CPG

Dr. SanLinn I. Kaka

Tel: +966 (013) 860-8641
Fax: +966 (013) 860-2595

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2145/2212-1

Dr. SanLinn I. Kaka

Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator, CPG Student Affairs Office, Department of Geosciences

Dr. SANLINN I. KAKA received his Ph.D. degree in Earth Sciences from Carleton University,  Ottawa, Canada in 2006. Currently, he is a faculty member and graduate coordinator in the Department of Geosciences at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. His research interests are in the areas of engineering seismology, reservoir characterization and monitoring, ground-motions relations and near-surface geophysics. His recent research focuses on applications of microseismic monitoring systems, enhancement, detection and localization of microseismic events as well as understanding fracture growth and the role of pre-existing fractures during multi-stage hydraulic fracture stimulation of shale gas reservoirs

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 2006.

Research Interests

  • Applications of AI in Geophysics
  • Application of advanced signal processing techniques
  • Analysis of microseismic data for reservoir monitoring and characterization
  • Near surface geophysics
  • Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis & Empirical ground motion relations

Selected Publications

Extended Publications (+)

  • S L Kaka, “Stress Mechanism of Microseismic Events During Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation for Unconventional Hydrocarbon Reservoirs”, 82nd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition  (1), 1-14, 2020.
  • Sağır, Ç., Kurtuluş, B., Soupios, P., Ayrancı, K., Düztaş, E., Aksoy, M.E., Avşar, Ö.,Erdem, G.,  Pekkan, E., Canoğlu, M.C., Kaka, S.I., Razack, M, “Investigating the Structure of a Coastal Karstic Aquifer through the Hydrogeological Characterization of Springs Using Geophysical Methods and Field Investigation, Gökova Bay, SW Turkey”  Water   12, 3343, 2020.
  • Dmitry Alexandrov, Leo Eisner, Umair bin Waheed, SanLinn I. Kaka and Stewart Alan Greenhalgh, “Detection, location and source mechanism determination with large noise variations in surface microseismic monitoring”, Geophysics, 85 (6), 1-37, 2020.
  • Dmitry Alexandrov, Leo Eisner, SanLinn Kaka, Stewart Greenhalgh and Umair ben Waheed, “Normal faulting activated by hydraulic fracturing: A case study from the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin, Texas, USA” accepted, the Leading Edge, 39 (3), 204-211. 2020.
  • RC Sidle, B Jarihani, S L I Kaka, J Koci, A Al-Shaibani, “ Hydrogeomorphic processes affecting dryland gully erosion: Implications for modelling”, Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment 43 (1), 46-64, 2019.
  • RC Sidle, AM Al‐Shaibani, S L I Kaka, “Geomorphic hazards in south‐west Saudi Arabia: The human–environmental nexus”, Area 51 (4), 670-680, 2019.
  • N Iqbal, B Liu, M Deriche, A Al-Shuhail, S L Kaka, A Zerguine,  “Blind noise estimation and denoising filter for recovery of microquake signals”, Exploration Geophysics 50 (5), 502-513, 2019.
  • M Al‐Marzooq, MS Diallo, V Etienne, T Tonellot, S L I Kaka, “Mitigating the effects of sand dunes on seismic data from the Rub al Khali basin, Saudi Arabia”, Geophysical Prospecting 67 (7), 1825-1837, 2019.
  • AO Adelu, AA Aderemi, AO Akanji, OA Sanuade, S L I Kaka, O Afolabi, “Application of 3D static modeling for optimal reservoir characterization”, Journal of African Earth Sciences 152, 184-196, 2019.
  • N Iqbal, A . Zerguine, A. Al-Shuhail and S. Kaka, “Blind noise estimation and denoising filter for recovery of microquake signals”, Exploration Geophysics, 50 (5), 502-531, 2019.
  • Ashadi A and S. I. Kaka, “Ground-Motion Relations for Subduction-Zone Earthquakes in Java Island, Indonesia”, AJSE, 44 (1), 449-465,  2018.
  • Iqbal , E. Liu, J.H. McClellan, A. A. Al-Shuhail, S. I. Kaka and A . Zerguine “Detection and Denoising of Microseismic Events using Tensor Decomposition and Time-frequency Representation”, IEEE Access 6, 22993-23006, 2018.

Awards & Honors

  • Associate Professor/Graduate Coordinator (Geosciences) / Head, CPG Student Affairs
  • Scientific Advisory Board Member, Science and Technology for Exploration and Production Solutions (STEPS)
Tel: +966 (013) 860-7643 / 8317
Fax: +966 (013) 860-2595

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2131

Dr. Bassam S. Tawabini

Associate Professor, Department of Geosciences

Dr. Bassam has been an associate professor at Geosciences Department at CPG, KFUPM since 2007 in addition to his incumbency as an Acting Director, Environment and Sustainability Section, Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Dept. KFUPM since 2014. From 1987 till 2005 he had assumed the role of Senior Research Engineer, Center for Environment and Water (CEW), Research Institute, KFUPM. Between 2005 – 07 he was appointed as Manager of Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL), Center for Environment and Water (CEW), Research Institute, KFUPM.

Research Profile – Google Scholar

  • Citations        1033
  • h-index          15
  • i10-index       22

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ixanLJ4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6508032548

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0096-2723

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering (Water Resources & Environmental Engineering), KFUPM, KSA, 2002.
  • High Diploma, “Sustainable Development” Middle East University at Boston College, Boston, USA, 2001.
  • M.Sc., Civil Engineering, KFUPM, KSA, 1987.
  • B.Sc., (Hons.), Civil Engineering. KFUPM, KSA, 1984.

Research Interests

  • Investigating the fate of pollutants in the water, wastewater, marine, air, and soil
  • Assessment, monitoring, and treatment of water, soils, and air contaminated with hazardous pollutants.
  • Developing innovative treatment technologies for industrial wastewater using electrochemical –based treatment technologies.
  • Developing advanced oxidation and photocatalytic technologies for the ex-situ and in-situ remediation of groundwater contaminated with trace metals and hydrocarbons using the combination of UV, H2O2, TiO2, Cl2, and O3.
  • Developing novel nano-based synthetic adsorbents (i.e. Graphene, CNTs, CNFs, TiO2…etc.) and natural adsorbents (i.e. fly ash, sewage sludge) for the removal of pollutants from the environment.
  • Developing advanced technologies for remediation of contaminated sites with hydrocarbons and trace metals using bio-treatment and phytoremediation technologies
  • Developing novel for the removal of trace metals and hydrocarbons from contaminated environment.
  • Assessing the fate of the Disinfection By-products (DBPs) formation using chlorine (Cl2), ozone (O3), and chlorine dioxide (ClO2).
  • Assessing the spatial distribution of air pollutants (NOx, SOx, PMs, VOCs…etc.) and soil pollutants (heavy/trace metals) in the Arabian Gulf region.
  • Developing best practices and methods for the management of municipal, industrial and hazardous wastes.
  • Assessing the sustainable utilization of natural resources (i.e. water, soil, energy, minerals, and biota)

Selected Publications

  • Tawabini, Bassam, Alshahrani, Fawaz, Saleh, Tawfik, Alrayaan, Muhammad, Alaama, Subhi, Nasser, Rayan, Soupios, Pantelis, Kirmizakis, Panagiotis, Mahmoud, Mohamed. A Laboratory Study to Assess the Use of Biochar-Based Liquid Activated Carbon for the Removal of MTBE and Benzene from Contaminated Groundwater (2024). Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation J. Pages 19 – 21.
  • Adamu Kimayim Gaduwang, Bassam Tawabini, Israa S. Abu-Mahfouz, Ahmed Al-Yaseri. Assessing hydrogen production potential from carbonate and shale source rocks: Assessing hydrogen production potential from carbonate and shale source rocks: A geochemical investigation. Fuel 378 (2024) 132923.
  • Abid Khogali; Konstantinos Chavanidis; Alexandros Stampolidis; Panagiotis Kirmizakis; Mohamed Yassin; Israa S. Abu-Mahfouz; Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani; Pantelis Soupios; Bassam Tawabini. Subsurface complexity controls the aquifer heterogeneity: a case study from the Al-Hassa Oasis, Eastern Saudi Arabia. Groundwater for Sustainable Development. 27(101322). DOI: 10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101322
  • Barra Bokhari, Bassam Tawabini and Husam Baalousha (2024). A Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)-GIS Approach to Flood Susceptibility Mapping in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in Water-Water Resource Management. Volume 6 – 2024 https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2024.1388003.
  • Mohammed Benaafi, Ahmed M. Al-Areeq, Bassam Tawabini, Abdullah A. Basaleh, Abdullah Bafaqeer, John D. Humphrey & Isam H. Aljundi (2024). Combined Effects of Seawater Intrusion and Heavy Metal Pollution on the Groundwater Resources of Tarout Island, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Sci Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-024-09184-2. (ISI, Q2, IF 2.6).
  • Jawad Rafiq, Israa S Abu-Mahfouz, Pantelis Soupios, John D Humphrey, Bassam S Tawabini (2024). Hydrochemical Characterization, Geothermometry, and Origin of Ain Al-Harrah Hot Spring and Its Relationship to Al-Lith Geothermal System, Saudi Arabia. ACS Omega 2024 9 (23), 24807-24818. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01343
  • Mohamed Al-Harbi, Bassam Tawabini*, Mohammed Al-Farhan, Pantelis Soupios, Mohammed Farooqui, Abdullah Basaleh (2024). Mapping of uncontrolled dumpsites in arid regions through remote sensing and image processing. Waste Management & Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X241257098. June 2024. (ISI, Q1, IF 3.7).
  • Sinatrya D Prayudi, Bassam S Tawabini, Asmaa Korin, Michael A Kaminski (2024). Morphological deformities in benthic foraminiferal assemblages from shallow marine and lagoonal environments of the western Arabian Gulf. Journal of Foraminiferal Research. vol. 54, issue 3, pp. 290-308.
  • Sinatrya D Prayudi, Bassam S Tawabini, Abduljamiu O Amao, Asmaa Korin, Hafiz M Gull, Daffa Arrofi, Michael A Kaminski (2024). Survival of biocalcifying shallow-marine benthic organisms in the coastal areas of the Arabian Gulf under conditions of global warming: Is there a limit to their resilience?. Journal of Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. August 2024, doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112423.
  • SI Abba, Mohamed A Yassin, Mahmud M Jibril, Bassam Tawabini, Pantelis Soupios, Abid Khogali, Syed Muzzamil Hussain Shah, Jamilu Usman, Isam H Aljundi. Nitrate concentrations tracking from multi-aquifer groundwater vulnerability zones: Insight from machine learning and spatial mapping. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. Volume 184, April 2024, Pages 1143-1157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.02.041.
  • Mohammed Benaafi, Arya Pradipta, Bassam Tawabini, Ahmed M Al-Areeq, Abdullah Bafaqeer, John D Humphrey, Mazen K Nazal, Isam H Aljundi (2024). Suitability of treated wastewater for irrigation and its impact on groundwater resources in arid coastal regions: Insights for water resources sustainability. Heliyon 10 (8), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29320.
  • Mohammed Benaafi, S.I. Abba, Bassam Tawabini, Ismail Abdulazeez, Billel Salhi, Jamilu Usman, Isam H. Aljundi. Integrated clustering analysis for delineating seawater intrusion and heavy metals in Arabian Gulf Coastal groundwater of Saudi Arabia. Heliyon, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19784. (ISI, IF = 4, Q2).

US Patents:

  • 10,843,940. T Laoui, FA Olabemiwo, B Tawabini, M Khaled. Contaminant removal from water using polyelectrolyte coated fly ash.
  • 10167212. Jamal Amana and Bassam S. Tawabini. Continuous flow decontamination of an MTBE-contaminated aqueous liquid.
  • 10160675. Jamal Amana and Bassam S. Tawabini. Process for filtering and treating an MTBE-contaminated aqueous liquid.
  • 10125038. Jamal Amana and Bassam S. Tawabini. Treatment of Water Contaminated with MTBE Using UV/Chlorine Advanced Oxidation Process.
  • 10596546. Bassam S. Tawabini, Mutaz. A. Atieh, Faraj A. Abuilaiwi and Segun B. Adebayo. Doped silver nanoparticles on carbon fly ash for adsorption of methyl tertiary butyl ether.
  • 11305255 B2. B. S. Tawabini, M. A. Atieh, F. A. Olabemiwo, S. B . Adebayo. MTBE-Removal Composition with Acid-Treated Fly Ash Particles.
  • 11446632 B2 . Bassam S. Tawabini, Mutaz. A. Atieh, Faraj A. Abuilaiwi and Segun B. Adebayo. Silver Oxide Nanoparticle-Containing Fly Ash Adsorbent.

Extended Publications (+)

  • Sami Al-Rasheedi, Bassam Tawabini, Mazen Nazal, and Amjad B. Khalil. Application of Thermophilic Bacteria for the Treatment of Municipal Wastewaters. Arabian Journal of Science and Engineering. AJSE 47, 6881-6888 (2022).
  • Bassam Tawabini, Mohammed A. Yassin, Mohammed Benaafi, J. A. Adetoro, Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, S.I. Abba. Spatiotemporal variability assessment of trace metals based on Subsurface Water Quality Impact Integrated with Artificial Intelligence-Based Modeling. Sustainability, 2022, 14 (4), https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042192.
  • Panagiotis Kirmizakis, Bassam Tawabini, Omer Muhammad Siddiq, Dimitrios Kalderis, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Pantelis Soupios. Adsorption of Arsenic on Fe-modified Biochar and Monitoring Using Spectral Induced Polarization. Water 2022, 14(4), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14040563.
  • Arya Pradipta, Pantelis Soupios, Nektarios Kourgialas, Maria Doula, Zoi Dokou, Mohammad Makkawi, Mohammed Alfarhan, Bassam Tawabini, Panagiotis Kirmizakis, Mohamed Yassin. Remote Sensing, Geophysics, and Modeling to Support Precision Agriculture –Part 1: Soil Applications. Water. 1595020. Water 2022, 14, 1158. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071158.
  • Arya Pradipta, Pantelis Soupios, Nektarios Kourgialas, Maria Doula, Zoi Dokou, Mohammad Makkawi, Mohammed Alfarhan, Bassam Tawabini, Panagiotis Kirmizakis, Mohamed Yassin. Remote Sensing, Geophysics, and Modeling to Support Precision Agriculture –Part 2: Irrigation Management Water 2022, 14, 1157. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071157.
  • Mohamed Yassin, Bassam Tawabini, A. Adetoro, Mohammed Benaafi, Ahmed Al-Areeq, Abdullahi Garba Usman, S.I. Abba. Geochemical and Spatial Distribution Topsoil HMs Coupled with Modeling of Cr Using Chemometrics Intelligent Techniques: Case Study from Dammam Area, Saudi Arabia. Molecules 2022, 27(13), 4220.
  • Rami W. Mansouri, Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, Mohammed Makkawi, Bassam Tawabini. Groundwater Quality Assessment of Northern Harrat Rahat Aquifer, Saudi Arabia. Hydrogeology Journal. 30(8), pp. 2433-2457.
  • Mohammed Benaafi *, Bassam Tawabini, S.I. Abba *, John D. Humphrey, Ahmed AL-Areeq, Saad A. Alhulaibi, Abdullahi Garba Usman, Isam H. Aljundi. Integrated Hydrogeological, Hydrochemical, and Isotopic Assessment of Seawater Intrusion into Coastal Aquifers in Al-Qatif Area, Eastern Saudi Arabia. J. Molecules. Volume 27  Issue 20  3390/molecules27206841.
  • Amjad Khalil, Shahad Shaikh and Bassam Tawabini. Removal of heavy metals from contaminated water by thermophilic bacteria isolated from hot springs in Saudi Arabia (2022). J. of Bacteriology & Mycology. Vol. 10, Issue 3, 2022: pp. 60-64.
  • Alshahrani, B. Tawabini*, T. Saleh, M. Alrayaan, S. Alaama, R. Nasser, P. Soupios, P. Kirmizakis, M. Mahmoud, T. Oyehan & E. Safi (2022). Removal of benzene, MTBE and toluene from contaminated waters using biochar-based liquid activated carbon. Scientific Reports, (2022) 12:19651, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24283-6.
  • Ahmed A. Hassan, Bassam Tawabini. Physicochemical Parameters of Tap Water in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: An Empirical Assessment (2022). International Journal of Environmental and Ecological Engineering Vol:16, No:9, 2022.
  • I. Abba, Mohammed Benaafi, A.G.Usman, Dilber Uzun Ozsahin, Bassam Tawabini, Isam H.Aljundiaf. Mapping of groundwater salinization and modelling using meta-heuristic algorithms for the coastal aquifer of eastern Saudi Arabia (2023). Science of the Total Environment. Volume 858, Part 2  Feb. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159697. (Q1)
  • Bassam Tawabini, Mubarak Al-Enazi, Mansour A. Alghamdi, Ashraf Farahat, Ahsan M. Shemsi, Marwan Y. Al Sharif and Mamdouh I. Khoder. Potentially Harmful Elements Associated with Dust of Mosques: Pollution Status, Sources, and Human Health Risks (2023). Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2687; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032687. (Q2 in JCR-2022)
  • Bassam Tawabini (2023). A Chemometrics-Based Approach for the Chemical Prediction of Lead (Pb) Levels in Surface Soil, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. J. of Cogent Engineering. Vol. 10, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2023.2199967. 13 pages. (ISI, Q2)

 

Awards & Honors

  • Best Teaching Award. College of Petroleum Eng. & Geosciences, KFUPM. 2024.
  • Best Teaching Award. College of Sciences, KFUPM. 2011.
  • KFUPM Awards for obtaining several US Patents
  • Long Services Award, 10 Years KFUPM. Dhahran, KSA. 1994.
  • Long Services Award, 20 Years KFUPM. Dhahran, KSA. 2004.
  • Long Services Award, 30 Years KFUPM. Dhahran, KSA. 2014.
  • Long Services Award, 35 Years KFUPM. Dhahran, KSA. 2019.
  • Long Services Award, 40 Years KFUPM. Dhahran, KSA. 2024.
  • Top 5 contributions in photoenergy for my paper titled “Simultaneous Removal of MTBE and Benzene from Contaminated Groundwater Using Ultraviolet-Based Ozone and Hydrogen Peroxide”. International Journal of Photoenergy.
  • The 1st place at the 5th Saudi Water Arabia conference held between 17-19 of October, 2017 in Saudi Arabia. The paper titled’ Assessment of Polyelectrolyte Coated Fly Ash for Cadmium Removal in Polluted Water”.
Tel: +966 (013) 860-​2195

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2219

Dr. Husam Baalousha

Associate Professor, Department of Geosciences

Dr. Husam Baalousha is an Associate Professor at the Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum and Geosciences (CPG), at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). He earned his in Hydrological Engineering from Delft, the Netherlands, and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Aachen University of Technology (RWTH) in Germany.   He also earned a HDR degree (Habilitation degree) in hydrogeology from the University of Strasbourg,

With more 25 years of experience, Dr. Baalousha has held diverse roles in academia, industry, and governmental institutions. His expertise covers various areas in hydrogeology, geoscience, modeling, and integrated water resources management. He has contributed more than 85 scholarly works, including journal papers, books, conference proceedings, and book chapters. Dr. Baalousha has completed projects in Germany, New Zealand, and the Middle East. He serves as an Associate Editor of the Hydrogeology Journal and many other journals. He is also a member of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MODSIM), and the New Zealand Hydrological Society (NZHS).

Educational Qualification

  • HDR., Hydrogeology, Laboratory of Hydrology and Geochemistry, University of Strasbourg, France, 2020.
  • Ph.D., Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Aachen University of Technology (RWTH), Germany, 2003
  • M.S., Hydrological Engineering, UNESCO IHE-Delft, The Netherlands, 1998.

Research Interests

  • Hydrogeology.
  • Groundwater Modeling
  • Vulnerability, and risk assessment.
  • Flow in fractured porous media.
  • Uncertainty analysis.

Selected Publications

  • Baalousha, Husam Musa. “Theis Equation Revisited: From Infinite to Finite Aquifer and from Fully to Partially Penetrating Well.” Groundwater for Sustainable Development 24 (February 2024): 101069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2023.101069.
  • Baalousha, Husam Musa. “Predictive Uncertainty Analysis for a Highly Parameterized Karst Aquifer Using Null-Space Monte Carlo.” Frontiers in Water 6 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2024.1384983.
  • Baalousha, Husam Musa. Hydrogeological Atlas of Qatar: Geology- Water Resources- Paleoclimate. Doha, Qatar: Qatar University Press, 2024. https://qspace.qu.edu.qa/handle/10576/54784.
  • Fahs, Marwan, Behshad Koohbor, Qian Shao, Joanna Doummar, Husam M. Baalousha, and Clifford I. Voss. “Effect of Flow‐Direction‐Dependent Dispersivity on Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers.” Water Resources Research 58, no. 8 (August 2022): e2022WR032315. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR032315.
  • Baalousha, Husam Musa, Anis Younes, Mohamed A. Yassin, and Marwan Fahs. “Comparison of the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (F-AHP) and Fuzzy Logic for Flood Exposure Risk Assessment in Arid Regions.” Hydrology 10, no. 7 (June 26, 2023): 136. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10070136.
  • Ajjur, Salah Basem, and Husam Musa Baalousha. “A Review on Implementing Managed Aquifer Recharge in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Methods, Progress and Challenges.” Water International 46, no. 4 (May 19, 2021): 578–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2021.1889192.

Extended Publications (+)

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

  • Edigbue, P. I., Hammed Oyekan, Abdullatif Al-Shuhail, and Sherif Hanafy, 2024. Hybrid Optimization for DC Resistivity Imaging via Intelligible-in-time Logic and the Interior Point Method. Scientific Reports, 14 (1), DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-78744-1 .
  • Yu, H., Li, J., Hanafy, S., and Liu, L., 2024. A collocated inversion of sources and early arrival waveforms for credible tomograms: Synthetic and field data examples. Near Surface Geophysics, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/nsg.12312
  • Hanafy, S. M. and M. Benaafi, 2024. Investigating seawater intrusion and salinization using the integration of hydrochemical and geoelectrical techniques. Geophysics, 89, Issue 5.
  • Qiao, H., Y. Zhou, S. M. Hanafy, C. Liu, 2024. Iterative Interferometric Denoising Filter for Traveltime Picking. Applied Sciences, 14 (2), 733
  • Li, Jing, Chang Zhang, Sherif Hanafy, Han Yu, and Lige Bai, 2024. Joint wave-equation inversion of Rayleigh and Love dispersion curves. Geophysics, 89: R155-R167, https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2023-0070.1.
  • Zhou, W. and S. M. Hanafy, 2024. Acoustic full waveform inversion on land surveys: A case study on the Qademah fault, Saudi Arabia. Geophysics, 89,
  • Awais, Muhammad, Sherif Hanafy, Saifullah Shafiq, Abdullatif Al-Shuhail, and Umair Waheed, 2023. First Break Traveltime Picking Using Unsupervised Machine Learning and Super-virtual Refraction Interferometry. Earth and Space Science, 10 (12), https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003014.
  • Yicheng Zhou and Sherif Hanafy, 2023. Waveform Parsimonious Refraction Interferometry. IEEE Transaction on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 61, 2023 5921110.
  • Saraih Nabil A., Hassan A. Eltom, Robert H. Goldstein, Scott A. Whattam, Ammar El-Husseiny, Sherif Hanafy, John Humphrey, 2023. Bioturbated strata in the Upper Cretaceous Aruma Formation, central Saudi Arabia: An analog for aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs with large burrows. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 157, 106489, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106489.
  • Li, Huijian, Bo Liu , Xu Liu , Abdullatif A. Al-Shuhail , Sherif M. H. Mahmoud, and Yangkang Chen, 2023. Frequency-Independent Centroid Frequency Shift Method for Signal Attenuation Estimation. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (TGRS), Vol. 61, 4504212, DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2023.3293645.

Extended Publications (+)

  • Edigbue, P., Irfan Akca, Ismail Demirci, Abdullatif Al-Shuhail, Hamdan Ali Hamdan, Panagiotis Kirmizakis, Emin Candansayar, Sherif Hanafy, Pantelis Soupios, 2023. Testing different stochastic methods to model direct current resistivity and seismic refraction geophysical data using a combined local and global optimization algorithm. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Vol. 48, P. 7925–7938, DOI: 10.1007/s13369-023-07690-3.
  • Alfuraidan, M. R., A. Al-Shuhail, S. M. Hanafy, and I. O. Sarumi, 2023. Approximation of Seismic Velocities from the Spectrum of Weighted Graphs. GEM – International Journal on Geomathematics, Vol. 14, DOI: 10.1007/s13137-023-00214-z.
  • Hanafy, S.M., 2022. President’s Page: The geophysical landscape in the Middle East. The Leading Edge, 41(5), https://doi.org/10.1190/tle41050292.1
  • Hanafy, S.M., Al-Mashhor, A., and Al-Shuhail, A.A., 2022. Removal of Intra-Array Statics in Seismic Arrays Due to Variable Topography and Positioning Errors. Applied Sciences 2022, 12, 12810. https://doi.org/10.3390/app122412810
  • Paul Edigbue, Ismail Demirci, Irfan Akca, Hamdan Ali Hamdan, Panagiotis Kirmizakis, Pantelis Soupios, Emin Candansayar, Sherif Hanafy, Abdullatif Al-Shuhail, 2022. A comprehensive study of local, global, and combined optimization methods on synthetic seismic refraction and direct current resistivity data. Applied Sciences, 12, 11589. https://doi.org/10.3390/app122211589.
  • Paul Edigbue, Ismail Demirci, Irfan Akca, Hamdan Hamdan, Panagiotis Kirmizakis, Pantelis Soupios, Markos Tranos, Israa S. Abu-Mahfouz, Emin Candansayar, Sherif Hanafy, Abdullatif Al-Shuhail, 2022. Application of combined local and global optimization algorithms in the inversion of Direct Current Resistivity and Seismic Refraction data: a case study of Dammam Dome, Eastern Saudi Arabia. Sensors 2022, 22, 9337. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22239337
  • Yu, H., S. M. Hanafy, and L. Liu, 2022. A Weighted Closure-Phase Statics Correction Method: Synthetic and Field Data Examples. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (TGRS), Vol. 60, DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2022.3169519.
  • Hanafy S. M., 2022. Land-Streamer vs. Conventional Seismic Data for High-Resolution Near-Surface Surveys. Applied Sciences, 12, 584., p. 1-15, https://doi.org/10.3390/app12020584.
  • Ramdani, A., P. Khanna, G. Gairola, S. Hanafy, and V. Vahrenkamp, 2022. Assessing and Processing 3D Photogrammetry, Sedimentology and Geophysical Data to Build High-fidelity Reservoir Models Based on Carbonate Outcrop Analogs. AAPG Bulletin, 106 (10), pp. 1975–2011, https://doi.org/10.1306/05152221092.

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

  • Salih, M., Reijmer, JJG., El-Husseiny, A.*, 2021, Diagenetic controls on the elastic velocity of the early Triassic Upper Khartam Member (Khuff Formation, central Saudi Arabia), Marine and Petroleum Geology, 124, 104823, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104823.
  • Elsayed, M., El-Husseiny, A.*, Kwak, H., Hussaini, S. R., and Mahmoud, M., 2021, New Technique for Evaluating Fracture Geometry and Preferential Orientation Using Pulsed Field Gradient Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. SPE Journal.  SPE-205505-PA, doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/205505-PA
  • Khodja, M.R., Nizamuddin, S., Ali, A., Kandil, M., El-Husseiny, A., Nazal, M., Babalola, L., and Solling, T., 2022, Can Fluid-Substitution Models Continue to Ignore the Complex Physico-Chemical Properties of Crude Oil?, Geophysics 86: MR299-MR314, https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2021-0136.1
  • Reijmer, J.J.G, Blok, C.N., El-Husseiny, A., Kleipool, LM, Hogendorp, YCK, Alonso-Zarza, AM., 2021, Petrophysics and sediment variability in a mixed alluvial to lacustrine carbonate system (Miocene, Madrid Basin, Central Spain). Depositional Record, 00:1– 23. https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.158
  • Al-Garadi, K., El-Husseiny, A.*, Elsayed, M., Connolly, P., Mahmoud, M., Johns, M., Adebayo, A., 2022. A rock core wettability index using NMR T2 measurements, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 208, 109386, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.109386.
  • El-Husseiny, A.*, Eltom, H., Alqubalee, A. et al. Distinct Petroacoustic Signature of Burrow-Related Carbonate Reservoirs: Outcrop Analog Study, Hanifa Formation, Central Saudi Arabia. Nat Resour Res (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10097-w
  • Suleymanov V, El-Husseiny A*, Glatz G, Dvorkin J. Rock physics and machine learning comparison: elastic properties prediction and scale dependency, Frontiers in Earth Science 11 
  • sayed, Mahmoud, El-Husseiny, A*, Hussaini, Syed Rizwanullah, Al Mukainah, Hani, and Mohamed Mahmoud. “Experimental Study on the Impact of Clay Distribution and Mineralogy on NMR T2 and Internal Gradient: Insights From Well-Controlled Physical Samples.” SPE Res Eval & Eng (2022;): doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/212300-PA
  • Moaz Salih, El-Husseiny, A.*, John J.G. Reijmer, Hassan Eltom, Abdallah Abdelkarim, Factors controlling sonic velocity in dolostones, Marine and Petroleum Geology, Volume 147, 2023, 105954, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105954.
  • Badhafere D, Kirmizakis P, Oshaish A, El-Husseiny A, Mahmoud M, Ntarlagiannis D, Soupios P., 2023, Detection of Iron Disulfide Materials in Geological Porous Media Using Spectral Induced Polarization Method, SPE J. 28 (2023): 3409–3418. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/217424-PA
  • Hassan, A., M. Elsayed, A. Oshaish, S. Al-Ofi, El-Husseiny, A.*, I. S. Abu-Mahfouz, M. Mahmoud, M. Abouelresh, H. Attia, 2024, Evaluating the impact of artificial maturation on the petrophysical and geochemical properties of unconventional shale formations by integrating dielectric and NMR measurements, International Journal of Coal Geology, 285, 104492, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2024.104492.
  • Elsayed, M., El-Husseiny, A.*, Kwak, H., Adebayo, A., Mahmoud, M., 2024, The impact of clay and fluid conductivity on the electrical-diffusion tortuosity correlations in sandstone reservoirs, Water Resources Research, e2023WR037031, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR037031
  • A. Saraih, S. Hanafy, H. Eltom, A. El-Husseiny, et al., “Characterizing the Attributes of Large Burrows in the Upper Cretaceous Aruma Formation: Insights From Ground Penetrating Radar,” in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 62, pp. 1-12, 2024, Art no. 4510012, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2024.3448223.
  • Kellal, S., Kirmizakis, P., El-Husseiny, A., Ntarlagiannis, D., Soupios, P., and M. Mahmoud. “Low Resistivity Pay Zone Detection in Hydrocarbon Formation: The Feasibility of the Spectral Induced Polarization Method.” SPE J. 29 (2024): 5372–5383. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/223100-PA
  • Oshaish, Ali, El-Husseiny, Ammar, Mahmoud, Mohamed, Al-Ofi, Salah, Alarifi, Sulaiman A., Attia, Hussein, Al-Yaseri, Ahmed, and Amjed Hassan. “Quantification of Rock’s Wettability Index Using Dielectric Measurements.” SPE J. 30 (2025): 1281–1300. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/224401-PA

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) 860-2586
Fax: +966 (013) 860-4447

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2161

Dr. Abdullah Sultan

Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Sultan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering. His research group focuses on complex and reactive fluids to address problems in the oil and gas industry with a focus on enhanced oil/gas recovery, drilling fluids, well stimulation, gel, emulsions, and flow assurance. He established the Complex and Reactive Fluids (CRF) Lab at KFUPM. Dr. Sultan has numerous publications in refereed journals and conferences. He served as Director for the Center of Petroleum & Minerals, Research Institute at KFUPM (2010 – 2015), and Chairman for the Department of Petroleum Engineering (2012 – 2017).

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University, USA, 2009.
  • M.S., Chemical Engineering, KFUPM, KSA. 2004.
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, KFUPM, KSA, 2002.

Research Interests

Complex and Reactive Fluids for oil and gas applications.

Selected Publications

  • Abdulmajeeb T. Onawole, Ibnelwaleed Hussein, Abdullah S. Sultan, Safwat Abdel-Azeim, Mohamed Mahmoud, Mohammed A. Saad. (2019). Molecular and Electronic Structure Elucidation of Fe2+/Fe3+ complexed Chelators used in iron sulfides Scale removal in oil and gas wells. Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol. 9999. DOI: 1002/cjce.23463
  • Mohammad H. Alqam, Sidqi A. Abu-Khamsin, Abdullah S. Sultan, Taha M. Okasha, and Hasan O. Yildiz. (2019). Effect of Rock Mineralogy and Oil Composition on Wettability Alteration and Interfacial Tension by Brine and Carbonated Water. Energy Fuels, 2019, 33 (3), pp 1983–1989. DOI: 1021/acs.energyfuels.8b04143.
  • Abdullah Sultan. (2018). Stability of PAM/PEI emulsified gels under HTHS conditions for water shut-off treatment. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production (accepted). DOI: 1007/s13202-018-0597-2.
  • Lionel T. Fogang, Abdullah S. Sultan and Muhammad S. Kamal. (2018). Understanding viscosity reduction of a long-tail sulfobetaine viscoelastic surfactant by organic compounds. RSC Advances, Vol 8, pp 4455-4463. DOI: 1039/C7RA12538K.
  • Abdelhalim I. A. Mohamed, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein, Abdullah S. Sultan*, and Ghaithan A. Al-Muntasheri. (2018). Gelation of Emulsified Polyacrylamide/Polyethylenimine under High-Temperature, High-Salinity Conditions: Rheological Investigation. Eng. Chem. Res., 2018, 57(36), pp 12278–12287. DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b02571.
  • Abdelhalim I.A. Mohamed, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein, Abdullah S. Sultan, Ghaithan A. Al-Muntasheri. (2018). Use of organoclay as a stabilizer for water-in-oil emulsions under high-temperature high-salinity conditions. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol: 160 pp: 302-312. DOI: 1016/j.petrol.2017.10.077.
  • Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Ibnelwaleed Hussein, Mohamed Mahmoud, Abdullah S. Sultan, and Mohammed A.S. Saad. (2018). Oilfield scale formation and chemical removal: A review. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol: 171 pp: 127-139. DOI:1016/j.petrol.2018.07.037. ISI/Scopus:
  • A. Adewunmi, S. Ismail, and A. S. Sultan. (2018). Crosslinked Polyacrylamide Composite Hydrogels Impregnated with Fly Ash: Synthesis, Characterization and Their Application as Fractures Sealant for High Water Producing Zones in Oil and Gas Wells. Journal of Polymers and Environment, Vol 26(8), pp 3294-3306. DOI: 10.1007/s10924-018-1204-9. ISI/Scopus: Impact Factor: 1.971.
  • Mohammed Eliebid, Mohamed Mahmoud, Ibnelwaleed Hussein, Salaheldin Elkatatny, Reyad Shawabkeh, Abdullah Sultan, and Mohammed J. Al-Marri. (2018). Impact of Surfactant on the Retention of CO2and Methane in Carbonate Reservoirs. Energy Fuels, Vol 32 (4), pp 5355-5363. DOI: 1021/acs.energyfuels.8b00213.
  • Ahmad A. Adewunmi, Suzylawati Ismail, Taoreed O. Owolabi, Abdullah S. Sultan, Sunday O. Olatunji, Zulkifli Ahmad. (2018). Hybrid Intelligent Modelling of the Viscoelastic Moduli of Coal Fly Ash Based Polymer Gel System for Water Shutoff Treatment in Oil and Gas Wells. Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering (published online). DOI:/10.1002/cjce.23436.
  • Jun Li and Abdullah S. Sultan. (2017). Klinkenberg slippage effect in the permeability computations of shale gas by the pore-scale simulations. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, Vol 48, pp 197-202. DOI: 1016/j.jngse.2016.07.041.
  • Abdelhalim I. A. Mohamed, Abdullah S. Sultan*, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein, and Ghaithan A. Al-Muntasheri. (2017). Influence of Surfactant Structure on the Stability of Water-in-Oil Emulsions under High-Temperature High-Salinity Conditions. Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 2017, Article ID 5471376, 11 pages. DOI: 1155/2017/5471376.
  • Mohamed E. Kandil, Nayef M. Al-Saifi, Abdullah S. Sultan. (2016). Simulation and measurements of volumetric and phase behavior of carbon dioxide + higher alkanes at high pressure: CO2+ n-decane at temperatures (313–410) K and pressures up to 76 MPa. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 53, pp 198–206. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2016.07.045.

Awards & Honors

  • University Advising Award for the College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (2018).
  • SPE Regional Distinguished Achievement Award for Petroleum Engineering Faculty (2018).
Tel: +966 (013) 860-2511
Fax: +966 (013) 860-4447

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2147

Dr. Rahul N. Gajbhiye

Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Rahul is an Associate Professor holding a Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University. He worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Tulsa University Drilling Research Project (TUDRP) at Tulsa University, Oklahoma. He also served as a Lecturer at the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune, India. Dr. Rahul is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineering and the American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE).

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., Petroleum Engineering, Louisiana State University, USA, 2011
  • B.S., Petroleum Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, India, 1999

Research Interests

  • Enhanced Oil Recovery
  • Multiphase Flow in Pipes
  • Fracturing
  • Drilling Fluids and Cementation

Selected Publications

  • Hicham Ferroudji, Mohammad Azizur Rahman, Ahmed Hadjadj, Titus Ntow Ofei, Mohamed Shafik Khaled, Sayeed Rushd, Rahul Narayanrao Gajbhiye, “3D Numerical and Experimental Modelling of Multiphase Flow Through an Annular Geometry Applied for Cuttings Transport”, International Journal of Multiphase Flow, Volume 151, June 2022, 104044 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2022.104044AL-Dogail, Ala, Gajbhiye, Rahul, AlNajim, Abdullatif, and Mustafa AlNaser. “Dimensionless Artificial Intelligence-Based Model for Multiphase Flow Pattern Recognition in Horizontal Pipe.” SPE Prod & Oper 37 (2022): 244–262. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/209198-PA
  • AL-Dogail, Ala, Gajbhiye, Rahul, AlNaser, Mustafa, AlNajim, Abdullatif, and Mohamed Mahmoud. “Intelligent Approach for Gas-Oil Separation Plant Oil Recovery Enhancement.” SPE Prod & Oper (2022;): doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/210565-PA
  • H Ferroudji, A Hadjadj, TN Ofei, RN Gajbhiye, MA Rahman, MF Qureshi, “Effect of Drill Pipe Orbital Motion on non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in an Eccentric Wellbore: A Study with Computational Fluid Dynamics”, J Petrol Explor Prod Technol 12, 1383–1402 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-021-01403-y
  • R Gajbhiye, A AlDogail, B AlDossary Badr, M Al-Naser, M Mahmoud, “Method for Optimizing Gas Oil Separation Plant Parameters to Maximize Oil Recovery”, US Patent App. 17/022,81622, March 2022.
  • Ala S. AL-Dogail, Rahul N. Gajbhiye, “Effects of Density, Viscosity and Surface Tension on Flow Regimes and Pressure Drop of Two-Phase Flow in Horizontal Pipes”, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Volume 205, 2021, 108719, ISSN 0920-4105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108719.
  • S Kalam, SA Abu-Khamsin, HY Al-Yousef, R Gajbhiye, “A Novel Empirical Correlation for Waterflooding Performance Prediction in Stratified Reservoirs Using Artificial Intelligence”, Neural Comput & Applic 33, 2497–2514 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00521-020-05158-1

Extended Publications (+)

  • S. Elkatatny, R.N. Gajbhiye, Anas Ahmed, and Ahmed Abdulhamid, “Enhancing the Cement Quality Using Polypropylene Fibers”, Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, PEPT-D-19-00037-2019
  • Ahmed Abdulhamid Mahmoud, Salaheldin Elkatatny, Abdulmalek Ahmed and Rahul Gajbhiye, “Influence of Nanoclay Content on Cement Matrix for Oil Wells Subjected to Cyclic Steam Injection” Materials 2019, 12(9), 1452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12091452
  • A. Homoud, R. Gajbhiye, D. Al-Shehri, “Transient Wellbore Pressure Build-Up Correlation Helps Engineers to Ensure HIPPS Safe Operation” SPE-199342-PA, SPE Production & Operations, 2019.
  • M. Siddiqui, R.N. Gajbhiye, “Stability and Texture of CO2/N2 in Sandstone” Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects COLSUA_21561. Volume 534, Pages 26-37, December 2017.
  • A. Edrisi, R.N. Gajbhiye, and S. I. Kam, “Experimental Study of Polymer-free and Polymer-added Foams for Underbalanced Drilling: Are Two Foam-Flow Regimes Still There?” SPE Journal, p. 55-68, Vol. 19, Issue 1, 2014.

Awards & Honors

  • Excellence in Teaching Award 2021-2022
  • Outstanding Students Advising KFUPM 7th Senior Design Expo, 12 May 2022
  • SPE Regional Service Award 2020
  • Awards for presentations at the GOM Deepwater Technical Symposium, New Orleans (2009), and the AADE (Premier Fluid Conference), Houston (2010).
Tel: +966 (013) 860-3117

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 2115

Dr. Saad F. Alafnan

Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., in Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University – 2014-2017.
  • M.S. in Petroleum Engineering, University of Southern California – 2012-2014
  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals – 2007-2011

Research Interests

  • Unconventional Reservoirs
  • Mesoporous and Nanoporous Materials
  • Multiscale Transport in Porous Media
  • Enhanced Recovery From Shales

Selected Publications

  • Saad Alafnan. “Utilization of supercritical carbon dioxide for mechanical degradation of organic matters contained in shales.” Fuel 316 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123427.
  • Saad Alafnan. “The self-diffusivity of natural gas in the organic nanopores of source rocks.” Physics of Fluids 34, 042004 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0081258.
  • Saad Alafnan. “Adsorption–Desorption Hysteresis in Shale Formation: New Insights into the Underlying Mechanisms” Energy & Fuels 36 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c00444.
  • Saad Alafnan. “Utilization of depleted heavy oil reservoirs for carbon dioxide storage and sequestration: A molecular level assessment.” International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 119 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2022.103741.
  • Clement Afagwu, Saad Alafnan, Mohamed Mahmoud, I. Yucel Akkutlu. “Modeling of natural gas self-diffusion in the micro-pores of organic-rich shales coupling sorption and geomechanical effects.”  Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 106 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2022.104757.
  • Guenther Glatz, Saad Alafnan, Raoof Gholami, Arshad Raza, Mohamed Mahmoud, Khaled Al-Azani, Abeeb Awotunde. “Effect of kerogen maturity on the adsorption capacity of CO2 and CH4: A molecular investigation.” Fuel 327 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125188.  
  • Arshad Raza, Guenther Glatz, Raoof Gholami, Mohamed Mahmoud, Saad Alafnan. “Carbon mineralization and geological storage of CO2 in basalt: Mechanisms and technical challenges.” Earth-Science Reviews 229 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104036.

Extended Publications (+)

  • Alqam, Mohammad H., Abu-Khamsin, Sidqi A., Alafnan, Saad F., Sultan, Abdullah S., Al-Majed, Abdulaziz, and Taha Okasha. “The Impact of Carbonated Water on Wettability: Combined Experimental and Molecular Simulation Approach.” SPE J. 27 (2022) https://doi.org/10.2118/208594-PA
  • Clement Afagwu, Saad Al-Afnan, Shirish Patil, Jaber Aljaberi, Mohamed A. Mahmoud, Jun Li, “The impact of pore structure and adsorption behavior on kerogen tortuosity”, Fuel, Volume 303, 2021, 121261, ISSN 0016-2361, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121261.
  • Aljaberi, Jaber , Alafnan, Saad , Glatz, Guenther , Sultan, Abdullah S., and Clement Afagwu. “The Impact of Kerogen Tortuosity on Shale Permeability.” SPE J. (2020;): doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/204469-PA
  • Saad Alafnan, Abeeb Awotunde, Guenther Glatz, Stephen Adjei, Ibrahim Alrumaih, Ahmed Gowida, “Langmuir adsorption isotherm in unconventional resources: Applicability and limitations.” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 207 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.109172.
  • Mohammed, I., Olayiwola, T.O., Alkathim, M., Abeeb A. Awotunde, Saad F. Alafnan.  “A review of pressure transient analysis in reservoirs with natural fractures, vugs and/or caves.” Petroleum Science 18 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-020-00505-2
  • Clement Afagwu, Isah Abubakar, Shams Kalam, Saad F. Al-Afnan, Abeeb A. Awotunde “Pressure-transient analysis in shale gas reservoirs: A review.” Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 78, (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2020.103319.
  • Alafnan, S., and Yucel Akkutlu, I. “The Transport Mechanisms and Dynamics of Shale via Multiscale Multiphysics Pore Network Modeling.” ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. 142 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4046522.
  • Alafnan, Saad & Aljawad, Murtada & Alismail, Fahad & Almajed, Abdulaziz. (2019). “Enhanced Recovery from Gas Condensate Reservoir through Renewable Energy Sources”. Energy Fuels. 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01761.
  • K. Alafnan, Saad & Akkutlu, I. Yucel. “Matrix–Fracture Interactions During Flow in Organic Nanoporous Materials Under Loading”. Transport in Porous Media 121 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-017-0948-3.

Books

  • Alafnan, S., & Akkutlu, Y. (2020). Transport in Nanoporous Materials. In 948916750 740229742 K. D. Sattler (Author), 21st century nanoscience a handbook (Vol. 5, pp. 12-1-12-6). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Tel: +966 (013) 860-​2688

Location: Bldg. 76, Rm. 1256

Dr. Murtada Al-Jawad

Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Al Jawad is an Associate Professor in the Petroleum Engineering Department at KFUPM. He has actively participated in research projects on reactive transport, geomechanics, and sustainability. Since joining KFUPM in 2018, Dr. Al Jawad has been a member of several internally and externally funded projects. He led the development of a concentration in unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Also, he established a fully equipped, state-of-the-art lab to study and evaluate hydraulic fractures. Dr. Al Jawad is an active SPE member, as he served as a committee member and session chair in MEOS, IPTC, IHFTC, and other related workshops and symposiums. 

Educational Qualification

  • Ph.D., in Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2018
  • M.S., in Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2014
  • B.S., in Chemical Engineering, KFUPM University, 2011

Research Interests

  • Reactive transport
  • Geomechanics
  • Sustainability
  • Productivity enhancement

Selected Publications

  • Samarkin, Y., Amao, A., Aljawad, M. S.*,  et al. (2023). Conductivity Enhancement of Fractured Carbonates through High-Temperature Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate Consolidation: A Preliminary Study. SPE Journal, 1-17.
  • Al-Darweesh, J., Aljawad, M. S.*, Al-Yousif, et al. (2022). The Impact of Green Chelating Agent and Corrosion Inhibitor on Foam Rheology and Stability at High Temperature, Pressure, and Salinity. SPE Journal, 1-14.
  • Mustafa, A., Alzaki, T., Aljawad, M. S.*, et al. (2022). Impact of acid wormhole on the mechanical properties of chalk, limestone, and dolomite: Experimental and modeling studies. Energy Reports, 8, 605-616.
  • Samarkin, Y., Amao, A., Aljawad, M. S.*, et al. (2022). Hardness Enhancement of Carbonate Rocks by Formation of Smithsonite and Fluorite. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 55(2), 1001-1012.
  • Kadafur, I., BinGhanim, A., Aljawad, M. S., et al, (2022). Rheological study of CO2 foamed chelating stimulation fluids under harsh reservoir conditions. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 208, 109201.
  • Aljawad, M. S.*, Aboluhom, H., Schwalbert, M. P., et al. (2021). Temperature impact on linear and radial wormhole propagation in limestone, dolomite, and mixed mineralogy. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 93, 104031.
  • Aljawad, M. S. *, Schwalbert, M. P., Mahmoud, M., & Sultan, A. (2020). Impacts of natural fractures on acid fracture design: A modeling study. Energy Reports, 6, 1073-1082.

Awards & Honors

  • ARMA Applied Research Award, 2022
  • Early Career Research Award, KFUPM, 2022
  • Prince Mohammad bin Fahd reward for Acadmeic excellence, 2011
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