Paul’s research involves the determination of the physical and mechanical properties of rocks. His research interests cover the electric, hydraulic, mechanical and seismic properties of rocks and their control by rock microstructure. Apart from VED, his particular interests include: petrophysical evaluation of hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs, quality assessment of wireline log and laboratory data, laboratory determination of the physical properties of fluid saturated reservoir and continental crustal rocks, theoretical description of surface electrical conductivity and electro-kinetic processes in porous media, modelling fluid flow, electrical conductivity, and deformation in crustal rocks, mechanisms of deformation and electrical conductivity in the lower crust, the development of 3D rock visualisation techniques.

Paul is the manager of Aberdeen University Petrophysics Centre. He has won several research awards and international fellowships, including a Mombusho Senior Research Fellowship at the Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, Japan in 1996 and 1997. He is Vice President of Aberdeen Formation Evaluation Society (SPWLA). He has edited research monographs, organised and chaired conferences throughout Europe and Japan, and has over 30 refereed journal papers.