Dr Mojtaba Rajabi

ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow

School of the Environment
Faculty of Science
m.rajabi@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 51023

Overview

Dr Mojtaba Rajabi has over 15 years of extensive experience in crustal stress analysis, geomechanics, geomechanical-numerical modelling and petrophysics. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Adelaide in 2017. Dr Rajabi has worked on the geomechanical analyses of >30 sedimentary basins from across the world including Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Mozambique, Iceland and Western Mediterranean. Since 2012, Dr Rajabi has worked on the Australian and World Stress Map projects, and currently is the Deputy-Head of the World Stress Map project. Dr Rajabi has received over 15 prestigious awards and prizes for his research including the ARC-DECRA Award, the Australian SEG Early Achievement Award, EAGE Louis Cagniard Award, EGU TS Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award, the Royal Society of South Australia's H.G. Andrewartha Medal, and the International Lithosphere Program’s Flinn-Hart Award.

Research Interests

  • Geomechanics of Geo-Storage
    Geomechanical considerations for underground CO2 & hydrogen storage.
  • Structural Geology and Geomechanics
    Analyses of in-situ stresses, and subsurface fractures and their implications in reservoirs and mines.
  • Geomechanical-Numerical Modelling
    Construction of 1D to 3D geomechanical models for safe and sustainable usage of underground.
  • Neotectonic Stress Analyses
    Determination of the contemporary state of stress and its relationships with recent structural styles.
  • Petrophysics and Subsurface Geology
    Analysis of geophysical logs and seismic data to characterise subsurface geology.
  • Machine Learning and Artificial intelligence
    Application of AI and ML in geosciences.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide

Publications

View all Publications

Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Master Philosophy

View all Supervision

Available Projects

  • If you are interested in any of the below topics, please:

    1: Check the scholarship round deadline at the University of Queensland, here: https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/graduate-school-scholarships-uqgss-%E2%80%93-includes-rtp

    2: Check your eligibility (including English language requirement) for doing a PhD at the University of Queensland, here: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/programs/doctor-philosophy-7501#how-to-apply

    3: If you meet the criteria, please send me an email (explaining your preferred topic for your PhD) with your CV to discuss the project.

    ---------------------------------

    Project 1: Maximum sustainable injection pressure and fault-slip analysis during geological CO2 & H2 storage.

    Project 2: Geomechanical-numerical modelling to understand the operating limits of CO2 storage.

    Project 3: In-situ stress, geological structures, and fluid flow in eastern Australian basin.

    Project 4: Geomechanical challenges of geological hydrogen storage and extraction.

    Project 5: Impacts of dynamic topography on the Australian stress pattern.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Featured Publications

Book Chapter

  • Heidbach, Oliver, Rajabi, Mojtaba, Reiter, Karsten and Ziegler, Moritz O. (2019). World stress map. Encyclopedia of petroleum geoscience. (pp. 1-8) Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-02330-4_195-1

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

  • Mojtaba Rajabi, Renate Sliwa and Joan Esterle (2023). Integrating In-Situ Stress Patterns with Basin to Local Scale Structures in the Nebo Synclinorium, Bowen Basin. ACARP Project C29011 Brisbane, QLD Australia: ACARP.

  • Ziegler, Moritz, Rajabi, Mojtaba, Hersir, Gylfi, Agustsson, Kristjan, Arnodottir, Sigurveig, Zang, Arno, Bruhn, David and Heidbach, Oliver (2016). Stress Map Iceland 2016. GFZ Data Services. (Dataset) doi: 10.5880/WSM.Iceland2016

  • Heidbach, Oliver, Custodio, Susana, Kingdon, Andrew, Mariucci, Maria Theresa, Montone, Paola, Muller, Birgit, Pierdominici, Simona, Rajabi, Mojtaba, Reinecker, John, Reiter, Karsten, Tingay, Mark, Williams, John and Ziegler, Mortiz (2016). Stress map of the Mediterranean and Central Europe 2016. GFZ Data Services. (Dataset) doi: 10.5880/WSM.Europe2016

  • Heidbach, Oliver, Rajabi, Mojtaba, Reiter, Karsten and Ziegler, Moritz (2016). World Stress Map 2016. GFZ Data Services. (Dataset) doi: 10.5880/WSM.2016.002

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • If you are interested in any of the below topics, please:

    1: Check the scholarship round deadline at the University of Queensland, here: https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/graduate-school-scholarships-uqgss-%E2%80%93-includes-rtp

    2: Check your eligibility (including English language requirement) for doing a PhD at the University of Queensland, here: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/programs/doctor-philosophy-7501#how-to-apply

    3: If you meet the criteria, please send me an email (explaining your preferred topic for your PhD) with your CV to discuss the project.

    ---------------------------------

    Project 1: Maximum sustainable injection pressure and fault-slip analysis during geological CO2 & H2 storage.

    Project 2: Geomechanical-numerical modelling to understand the operating limits of CO2 storage.

    Project 3: In-situ stress, geological structures, and fluid flow in eastern Australian basin.

    Project 4: Geomechanical challenges of geological hydrogen storage and extraction.

    Project 5: Impacts of dynamic topography on the Australian stress pattern.