Prof. Emeritus Claus Marx, Ph.D. (Eng.)

Prof. Marx was born in Celle in 1931. He graduated from high school in 1951. At the Technical University of Hanover, he studied mechanical engineering, with deep drilling and petroleum extraction as minors. He received his diploma in 1956.
From 1956 to 1975, Prof. Marx worked in the oil and natural gas industry as a test engineer (Schlumberger), a reservoir engineer (Wintershall AG), and as technical director of Christensen (now Baker Hughes Inteq).
Since 1963, Prof. Marx has authored several publications in the fields of reservoir engineering, wellbore logging and testing, well preparation for production (completion), and deep and shallow drilling technology, and has presented at conferences.
At the suggestion of Prof. Hubert Becker, Director of the Institute for Deep Drilling and Petroleum Production at Clausthal University of Technology, Prof. Marx wrote a dissertation on the fundamentals of rock fracturing and was awarded a Ph.D. (Dr.-Ing.) in 1973.

In 1975, he was appointed professor and director of the institute, succeeding Prof. Becker. His areas of expertise included deep drilling technology, shallow drilling technology, oil and natural gas production, and reservoir engineering (beginning in 1980, this department was taken over by Prof. Dr. mont. G. Pusch). Also in 1980, Prof. Marx incorporated the subject area “Natural Gas Long-Distance Transmission and Distribution” into the institute’s curriculum. Thanks to the institute’s practice-oriented training, renowned experts from industry were recruited to teach.

Due to the sharp rise in oil prices in 1973 and 1979, numerous research projects were awarded to the institute. Significant investments and the expansion of the institute with two additional test halls were made possible by research funding. Of international significance was the development and expansion of large-scale equipment for testing and examining oilfield pipes and their threaded connectors. This division continues to operate independently to this day under the leadership of a senior engineer. New developments in oilfield pipes are certified according to ISO and API standards for international pipe manufacturers. Other key research areas included the development and construction of innovative core drilling systems and their testing under borehole-like conditions. A third focus was the construction of special autoclaves for extreme loads.
On the initiative of Prof. Marx, ITE-Engineering GmbH was founded in 1979 and the Anton Raky Society e.V. in 1980. Both non-profit organizations were established to support institutes at Clausthal University of Technology. Prof. Marx continues to serve in an honorary capacity at both organizations even after his retirement.

Prof. Marx was elected a member of the Braunschweig Scientific Society and appointed a founding member of the Lower Saxony Academy of Geosciences.
The DGMK (German Scientific Society for Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Coal) awarded Prof. Marx its highest honor, the Carl Engler Medal.
Prof. Marx holds honorary doctorates from AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland, and the University of Petroleum and Natural Gas in Ploiesti, Romania, both of which are partner universities of Clausthal University of Technology.

Prof. Marx served in academic administration as dean of the Department of Mining and Raw Materials, as dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and as rector (1993–1994).
Prof. Marx retired in 1999. However, he continued to teach his courses until 2001, when Prof. Dr. mont. Peter Reichetseder succeeded him. Prof. Marx continued
to teach the courses on deep drilling technology until 2003.

Since 2010, Prof. Marx has lived in Owingen on Lake Constance.