Professor Michael John OSullivan

BE(Civil), BSc,ME,PhD

Professor

In: Engineering Science » Faculty of Engineering

Biography

Professor

Education:

Mike is a graduate of the University of Auckland with a BE(civil engineering), BSc(mathematics) and an ME(applied mechanics). He completed a PhD at the California Institute of Technology and after a brief period at New York University returned to the Department of Engineering Science. His research interests are in computer modelling of geothermal fields and other environmemntal fluid dynamics and computational fluids dynamics problems.

Research | Current

Research topics

Geothermal reservoir modelling

Environmental fluid dynamics

Computational fluid dynamics

Research groups:

http://www.des.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/ourresearch/geothermal-energy-research.html

http://www.des.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/ourresearch/fluiddynamics.html

Teaching | Current

ENGSCI 711 - Advanced Mathematical Modelling
GEOTHERM 602 - Geothermal Energy Technology
GEOTHERM 620 - Geothermal Engineering

Postgraduate supervision

PhD Students

Jaime (Jem) Austria

Elvar Bjarkason

Emily Clearwater

Wesley Koros

Jericho Omagbon

Distinctions/Honours

Claude McCarthy Fellow 1983, 1990

Henry J. Ramey Award for Geothermal Reservoir Engineering from the Geothermal Resources Council, 2011

Areas of expertise

Computer modelling of geothermal fields and other environmemntal fluid dynamics and computational fluids dynamics problems

Committees/Professional groups/Services

Fellow:

Institution of Professional Engineers, New Zealand

Member:

American Geophysical Union, Geothermal Resources Council, International Geothermal Association, New Zealand Geothermal Association, New Zealand Hydrological Society, Society of Petroleum Engineers

Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)

Ratouis, T. M. P., O’Sullivan MJ, Alcaraz, S. A., & O’Sullivan JP (2017). The effects of seasonal variations in rainfall and production on the aquifer and surface features of Rotorua geothermal field. Geothermics, 69, 165-188. 10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.05.003
Other University of Auckland co-authors: John OSullivan, Thomas Ratouis
Bjarkason, E., O'Sullivan JP, Yeh, A., & OSullivan, M. J. (2016). Combined natural state and history matching using the adjoint or direct sensitivity method. Paper presented at 38th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop, Auckland, New Zealand. 23 November - 25 November 2016. Proceedings 38th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Elvar Bjarkason, John OSullivan, Angus Yeh
Saptadji, N., O’Sullivan J, Krzyzosiak, W., & O’Sullivan M (2016). Numerical modelling of Pohutu geyser, Rotorua, New Zealand. Geothermics, 64, 401-409. 10.1016/j.geothermics.2016.06.019
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/30477
Other University of Auckland co-authors: John OSullivan
Clearwater, E. K., OSullivan, M. J., & Archer, R. A. (2016). A 2-D numerical method for tracking a moving water table. Transactions- Geothermal Resources Council Sacromento, California, USA.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Rosalind Archer
Rman, N., Lapanje, A., Prestor, J., & O’Sullivan MJ (2016). Mitigating depletion of a porous geothermal aquifer in the Pannonian sedimentary basin. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75 (8).10.1007/s12665-016-5634-1
Ratouis, T. M. P., O’Sullivan MJ, & O’Sullivan JP (2016). A Numerical model of Rotorua Geothermal Field. Geothermics, 60, 105-125. 10.1016/j.geothermics.2015.12.004
Other University of Auckland co-authors: John OSullivan, Thomas Ratouis
Ratouis, T. M. P., O'Sullivan MJ, Walker, C. G., & O'Sullivan JP (2016). Statistical analysis of the temperature variations in geothermal surface features using a numerical model of rotorua. 22nd European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Near Surface Geoscience 2016.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Cameron Walker, John OSullivan, Thomas Ratouis
O’Sullivan J, Arthur, S., & O'Sullivan M (2016). A new reservoir model to support environmental monitoring of the Orakeikorako geothermal system. Geothermics, 59, 90-106. 10.1016/j.geothermics.2015.10.004
Other University of Auckland co-authors: John OSullivan