Geoffrey Marchal is working as a PostDoc in the BioRec project focusing on improvement of produced water quality in oil production using microorganisms and possibly enzymes.
During his BSc (2003) and MSc (2004) at Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL, Belgium), Geoffrey Marchal specialised in plant physiology, biochemistry, and ecology, building a strong background in both phytoremediation and analytical chemistry. Between 2001 and 2009, he worked on phytoremediation and phytostabilization, and secondarily on stresses induced by heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) accumulation in plant (Dorycnium pentaphyllum and Atriplex halimus), as well as secondary-induced water stress and oxidative stress at Department of Plant Biology (ELIA, UCL, Belgium).
In 2009, Geoffrey Marchal then proceeded successfully to multi / intra-disciplinary PhD programme with the intent of improve his knowledge on microbiology, contaminant biodegradation and sequestration, analytical chemistry, and fate contaminant modelling. During his PhD thesis, he has been involved in the project for innovative REMediation and assessment TEChnologies for contaminated soil and groundwater (www.REMTEC.dk) in Denmark (Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde) in collaboration with COWI (Denmark). During this period, he has developed a new method of passive sampling device to assess the effect of carbonaceous sorbing soil amendments (AC, charcoal, and compost) on the desorption, bioaccessibility, and biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and soil slurry.
Geoffrey Marchal is now working as a PostDoc in the BioRec project focusing on improvement of produced water quality in oil production using microorganisms and possibly enzymes. In oil production, water is produced along with oil and gas. Water and oil from the reservoir are separated on the platforms, but the produced water still contains small oil droplets. Removal of these oil droplets would have a positive environmental impact as most produced water is discharged into the sea. If the water quality could be improved to acceptable level, reinjections of the water into oil reservoirs are a possibility. Reinjection of poor quality water into oil reservoirs could pose significant risks to reserve due to near wellbore damages.