Professor Johan Sjöblom (53) of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim has been awarded Statoil’s 2006 researcher prize for his research on crude oil emulsions.
Knowledge of emulsions is used when choosing process and development solutions offshore. The same knowledge is greatly relevant to development of robust installations on the seabed in the future.
Johan Sjöblom. (Photo: Carl-Erik Eriksson)
Johan Sjöblom is a professor in surface and colloid chemistry at NTNU. He is recognised as an international expert with a large contact network. At the moment he is leading a large international collaborative project dealing with problems relating to water treatment and emulsions in heavy oil.
Sjöblom is also the founder and leader of the Ugelstad laboratory at NTNU. Research into surface chemistry and emulsion technology is conducted here.
”I’m happy and proud of the Statoil prize. This recognition means a breakthrough for the type of chemistry I represent: colloid chemistry,” says Mr Sjöblom.
He explains that in this chemistry, he is describing bubbles, droplets and particles in a system of gas, oil and water.
According to Arild Westvik, adviser in separation technology at Statoil’s research centre, expertise in this specialist area is particularly important for Statoil as a result of the group’s increased international involvement within tail production and recovery of heavy oil.
The prize of NOK 200,000 as well as a work of art by Kjell Nupen were awarded at the Technoport awards in Trondheim on Wednesday 4 October.
Statoil’s researcher award is a recognition of research work at a high international level. It is awarded annually to an external researcher or institution in Norway that has carried out work of significant relevance for the group.