The Oilfield Chemistry Program (OFC) targets to tackle macroscopic problems via a fundamental understanding of the underlying molecular interactions.
Program Mission & Vision
To tackle large problems we seek to understand the fundamentals of the underlying molecular interactions. OFC is approaching problems that are pertinent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have zoomed in on five subtopics that covers key contemporary upstream challenges, they are:
- Organic Chemistry Under Harsh Conditions
- Inorganic Chemistry Under Harsh Conditions
- Liquid-Liquid Interfacial Phenomena
- Liquid-Solid Interfacial Phenomena
- Light-Induced Phenomena
With this strategy we aim at providing high impact results that will contribute towards the advancement of science while at the same time leading to deployable technologies. Moreover, we are focusing on sustainability approaches while addressing the upstream challenges by developing new materials from sustainable Saudi resources as potential alternatives to the current commercial oilfield chemicals.
Program Outcomes
- Development of resilient surfactant chemistries
- Controlling liquid interfaces via targeted crystallization processes
- Trash to treasure: Successful characterization of demulsification mechanisms associated with naturally occurring surfactants
Program Lead
Team
Analytical Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Kion Norrman
Principal instrumentations:
- DSC - Differential Scanning Calorimeter
- HPLC - High-performance liquid chromatography
- ICP-OES - Inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry
- TG-IR: Thermogravimetric
- GCMS - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Synthesis Chemistry Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Syed M. Shakil Hussain
List of instrumentation available:
- Nanalysis Benchtop NMR - the 100 MHz allows chemists, researchers, engineers, and students to perform spectroscopy tests
- QCM-D - Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring
TOF-SIM Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Kion Norrman
List of instrumentation available:
- Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry - detects all elements and isotopes simultaneously from a surface, creates 2D and 3D chemical images, and identifies organic materials on a molecular level
Fluids Charaterization Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Ahmad Mahboob & Mobeen Murtaza
Principal instrumentations:
- High Pressure Foam Analyzer (HPFA)
- HPHT Drop Shape Analyzer
- Dynamic Foam Analyzer
- Force Tensiometer (Automated CMC)
- IFT Contact Angle (Ambient) Biolin
- Spinning Drop tensiometer (Automated)
- Densitometer for liquids (Ambient and HT)
- HPHT Rheometer Hastelloy
Sustainable and Resilient Materials Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Mahmoud Abdul Hamid
List of instrumentation available:
- Flash column chromatography: a separation system that allows separating organic compounds from each other efficiently. It is very useful for scaling up organic compounds and purifying it.
- Electrospinning machine: it is a machine that fabricates electrospun nanofiber membranes using different polymeric materials.
- Plasma reactor: it is a system that allows to do surface modifications for chemical compounds and membranes to change various surface characteristics.
Advanced EOR Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal
List of instrumentation available:
- Core Flooding System with Data Acquisition System (DAS100)
- Ofite Liquid Permeameter
- Data Acquisition System (DAS100)
- Ofite Liquid Permeameter
Fluids Thermo-Physical Properties Laboratory
Supervisor: Xianmin Joe Zhou
List of instrumentation available:
- PVT - Phase Behaviour System
- RDA - Rotating Disk Apparatus
Subsurface Storage & Recovery Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Khaled Ibrahim
List of instrumentation available:
- High Pressure Sapphire Cells (Qty.5) - The sapphire visualization cell is a tube closed by two lids offers complete view of the whole cell, which allows for studying one-phase and multiphase behavior of fluids (including gases) during EOR testing.
- 4. OFITE API Filter Press, Multi-Unit - OFITE's Multi-Unit filter presses are perfect for lab environments when several tests must be run simultaneously.
- Milli-Q Water Purification system - In a single device, both RO (Type 3) water and ultrapure (Type 1) water are produced directly from potable water.
- Multiposition Magnetic stirrer - This model is designed for the high-efficiency experiments and has 4 stir bar workstations. It can use laboratory space effective.
- Drying and heating chambers with natural convection - • Temperature range: +5 °C above ambient temperature to +300 °C.
Femtosecond Laser Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Ahmed M. El-Zohry
List of instrumentation available:
- Our laser lab holds short laser source of 100 fs with 800 nm output @2kHz, which is utilized to generate a wide spectrum ranging from Ultraviolet to mid-infrared range (190-20,000 nm). This wide range of light energy allows for following ultrafast processes occurring in condensed phases such as electronic and vibrational transitions. We are currently at the stage of finishing the first transient absorption (pump-probe) setup in the UV-Visible range to following ultrafast dynamics in bulk condensed phases.
About the Program
Program Mission & Vision
To tackle large problems we seek to understand the fundamentals of the underlying molecular interactions. OFC is approaching problems that are pertinent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have zoomed in on five subtopics that covers key contemporary upstream challenges, they are:
- Organic Chemistry Under Harsh Conditions
- Inorganic Chemistry Under Harsh Conditions
- Liquid-Liquid Interfacial Phenomena
- Liquid-Solid Interfacial Phenomena
- Light-Induced Phenomena
With this strategy we aim at providing high impact results that will contribute towards the advancement of science while at the same time leading to deployable technologies. Moreover, we are focusing on sustainability approaches while addressing the upstream challenges by developing new materials from sustainable Saudi resources as potential alternatives to the current commercial oilfield chemicals.
Program Outcomes
- Development of resilient surfactant chemistries
- Controlling liquid interfaces via targeted crystallization processes
- Trash to treasure: Successful characterization of demulsification mechanisms associated with naturally occurring surfactants
Team Members
Program Lead
Team
Associated Labs
Analytical Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Kion Norrman
Principal instrumentations:
- DSC - Differential Scanning Calorimeter
- HPLC - High-performance liquid chromatography
- ICP-OES - Inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry
- TG-IR: Thermogravimetric
- GCMS - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Synthesis Chemistry Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Syed M. Shakil Hussain
List of instrumentation available:
- Nanalysis Benchtop NMR - the 100 MHz allows chemists, researchers, engineers, and students to perform spectroscopy tests
- QCM-D - Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring
TOF-SIM Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Kion Norrman
List of instrumentation available:
- Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry - detects all elements and isotopes simultaneously from a surface, creates 2D and 3D chemical images, and identifies organic materials on a molecular level
Fluids Charaterization Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Ahmad Mahboob & Mobeen Murtaza
Principal instrumentations:
- High Pressure Foam Analyzer (HPFA)
- HPHT Drop Shape Analyzer
- Dynamic Foam Analyzer
- Force Tensiometer (Automated CMC)
- IFT Contact Angle (Ambient) Biolin
- Spinning Drop tensiometer (Automated)
- Densitometer for liquids (Ambient and HT)
- HPHT Rheometer Hastelloy
Sustainable and Resilient Materials Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Mahmoud Abdul Hamid
List of instrumentation available:
- Flash column chromatography: a separation system that allows separating organic compounds from each other efficiently. It is very useful for scaling up organic compounds and purifying it.
- Electrospinning machine: it is a machine that fabricates electrospun nanofiber membranes using different polymeric materials.
- Plasma reactor: it is a system that allows to do surface modifications for chemical compounds and membranes to change various surface characteristics.
Advanced EOR Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal
List of instrumentation available:
- Core Flooding System with Data Acquisition System (DAS100)
- Ofite Liquid Permeameter
- Data Acquisition System (DAS100)
- Ofite Liquid Permeameter
Fluids Thermo-Physical Properties Laboratory
Supervisor: Xianmin Joe Zhou
List of instrumentation available:
- PVT - Phase Behaviour System
- RDA - Rotating Disk Apparatus
Subsurface Storage & Recovery Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Khaled Ibrahim
List of instrumentation available:
- High Pressure Sapphire Cells (Qty.5) - The sapphire visualization cell is a tube closed by two lids offers complete view of the whole cell, which allows for studying one-phase and multiphase behavior of fluids (including gases) during EOR testing.
- 4. OFITE API Filter Press, Multi-Unit - OFITE's Multi-Unit filter presses are perfect for lab environments when several tests must be run simultaneously.
- Milli-Q Water Purification system - In a single device, both RO (Type 3) water and ultrapure (Type 1) water are produced directly from potable water.
- Multiposition Magnetic stirrer - This model is designed for the high-efficiency experiments and has 4 stir bar workstations. It can use laboratory space effective.
- Drying and heating chambers with natural convection - • Temperature range: +5 °C above ambient temperature to +300 °C.
Femtosecond Laser Laboratory
Supervisor: Dr. Ahmed M. El-Zohry
List of instrumentation available:
- Our laser lab holds short laser source of 100 fs with 800 nm output @2kHz, which is utilized to generate a wide spectrum ranging from Ultraviolet to mid-infrared range (190-20,000 nm). This wide range of light energy allows for following ultrafast processes occurring in condensed phases such as electronic and vibrational transitions. We are currently at the stage of finishing the first transient absorption (pump-probe) setup in the UV-Visible range to following ultrafast dynamics in bulk condensed phases.