CPG
Tel: +966 (013) 860-8513
Fax: +966 (013) 860-3989

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1026

Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal

Distinguished Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal joined the Department of Petroleum Engineering (PETE) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) as a Distinguished Associate Professor in January 2026. Prior to this appointment, he served for more than a decade at the Center for Integrative Petroleum Research (CIPR), KFUPM, where he held progressively senior research positions and played a key role in advancing both applied and fundamental research aligned with upstream energy challenges.

His research is fundamentally rooted in oilfield chemistry, with a strong emphasis on rock–fluid and fluid–fluid interactions. His core contributions address interfacial and wettability phenomena, as well as the rheology and transport behavior of complex fluids, which together form the scientific foundation of his work. These fundamental insights are systematically leveraged to enable applied solutions across several interconnected domains of subsurface energy engineering, including sustainable hydrocarbon recovery and production, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and subsurface hydrogen storage and production. Dr. Kamal also serves as an Associate Editor of Geoenergy Science and Engineering.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, KFUPM, KSA, 2014.
  • M.S., Polymer & Process Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan, 2010.
  • B.S., (Hons.) Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan, 2008.

Research Interests

  • Oilfield Chemistry with focus on Fluid-Fluid and Rock-Fluid Interactions
  • Interfacial Phenomenon and Wettability Alteration
  • Rheology, Transport, and Stability of Complex Fluids
  • Sustainable Hydrocarbon Production and Recovery
  • Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) involving reactive fluid–rock systems
  • Hydrogen Production and Storage

Selected Publications

  • Janjua, A. N.; Ali, M.; Kamal, M. S.; Patil, S.; Hoteit, H.; Raza, A.; Mahmoud, M.; Younas, M. Experimental Insights into Surface Wettability Alterations and Solvent Adsorption Effects on Porous Sandstone and Carbonate Rocks in H₂-Brine Systems: Implications for Underground Hydrogen Storage. J Energy Storage December 2025, 139, 118808. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EST.2025.118808.
  • Manzoor, A. A.; Deng, X.; Alotaibi, M.; Fahmi, M.; Hussain, S. M. S.; Mahmoud, M.; Kamal, M. S.; Patil, S. Review on Applications of Chelating Agents in Enhanced Oil Recovery: Advances and Outlook. Energy & Fuels 2025. 39, 50, 23503–23518 https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.ENERGYFUELS.5C04766.
  • Tackie-Otoo, B. N.; Mahmoud, M.; Raza, A.; Patil, S.; Murtaza, M.; Kamal, M. S.; Zahid, U. In-Situ Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas Reservoirs and Gas Separation by Graphite Packing: Process Simulation and Experimental Study. Advances in Geo-Energy Research November 2025, 18 (2), 165–179. https://doi.org/10.46690/AGER.2025.11.06.
  • Marapiraa, T.; Alafnan, S.; Raza, A.; Mahmoud, M.; Murtaza, M.; Kamal, M. S. Accelerated CO2 Dissolution and Mineralization in Saline Aquifers Using Alkaline Earth Metals. Chemical Engineering Journal November 2025, 523(1), 168207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.168207
  • Nazar, M.; Israr, M.; Mahboob, A.; Hussain, S. M. S.; Kamal, M. S. Structural Optimization and Characterization of Fluoro-Based Protic Ionic Liquids for High-Temperature and High-Salinity Conditions. J Mol Liq July 2025, 430, 127820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2025.127820.
  • Salam, A. H.; Nazar, M.; Kamal, M. S.; Mahboob, A.; Hussain, S. M. S.; Aljawad, M. S.; Raza, A.; Patil, S. A Perspective on Ionic Liquids as Multifunctional Agents in Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Sequestration in Carbonate Formations. Carbon Capture Science & Technology June 2025, 15, 100443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100443.
  • Arellano, A. G. T.; Al-Shalabi, E. W.; Hassan, A. M.; Zeynalli, M.; Kamal, M. S.; Patil, S.; Hussain, S. M. S. Geochemical Modeling of Low-Salinity Polymer Flooding for Carbonate Rocks. SPE Journal May 2025, 30 (05), 2819–2836. https://doi.org/10.2118/218842-PA.
  • Janjua, A. N.; Ali, M.; Murtaza, M.; Patil, S.; Kamal, M. S. Effects of Salinity, Temperature, and Pressure on H2–Brine Interfacial Tension: Implications for Underground Hydrogen Storage. J Energy Storage August 2024, 95, 112510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.112510.
  • Salam, A. H.; Alsaif, B.; Hussain, S. M. S.; Khan, S.; Kamal, M. S.; Patil, S*.; Al-Shalabi, E. W.; Hassan, A. M. Advances in Understanding Polymer Retention in Reservoir Rocks: A Comprehensive Review. Polymer Reviews July 2024, 64(4), 1387–1413. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583724.2024.2373925.
  • Al-Azani, K.; Abu-Khamsin, S.; Elsayed, M.; Patil, S.; Shakil Hussain, S. M.; Al Shalabi, E.; Hassan, A. M.; Kamal, M. S. Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery under Harsh Conditions: Investigation of Rock Permeability and Insights from NMR Measurements. Geoenergy Science and Engineering May 2024, 236, 212764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2024.212764.

Awards & Honors

  • Energy & Fuel Rising Star by American Chemical Society 2024
  • Highly Cited Paper awards for multiple articles
  • Excellence in Research Award for academic year 2022-2023 awarded by King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
  • Best Ph.D. scholar award for the years 2013-2014 in Chemical Engineering.
  • Best paper award in Young Professional Technical Symposium, Dhahran, KSA, April 2013.
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