Petrography & Scanning Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0012

The petrographic laboratory houses multiple state-of-the-art binocular stereo- and optical-petrographic microscopes (Olympus). All microscopes are equipped with high-definition cameras linked to imaging software for capturing thin-section photomicrographs. Such facilities allow geologists to study rock slabs, core plugs, and petrographic thin sections to study rock fabrics, mineralogical composition, textures, microstructures, and pore types and conduct pore visual estimates. Such information can be applied in hydrocarbon source rock, reservoir and aquifer characterization, and mineral exploration.

Contact: Dr. Lamidi O. Babalola & Abdullah M. Alqubalee for more info.

Fluid Thermo Physical Properties Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2010

This is an oil and gas laboratory for the measurement and analysis of advanced fluids such as crude oil, and supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) or modified supercritical CO₂. Experimental studies on complex fluids in this laboratory are targeted toward characteristics of conventional and unconventional reservoir fluids and scCO₂, at high temperatures and high pressure for heavy oil recovery and scCO₂ storage in depleted oil reservoirs and a good understanding of the reaction kinetics and mechanism between the stimulation fluid such scCO₂ and reservoir rock. The PVT and RDA systems are the two major pieces of equipment for characterizing fluid samples in this laboratory. In addition, an HTHP viscometer can be used in this Lab to measure the viscosity of crude oil, scCO2, and the mixture of crude oil and scCO₂

Contact: Xianmin Joe Zhou for more info.

Analytical Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 1015

The Analytical Laboratory provides expert analytical testing and characterization services to the CPG-CIPR research community using a wide range of advanced analytical instruments. Available facilities include an ICP-OES, GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC-ELSD, FT-IR, particle size analyzer, TGA, and a refractometer. These advanced techniques are employed to analyze a broad range of materials hereunder petroleum (crude oil and other hydrocarbon products), gas, oil field chemicals (polymers, surfactants), rock/clay, and petroleum fluids (brine and produced water).

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
LC-MS is an analytical technique that combines the physical separation capabilities of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with the additional capabilities of MS/MS mass spectrometry. The latter enables the determination of molecular weights and complex structures via the mass selection with one mass analyzer and mass characterization with a subsequent one (MS/MS). The chromatographic columns in place can separate multicomponent mixtures and there it is possible to provide the structural identity of the individual components on a molecular level.

HPLC-Evaporative Light Scattering Detection (HPLC-ELSD)
Another HPLC system in the laboratory is connected to an Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD) that enables all materials to be detected that can pass through the HPLC column. This setup is being used to quantify surfactants in experiments involving various forms of adsorption to rocks.

Contact: Dr. Kion Norrman for more info.

Fluid Characterization Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 1016

This laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment required to assess the performance of chemicals and their interactions used in enhanced oil recovery such as surfactants and polymers at reservoir conditions. Drop shape analyzers and interfacial equipment are available for the characterization of solid-liquid and liquid-liquid interfacial properties at different conditions. The lab facility is also equipped with state of art HPFA High-Pressure Foam Analyzer from Kruss. This is the world’s only measuring instrument for simultaneously analyzing the amount and structure of liquid foams under high pressure high temperature. The instrument provides various options for investigating foam behavior under the real process conditions of foam-assisted flooding methods in EOR as well as hydraulic fracturing.

Contact: Dr. Muhammad S. Kamal,  Ahmed Mahboob & Mobeen Murtaza for more info.

Synthetic Chemistry Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 1014

This laboratory is dedicated to the synthesis of alkaline, surfactants, polymers, chelating agents etc. The synthesized products have different oil field applications including acid diversion, well stimulation, and enhanced oil recovery. The laboratory has recently been renovated with two well-ventilated fume hoods to provide personal protection against toxic vapors, fumes, and dust. The laboratory is fully equipped with the required chemicals, solvents, ordinary supplies, and glassware for the synthesis of products.

Contact: Dr. Syed M. Shakil Hussain,  Dr. Muhammad S. Kamal & Mobeen Murtaza for more info.

Nano CT / Micro CT Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0003

The lab has the capability of imaging and digitization of rock samples using micro-CT scanner: Zeiss VersaXRM-500 X-ray micro-CT scanner (True Spatial Resolution™ > 0.7μm). Micro-CT imaging enables assessment of the internal structure of the rock samples and their pore systems at various resolutions 1–50 micrometer. Micro-CT imaging provides us with a representation of the rock sample for reference and future use in digital rock physics studies.

Contact: Syed R. Hussaini for more info.

Advanced Petrophysics Laboratory-A

Location: Building 78, Room 3053

NMR rock analysis provides information about important properties of the rock, such as: Porosity, Effective porosity; BVI, CBW, FFI; Permeability relationship; Pore size distribution; Hydrocarbon typing; Viscosity; Total liquid volume (oil + water); Tortuosity (by way of diffusion); Wettability; and Diffusion distribution. CIPR currently hosts Oxford Instruments' Geospec2-75, operating at 2.2 MHz frequency with the capability of testing cylindrical samples of up to 2” diameter.

It is complemented by the GIT Systems Advanced software which allows simple repeatable experiments as well as a set of advanced state of the art NMR applications. An overburden cell is also being purchased to perform NMR measurements at reservoir conditions.

Contact: Dr. Abdulrauf Adebayo, Rahul S. Babu and Suaibu O. Badmus for more info.

Advanced Petrophysics Laboratory-B

Location: Building 78, Room 3054

The advanced petrophysics laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that allow fundamental studies of rock properties and their interaction with reservoir fluids. The list of equipment includes a bench top and a high pressure-high temperature electrical resistivity and capillary pressure apparatus, gas sorption analyzer, a low field (2.2 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance core analyzer, humidity oven, spontaneous drainage and imbibition cells, and a specially built Coreflood apparatus coupled with axially distributed electrical resistivity and pressure sensors that are used to monitor flow behavior of fluids in long core samples (3 ft long). This set of apparatus allows advanced petrophysical studies of conventional & unconventional rocks (such as tight sands and shales) and flow behavior of complex fluids (such as foam, sCO₂, emulsion) in rocks. Experiments can be done at ambient and reservoir conditions.

Contact: Dr. Abdulrauf Adebayo, Rahul S. Babu and Suaibu O. Badmus for more info.

Rock Mechanics Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 1010

The rock mechanics lab is equipped with the state of the art facilities for testing the mechanical properties of rock samples. The following tests can be conducted at ambient and reservoir conditions: dynamic test (compressional and shear waves), unconfined compression test (UCS), triaxial test (drained, undrained, jacketed, single stage, multi-stage, hydrostatic compression), rock compressibility, and others. 

• AutoLab 1500: High pressure triaxial system for measuring both static and dynamic geomechanical properties as well as resistivity at reservoir pressures up to 70 MPa (10,000 psi).
• AutoLab 500: Manually operated hydrostatic system for measurements of compressional and shear wave velocities at reservoir pressures up to 70 MPa (10,000 psi).
• Benchtop Velocity: Measurements of compressional and shear wave velocities at ambient pressure.
• BenchLab 7000: Designed to measure petrophysical rock properties at reservoir pressures in a compact modular setup.  Properties measured include porosity, permeability, low permeability, and electrical resistivity at confining pressures up to 10,000 psi (70 MPa) with gas or liquid pore fluids. 
• COMSOL Multiphysics simulation of rock mechanics stress strain lab experiments based on advanced numerical methods. 
• Advanced Resistivity ARS-300: 4 electrode resistivity measuring system for ambient and reservoir pressure conditions.  
• Proceq Pundit: Portable ultrasound pulse velocity measuring system to analyze rock sample properties using a frequency range 20 to 500 kHz. 
• CAMSIZER X2: Particle size and shape analyzer with a wide measuring range for grain sizes using dynamic image analysis.

Contact: Dr. Ammar El-Husseiny or Saud Al-Dughaimi or Taqi Alzaki for more info.

Laboratory for Advanced Reservoir experimental studies

Location: Building 78, Room 1009

This laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment required to assess the performance in second and tertiary oil recoveries by seawater, carbonate water, chemical solution ( surfactants and polymer solutions), foaming, and supercritical CO₂ injection at reservoir conditions. Several apparatus are located in this lab, including a dual-core core flooding apparatus, CO₂/N₂ foaming rheometer, X-Ray relative permeability apparatus, apparatus for Phase Behavior/Compatibility Study, Centrifuges, and modified core flooding apparatus. All apparatus in this Lab is applied to work at high temperatures and high pressure.

Dual-core core flooding apparatus: Two core holders with different lengths are installed in a controlled-temperature oven and can be placed horizontally, vertically, and 60^o degrees in between. The length of the testing core sample is 45cm and 25cm, respectively. The apparatus can be used to conduct that single-phase fluid is injected simultaneously into both core samples in the core holders with the same injection flow rate or two fluids are injected individually into each core sample with different injection flow rates. The apparatus is applied to study oil recovery and its impact related to waterflooding, chemical injection, and ScCO₂ miscible and immiscible displacements and scCO₂ storage study. The maximum temperature is up to 150^oC and confining pressure and pore pressure are 10,000psi and 6,000psi, respectively.

X-Ray relative permeability apparatus: The apparatus can be used to measure relative permeability for water/oil. Gas/oil, gas/water, and water or oil/scCO₂ systems at HTHP conditions. The X-Ray core holder can be placed horizontally, or vertically and at any angle. The steady-state and unsteady-state relative permeability of the two-phase flow can be measured and the experiment regarding oil recovery and its impact by injecting any displacing agent can be conducted at HTHP conditions. The saturation profile can be measured in situ during the experiment. In addition, the experiment of scCO2 storage capacity and evaluation of caprock can be performed. The maximum temperature is up to 150^oC and confining pressure and pore pressure are 10,000psi and 6,000psi, respectively.

Apparatus for Phase Behavior/Compatibility Study: APBC-300 is a first-of-its-kind equipment designed by Eng. Xianmin Zhou. This equipment consists of four independently operated, fully visual HPHT Hastelloy cells connected to four accumulators which locate fluids and a moveable high-quality zoom microscope camera with analysis software. It can be used to study: phase behavior, emulsions, foaming, and solubility between water or crude oil and scCO₂ at reservoir conditions (maximum working pressure up to 10,000 psi and temperature of 150°C). In addition, the study on the modification of scCO2 with chemical solutions can be performed using this apparatus.

CO2/N2 foaming rheometer: The rheometer is used to measure the relationship between the shear rate and viscosity and evaluate the stability and bubble size of CO2/N2 foam at HTHP conditions. The shear rate is in the range of 0 to 1500 1/s. The foam generator is included in the rheometer for the Pre-generation of foam. The rheometer has an interface to connect to a core flooding apparatus for injecting qualified foam into the core plug for other research purposes. Designed to handle fluids and gases at temperatures up to 350°F, under a working pressure of up to 6,000 psi.

Contact: Redha Al-Abdrabalnahi for more info.

Routine Core Analysis Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0028

This lab is dedicated to measuring the capillary pressure as well as wettability state reservoir rock by using Roc-fluid Centrifuge. In addition to that, an Automated Porosimeter/Permeameter is used to measure Ø and k at higher pressure up to 10,000 psi, and another Porosimeter to measure Ø at ambient pressure.

Contact: Redha Al-Abdrabalnahi & Sarmad Z. Khan for more info.

Thin Section Preparation Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2060

This lab is dedicated for thin section preparation.

The laboratory is equipped with all kinds of equipment required for the preparation of thin sections, viz. Logitech (LP-30) polishing machine, Buehler PetroThin, Leco-MSX205 cutting machine, CS-10 cut-off saw, Microscope, and Fisher Isotemp Oven.

Contact: Fyl Louie Panoy for more info.

Stable Isotope Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 131

The stable isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur are used as tracers of processes in a wide array of fields including geology, geochemistry, planetary science, archeology, ecology, biology, medicine, and pharmaceuticals. This lab uses these light stable isotopes to investigate rock-forming processes, rock-water interaction, petroleum source rocks, and environmental geochemistry.

Contact: Dr. John Humphrey for more info.

Femtosecond Laser Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 132

A femtosecond is to a second roughly what a minute is to the age of the universe. In the femtosecond laser laboratory a pulsed laser is providing a time resolution of down to 90 fs with wavelengths in the range from 190 – 16000 nm.  This enables the study of molecular motions on the timescale that they take place. This is relevant when it comes to the characterization of the phenomena that gives for example emulsification and effectivity of tracers.

Contact: Dr. Theis Ivan Solling for more info.

Heavy Isotope and Element Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 134

The distribution of trace quantities of the elements in rocks and fluids can provide clues to their behavior through time. Heavy isotope systematics are key for constraining the age of rocks, timing of rock-forming episodes, and rates and durations of geological processes. Sensitive instrumentation in this lab can detect and measure nearly all the elements of the periodic table down to parts-per-quadrillion levels.

Contact: Dr. John D. Humphrey for more info.

Chemical Synthetic Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 140

This laboratory is dedicated to nanoparticles synthesis using a variety of wet chemistry methods including microwave synthesis method (Anton Parr Monowave 450 and CEM Explorer 12), solvothermal method, sol-gel method, combustion method, solution method, etc. This lab is also equipped with some nanomaterials processing and characterization equipment including a Netzsch MicoCer Laboratory Mill (to grind microscale particles to nanoscale particles), an Eppendorf Multipurpose Centrifuge (5810R), an Anton Parr Autosorb iQ Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analyzer, a Malvern Zetasizer (Nano ZS) system, a Cary 7000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer, and a Horiba Deutta fluorescence and absorbance spectrometer.

Contact: Dr. Zhengwei Pan or Dr. Yafei Chen for more info.

Furnace Based Material Synthetic Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 139

This laboratory is dedicated to materials synthesis using high-temperature methods. The lab contains four 1700 °C muffle furnaces for solid-state reaction synthesis in air, two tube furnaces (1200 °C, 1600 °C) for thermal evaporation and condensation synthesis in controlled atmosphere, and two 1200 °C muffle furnaces for heat treatment of materials. For the tube furnace synthesis, the reaction chamber pressure (1 – 750 Torrs), the type of carrier gases (N₂ or Ar) and its flow rates (1 sccm to 1000 sccm), the reaction temperature (up to 1500 °C), and the reaction duration (minutes to hours) can be preciously tuned and controlled.

Contact: Dr. Zhengwei Pan or Dr. Yafei Chen for more info.

Nanophotonics Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 142

This laboratory is dedicated to spectral characterization and imaging of luminescent materials. A series of state-of-the-art spectral and imaging systems are available in this lab. The spectral systems include a Horiba Nanolog spectrofluorometer equipped with a Xenon arc lamp, a PMT detector and an InGaAs detector (excitation: 180–900 nm; emission: 200–1700 nm); a Horiba H20-UVL VUV Fluo iHR equipped with a Deuterium lamp, a PMT detector and a CCD detector (excitation: 115–400 nm; emission: 200–1700 nm); a Princeton Instruments spectrograph system equipped with an Energetiq EQ-99 laser driven light source (LDLS), two HRS-500SS SpectraPro imaging spectrographs, a BLAZE 400HR CCD camera and a PIXIS: 2KBUV CCD camera; two Ocean Optics QE series fiber spectrometers; and a Princeton Instruments FERGIE Raman spectrograph. The imaging systems include a Perkin Elmer IVIS Lumina III imaging system equipped with Si CCD camera, a home-made SWIR imaging system equipped with a Princeton Instruments NIRvana: 640 InGaAs SWIR camera, an Ofil DayCor LuminarHD corona camera for UVC imaging, and a Rongland night vision monocular for NIR imaging. In addition, this lab also houses a NewPort LCS-100 solar simulator, a series of power-tunable laser diodes (405–980 nm), a MOXTEK mini X-ray tube, NewPort power meters, and other light sources and optical components.

Contact: Dr. Zhengwei Pan or Dr. Yafei Chen for more info.

Microfluids Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 235

The microfluidic lab is dedicated to visualizing the multiphase flow in porous media under conditions from ambient to high pressure and high temperature. The applications include enhanced oil recovery (e.g., gas flooding, surfactant flooding, and supercritical CO₂ flooding), CO₂ geological sequestration, etc. The high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) microfluidic system is rated for 20,000 psi and 150 °C and allows for the injection of three fluids. This lab is also equipped with a whole glass micromodel fabrication system for testing micromodels with various structures. 

Contact: Dr. Wei Yu for more info.

Produtivity Enhancement Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2011

Productivity enhancement laboratory is addressing issues of reaction kinetics, diffusion, interfacial phenomena, and phase changes associated with applications of reactive fluids (acids, emulsified acids), phase behavior (gas Hydrate, gas storage) and complex fluids (viscoelastic surfactant, gels, foam, emulsion) in real reservoir condition. The lab has good facilities that include of: High pressure Anton Paar rheometer MCR 702, High pressure and temperature drop shape analyzer, microfluidic set up, High pressure and low temperature sapphire rocking cell and Alta-HP hydrate equipment. 

Contact: Jafar S. AlHamad for more info.

Fracturing Evaluation Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2014

Evaluate the potential of chemicals and proppants when applied to hydraulic fracturing. The interaction between fracturing materials and rocks is measured in terms of created/retained fracture and matrix permeability, as well as fracture surface roughness. Using multiple mechanical testers to assess mechanical rock properties at both macro and nanoscale. Rheology testing of potential formulations for hydraulic fracturing.

Contact: Murtada AlJawad for more info.

Subsurface Storage & Recovery

Location: Building 78, Room 2016

Precise laboratory screening of surfactants for the ability to generate ultra-low IFT in oil/brine systems is a pre-cursor to laboratory core-flooding and field applications. Screening is judged in our lab through visualization of type III microemulsions in oil/brine systems and defining optimum salinity for surfactant slug  under reservoir conditions. Higher temperature and pressure and crude composition are considered during surfactant screening using high pressure rated sapphire cells which provide useful screening methods for higher temperature reservoirs.

In addition, CO2 and H2 subsurface storage applications are also investigated in this lab, for instance 1) the rock-gas interaction with pressure and temperature effects, and 2) the initial and residual saturation of the gas via core-flooding with salinity, rock type, pressure and temperature effects.

Contact: Dr. Khalid Zidan Abdelgawad Ibrahim and Dr. Ahmed Al-Yaseri for more info.

Advanced EOR Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2018 - 2019

Two core flooding apparatus are located in the labs and are used to evaluate the oil recovery factor by chemical flooding and scCO₂ injection and the dynamic adsorption of chemical solution, which is a displacing agent for tertiary oil recovery. The working temperature is up to 150^oC and the pore pressure is up to 6,000psi.

Contact: Xianmin J. Zhou & Redha AlAbdrabalnabi for more info.

MRI Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 3052

This laboratory is equipped with a multifrequency magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment that allows the study of magnetic relaxation pattern of different nuclei (H, F, C, Na) that occupy the pores of geological rock samples, after they have been subjected to various sequence of nuclear magnetization. With this, 2D and 3D internal images of rocks at sub-millimeter scale and the pattern of fluid displacement in them can be visualized. The equipment comes with an inbuilt proprietary software that incorporates modern pulse sequences and allows researchers to utilize it for fundamental and applied research pertinent to the vision and mission of the college.

Contact: Dr. Abdulrauf Adebayo and Rahul Salin for more info.

FIB-SEM Advanced Correlative Microscopy Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0006

The advance correlative microscopy laboratory (Building 78 Rooms 006 & 007) is currently undergoing rapid transformation with the installation of two new versatile high end microscopes for end to end high-resolution SEM imaging and material characterization at room temperature and in cryogenic conditions.

The FESEM is an ideal choice for imaging large fields of view with excellent image quality and fast-time-to-image. In addition, the presence and combinations of EDS, WDS and Micro-XRF analyzers on the FESEM offer the most comprehensive compositional and structural analysis of materials currently possible. The resolution achieved for both instrument during installation were 1.6 ± 0.3nm at 1kV and 0.9 ± 0.2nm at 10kV  using gold particles on carbon high resolution SEM calibration specimen.

The Laser-FIBSEM integrates a femtosecond laser for speed, a Ga+ beam for accuracy, and a SEM for high-resolution imaging to enable the fastest workflows. The isolated laser chamber prevents contamination of the electron column and detectors, while ensuring sample integrity with easy transfer between the SEM and laser chamber under vacuum.

The combination of the two instrument offers several application possibilities from advance study and imaging of kerogen bearing rocks to any requirement for milling nanostructures onto material samples and preparation of extremely large cross-sections; millimeters in width and depth, within a few minutes (up to 15 mio. µm³/s).  Also  we can perform slice-and-view destructive 3D imaging, observation of samples without the need for coating, TEM lamella preparation, precise sample surface polish at room temperature and in cryogenic conditions. Dr. Amao  is responsible for the daily operation of the lab.

Contact: Abduljamiu O. Amao for more info.

FIB-SEM 

Location: Building 15, Room 3206

FEI's Helios Nanolab is an Ultra High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Focused Ion Beam (FIB) technology, offering sub-nanometer resolution electron beam imaging over a large operating voltage range and 3D (volumetric) imaging with HR and UHR modes.

Helios is equipped with

• LMIS Ga Ion source
• Gas injection system with Platinum Deposition
• In-lens detector (TLD – SE, BSE)
• In-column SE detector (ICD)
• In-column BSE detector (MD)
• Everhart-Thornley SE detector (ETD)
• Retractable high contrast solid-state backscatter electron detector (CBS)
• High precision 5-axes Piezo stage
• On Column Plasma Cleaner

Contact: Nadeem Ahmed Syed for more info.

Nanoscopy Laboratory

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 133

The twin-head STED Nanoscope (Abberior Instruments) is an advanced optical microscope with a cutting-edge resolution of down to 20 nm. The super-resolution imaging is achieved by a technology known as stimulated emission depletion (STED), which led to the Noble Prize in Chemistry in 2014. When compared to other nanometer-resolution imaging methods, such as electron microscopes, STED is advantageous in studying the dynamics or reactions of wet samples. The customized twin-head design fits the challenging environment in petroleum and CO2 research.

Contact: Dr. Jack H. Y. Lo for more info.

ToF-SIM Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0031

The laboratory is equipped with a state-of-the-art TOF-SIMS M6 from IONTOF GmbH. TOF-SIMS (Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) provides (i) chemical surface characterization by detecting all elements and isotopes simultaneously with a detection limit range between ppm and ppb, (ii) 2D and 3D chemical imaging with a 50 nm resolution, and (iii) identifies organic materials on a molecular level. It is a surface technique for solid materials with a 1–2 nm information depth, but using FIB cutting or depth profiling the information depth increases to the micrometer range. Besides FIB the instrument is equipped with an argon cluster ion source and has MS/MS capabilities. This extremely versatile instrument has a broad range of applications. The instrument will be used for applications where it is important to identify/monitor organic materials on or in geo-related materials.

Contact: Dr. Kion Norrman for more info.

HP-HT Flow Loop

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 153

One of the distinguished facilities of the College to support research activities in the areas of multiphase flow/flow assurance/production technology in the upstream oil & gas industry. Equipped with state-of-the-art advanced instrument (Laser Doppler Anemometry, Particle Imaging Velocimetry, Isokinetic Sampling, Shear Stress & Corrosion Probes, and High-Speed High-Resolution Visualization). Capacity to handle gas/liquid, solid/liquid, liquid/liquid flow in a pipe diameter ranging from 1 inch to 4-inch diameter, 15 ft. to 45 ft. length, and 0^o to 90^o inclination. Accommodate various types of gases and liquids with flow velocity range from 0-10 ft/sec for liquid and 0-45 ft/sec for gases at high pressure up to 1500 psi and temperature of -12 to 180 ^oC.  

Contact: Mr. Rahul Salin Babu for more info.

Incubators/Cluster 2,3,4,5,6

Location: Building DTV-248 PEGTC, Room 220, 216, 212, 208, 204

As an integral part of the college objective the aim is to take basic research discoveries to the market.  Our incubator spaces are having that particular focus.  Currently, three technologies are being matured to reach at least the level of a minimum viable product.

Contact: Dr. Theis Ivan Solling for more info.

Quantitative Analysis Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2015

A research laboratory for graduate students where quantitative analysis of fluids is conducted. Analysis such as pH, conductivity, density, viscosity, etc. are measured. The Sapphire Rocking Cell is a laboratory instrument to research and test low-dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHI), corrosion inhibitors (KI), AA and KHI and also multi-phases.

Contact: Dr. Abdullah Sultan & Jafar Sadeq AlHamad for more info.

Productivity Enhancement Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2011

A new Faculty research Laboratory where experiments on core flooding, fracturing, acidizing, and enhanced gas recovery are investigated.

The laboratory is currently being equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment, with the objective of helping faculty funded projects, graduate thesis research work and undergraduate senior design research work.

Contact: Jafar Sadeq AlHamad for more info.

Cementing Research Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 3015

The oil well cementing laboratory at CPG KFUPM is research and teaching lab in which is prepared with all facilities needed by students and researchers for cement slurry preparation, conditioning, and testing. Different testing equipment are available in this lab to evaluate the properties of the cement slurry such as its rheology, filtration properties, and thickening time. The gelation properties could also be evaluated in this laboratory at room conditions or high pressure and high temperature situations. In addition to that the gas migration through the cement body could also be evaluated. This lab also incorporates facilities for cement cubes and cylinders preparation for the purpose of testing the properties of cement solidified sheath. Equipment for testing the cement compressive and tensile strength, evaluation of the cement interaction with other corrosive fluids such as CO2-saturated brines is also possible with the facilities provided in the cementing lab.

Contact: Dr. Salaheldin Elkatatny & Jabar AlJabri  for more info.

Drilling Fluid Research Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 3014

The performance evaluation of the various drilling fluid systems is a necessity to ensure optimum drilling operations. Hence, drilling fluids testing must be conducted to evaluate their properties, achieve the desired parameters, and determine the performance limitations. The drilling fluids laboratory is designed to serve both instructional and research purposes to undergraduate and graduate students. This laboratory is equipped with the most recently developed apparatuses that can provide various measurements on various mud systems at standard and high-pressure high-temperature conditions.

Contact: Dr. Salaheldin Elkatatny & Mobeen Murtaza for more info.

Advanced Core Flooding Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 1007

Contact: Assad A. Barri & Ammar AlRamadhan for more info.

Mineralogy & Optics Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2053

This is an essential teaching lab facility being used for core courses in Mineralogy and Optics, Petrology, Sedimentation, and Stratigraphy. This laboratory facility has been recently developed as a unique microscopy lab with Wi-Fi capable polarizing microscope for digital classrooms set up. With an integrated Wi-Fi router and streaming camera. To directly connect the polarizing microscopes in the lab to Labscope, and to share microscope images via Wi-Fi to HD monitors or projectors with the entire classroom.

Students laboratory work and exercises include studies of common rock-forming minerals using a polarizing microscope, morphological crystallography using crystal models, and determination of mineral specimens by physical properties and using a hand lens, and recalculations of chemical analysis. Studies of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks in hand specimens and under the microscope, exercises on types, texture, and composition of common sedimentary rocks; core description; lithofacies map; facies analyses; correlation. Computer software will be used in stratigraphic column construction and data interpretation.

Contact: Syed Shahul Hamid for more info.

Physical and Historical Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2052

This is an essential laboratory facility used for Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Paleontology and Biostratigraphy courses. Students' Laboratory work and exercises concentrate on mineral and rock identification and classifications based on physical and chemical properties, examination of stratigraphic rock samples, index fossils, and their identification, lithostratigraphic correlation, paleoenvirnoments.

Introduction to macrofossils and microfossils, including basic aspects of taxonomic theory, classification, and principles of nomenclature. Interpretation of Topographic, paleogeographic and geological maps and cross-sections are tough with Particular emphasis on the industrial application of these forms to aid palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic determinations as applied primarily to oil and gas exploration and production.

Contact: Syed Shahul Hamid for more info.

Geophysical Teaching Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2055

The Geophysical Teaching Lab facility is being used in teaching Geophysical course like

• GEOP102 - Essentials of Geophysics
• GEOP215 - Introduction to Seismic Exploration
• GEOP304 - Gravity and Magnetic Exploration
• GEOP480 - Geophysics for Petro Engineers
• GEOL690 - Petrophysics and Well Log

During which Geophysical instruments and their field techniques are shown to students. The lab is used to display different geophysical instruments being used in the field in order to make some analysis, field investigation, and collect data in a large scale. The instruments like CG-5 Autograv Gravity Meter, Cesium and Proton Magnetometer System with Gradiometer Option and KMS-5100 Land CSEM transmitter etc. are being used.

Contact: Syed Shahul Hamid for more info.

Structural Geology Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 2054

This lab is basically used for the teaching of structural geology, remote sensing and aerial photograph interpretation.

Laboratory studies and exercises focus on the interpretation of geological maps and cross-sections and stereographic projection using Schmidt net.

Computer software will be used in directional data interpretation, manipulation, and diagram and graph construction.

Contact: Syed Shahul Hamid for more info.

Core Cutting Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0035

This laboratories is for cutting core samples from hard materials such as rock, concrete and etc.  Also they used to grind and polish concrete specimens, natural stones, ceramic materials, etc.

Contact: Alberto E. Lundang for more info.

Core Cleaning Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0029

Laboratory core cleaning procedures include different core cleaning solvents, establishment of initial water saturation by diverse techniques and processes of crude oil exposure that influence the final core wetting properties. In carbonate reservoirs, the acidic Polar Organic Components (POC) in crude oil are the main components dictating the wettability of the carbonate surface.

Contact: Alberto E. Lundang for more info.

Core Sampling Laboratory

Location: Building 78, Room 0036

Most core samples are obtained by drilling with special drills into the substance, such as sediment or rock, with a hollow steel tube, called a core drill. The hole made for the core sample is called the "core hole". A variety of core samplers exist to sample different media under different conditions.

Contact: Alberto E. Lundang for more info.

Machine Shop

Location: Building 78, Room 0027

A machine shop is a facility with equipment and supplies for machining, a process where parts are cut, fabricated, and finished to prepare them for use. Machine shops are used in the creation of new parts, as well as repairs of existing equipment and parts.

Contact: Alberto E. Lundang for more info.

Instrumentation Workshop

Location: Building 78, Room 0024

We verifies the working condition of the measuring instrument, while confirming that the laboratory is aware how much “error" there is in the measuring instrument's reading. In other words, calibration is a part of the process of confirming the validity of the results. Also we have a table top CNC machine for fabrication small  parts/accessories that need by the end-user.

Contact: Alberto E. Lundang for more info.