CPG

Sarmad Zafar Khan

Tel: +966 (013) 860-2649

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1053

Sarmad Zafar Khan

Engineer I, CIPR

In 2009 Khan obtained his BS (Hons.) in Petroleum Engineering followed by an MS degree in the same discipline from KFUPM, KSA in 2013. He has been positioned as a Lab Engineer at CPG, KFUPM since 2016 after employment as a Reservoir Engineer at Schlumberger (2013-15), Research Assistant at KFUPM (2010-13), and an Intern – BHP Billiton Pakistan (2008).

Educational Qualification

  • M.S., Petroleum Engineering, KFUPM, KSA, 2013
  • B.S., Petroleum Engineering (Hons.), University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan, 2009.

Selected Publications

  • “Revisiting Reaction Kinetics and wormholing phenomena during Carbonate Acidizing” by X. Qiu, S. Khan, S. Dyer and A. Sultan, presented at International Petroleum Technology Conference, 19-22 Jan, 2014, Doha, Qatar.
  • “Investigation of Core Length and CO2 Phase Effects on Propagation of Wormholes in Carbonate Rocks” by S. Khan, A. Sultan and S. Dyer presented at SPE Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, 21-24 Apr, 2014, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
  • Keynote Speaker at “Career Development Seminar” held at Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Pakistan on Sep 24, 2014
Tel: + 966503192318
Fax: + 966 (013) 860-3989

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1001.2

Dr. Muhammad Israr

Post-Doc Researcher, CIPR

Educational Qualification

  • Postdoc, Organocatalysis, Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea, 2021-2023.
  • PhD, Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 2016-2020.
  • M-Phil, Organic Chemistry, Hazara University, Pakistan, 2015

Research Interests

  • Organic Synthesis
  • Organocatalysis
  • Radical Chemistry
  • Surfactant Synthesis
  • Ionic Liquids
  • Enhanced Oil Recovery

Selected Publications

  • Muhammad Israr, Woo Hee Kim, Dong Hyeon Kim, Han Yong Bae. “Trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate:
  • sustainable precursor for multifunctional silylium Lewis acid organocatalysis”. Chem Catalysis. 2024, 4, 100866.
  • Muhammad Israr, Han Yong Bae. “Sustainable Organocatalytic Cyanosilylation of Ketones by PPM-Level
  • Loading Triphenylcarbenium Trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate”. Green Chem. 2023, 25, 2387-2393.
  • Byeong Jun Koo, Sun Bu Lee, Woo Hee Kim, Muhammad Israr, Han Yong Bae. “Recent Advances in the Catalytic
  • Transformations to Access Alkylsulfonyl Fluorides as SuFEx Click Hubs”. Aldrichimica Acta. 2023, 56, 35.
  • Woo Hee Kim, Jin Hyun Park, Sun Bu Lee, Muhammad Israr, Byeong Jun Koo, Soo Bok Kim, Soyeon Kim, Han Yong Bae.
  • “Sustainable Organocatalytic Processes to Access Alkyl SuFEx Click Hubs and Tetrasubstituted Carbon Centers: Potential
  • Libraries for Multidisciplinary Applications”. Synlett. 2023.
  • Shaukat Ali, Muhammad Israr. “Asymmetric Functionalization of Benzenes via an Organocatalytic Hetero–Diels– Reaction”.
  • Chem. Comm. 2022, 58, 9851-9854.
  • Muhammad Israr, Haigen Xiong, Yajun Li, Hongli Bao. “Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cyano(fluoro)alkylation of
  • Alkenes”. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2020, 362, 2211-2215.
  • Munira Taj Muhammad, Yihang Jiao, Changqing Ye, Mong-Feng Chiou, Muhammad Israr, Xiaotao Zhu, Yajun Li, Zhenhai
  • Wen, Armido Studer,Hongli Bao. “Synthesis of Difluoromethylated Allenes through Trifunctionalization of 1,3-Enynes”.
  • Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 1-8.
  • Muhammad Israr, Haigen Xiong, Yajun Li, Hongli Bao. “Copper(I)-Catalyzed Cyanoperfluoroalkylation of Alkynes”.
  • Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 7078-7083.

Awards & Honors

  • Awardee of CAS-TWAS President’s PhD Fellowship Programme China
  • Awardee of BK21 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Programme South Korea

Location: Bldg. 78

Dr. Ngouangna Eugene Ngwana

Post-Doc Researcher, CIPR

Dr. Ngouangna Eugene Ngwana is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Center for Integrative Petroleum Research (CIPR). His previous research focused on chemical EOR using nanoparticles, chemical treatments for improving sand agglomeration as a proactive method to minimize sand generation during oil production, CO₂ storage through surfactant-based foam systems, and mitigation of CO₂ leakage pathways using advanced polymeric gels. He is actively involved in developing surfactant–nanoparticle formulations to accelerate CO₂ mineralization for permanent geological carbon storage. Dr. Ngwana is a registered Professional Technologist (Ts.) in Oil and Gas Technology with the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT) since 2024 and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK, since 2024.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., in Petroleum Engineering; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 2024.
  • M.Eng., Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 2018.
  • Bachelor of Technology, Gulf Field Higher Institute of Petroleum Cameroon, 2017.

Research Interests

  • Geological CO₂ Storage and CO₂ Mineralization
  • Foam-Assisted CO₂ Storage and Mobility Control
  • Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (cEOR)
  • Nanotechnology for Energy and Environmental Applications
  • Surfactant–Nanoparticle Formulations
  • Conformance Control and CO₂ Leakage Mitigation
  • Sand Control and Formation Damage Prevention
  • Petrophysics and Multiphase Flow in Porous Media
  • Experimental Reservoir Engineering and Core Analysis
  • Sustainable Energy and Carbon Management Technologies

Selected Publications

  • Funsho Afolabi 1,*, Zulhelmi Amir 1,* , Ahmed Halilu 1,* , MuhamadFazly Abdul Patah 1, Eugene N. Ngouangna et al., Molecular Dynamics Simulation: Tendency for CO2 Adsorption in Amphiphilic Cellulose-Derived Interpenetrating Network Gels; Gels 2026, 12, 537. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12060537
  • Grant Charles Mwakipunda, Nasiru Salahu Muhammed, Afeez Gbadamosi, Eugene N. Ngouangna, et al., Carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in geological formations: Overview of mechanisms, storage media, leakage risk, and monitoring techniques,Petroleum Research,2026,
  • Eugene N. Ngouangna, Iskandar B. Dzulkarnain, Mohd Zaidi Jaafar, M.N.A.M Norddin, Jeffrey O. Oseh, Wan Rosli Wan Sulaiman, Gbadamosi Afeez, Bamidele Victor Ayodele, Okorie E Agwu, Stanley C. Mamah, Peter Ikechukwu Nwaichi, Ellora Priscille N. Ntone, Augustine Agi “The Effects of Brine on CCUS-EOR and Challenges Faced during CO2 Projects: A Review Involving Storage Mechanisms with Future Prospects” ACS OMEGA DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c07153
  • Eugene N. Ngouangna, I.r B. Dzulkarnain, M. Z.Jaafar, M. N. A. M. Norddin, J.O. Oseh, F. A. Afolabi, F.Yakasai, A. O. Gbadamosi, M.N. Yahya, B. V. Ayodele, S. C. Mamah, E.P. N. Ntone & A. Agi. “Nanoparticle-Stabilized CO2 Foam in Porous Media for EOR and CCUS: A State-of-the-Art Review involving Mechanisms, Challenges, Influencing Parameters, and Research Opportunities” Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering. 2025 1007/s13369-025-10512-3
  • N. Ngouangna, I. B. Dzulkarnain, M. Z. Jaafar, J. O. Oseh, F. A. Afolabi, F.Yakasai, A. O. Gbadamosi, P. I. Nwaichi, A. Ag “Nanoparticles Transport in Porous Media During EOR Operations: A Wide-Ranging Review of Mechanisms, Mathematical Models, Influencing Parameters, Challenges, and Prospects” Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering. 2025 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-025-10050-y

Extended Publications (+)

  • O. Oseh, M.N.A.M. Norddin, I. Ismail, E.N. Ngouangna, “Improvement in the transport capacity of drilled particles of aqueous-based drilling fluid using surface-enriched hydroxyapatite nanoparticles”, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 2024
  • Sufian, M. A. Sidek, M. Z. Jaafar, P. I. Nwaichi, N. Ridzuan, S. Qurratu’ A. Mahat, N. Ngouangna,, “Enhancing Carbonate Reservoir Permeability Using a Novel Porosity Model Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2024
  • N. Ngouangna, M.Z. Jaafar, M. Norddin, A. Agi, F. Yakasai, J.O. Oseh, “Effect of salinity on hydroxyapatite nanoparticles flooding in enhanced oil recovery: a mechanistic study”, ACS omega 8 (20), 17819-17833, 2023.
  • N. Ngouangna, M.Z. Jaafar, M. Norddin, A. Agi, A.R. Risal, S.C. Mamah, ” The effect of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on wettability and brine-oil interfacial tension as enhance oil recovery mechanisms,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 218, 110941, 2022
  • E.N. Ngouangna, M.Z. Jaafar, M.N.A.M. Norddin, A. Agi, J.O. Oseh, S. Mamah, “Surface modification of nanoparticles to improve oil recovery Mechanisms: A critical review of the methods, influencing Parameters, advances and prospects”, Journal of Molecular Liquids 360, 119502, 2022.

Awards & Honors

  • Best Postgraduate Student Award during the 68th Convocation ceremony of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 2024.

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1057

Dr. Wafa Maftuhin

Post-Doc Researcher, CIPR

Dr. Wafa Maftuhin earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 2023. He then joined the University of California, Riverside as a postdoctoral researcher, working on large-scale molecular simulations and method development in DFTB. His research lies at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and computation, with a focus on electronic structure theory and functional materials.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Physics, University of Freiburg, Germany, 2023
  • M.S., Physics, National Central University, Taiwan, 2017
  • B.S., Physics, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia, 2015

Research Interests

  • Electronic Structure Theory
  • Molecular Dynamics and Computational Modeling
  • Mechanochemistry
  • Asphaltenes and Complex Molecular Systems

Selected Publications

  • Raisch, M., Maftuhin, W., Walter, M., & Sommer, M. (2021). A mechanochromic donor–acceptor torsional spring. Nature Communications, 12, 4243.
  • Hertel, R., Maftuhin, W., Walter, M., & Sommer, M. (2022). Conformer ring flip enhances mechanochromic performance of ansa-donor–acceptor–donor torsional springs. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 144(48), 21897–21907.
  • Khodayeki, S., Maftuhin, W., & Walter, M. (2022). Force dependent barriers from analytic potentials within elastic environments. ChemPhysChem, 23, e2022002.
  • Lai, S. K., & Maftuhin, W. (2019). An efficient optimization algorithm that hybridizes DFTB and DFT theories within a modified basin hopping method. Computer Physics Communications, 236, 164–175.
  • Bhat, P., Maftuhin, W., & Walter, M. (2026). Ab initio force prediction for single molecule force spectroscopy made simple. RSC Mechanochemistry, 3, 301–308
Tel: +966 (013) 860-​3825
Fax: +966 (013) 860-3989

Location: Bldg. 15, Rm. 6217

Ridha Al-Abdrabalnabi

Engineer I, CIPR

Ridha joined center of integrative petroleum research (CIPR) as a petroleum engineer in 2016. His experience in CIPR revolves around special core analysis labs. An active member in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and acidizing groups. In addition, he’s taking role of mentoring graduate students to perform their core-flooding experiments.

Educational Qualification

  • M.S., Petroleum Engineering, KFUPM, KSA 2023
  • B.S., Petroleum Engineering, KFUPM, KSA 2015

Research Interests

  • Special core analysis
  • Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)
  • Acidizing
  • Acid fracturing

Selected Publications

  • Xinrui Zhao, Ridha Al-Abdrabalnabi, Yu-Shu Wu, Xianmin Zhou, Evaluations of the feasibility of oil storage in depleted petroleum reservoirs through experimental modelling studies, Fuel, Volume 294, 2021, 120316, ISSN 0016-2361, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120316
  • Zhou, Xianmin , Al-Abdrabalnabi, Ridha , Khan, Sarmad Zafar, and Muhammad Shahzad Kamal. “Interrelationship of Capillary Number, Interfacial Tension, Injection Flow Rate and Temperature by Surfactant Flooding for Oil-wet Carbonate Reservoirs.” Paper presented at the SPE/IATMI Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Virtual, October 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/205749-MS
  • Zeeshan Tariq, Amjed Hassan, Ridha Al-Abdrabalnabi, Murtada Saleh Aljawad, and Mohamed Mahmoud. Comparative Study of Fracture Conductivity in Various Carbonate Rocks Treated with GLDA Chelating Agent and HCl Acid. Energy & Fuels 2021 35 (23), 19641-19654. DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c03471
Tel: +966 (013) 860 8996
Fax: +966 (013) 860 3989

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1054

Taqi Alzaki

Research Assistant, CIPR

Educational Qualification

  • M.S. Geology & Geophysics Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA, 2016.
  • B.S. Geophysics King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, KSA, 2012.

Research Interests

  • Rock mechanics
  • Seismic interpretation, stratigraphy & petrophysics
  • Near-surface geophysics
Tel: + 966 (013) 860-5346

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1021

Noof Saleh Al-Aqeel

Research Assistant, CIPR

Educational Qualification

  • M.S., Physical Chemistry, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU), KSA-Dammam.
  • B.S., Chemistry, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU), KSA-Dammam.

Research Interests

  • Photo catalysis
  • Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery

Selected Publications

  • G Berhault, N Al-Aqeel, W Alrashedi, NA Alomair, H Kochkar, M Younas, F Jomni (2023). Assisted Enhanced Photocatalysis by the Addition of a Ferroelectric Component to Copper-Doped TiO2 Nanotubes. Materials Research Society Spring Meeting 2023.
  • NA Alomair, NS Al-Aqeel, SS Alabbad, H Kochkar, G Berhault, M Younas, F Jomni, R Hamdi, I Ercan (2023). The Role of the Ferroelectric Polarization in the Enhancement of the Photocatalytic Response of Copper-Doped Graphene Oxide–TiO2 Nanotubes through the the Addition of Strontium. ACS omega 8 (9), 8303-8319.
  • G Berhault, W Alrashedi, NS Alaqeel, H Kochkar, M Younas, A Ben Ali, NA Alomair (2022). Ferroelectric enhancement of the photocatalytic response of Cu-doped TiO2 nanotubes induced through the addition of strontium. 11th European Conference on Solar Chemistry and Photocatalysis: Environmental Applications (SPEA).
Tel: + 966 (013) 860-5294

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 2034

Noura Al-Benayyan

Research Assistant, CIPR

Educational Qualification

  • M. Eng. in Bioengineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran. Saudi Arabia, 2022.
  • B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam. Saudi Arabia, 2020

Research Interests

  • Gas Storage (H2 and CO2)
  • Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery

Selected Publications

  • Albenayyan, N., Murtaza, M., Alarifi, S. A., Kamal, M. S., Humam, A., AlAhmari, M. M., … & Mahmoud, M. (2023). Optimization of calcium carbonate precipitation during alpha-amylase enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (EICP). Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, 1118993.‏
  • Tombuloglu, H., Albenayyan, N., Slimani, Y., Akhtar, S., Tombuloglu, G., Almessiere, M., … & Manikandan, A. (2022). Fate and impact of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(3), 4710-4721
Tel: +966 (013) 860-1326
Fax: + 966 (013) 860-3989

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 1052

Nadeem Ahmed Syed

Laboratory Engineer I, CIPR

Started career as R&D Engineer at Dynamics International (PVT) Ltd. Pakistan in 1992. Worked as Manager Services in AMS/BMS in Pakistan from 1996 to 2010 managing Services of Analytical/Life Sciences Instruments. Worked as Service Supervisor at Naizak in KSA from 2011 to June 2019 providing various services. Currently, working as Research Assistant at KFUPM (CIPR), since July 2019.

Educational Qualification

  • B.E. in Electronics from Mehran University Pakistan 1991

Research Interests

  • Digital Rock Physics.
  • Surface analysis using AFM, SEM. and XPS.
  • Generation 3D micro-images of natural and artificial porous materials using CT- and medical scanners and FIB/SEM.
Tel: +966 (013) 860-5292

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1021

Athaa Al-Otaibi

Research Assistant II, CIPR

Athaa is currently working as a Research Assistant in the Center for Integrated Petroleum Research, College of Petroleum Engineering & Geoscience, KFUPM.

Educational Qualification

  • M.S., Physics of Materials, Physics department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU), KSA-Dammam
  • B.S., Physics, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU), KSA-Dammam

Research Interests

  • Molecular Dynamics Simulations with GROMACS 
X