CPG

Dr. Sherif M. H. Mahmoud

Tel: +966 (013) 860-3765

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 1251

Dr. Sherif M. H. Mahmoud

Associate Professor, Program Leader – Geophysics, Department of Geosciences

Sherif M. Hanafy is currently a visiting associate professor at KFUPM, he was a senior research scientist at KAUST from 2009 until July 2018, during this time he was the founder and in charge of the geophysical field program (Seismology Lab). His research interest includes geophysical field methods, seismic interferometry, traveltime tomography, early arrival tomography, seismic modeling, seismic inversion and migration, data interpolation/extrapolation, and shallow application of resistivity and GPR methods. In the last year, he got more involved in machine learning especially in the processing and interpretation of seismic and GPR data.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D. in Geophysics (Kiel University, Germany – Cairo University, Egypt), 2002.
  • M.S. in Geophysics – Seismic (Cairo University, Egypt), 1996.
  • B.S. In Geophysics (Cairo University, Egypt), 1993.

Research Interests

  • Geophysical field methods
  • Seismic interferometry
  • Traveltime tomography
  • Seismic modeling, seismic inversion, and migration
  • Data interpolation/extrapolation
  • Shallow application of resistivity and GPR methods
  • Machine learning

Selected Publications

  • Hanafy S.M., 2020. Seismic, Super-Virtual Refraction Interferometry. In: Gupta H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10475-7.
  • Iqbal, N., A. B. Othman, U. Waheed, and S. M. Hanafy, 2021. Automated event detection and denoising method for passive seismic data using residual deep convolutional neural networks. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (TGRS), DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2021.3054071. 
  • Yu H., Y. Chen, S. M. Hanafy, G.T. Schuster, 2021. Skeletonized Wave-equation Refraction Inversion with Auto-encoded Waveforms. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (TGRS), 10.1109/TGRS.2020.3046093.
  • Edigbue P. I., A. Al-Shuhail, and S. M. Hanafy, 2021. Three-dimensional supervirtual seismic refraction interferometry: a case study in western Saudi Arabia. Accepted for publication in Geophysics.
  • Hanafy S. M., A. El-Husseiny, M. Benaafi, A. Al-Shuhail, and J. Dvorkin, 2020. P-wave velocity profile at very shallow depths in sand dunes. Geophysics, 85, 1-9, DOI: 10.1190/GEO2019-0734.1
  • Lu, K., Z. Liu, S. M. Hanafy, and G. T. Schuster, 2020. Noise Reduction with Reflection Supervirtual Interferometry. Geophysics, 85(3), 1-37.

Extended Publications (+)

  • Han Yu, S. M. Hanafy, and G. T. Schuster, 2018. Wave-equation traveltime inversion with multifrequency bands: Synthetic and land data examples. Geophysics, 83, 6, B305–B315.
  • Li, J., S. M. Hanafy, and G. T. Schuster, 2018. Wave-Equation Dispersion Inversion of Guided P Waves in a Waveguide of Arbitrary Geometry. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. P. 7760-7774, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016127.
  • Hanafy, S. M. and G. Schuster, 2017. Parsimonious refraction interferometry and tomography. GJI, 209, 695–712, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggx042. 
  • Hanafy, S. M., A. Mattson, R. L. Bruhn, S. Liu, and G. Schuster, 2015. Outcrops and well logs as a practicum for calibrating the accuracy of traveltime tomograms. Interpretation, 3, SY27-SY40.
  • Al-Hagan, O., S. M. Hanafy, and G. Schuster, 2014. Iterative supervirtual refraction interferometry. Geophysics, 79, Q21-Q30, doi: 10.1190/GEO2013-0210.1.
  • Hanafy, S. M and G. Schuster, 2014. Interferometric interpolation of sparse marine data. Geophysical Prospecting, 62, 1-16, doi: 10.1111/1365-2478.12066.
  • Hanafy, S. M. and O. Al-Hagan, 2012. Super-virtual refraction interferometry: an engineering field data example. Near Surface Geophysics, 10, 443-449.
  • Schuster, G., S. M. Hanafy, and Y. Haung, 2012. Theory and feasibility tests for a seismic scanning tunneling macroscope. Geophysical Journal International, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2012.05564.x.
  • Hanafy, S. M., W. Cao, M. McCarter, and G. Schuster, 2009. Using super-stacking and super-resolution properties of time-reversal mirrors to locate trapped miners. The Leading Edge, 28, 302-307.
  • Hanafy, S. M. and S. A. Hagrey, 2006. Ground-penetrating radar tomography for soil-moisture heterogeneity. Geophysics, 71, K9–K18

Awards & Honors

  • 2020 – 2023 Elected “Director at Large” member at the board of directors, SEG
  • 2019 – 2020: District 10 representative at the SEG
  • 2017: The SEG Honorary Lecturer in the Middle East and Africa.
  • 2015 – Present: Associate editor at the SEG (Geophysics).
  • 2013 – Present: Member of the “Continuing Education Committee” at the SEG.
  • 2013 – 2015: Special editor at the SEG.
  • 2013 & 2015: Member of the organizing committee of the 1st (2013) and 2nd (2015) SEG/DGS workshop at Bahrain “Near Surface Modeling and Imaging”.
  • 2012 – 2016: Key contact of the “Seismic Theory” sessions at the SEG annual meetings.
  • 2010: Co-founder of the CSIM, KAUST.
  • 2005: Founder and Advisor (until 2007) of the SEG Cairo University Student Chapter.
  • 2004 – 2005: Fulbright scholarship.
  • 2004: Best paper at the 2004 EGS meeting (Abdelhady, Morsy, and Hanafy).
  • 2004: Best presentation at the 2004 EGS meeting (Abdelhady, Hanafy, and Morsy).
  • 1999 – 2002: Ph.D. scholarship, DAAD, Germany.
Tel: +966 (013) 860-2297
Fax: +966 (013) 860-2595

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 1254

Dr. Umair bin Waheed

Associate Professor, Department of Geosciences

Umair bin Waheed is an Assistant Professor of Geophysics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). His research interests are broadly in the area of computational geosciences. Specifically, he is interested in automating and improving workflows through the use of smart algorithms for enhanced decision-making in subsurface energy systems. Umair graduated from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology with a Ph.D. in Earth Science & Engineering in 2015. Prior to joining KFUPM in 2017, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, and a Writing in Science and Engineering fellow at the Princeton Writing Program.

Personal Page: umairbinwaheed.com

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Earth Sciences & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, 2015
  • M.S., Electronic Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy & Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, 2010
  • B.E., Electronic Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan, 2008

Research Interests

  • Physics- and data-driven machine learning
  • Geophysical modeling
  • Inverse problems
  • Induced seismicity
  • Geothermal exploration

Selected Publications

  • Alexandrov, D., U. Waheed, and L. Eisner. Microseismic location error due to eikonal traveltime calculation .” Applied Sciences, 11.3 (2021), doi.org/10.3390/app11030982
  • Song, C., T. Alkhalifah, and U. Waheed. Solving the frequency-domain acoustic VTI wave equation using physics-informed neural networks.” Geophysical Journal International, 225.2 (2021), doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggab010
  • Ketcheson, D., H. Ranocha, M. Parsani, U. Waheed, and Y. Hadjimichael. NodePy: A package for the analysis of numerical ODE solvers.” Journal of Open Source Software, 55.5 (2020): 2515, doi.org/10.21105/joss.02515
  • Waheed, U. A fast marching algorithm for the tilted transversely isotropic media.” Geophysics, 85.6 (2020): S385-S393, doi.org/10.1190/geo2019-0799.1
  • Stovas, A., T. Alkhalifah, and U. Waheed. Pure P-and S-wave equations in transversely isotropic media.” Geophysical Prospecting, 68.9 (2020): 2762-2769, doi.org/10.1111/1365-2478.13026
  • Alexandrov, D., L. Eisner, U. Waheed, S. Kaka, and S. Greenhalgh. Detection, location, and source mechanism determination with large noise variations in surface microseismic monitoring.” Geophysics, 85.6 (2020), KS197-KS205, doi.org/10.1190/geo2019-0841.1
  • Alexandrov, D., L. Eisner, U. Waheed, S. Kaka, and S. Greenhalgh. Normal faulting activated by hydraulic fracturing: A case study from the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin, Texas, USA.” The Leading Edge, 39.3 (2020), 204-211, doi.org/10.1190/tle39030204.1
  • Hao, Q., U. Waheed, and T. Alkhalifah. P-wave complex-valued traveltimes in homogeneous attenuating transversely isotropic media.” Geophysical Prospecting, 67.9 (2019): 2402-2413, doi.org/10.1111/1365-2478.12869

Extended Publications (+)

  • Waheed, U., & Alkhalifah, T. (2017). A fast sweeping algorithm for accurate solution of the tilted transversely isotropic eikonal equation using factorization. Geophysics, 82(6), WB1-WB8.
  • Waheed, U., Stovas, A., & Alkhalifah, T. (2016). Anisotropy parameter inversion in vertical axis of symmetry media using diffractions. Geophysical Prospecting, 65(1), 194-203.
  • Waheed, U., Flagg, G., & Yarman, C. E. (2016). First-arrival traveltime tomography for anisotropic media using the adjoint-state method. Geophysics, 81(4), R147-R155.
  • Waheed, U., & Alkhalifah, T. (2016). Effective ellipsoidal models for wavefield extrapolation in tilted orthorhombic media. Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica, 60(3), 349-369.
  • Waheed, U., Yarman, C. E., & Flagg, G. (2015). An iterative, fast-sweeping-based eikonal solver for 3D tilted anisotropic media. Geophysics, 80(3), C49-C58.
  • Waheed, U., & Alkhalifah, T. (2015). An efficient wave extrapolation method for anisotropic media with tilt. Geophysical Prospecting, 63(5), 1126-1141.
  • Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T., & Wang, H. (2015). Efficient traveltime solutions of the acoustic TI eikonal equation. Journal of Computational Physics, 282, 62-76.
  • Ketcheson, D., & Waheed, U. (2014). A comparison of high-order explicit Runge–Kutta, extrapolation, and deferred correction methods in serial and parallel. Communications in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, 9(2), 175-200.
  • Ibanez-Jacome, W., Alkhalifah, T., & Waheed, U. (2014). Effective orthorhombic anisotropic models for wavefield extrapolation. Geophysical Journal International, 198(3), 1653-1661.
  • Waheed, U., Pšenčík, I., Červený, V., Iversen, E., & Alkhalifah, T. (2013). Two-point paraxial traveltime formula for inhomogeneous isotropic and anisotropic media: Tests of accuracy. Geophysics, 78(5), WC65-WC80.
  • Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T., & Stovas, A. (2013). Diffraction traveltime approximation for TI media with an inhomogeneous background. Geophysics, 78(5), WC103-WC111.

Journal Papers

  • [30] Guo, G., Lan, H., Zhou, X., Liu, Y., Waheed, U., Chen, J. (2021). Topography-dependent eikonal tomography based on the fast sweeping scheme and the adjoint-state technique. Geophysics, 87(2), 1-51.
  • [29] Alkhalifah, T., Song, C., Waheed, U., Hao, Q. (2021). Wavefield solutions from machine learned functions. Artificial Intelligence in Geosciences, 2, 11-19.
  • [28] Song, C., Alkhalifah, T., Waheed, U. (2021). A versatile framework to solve the Helmholtz equation using physics-informed neural networks. Geophysical Journal International, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2021.3054071.
  • [27] Wang, H., Alkhalifah, T., Waheed, U., Birnie, C. (2021). Data-driven microseismic event localization: Application to the Oklahoma Arkoma Basin hydraulic fracturing data. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2021.3120546.
  • [26] Ayranci, K., Yildrim, I., Waheed, U., MacEachern, J. (2021). Deep learning applications in Geosciences: Insights into ichnological analysis. Applied Sciences, 11(16), 7736,
  • [25] Waheed, U., Haghighat, E., Alkhalifah, T., Song, C., Hao, Q. (2021). PINNeik: Eikonal solution using physics-informed neural networks. Computers and Geosciences, 155, 104833.
  • [24] Tariq, Z., Hassan, A.,Waheed, U., Mahmoud, M., Al-Shehri, D., Abdulraheem, A., Mokheimer, E. M. (2021). A data-driven machine learning approach to predict the natural gas density of pure and mixed hydrocarbons. Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 143(9), 092801.
  • [23] Zhou, X., Lan, H., Chen, L., Guo, G., Lei, Y., Waheed, U., Shulin, P. (2021). An iterative, factored topography dependent eikonal solver for anisotropic media. Geophysics, 86(5), 1-58.
  • [22] Almadani, M., Waheed, U., Masood, M., Chen, Y. (2021). Dictionary learning with convolutional structure for seismic data denoising and interpolation. Geophysics, 86(5), 1-102.
  • [21] Song, C., Alkhalifah, T., Waheed, U. (2021). Solving the frequency-domain acoustic VTI wave equation using physics-informed neural networks. Geophysical Journal International, 225(2), 846-859. 
  • [20] Othman, A., Iqbal, N., Hanafy, S. M., Waheed, U. (2021). Automated event detection and denoising method for passive seismic data using residual deep convolutional neural networks. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2021.30540 1.
  • [19] Alsamadony, K. L., Yildirim, E. U., Glatz, G., Waheed, U., Hanafy, S. M. (2021). Deep learning driven noise reduction for reduced flux computed tomography. Sensors, 21(5), 1921.
  • [18] Alexandrov, D., Waheed, U., Eisner, L. (2021). Microseismic location error due to eikonal traveltime calculation. Applied Sciences, 11(3), 982.
  • [17] Ketcheson, D. I., Ranocha, H., Parsani, M., Waheed, U., Hadjimichael, Y. (2020). NodePy: A package for the analysis of numerical ODE solvers. Journal of Open Source Software, 5(55), 2515.
  • [16] Waheed, U. (2020). A fast-marching eikonal solver for tilted transversely isotropic media. Geophysics, 85(6), S385-S393.
  • [15] Alexandrov, D., Eisner, L., Waheed, U., Kaka, S. I., Greenhalgh, S. A. (2020). Detection, location, and source mechanism determination with large noise variations in surface microseismic monitoring. Geophysics, 85(6), KS197-KS206.
  • [14] Stovas, A., Alkhalifah, T., Waheed, U. (2020). Pure P-and S-wave equations in transversely isotropic media. Geophysical Prospecting, 68(9), 2762-2769.
  • [13] Alexandrov, D., Eisner, L., Waheed, U., Kaka, S. I., Greenhalgh, S. A. (2020). Normal faulting activated by hydraulic fracturing: A case study from the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin. The Leading Edge, 39(3), 204-211.
  • [12] Hao, Q., Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T. (2019). P-wave complex-valued traveltimes in homogeneous attenuating transversely isotropic media. Geophysical prospecting, 67(9), 2402-2413.
  • [11] Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T. (2017). A fast sweeping algorithm for accurate solution of the tilted transversely isotropic eikonal equation using factorization. Geophysics, 82(6), WB1-WB8.
  • [10] Waheed, U., Stovas, A., Alkhalifah, T. (2017). Anisotropy parameter inversion in vertical axis of symmetry media using diffractions. Geophysical Prospecting, 65(1), 194-203.
  • [9] Waheed, U., Flagg, G., Yarman, C. E. (2016). First arrival traveltime tomography for anisotropic media using the adjoint-state method. Geophysics, 81(4), R147-R155.
  • [8] Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T. (2016). Effective ellipsoidal models for wavefield extrapolation in tilted orthorhombic media. Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica, 60(3), 349-369.
  • [7] Waheed, U., Yarman, C. E., Flagg, G. (2015). An iterative, fast-sweeping-based eikonal solver for 3D tilted anisotropic media. Geophysics, 80(3), C49-C58.
  • [6] Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T. (2015). An efficient wave extrapolation method for anisotropic media with tilt. Geophysical Prospecting, 63(5), 1126-1141.
  • [5] Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T., Wang, H. (2015). Efficient traveltime solutions of the acoustic TI eikonal equation. Journal of Computational Physics, 282, 62-76.
  • [4] Ketcheson, D., Waheed, U. (2014). A comparison of high-order explicit Runge-Kutta, extrapolation, and deferred correction methods in serial and parallel. Communications in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, 9(2), 175-200.
  • [3] Ibanez-Jacome, W., Alkhalifah, T., Waheed, U. (2014). Effective orthorhombic anisotropic models for wavefield extrapolation. Geophysical Journal International, 198(3), 1653-1661.
  • [2] Waheed, U., Psencik, I.,  Cerveny, V., Iversen, E., Alkhalifah, T. (2013). Two-point paraxial traveltime formula for inhomogeneous isotropic and anisotropic media: Tests of accuracy. Geophysics, 78(5), WC65-WC80.
  • [1] Waheed, U., Alkhalifah, T., Stovas, A. (2013). Diffraction traveltime approximation for TI media with an inhomogeneous background. Geophysics, 78(5), WC103-WC111.

Awards & Honors

  • SEG continuing education course instructor
  • Writing in Science and Engineering Fellowship, Princeton University, 2016-2017
  • Best student poster award, EAGE student and YP forum, 2014 
  • Runners up, EAGE Geo-creativity prize competition, 2014
  • Third place, SIAM ‘Math Matters, Apply It!’ competition, 2013
Tel: +966 (013) 860-2625
Fax: +966 (013) 860-2595

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2239

Dr. Ammar El-Husseiny

Associate Professor, Program Leader – Petrophysics/Rockphysics, CIPR, Department of Geosciences

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D. in Geophysics, Stanford University, USA, 2016
  • M.S. in Geophysics, Stanford University, USA, 2013
  • B.S. (Honor) in Petroleum Geosciences, The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2010

Research Interests

  • Rock physics of carbonates characterizing their transport and elastic properties.
  • Fluid substitution and time-lapse seismic interpretation
  • The use of NMR for pore structure characterization

Selected Publications

  • El Husseiny, A. and Vanorio, T., 2017, Porosity-permeability relationship in dual porosity carbonate analogs, Geophysics, vol. 82, no. 1, MR65-MR74, doi: 10.1190/geo2015-0649.1
  • El Husseiny, A., Nizamuddin, S., Raheem, O., and Vega, S., 2019, The effect of pore structure complexity and saturation history on the variations of acoustic velocity as function of brine and oil saturation in carbonates, Journal of Petroleum Sciences and Engineering, 179, pp. 180-191
  • El Husseiny, A., Vanorio, T., and Mavko, G., 2019, Predicting porosity of binary mixtures made out of irregular nonspherical particles: Application to natural sediments, Advanced powder technology, Vol. 30, no. 8, 1558-1566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2019.05.001
  • Elsayed, M., Mahmoud, M., El-Husseiny, A., Kamal, M. S., Al-Garadi, K., 2020, A New Method to Evaluate Reaction Kinetics of Acids with Carbonate Rocks Using NMR Diffusion Measurements, Energy and Fuel,  34, 1, 787-797, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b03784
  • El-Husseiny, A., 2020, Improved Packing Model for Functionally Graded Sand-Fines Mixtures: Incorporation of Fines Cohesive Packing Behavior, Applied Sciences, 10(2), 562

Extended Publications (+)

 

Awards & Honors

  • Awarded the EAGE annual meeting Travel Grant, Vienna, Austria, May 2011
  • Graduation from The Petroleum Institute with GPA of 4.0 out of 4.0 (honor with distinction), 2010.
  • First place in the “SEG Challenge Bowl” regional competition in the Middle East, The Petroleum Institute, 2009.
Tel: +966 (013) 860-2538
Fax: +966 (013) 860-2595

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2215

Dr. Abdullah A. Alshuhail

Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences

Educational Qualification

  • Visiting Scholar at the Geophysics Department, Stanford University, USA, 2012-2013.
  • Ph.D., Geophysics, University of Calgary, USA, 2011. Dissertation title: CO2 Sequestration Site Characterization and Time-lapse Monitoring Using Reflection Seismic Methods
  • M.S., Geophysics, University of Calgary, USA, 2006. Dissertation title: Integration of 3-D Electrical Resistivity Imaging and Ground Penetrating Radar Surveys in Characterizing Near-Surface Fluvial Environment
  • B.S., Geophysics, KFUPM, KSA, 2001.

Research Interests

  • Climate change education, adaptation, and mitigation.
  • Carbon capture and storage (CCS).
  • Qualitative and quantitative interpretation of seismic data.
  • Environmental and engineering geophysics.

Selected Publications

  • Alshuhail, A.; Lawton, D. and Isaac, H., 2010, Geophysical characterization of the Devonian Nisku Formation for the Wabamun Area CO2 Sequestration Project (WASP), Alberta: Energy Procedia.
  • Lawton, D; Alshuhail, A.; Coueslan, M. and Chabot, L., 2008, Seismic monitoring at the Penn West Pembina Cardium CO2-EOR pilot, Alberta, Canada – lessons learned: Energy Procedia.
  • SanLinn I. Kaka, Juan M. Reyes-Montes, Abdullah Al-Shuhail, Abdullatif A. Al-Shuhail and Michael Jervis, 2016, Analysis of Microseismic Events during a Multi-stage Hydraulic Stimulation Experiment at a Shale Gas Reservoir: Seismological Research Letters.
  • Abdullatif  Al-Shuhail, Abdullah Alshuhail, et al., 2019, KFUPM Ghawar digital viscoelastic seismic model: Arabian Journal of Geosciences
  • Abdullatif  Al-Shuhail, Abdullah Alshuhail, et al., 2020, Digital viscoelastic seismic models and data sets of central Saudi Arabia in the presence of near-surface karst features: Journal of Seismic Exploration.
Tel: + 966 (013) 860-2848

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2239

Dr. Ardiansyah Ibnu Koeshidayatullah

Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences

Ardiansyah Koeshidayatullah is an Assistant Professor in the Geosciences Department, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences (CPG), KFUPM. His primary research interests focus on (i) integrated carbonate reservoir characterization, including stratigraphic modelling and novel geochemistry; and (ii) Artificial Intelligence in Geosciences. He was a Presidential Doctoral Scholar at the University of Manchester, UK and a visiting research student at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, USA. Before joining KFUPM, he was a joint postdoctoral research fellow at the Paleobiology and Basin Petroleum System Modeling (BPSM) Group, Stanford University, USA.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Basin and Petroleum Geosciences, University of Manchester, UK (2019)
  • M.S., Earth Sciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia (2015)
  • B.S., Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia (2011)

Research Interests

  • Integrated outcrop and stratigraphic forward modeling
  • Isotope geochemistry and quantitative geochemical modelling
  • Structurally-controlled diagenesis and dolomitization
  • Machine learning for visual recognition in geosciences
  • From Machine learning to Explainable AI in geosciences

Selected Publications

  • Koeshidayatullah, A., Trower, E., Mukerji, T., Li, X., Lehrmann, D.J., Morsilli, M., Al-Ramadan, K. and Payne, J.L., 2021. Can secular trends in ooid size be used to constrain ancient climate and ocean chemistry? Insights from Deep Learning, Monte Carlo Simulation and Physics-based modelling. Submitted to Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
  • Koeshidayatullah, A., Corlett, H. and Hollis, C., 2021. An overview of structurally-controlled dolostone-limestone transitions in the stratigraphic record. Earth-Science Reviews, p.103751.
  • Stacey, J., Corlett, H., Holland, G., Koeshidayatullah, A., Cao, C., Swart, P., Crowley, S. and Hollis, C., 2020. Regional fault-controlled shallow dolomitization of the Middle Cambrian Cathedral Formation by hydrothermal fluids fluxed through a basal clastic aquifer. GSA Bulletin.
  • Koeshidayatullah, A., Morsilli, M., Lehrmann, D.J., Al-Ramadan, K. and Payne, J.L., 2020. Fully automated carbonate petrography using deep convolutional neural networks. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 122, p.104687.
  • Stacey, J., Hollis, C., Corlett, H. and Koeshidayatullah, A., Burial dolomitization driven by modified seawater and basal aquifer‐sourced brines: Insights from the Middle and Upper Devonian of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Basin Research, 33(1), pp.648-680.

Extended Publications (+)

  • Koeshidayatullah, A., Corlett, H., Stacey, J., Swart, P.K., Boyce, A. and Hollis, C., 2020. Origin and evolution of fault-controlled hydrothermal dolomitization fronts: A new insight. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 541, p.116291.B
  • Koeshidayatullah, A., Corlett, H., Stacey, J., Swart, P.K., Boyce, A., Robertson, H., Whitaker, F. and Hollis, C., 2020. Evaluating new fault‐controlled hydrothermal dolomitization models: Insights from the Cambrian Dolomite, Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Sedimentology, 67(6), pp.2945-2973.
  • Al-Ramadan, K., Koeshidayatullah, A., Cantrell, D. and Swart, P.K., 2020. Impact of basin architecture on diagenesis and dolomitization in a fault-bounded carbonate platform: outcrop analogue of a pre-salt carbonate reservoir, Red Sea rift, NW Saudi Arabia. Petroleum Geoscience, 26(3), pp.448-461.
  • Koeshidayatullah, A., Al-Ramadan, K., Collier, R. and Hughes, G.W., 2016. Variations in architecture and cyclicity in fault-bounded carbonate platforms: Early Miocene Red Sea Rift, NW Saudi Arabia. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 70, pp.77-92

Awards & Honors

  • Presidential Doctoral Scholar (2016-2019)
  • 1ST place in Middle East and 3rd place in global competition, AAPG Imperial Barrel Awards (2015)
  • Best Graduate Student, KFUPM (2014)
  • Dean’s List award (2008-2011)
Tel: + 966 (013) 860-2626

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2143

Dr. Israa S. Abu-Mahfouz

Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences

Dr. Israa S. Abu-Mahfouz is an Assistant Professor of Structural Geology at the Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences (CPG). Dr. Abu-Mahfouz is the first ever female faculty member to join CPG-KFUPM. Dr Abu-Mahfouz is a specialist in naturally fractured reservoirs, unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, geothermal reservoirs, CO2 storage reservoirs, geomechanics, fracture geochemistry, Geoenergy storage, and reservoir modelling. She received her Ph.D. degree in Petroleum/Structural Geology from the University of Oxford (UK), and she holds a B.S. degree in Geology & Environment (2007) and a M.S. degree in Applied Geology (2009) from the Hashemite University (Jordan).

Her work experience spans more than 15 years, where she fulfilled a wide variety of roles in the oil/gas industry and in research and academia. Main roles she held before joining KFUPM include Senior Geoscientist at Shell, Tutor (Oxford University), two Postdoctoral Fellowships (Oxford University and KAUST), and Research Scientist III (KAUST). She is an active member of different professional organizations (AAPG, EAGE, ARMA, GSL, OUGG, and JGA). Dr Abu-Mahfouz served as a chair, committee member, and organizer of different international conferences and workshops.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D. in Geology (Structural Geology), University of Oxford, UK
  • M.S. in Applied Geology, Hashemite University, Jordan
  • B.S. in Geology and Environment, Hashemite University, Jordan

Research Interests

  • Structural geology, naturally fractured reservoirs
  • Characterization of carbonate/mudrock unconventional source rocks/ reservoirs, including structural characterization, rock physical/mechanical properties, organic/inorganic geochemistry, and petrography
  • Mechanical stratigraphy, diagenesis, hydrocarbon migration and maturation             
  • Characterization of geothermal reservoirs
  • Reservoir modelling and heterogeneity
  • CO2 storage reservoirs
  • Geoenergy storage in geological formations

Selected Publications

  • Abu‐Mahfouz, I.S., Cartwright, J.A., Powell, J.H., Abu‐Mahfouz, M.S. and Podlaha, O.G., 2023. Diagenesis, compaction strain and deformation associated with chert and carbonate concretions in organic‐rich marl and phosphorite; Upper Cretaceous to Eocene, Jordan. Sedimentology.
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Iakusheva, R., Finkbeiner, T., Cartwright, J. and Vahrenkamp, V., 2023. Rock mechanical properties of immature, organic-rich source rocks and their relationships to rock composition and lithofacies. Petroleum Geoscience, 29(1), pp.petgeo2022-021.
  • Al-Yaseri, A., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Yekeen, N. and Wolff-Boenisch, D., 2023. Organic-rich source rock/H2/brine interactions: Implications for underground hydrogen storage and methane production. Journal of Energy Storage, 63, p.106986.
  • Arrofi, D. and Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., 2023. Delineating reservoir area using geologic remote sensing analysis, Jizan (Saudi Arabia): Implications for geothermal exploration. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, p.212033.
  • Alanazi, A., Yekeen, N., Ali, M., Ali, M., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Keshavarz, A., Iglauer, S. and Hoteit, H., 2023. Influence of organics and gas mixing on hydrogen/brine and methane/brine wettability using Jordanian oil shale rocks: Implications for hydrogen geological storage. Journal of Energy Storage, 62, p.106865.
  • Arrofi, D., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S. and Prayudi, S.D., 2022. Investigating high permeable zones in non-volcanic geothermal systems using lineament analysis and fault fracture density (FFD): northern Konawe Regency, Indonesia. Geothermal Energy, 10(1), pp.1-17.
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Wicaksono, A.N., Idiz, E., Cartwright, J., Santamarina, J.C. and Vahrenkamp, V.C., 2022. Modelling the initiation of bitumen-filled microfractures in immature, organic-rich carbonate mudrocks: The Maastrichtian source rocks of Jordan. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 141, p.105700.
  • Wicaksono, A.N., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Idiz, E., Cartwright, J., Santamarina, J.C. and Vahrenkamp, V.C., 2022. Stress distribution around kerogen particles as a measure of the initiation of bitumen-filled microfractures in organic-rich source rocks. MethodsX, 9, p.101817.
  • I.S. Abu-Mahfouz, J. Cartwright, E. Idiz, J.N. Hooker, S. Robinson. 2020. Silica diagenesis promotes early primary hydrocarbon migration. Geology 48 (5), 483–487. https://doi.org/10.1130/G47023.1. https://doi.org/10.1130/G47023.1
  • I.S. Abu-Mahfouz, J. Cartwright, E. Idiz, J.N. Hooker, S. Robinson, S.H.J.M. van den Boorn. 2019. Genesis and role of bitumen in fracture development during early catagenesis. Petroleum Geoscience, 26, 4. DOI:10.1144/petgeo2018-179
  • J.N. Hooker, I.S. Abu-Mahfouz, Q. Meng, J. Cartwright. 2019. Fractures in mudrocks: Advances in constraining timing and understanding mechanisms. Journal of Structural Geology, 125, 166-173. DOI:10.1016/j.jsg.2018.04.020
  • I.S. Abu-Mahfouz, A. Al-Malabeh, S. Rababeh. 2016. Geo-engineering evaluation of Harrat Irbid Basaltic Rocks, Irbid District—North Jordan. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9, 5, 1-11. DOI:10.1007/s12517-016-2428-4

Extended Publications (+)

  • Al-Yaseri, A., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Yekeen, N. and Wolff-Boenisch, D., 2023. Organic-rich source rock/H2/brine interactions: Implications for underground hydrogen storage and methane production. Journal of Energy Storage, 63, p.106986.
  • Arrofi, D. and Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., 2023. Delineating reservoir area using geologic remote sensing analysis, Jizan (Saudi Arabia): Implications for geothermal exploration. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, p.212033.
  • Alanazi, A., Yekeen, N., Ali, M., Ali, M., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Keshavarz, A., Iglauer, S. and Hoteit, H., 2023. Influence of organics and gas mixing on hydrogen/brine and methane/brine wettability using Jordanian oil shale rocks: Implications for hydrogen geological storage. Journal of Energy Storage, 62, p.106865.
  • Abu‐Mahfouz, I.S., Cartwright, J.A., Powell, J.H., Abu‐Mahfouz, M.S. and Podlaha, O.G., 2023. Diagenesis, compaction strain and deformation associated with chert and carbonate concretions in organic‐rich marl and phosphorite; Upper Cretaceous to Eocene, Jordan. Sedimentology.
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Iakusheva, R., Finkbeiner, T., Cartwright, J. and Vahrenkamp, V., 2023. Rock mechanical properties of immature, organic-rich source rocks and their relationships to rock composition and lithofacies. Petroleum Geoscience, 29(1), pp.petgeo2022-021.
  • Grohmann, S., Littke, R., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Gaus, G., Klaver, J., Thüns, N., Schulte, P., Patzek, T. and Vahrenkamp, V., 2023. The deposition of type II-S Jordan oil shale in the context of Late Cretaceous source rock formation in the Eastern Mediterranean realm. Insights from organic and inorganic geochemistry and petrography. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 148, p.106058.
  • Arrofi, D., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S. and Prayudi, S.D., 2022. Investigating high permeable zones in non-volcanic geothermal systems using lineament analysis and fault fracture density (FFD): northern Konawe Regency, Indonesia. Geothermal Energy, 10(1), pp.1-17.
  • Edigbue, P., Demirci, I., Akca, I., Hamdan, H., Kirmizakis, P., Soupios, P., Tranos, M., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Candansayar, E., Hanafy, S. and Al-Shuhail, A., 2022. Application of Combined Local and Global Optimization Algorithms in Joint Interpretation of Direct Current Resistivity and Seismic Refraction Data: A Case Study of Dammam Dome, Eastern Saudi Arabia. Sensors, 22(23), p.9337.
  • Hassan, A.M., Elsayed, M.K., Oshaish, A.A., Al-Ofi, S.M., El-Husseiny, A.A.H., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Mahmoud, M.A., Abouelresh, M.O. and Attia, H.M., 2022, October. A New Workflow to Study the Impact of Artificial Maturations on the Petrophysical Properties of Unconventional Shale Rocks. In ADIPEC. OnePetro.
  • Wicaksono, A.N., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Idiz, E., Cartwright, J., Santamarina, J.C. and Vahrenkamp, V.C., 2022. Stress distribution around kerogen particles as a measure of the initiation of bitumen-filled microfractures in organic-rich source rocks. MethodsX, 9, p.101817.
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Wicaksono, A.N., Idiz, E., Cartwright, J., Santamarina, J.C. and Vahrenkamp, V.C., 2022. Modelling the initiation of bitumen-filled microfractures in immature, organic-rich carbonate mudrocks: The Maastrichtian source rocks of Jordan. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 141, p.105700.
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Gaus, G., Grohmann, S., Klaver, J., Cartwright, J., Idiz, E., Littke, R., Patzek, T., Urai, J., S., Vahrenkamp, V. 2022. Improved Understanding Of Hydrocarbon Expulsion And Associated Fracturing During Successive Stages Of Maturation: Insights from the Artificial Maturation of Organic-rich, Immature to Early Mature Source Rocks. 2022. International Petroleum Technology Conference and Exhibition (IPTC 2022). Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabi. IPTC-21895-MS
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Ardila, M., Podlaha, O., Vahrenkamp, V., Geochemical and Petrographic Characterization of Lithofacies and Organofacies in Upper Cretaceous organic-rich Source Rocks from Jordan. 2022. International Petroleum Technology Conference and Exhibition (IPTC 2022). Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabi. IPTC-21914-MS
  • S. Grohmann, G. Gaus, J. Klaver, I.S. Abu Mahfouz, V. Vahrenkamp, T. Patzek, J. Urai, R. Littke. 2021. Hydrous Pyrolysis of Source Rock Plugs: Geochemical and Visual Investigations and Implications for Primary Migration. European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers. DOI:10.3997/2214-4609.202134153
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S, Iakusheva, R., Finkbeiner, T., Cartwright, J., Santamarina, C. Vahrenkamp, V., 2021, Impact of rock composition and lithofacies variation on mechanical properties of organic-rich carbonate mudrocks: the Upper Cretaceous Muwaqqer Formation, Jordan, ARMA/DGS/SEG: 2nd International Geomechanics Symposium – conference presentation
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Cartwright, J., Idiz, E., Hooker, J.N. Robinson, S. 2020. Silica diagenesis promotes early primary hydrocarbon migration. Geology 48 (5), 483–487. https://doi.org/10.1130/G47023.1
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Cartwright, J., Vahrenkamp, V., Patzek, T., Littke, R., 2020. Fracture Development in Unconventional Reservoirs & its Role in Hydrocarbon Migration & Expulsion. Conference paper. AAPG Search and Discovery. Houston, USA
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S. Cartwright, J., Idiz, E., Hooker, J.N., Robinson, S., van den Boorn, S.H.J.M. 2019. Genesis and role of bitumen in fracture development during early catagenesis. Petroleum Geoscience, 26, 4. DOI:10.1144/petgeo2018-179
  • Hooker, J.N., Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Meng, Q., Cartwright, G. 2019. Fractures in mudrocks: Advances in constraining timing and understanding mechanisms. Journal of Structural Geology, 125, 166-173. DOI:10.1016/j.jsg.2018.04.020
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Cartwright, J., Hooker, J.N., Gross, M.R., 2018. Natural Fracture Systems in Mudrocks (Upper Cretaceous-Eocene), Jordan. The Geology of Fractured Reservoirs, the Geological Society of London. London, UK
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Cartwright, J., 2016. Fracture development due to the growth of displacive concretions, Sicily, Italy
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Al-Barahmieh, M., 2014. Introduction to Lithofacies and Structures, for the Study of Mudrocks and their Formations, Jordan International Oil Shale Symposium, Dead Sea, Jordan
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S., Geo-Engineering and Geochemical Evaluation of Basalt Rocks, N Jordan, The 10th International Conference of Jordanian Geologists Association and the 7th International Symposium on Middle East Geology, Amman, Jordan
  • Abu-Mahfouz, I.S, Al-Malabeh, A., Rababeh, Sh. 2016. Geo-engineering evaluation of Harrat Irbid Basaltic Rocks, Irbid District—North Jordan. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9, 5, 1-11. DOI:10.1007/s12517-016-2428-4

Awards & Honors

  • Member of the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, EAGE, (Feb 2023 – Present).
  • Member, American Rock Mechanics Association, ARMA (June 2022-Present).
  • Member, the International Society for Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering, ISRM (June 2022-Present).
  • Member, Oxford Geology Group, OGG, OUGG (2016-Present).
  • Member, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, AAPG (2015-Present).
  • Member, the Geological Society of London, GSL (2015-Present).
  • Science Ambassador at Science Oxford (2014-2018).
  • Member, Jordan Geologists Association, JGA (2008-Present).
Tel: +966 (013) 860 2698

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2159

Dr. Korhan Ayranci

Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences

Dr. Ayranci completed his B.S. and M.S. degrees at the Geological Engineering Dept., Akdeniz University, Turkey. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the Earth Science Department, Simon Fraser University, Canada. Following his Ph.D. he joined the research group of Dr. Nick Harris at the University of Alberta, Canada, as a Post-doctoral fellow and later became a Research Associate at the same department. He focuses on sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, and forward stratigraphic modeling of unconventional reservoirs.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Sedimentology and Stratigraphy / Earth Sciences Department, Simon Fraser University, Canada (2009-2014)
  • M.S., Sedimentology / Geological Engineering Department, Akdeniz University, Turkey (2006-2009)
  • B.S. (honors), Geological Engineering Department, Akdeniz University, Turkey (2002-2006)

Research Interests

  • Sedimentological and ichnological characterization of deep- and shallow-water deltaic settings
  • Mudstone depositional environments
  • High-resolution sequence stratigraphic applications in unconventional reservoirs
  • Applications of forward stratigraphic modeling in unconventional reservoirs and deltaic settings

Selected Publications

  • Ayranci, K. and Dashtgard, S.E., 2020. Deep-Water Renewal Events; Insights into Deep Water Sediment Transport Mechanisms. Scientific Reports, 10(1): 6139.
  • Ayranci, K., Harris, N. and Dong, T., 2018. Sedimentological and ichnological characterization of the Middle to Upper Devonian Horn River Group, British Columbia, Canada: Insights into mudstone depositional conditions and processes below storm wave base. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 88(1): 1-23.
  • Ayranci, K., Harris, N.B. and Dong, T., 2018. High resolution sequence stratigraphic reconstruction of mud-dominated systems below storm wave base; A case study from the Middle to Upper Devonian Horn River Group, British Columbia, Canada. Sedimentary Geology, 373: 239-253.
  • Dong, T., Harris, N.B., Ayranci, K., Twemlow, C.E. and Nassichuk, B.R., 2017. The impact of composition on pore throat size and permeability in high maturity shales: Middle and Upper Devonian Horn River Group, northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 81: 220-236.
  • Ayranci, K. and Dashtgard, S.E., 2016. Asymmetrical deltas below wave base: Insights from the Fraser River Delta, Canada. Sedimentology, 63(3): 761-779.
  • Ayranci, K., Dashtgard, S.E. and MacEachern, J.A., 2014. A quantitative assessment of the neoichnology and biology of a delta front and prodelta, and implications for delta ichnology. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 409(0): 114-134.
  • Ayranci, K., Lintern, D.G., Hill, P.R. and Dashtgard, S.E., 2012. Tide-supported gravity flows on the upper delta front, Fraser River delta, Canada. Marine Geology, 326–328(0): 166–170.

Awards & Honors

  • President’s Ph.D. Scholarship, Simon Fraser University (2013).
  • Best Poster Award, the Third International Congress on Ichnology (Ichnia 2012).
  • CSPG University Student Event Grant (2012).
  • Travel Grant, International Ichnological Association (IIA, 2012).
  • Graduate Fellowship, Simon Fraser University (2012, 2011).
  • Graduate Entrance Scholarship, Simon Fraser University (2009).
  • Second position in intern student report competition, Turkey (2004).
Tel: +966 (013) 860-3265

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2217

Dr. Hassan Eltom

Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences

Dr. Eltom is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geosciences. His research focuses on carbonate sedimentology, chemostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, and diagenesis, the processes that control the quality of hydrocarbon reservoirs. His major area of interest is to understand pore system in carbonate reservoirs, particularly carbonate with complex large pores (cavern, vuggy, breccia, and burrow porosity). Dr. Eltom interdisciplinary research integrates geological, geophysical, petrophysical, geostatistical, and reservoir simulation data to quantitatively address questions regarding controls on flow properties of carbonate with large pores. Dr. Eltom has several publications in refereed journals and conferences. He worked with Schlumberger overseas as a geologist for four years (2006 – 2010), with KFUPM as lecturer and researcher for four years (2010 – 2014), and with Kansas Interdisciplinary Carbonates Consortium (KICC) – the University of Kansas as Post-doc for five years (2014 – 2019).

Educational Qualification

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Geology, 2013 – King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
  • Master of Science (M.S.), Geology, 2007 – King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Geology and Chemistry, 2001 – University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

Research Interests

  • Understanding flow properties in carbonates with complex pore systems.

Selected Publications

  • Eltom, H.A., Limitation of laboratory measurements in evaluating rock properties of bioturbated strata: A case study of the Upper Jubaila Member in Central Saudi Arabia, 20 December, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2019.105573 
  • Eltom, H.A., Rankey, E.C., Hasiotis, S.T., and Barati, R., 2019. Effect of bioturbation on petrophysical properties: Insights from geostatistical and flow simulation modeling. Marine and Petroleum Geology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.03.019
  • Eltom H.A., and Hasiotis S.T., 2019. Lateral and vertical trends of preferred flow pathways associated with bioturbated carbonate: examples from Middle to Upper Jurassic strata, central Saudi Arabia. In McNeill D, Harris PM, Rankey E, Hsieh J (Editors). Carbonate Pore Systems: New Developments and Case Studies, Special Publication 112: SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), Tulsa, Oklahoma. DOI: 10.2110/sepmsp.112.05
  • Eltom, H.A., Gonzalez, L.A., Hasiotis, S.T., Rankey, E.C., and Cantrell, D.L., 2018, Paleogeographic and paleo-oceanographic influences on carbon isotope signatures: Implications for global and regional correlation, Middle-Upper Jurassic of Saudi Arabia: Sedimentary Geology, v. 364, p. 89-102.
  • Eltom, H.A., Rankey, E.C., Hasiotis, S.T., Gonzalez, L.A., and Cantrell, D.L., 2017, Impact of upwelling on heterozoan, biosiliceous, and organic-rich deposits: Jurassic (Oxfordian) Hanifa Formation, Saudi Arabia: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 87, p. 1235-1258.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., and Babalola, L.O., 2017, The elemental geochemistry of Lower Triassic shallow-marine carbonates from central Saudi Arabia: Implications for redox conditions in the immediate aftermath of the latest Permian mass extinction: Journal of African Earth Sciences. v. 139, p. 283-306.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., and Babalola, L.O., 2017, Redox conditions through the Permian-Triassic transition in the upper Khuff Formation, Saudi Arabia: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 472, p. 203-215.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., Babalola, L.O., Bashari, M.A., Yassin, M., Osman, M.S., and Abdulraziq, A.M., 2017, Integration of facies architecture, ooid granulometry and morphology for prediction of reservoir quality, Lower Triassic Khuff Formation, Saudi Arabia: Petroleum Geoscience, v. 23, p. 177-189.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., Makkawi, M.H., and Eltoum, I.-E.A., 2017, Rare earth element geochemistry of shallow carbonate outcropping strata in Saudi Arabia: Application for depositional environments prediction: Sedimentary Geology, v. 348, p. 51-68.
  • Eltom, H.A., Kubur, A.K., Abdulraziq, A.M., Babalola, L.O., Makkawi, M.H., and Abdullatif, O.M., 2017, Three-dimensional outcrop reservoir analog model: A case study of the Upper Khuff Formation oolitic carbonates, central Saudi Arabia: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, v. 150, p. 115-127.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., Babalola, L., Bashari, M., Yassin, M., Osman, M., and Abdulraziq, A., 2016, Geochemical characterization of the Permian–Triassic transition at outcrop, central Saudi Arabia: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 39, p. 95-113.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M.., Makkawi, M., Al-Ramadan, K., and Abdulraziq, A., 2015, Porosity evolution within high-resolution sequence stratigraphy and diagenesis framework: outcrop analog of the upper Jurassic Arab-D reservoir, Central Saudi Arabia: Arabian Journal of Geosciences, v. 8, p. 1669-1690.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., Makkawi, M., and Abdulraziq, A., 2014, Characterizing and modeling the Upper Jurassic Arab-D reservoir using outcrop data from Central Saudi Arabia: GeoArabia, v. 19, p. 53-84.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., Makkawi, M., and Abdulraziq, A., 2013, Microporosity in The Upper Jurassic Arab‐D carbonate reservoir, central Saudi Arabia: An outcrop analogue study: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 36, p. 281-297.
  • Eltom, H.A., Abdullatif, O.M., Makkawi, M., and Yasin, M., 2013, Integration of spectral gamma-ray and geochemical analyses for the characterization of the upper Jurassic Arab-D carbonate reservoir: outcrop analogue approach, central Saudi Arabia: Petroleum Geoscience, v. 19, p. 399-415.
  • Eltom, H.A., Makkawi, M., Abdullatif, O.M., and Alramadan, K., 2013, High-resolution facies and porosity models of the upper Jurassic Arab-D carbonate reservoir using an outcrop analogue, central Saudi Arabia: Arabian Journal of Geosciences, v. 6, p. 4323-4335

Awards & Honors

  • Best graduate student (2013). Earth Science Department KFUPM
Tel: + 966 (013) 860-2621

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2137

Dr. Wei Zhou

Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences

Dr. Zhou is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geosciences of CPG. Before joining KFUPM, he was a research associate at the Univ. of Texas at Dallas from 2018 to 2020, and was a researcher at the Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Univ. Grenoble Alpes in France from 2020 to 2022. His research interest includes seismic data processing and imaging, full waveform modeling and inversion, time-lapse (4D) seismic monitoring, machine learning and high-performance computing.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Geophysics, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, France, 2016.
  • M.E., Geophysics, Univ. Chinese Academy of Sciences, IGGCAS, China, 2012.
  • B.E., Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Beijing Normal University, China, 2009

Research Interests

  • Seismic data processing, Seismic imaging
  • Full wavefield modeling and inversion, FWI
  • Time-lapse (4D) seismic monitoring
  • Machine learning, Neural networks
  • High-performance computing

Selected Publications

  • Zhou W. and D. Lumley. Non-repeatability Effects on Time-Lapse 4D Seismic Full Waveform Inversion for Ocean-Bottom Node Data. Geophysics, 86(4):1–60, 2021.
  • Zhou W. and D. Lumley. Central-difference time-lapse 4D seismic full-waveform inversion. Geophysics, 86(2):R161–R172, 2021.
  • Zhou W., R. Brossier, S. Operto, J. Virieux, and P. Yang. Velocity model building by waveform inversion of early arrivals and reflections: A 2D case study with gas-cloud effects. Geophysics, 83(2):R141–R157, 2018.
  • Virieux J., A. Asnaashari, R. Brossier, L. Métivier, A. Ribodetti, and W. Zhou. An introduction to full waveform inversion. In Encyclopedia of exploration geophysics, pages R1–1. Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 2017.
  • Zhou W., R. Brossier, S. Operto, and J. Virieux. Full waveform inversion of diving & reflected waves for velocity model building with impedance inversion based on scale separation. Geophysical Journal International, 202(3):1535–1554, 2015
Tel: +966 (013) 860-5239

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2135

Dr. Simone Pilia

Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences

My research focuses on observational seismology. I specialize in extracting information from seismic records in order to understand local and lithospheric structure. I use active and passive seismic tomography coupled with cutting-edge inversion methods, and have enough knowledge of tectonic processes to get me into trouble during interpretation of seismic images. I possess a vast and inter-disciplinary core skill-set, ranging from extensive experience in configuring and deploying seismic networks, deep grasp of how to process/model seismic data, sharp understanding of tectonic processes and ability to run and draw inferences from geodynamic simulations.
I graduated with a PhD from the Research School of Earth Sciences (ANU) in 2014, after which I moved to the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi to work on a collaborative project with the University of Oxford. I then held a prestigious, independent Marie Curie fellowship at the University of Cambridge, which followed an equally prestigious NERC independent fellowship. After four years at the University of Cambridge, I moved to the University of Milano-Bicocca in 2021, and finally joined KFUPM in early 2023.

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Earth Physics – Australian National University (Australia), 2014
  • M.S., Exploration Geophysics – University of Pisa (Italy), 2009
  • B.S., Earth Sciences – University of Cagliari (Italy), 2006

Research Interests

  • Active and passive seismic tomography
  • Structural and dynamic evolution of the Earth
  • Geodynamic simulations of lithospheric instabilities

Selected Publications

  • Pilia S. et al. (2023) Post-subduction tectonics induced by extension from a lithospheric drip. Nature Geoscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01201-7 
  • Volk O., White R. S., Pilia S., Green R. G., Maclennan J., Rawlinson N. (2021) Oceanic crustal flow in Iceland observed using seismic anisotropy. Nature Geoscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00702-7
  • Ali M. Y., Watts A. B., Searle M. P., Keats B. S., Pilia S. and Ambrose T. (2020) Geophysical imaging of ophiolite structure in the United Arab Emirates. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16521-0
  • Pilia S., Jackson J., Hawkins R., Kaviani A. and Ali M. Y. (2020) The southern Zagros collisional orogen: new insights from transdimensional-trees inversion of seismic noise. Geophysical Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086258
  • Pilia S., Rawlinson N., Cayley R. A., Bodin T., Musgrave R., Reading A. M., Direen N. G., and Young M. K. (2015) Evidence of micro-continent entrainment during crustal accretion, Scientific Reports – Nature. doi:10.1038/srep08218

Extended Publications (+)

  • Pilia S., Rawlinson N., Hall R., Cornwell D.G., Gilligan A. and Tongkul F. (2023) Seismic signature of subduction termination from teleseismic P-and S-wave arrival-time tomography: The case of northern Borneo. Gondwana Research https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.11.014
  • Ismaiel M., Ali M.Y., Pilia S., Watts A.B., Searle M.P. (2023) Moho topography and crustal properties in the UAE and northern Oman mountain belt from teleseismic receiver functions. Geophysical Journal International https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggad034
  • Linang H.T., Pilia S., Rawlinson N., Bacon C.A., Gilligan A., Cornwell D.G. and Tongkul F. (2022) Collision‐induced subduction polarity reversal explains the crustal structure of northern Borneo: New results from Virtual Deep Seismic Sounding (VDSS). Geophysical Research Letters https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099123
  • Bacon C., Rawlinson N., Pilia S., Gilligan A., Wehner D., Cornwell D. and Tongkul F. (2022) The signature of lithospheric anisotropy at post-subduction continental margins: new insight from XKS splitting analysis in northern Borneo. Geoph. Geosys. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010564
  • Geng M., Ali M.Y., Derek F., Pilia S., Bouzidi Y., Barkat B. (2022) Hormuz salt distribution in the United Arab Emirates: Implications for the location of hydrocarbon fields. Marine and Petroleum Geology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105797
  • Geng M., Ali M.Y., Derek F., Pilia S., Bouzidi Y., Barkat B. (2022) Crustal structure of the United Arab Emirates and northern Oman Mountains from constrained 3D inversion of gravity and magnetic data: the Moho and basement surfaces. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2022.105223
  • Greenfield T., Gilligan A., Pilia S., Cornwell D., Tongkul F., Widiyantoro S., Rawlinson N. (2022) Post-subduction tectonics of Sabah, northern Borneo, inferred from surface wave tomography. Geophysical Research Letters.
  • Pilia S., Kaviani A., Searle M., Arroucau P., Ali M. Y. and Watts A. B. (2021) Crustal and mantle deformation inherited from obduction of the Semail ophiolite (Oman) and continental collision (Zagros). Tectonics. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006644
  • Pilia S., Ali M. Y., Searle M. P., Watts A. B., Lu C and Thompson D. (2021) Crustal structure of the UAE-Oman mountain range and Arabian rifted passive margin: new constraints from active and passive seismic methods. Journal of Geophysical Research. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB021374
  • Núñez, D., Acosta-Hernández, J.A., Escalona-Alcázar F., Pilia S., Núñez-Cornú, Javier F. and Córdoba D. (2021) The Extended Continental Crust West of Islas Marías (Mexico). Frontiers in Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.666272
  • Kaviani A., Mahmoodabadi M., Rümpker G., Pilia S., Nilfouroushan F., Moradi A., Tatar M. and Ali M. (2021) Mantle-flow diversion beneath the Iranian plateau induced by Zagros’ lithospheric keel. Scientific Reports – Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-81541-9
  • Pilia S., Hu H., Ali M. , Rawlinson N. and Ruan A. (2020) Upper mantle structure of the northeastern Arabian Platform from teleseismic body wave tomography. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2020.106549.
  • Kaviani A., Paul A., Moradi A., Mai P. M, Pilia S., Boschi L., Rümpker G., Lu Y., Tang Z. and Sandvol E. (2020) Crustal and uppermost mantle shear-wave velocity structure beneath the Middle East from surface-wave tomography. Geophysical Journal International. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa075.
  • Pilia S., Rawlinson N., Gillighan E. and Tongkul F. (2019) Deciphering the fate of plunging tectonic plates in Borneo, Eos,https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EO123475.
  • Crowder E., Rawlinson N., Pilia S., G. Cornwell and Reading A. (2019) Transdimensional ambient noise tomography of Bass Strait reveals the sedimentary basin and deep crustal structure beneath a failed continental rift. Geophysical Journal International. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggz057.
  • Rawlinson N., Davies D.R. and Pilia S. (2017) The mechanisms underpinning Cenozoic intraplate volcanism in eastern Australia: Insights from seismic tomography and geodynamic modeling. Geophysical Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074911
  • Pilia S., Arroucau P., Rawlinson N., Reading A. M. and Cayley R. A. (2016) Inherited crustal deformation along the East Gondwana margin revealed by seismic anisotropy tomography, Geophysical Research Letters. doi: 1002/2016GL071201
  • Rawlinson N., Pilia S., Young M., Salmon M. and Yang Y. (2016) Crust and upper mantle structure beneath southeast Australia from ambient noise and teleseismic tomography, Tectonophysics. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2015.11.034.
  • Pilia S., Ali M. Y., Watts A. B. and Searle M. P. (2015) UAE-Oman mountains give clues to oceanic crust and mantle rocks,  doi:10.1029/2015EO040937
  • Balfour N., Cummins P., Pilia S. and Love D. (2015) Localization of Intraplate Deformation through Fluid-assisted Faulting in the Lower-Crust: The Flinders Ranges, South Australia, Tectonophysics. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2015.05.014
  • Pilia S., Rawlinson N., Direen N., Reading A., Cayley R., Pryer L., Arroucau P., Duffett M. (2014) Linking mainland Australia and Tasmania using ambient noise tomography: implications for the tectonic evolution of the eastern Gondwana margin, Gondwana Research. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2014.09.014.
  • Pilia S., Rawlinson N., Direen N., Cummins P. and Balfour N. (2013) Structural controls on localized intraplate deformation and seismicity in southern Australia: insights from local earthquake tomography of the Flinders Ranges, Journal of Geophysical Research. doi: 10.1002/jgrb.50168.

Awards & Honors

  • 2018 – Marie Curie Independent fellowship (Among most competitive and prestigious European awards to support most promising scientists. Awarded for outstanding track record and high-impact research plans (€200k)
  • 2017 – NERC Independent fellowship (Award for most talented national and international researchers to undertake new innovation- and industry-oriented research (£430k)
  • 2012 – Best PhD project from Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA)
  • 2011 – Best young geophysicist in Australia from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
  • 2010 – International student PhD scholarship from Australian National University
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