environment geoscience adviser, Professor Lumley has more than 20 years experience in both research and operations roles. He was a Founder, CEO and Chief Scientist of 4th Wave Imaging, which was acquired by Fugro (www.fugro.com) in 2007.

Professor Lumley has served as an Adjunct Professor with the CiSOFT engineering research program at the University of Southern California, and also previously at Stanford (PhD '95).

The Centre in Petroleum Geoscience builds on existing strengths at UWA in biostratigraphy and sedimentology of petroleum basins and basin-scale tectonics and geodynamics and will work with UWA's centres for Oil and Gas Engineering, Exploration Targeting and Tectonics Special Research as well as local industry.

Media references

Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 7975 / (+61 4) 20 790 098