CPG
Tel: +966 (013) 860-2728

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2186

Dr. Sulaiman A. Alarifi

Chairman / Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Alarifi is the chairman of the Petroleum Engineering department and an associate professor. He has been with KFUPM since 2013, when he joined as a graduate assistant. Dr. Alarifi has extensive experience in research and teaching in the areas of petroleum economics, unconventional resources evaluation, and other petroleum engineering-related topics. He is heavily involved in many research projects in unconventional resources development, petroleum production analysis/forecasting, reserve estimation, and enhanced oil recovery, and has published peer-reviewed research papers in highly-recognized journals and presented findings at several international scientific conferences. Dr. Alarifi has held various roles in academic advising, professional training, and research at the university and serves on several committees within the university and the International Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Petroleum Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA, 2020.
  • Minor Degree, Mineral and Energy Economics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA, 2020.
  • M.S., Petroleum Engineering, KFUPM, Dhahran, KSA. 2016.
  • B.S., Petroleum Engineering, KFUPM, Dhahran, KSA, 2012.

Research Interests

  • Development of unconventional reservoirs
  • Petroleum production optimization
  • Petroleum reserves estimation
  • Enhanced oil recovery

Selected Publications

  • Hanfi, M.A.; Alade, O.S.; Tanimu, A.; Mahmoud, M.; Alarifi, S.A. (2024). Catalytic and noncatalytic in situ hydrogen production from heavy oil: A review of experimental studies. ACS Omega 2024, 9, 50118–50133.
  • Baig, A.R., Alarifi, S.A., Murtaza, M. et al. (2024). Assessing the viability of different bio-polymers and synthetic-copolymers with modified enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation solutions for sand consolidation applications. J Petrol Explor Prod Technol 14, 3013–3029.
  • Ramazanov, V., Matovu, S., Al Shafloot, T., Alarifi, S. (2024). Enhancing Fracturing Proppant Performance: Methods and Assessment. Arab J Sci Eng 50, 4477–4503.
  • Baig, A. R., Alarifi, S. A., Mahmoud, M., Kamal, M. S., Murtaza, M., AlAhmari, M. M., & Alhumam, A. (2024). Experimental Investigation of a Modified Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation Solution for Sand Production Control Applications. SPE Journal, 29(05), 2463-2475.
  • Omarov, K., Alarifi, S. A., Mahmoud, M., Kamal, M. S., Murtaza, M., Humam, A., & AlAhmari, M. M. (2023). Sand consolidation using enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation: new insights on temperature and particle size effects. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 15528.
  • Murtaza, M., Rasm, M. Y., Alarifi, S. A., Kamal, M. S., Mahmoud, M., & Al-Ajmi, M. (2023). An Efficient Single Step Approach for Barium Sulfate (BaSO4) Scale Removal at High Temperature. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 1-10.
  • Alarifi S. A., Mustafa A, Omarov, Baig AR., Tariq Z. and Mahmoud M. (2022) A Review of Enzyme-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Applicability in the Oil and Gas Industry. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.10:900881. 
  • Alarifi, S., Abdel Rahman, S., & Al-Ajmi, M. (2022). Feasibility study formulation for the applicability of rigless temporary esps. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 12(9), 2493-2509.
  • Alarifi, S. A., & Miskimins, J. (2021). A new approach to estimating ultimate recovery for multistage hydraulically fractured horizontal wells by utilizing completion parameters using machine learning. SPE Production & Operations, 36(03), 468-483.
  • Alarifi, S. A., Mahmoud, M. A., & Kamal, M. S. (2018). Interactions of DTPA chelating agent with sandstone rocks during EOR: Rock surface charge study. Fuel, 232, 684-692.

Awards & Honors

  • SPE Regional Service Award, by: Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Middle East and North Africa region, June 2024
  • Excellence in academic advising, by: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), May 2024.
  • Excellence in teaching, by: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), May 2025.
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