Khalid Amrouch

Khalid Amrouch

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Khalid is a Sorbonne University Graduate (BSc, MSc and PhD).

He is a Structural Geologist with expertise in Brittle Deformation and Geomechanics, and his main interest relates to brittle tectonics, fracture characterisation, stress analyses, and fluid pressure evolution. His work within these disciplines focuses on several key research questions: Reconstruction of 4D stress patterns using analyses of faults, fractures, rock mechanics and calcite twins; 4D Quantification of stress magnitudes in orogenic settings from the scale of the individual structure to the scale of the entire fold belt or foreland basin; Understanding of the kinematics of faulting and related stress field perturbations and Overpressure evolution in geological time and at a Geo-Reservoir life-time (fluid-related rock mechanical behavior).

He started his career in 2005 at the IFP (Institut Français du Pétrole Energie Nouvelle, which sponsored his studies), followed in 2010 by a position as Researcher at Mines PariTech (PSL University). In 2012 he left Europe for South America, where he spent one year working for BHP as Exploration Geologist before joining the Australian School of Petroleum & Energy Resources – Uni. Of Adelaide (ASPER) in 2013 as Assistant Prof. and then as Associate Prof. since 2018. In 2023, Khalid joined the UM6P (GSMI) as Associate Professor (while still holding an Adj. Associate Professor position with UoA), mainly working on Subsurface Resources’ associated questions.

Khalid’s recent research has focused on integrating Geomechanical, Petrophysical and Structural techniques to better understand the evolution of the upper crust deformation and to constrain the related mechanics behind the geo-fluids migration and their mechanical effect on rocks through time and space, with key themes including understanding the role of petrophysical anisotropy and rock rheology on rock deformation and fluid mechanical behavior, with the ultimate objective of constraining the SUBSURFACE GEOMECHANICAL ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS.

Khalid is a Sorbonne University Graduate (BSc, MSc and PhD).

He is a Structural Geologist with expertise in Brittle Deformation and Geomechanics, and his main interest relates to brittle tectonics, fracture characterisation, stress analyses, and fluid pressure evolution. His work within these disciplines focuses on several key research questions: Reconstruction of 4D stress patterns using analyses of faults, fractures, rock mechanics and calcite twins; 4D Quantification of stress magnitudes in orogenic settings from the scale of the individual structure to the scale of the entire fold belt or foreland basin; Understanding of the kinematics of faulting and related stress field perturbations and Overpressure evolution in geological time and at a Geo-Reservoir life-time (fluid-related rock mechanical behavior).

He started his career in 2005 at the IFP (Institut Français du Pétrole Energie Nouvelle, which sponsored his studies), followed in 2010 by a position as Researcher at Mines PariTech (PSL University). In 2012 he left Europe for South America, where he spent one year working for BHP as Exploration Geologist before joining the Australian School of Petroleum & Energy Resources – Uni. Of Adelaide (ASPER) in 2013 as Assistant Prof. and then as Associate Prof. since 2018. In 2023, Khalid joined the UM6P (GSMI) as Associate Professor (while still holding an Adj. Associate Professor position with UoA), mainly working on Subsurface Resources’ associated questions.

Khalid’s recent research has focused on integrating Geomechanical, Petrophysical and Structural techniques to better understand the evolution of the upper crust deformation and to constrain the related mechanics behind the geo-fluids migration and their mechanical effect on rocks through time and space, with key themes including understanding the role of petrophysical anisotropy and rock rheology on rock deformation and fluid mechanical behavior, with the ultimate objective of constraining the SUBSURFACE GEOMECHANICAL ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Adjunct Associate Professor University of Adelaide
    2023 - ongoing Associate Professor University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
    2021 - 2023 Faculty Director Strategic Partnership -Global- University of Adelaide
    2018 - 2023 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2013 - 2018 Lecturrer University of Adelaide
    2011 - 2012 Exploration Geologist IMG - Mining & Geological Research at BHP Billiton Escondida Ltda
    2010 - 2011 Reseach Engineer Mines ParisTech
    2007 - 2008 Assistant Lecturer Sorbonne Universités
    2005 - 2009 Structural Geologist French Institute of Petroleum

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    Arabic Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Berber languages Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    French Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Spanish; Castilian Can read, write, speak and understand spoken

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    Sorbonne Universités France PhD
    Sorbonne Universités France Master
    Pierre and Marie Curie University France Maitrise (Equ. Honours)

  • Research Interests
    Geology Geomechanics Petroleum and Coal Geology Structural Geology Tectonics
Date Project/ No. Investigators Funding Body Amount
2019-2021

Secondary migration of hydrocarbons through a novel multiscale physics theory

 Bedrikovetski P, Amrouch K, Zitha P, Shapiro A, Heinson G, Dagan G, Delvaux D ARC Discovery Projects $395,000.00
2016-2018 Subsurface fluid flow through fractures in sedimentary basins King R., Holford S., Amrouch K., Healy D. and Hillis R ARC Discovery Projects $230,000.00
2015-2017 Structural permeability mapping in Australia: De-risking geothermal exploration ahead of drilling Hand M., King R., Holford S., Amrouch K., Healy D. and Heinson G. ARENA $929,278.00
Mar-Dec 2015 Research Training on Drones for Environmental Applications Koh L, Buhl J, Amrouch K, Ranasinghe D Interdisciplinary Research Funding Scheme, UoA $20,000.00

Structural Geology, Geomechanics & Seismic Methods to both UG and PG to Geoscience and Engineering students.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 Co-Supervisor Investigating the Preconditioning to Manage Cave Backpropagation and Rock Burst Risk Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Benjamin James Powlay
    2020 Co-Supervisor In-situ stress measurement using non-destructive techniques Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Zulfiqar Ali

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Fracture Stimulation by Nano-assisted Foam-based Fluids in High Temperature Reservoirs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Tuan Huynh Minh Tran
    2016 - 2019 Principal Supervisor A Multiscale Approach towards the Characterisation of Upper Crustal Deformation at Passive Continental Margins: A Case Study on the Otway Basin, Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Hugo Bonython Burgin
    2014 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Modern Structural Analysis of Subsurface Provinces: A Case Study on the Cooper and Eromanga Basins, Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time David Kulikowski
    2014 - 2016 Co-Supervisor The Tectonic Evolution of Khao Khwang Fold-Thrust Belt, Central Thailand: new Insights into the Permian and Triassic Evolution of the Indosinian Orogeny in SE Asia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Francesco Arboit
    2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Origin of Overpressure and Pore Pressure Prediction in Carbonate Reservoirs of the Abadan Plain Basin Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Vahid Atashbari

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Board Member Scientific commitee NFR workshop EAGE EAGE Netherlands

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2014 - ongoing Member EGU Austria
    2013 - ongoing Member PESA Australia
    2008 - ongoing Member AAPG -

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2019 - ongoing Editor Arabian Journal of Geosciences Springer Germany
    2018 - ongoing Editor Geosciences Journal MDPI Switzerland
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