Dr Andrew Ross.

Dr Andrew Ross: developing exploration tools for detecting oil accumulations

Dr Ross leads a multidisciplinary research group developing new sensor systems for detecting oil accumulations.

• 14 July 2010 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Andrew Ross leads a multi-divisional multi-institution research team based primarily at CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering division in Western Australia.

The project is developing new sensor technologies to detect hydrocarbons within the marine environment and is aimed at providing new technologies that can enhance oil exploration successes within the large offshore basins of Australia.

Dr Ross is also involved with industrially funded geochemical research projects and fluid history investigations.

Background

Dr Andrew Ross joined CSIRO in 2004 as a research scientist within CSIRO Petroleum’s fluid history team.

He quickly became involved in the development of the hydrocarbon sensors research effort taking on the role of project leader in 2005.

Since then his activities have been split between commercial fluid history investigations, geochemical studies and the sensors project.

Dr Ross has interests in:

• exploration technologies
• reservoir processes
• fluid histories
• organic geochemistry
• oil seeps and leakage
• basin modelling
• marine science.

Academic qualifications

Dr Ross has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Science with joint Honours in marine biology and oceanography from Bangor University, Wales
• Master of Science in petroleum geochemistry, from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom (UK)
• Doctor of Philosophy in geochemistry, also from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

His doctoral work was focused primarily on in-reservoir biodegradation of oil.

Achievements

Dr Ross' research in refining the technology and participating in a number of commercial projects assessing oil migration and accumulation contributed to the sustained team effort to address issues in petroleum exploration and production. This led to the award of 2005 CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement to the fluid history team.

He was also part of the CSIRO and Wealth from Oceans Flagship's Blue GDP research theme awarded the One-CSIRO medal in 2007.

Dr Ross is a member of the:

• American Association of Petroleum Geologists
• Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia.

Read more about Award-winning ways to appraise oil and gas deposits.