CPG

Mobeen Murtaza

Tel: +966 (013) 860-2509
Fax: +966 (013) 860-2595

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1050

Mobeen Murtaza

Engineer I, CIPR

Mr. Mobeen Murtaza is currently working as an Engineer I in the Centre of Integrated Petroleum Research at the College of Petroleum Engineering & Geoscience. He has diversified experience in various areas of research included drilling fluids, oil well cementing, well stability using swelling inhibitors, scale removal, and geomechanics. Further, he has hands-on experience in designing and modifying research setups and instruments according to the research requirements. Mr. Mobeen is providing training to graduate and undergraduate students on HPHT instruments.
Mr. Mobeen has MS and BS in Petroleum Engineering from KFUPM, Saudi Arabia, and UET, Lahore respectively. He has two years of industry experience as a Drilling Engineer.

Educational Qualification

  • Masters of Science in Petroleum Engineering (2011-2014) King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
  • Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering (2006-2010) University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

Research Interests

  • Drilling fluids
  • Oil well cementing
  • Geo-mechanics
  • Surfactants applications in Wellbore Stability

Selected Publications

  • Murtaza, M., Kamal, M.S., Hussain, S.M.S., Mahmoud, M., Syed, N.A., 2020. Quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants having different spacer length as clay swelling inhibitors: Mechanism and performance evaluation. J. Mol. Liq. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113054
  • Mobeen Murtaza, Zeeshan Tariq, Xianmin Zhou, Dhafer Al-Shehri, Mohamed Mahmoud, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Okra as an environment-friendly fluid loss control additive for drilling fluids: Experimental & modeling studies, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Volume 204, 2021, 108743, ISSN 0920-4105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108743.
  • Murtaza, M.; Alarifi, S.A.; Kamal, M.S.; Onaizi, S.A.; Al-Ajmi, M.; Mahmoud, M. Experimental Investigation of the Rheological Behavior of an Oil-Based Drilling Fluid with Rheology Modifier and Oil Wetter Additives. Molecules 2021, 26, 4877. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26164877
  • S.M. Shakil Hussain, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Mobeen Murtaza, Effect of aromatic spacer groups and counterions on aqueous micellar and thermal properties of the synthesized quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants, Journal of Molecular Liquids, Volume 296, 2019, 111837, ISSN 0167-7322, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.111837.

Extended Publications (+)

  • Mobeen Murtaza, Mohamed Mahmoud, Salaheldin Elkatatny, Abdulaziz Al Majed, Weiqing Chen, and Abul Jamaluddin, “Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Modified Nano Clay on the Rheology of Oil Well Cement Slurry”, IPTC-19456-MS presented at International Petroleum Technology Conference held in Beijing, China, 26 – 28 March 2019
  • US Patent granted for “SAUDI TYPE-G CEMENT AND NANOCLAY FOR HIGH PRESSURE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE OIL WELLS” under patent #US 9650296 B2
  • Murtaza, M.K. Rahman, A. A. Al-Majed, and A. Samad “Mechanical, Rheological and Microstructural Properties of Saudi Type G Cement Slurry with Silica Flour Used in Saudi Oil Field under HTHP Conditions”. SPE 168101 presented at SPE Annual Technical Symposium & Exhibition held in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, 19-22 May 2013.
  • K. Rahman, M. Murtaza, “Effect of Nanoclay on Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Oil Well Cement Slurry under HPHT Environment” NICOM USA, 24-26 May 2015.
  • Murtaza, M.K. Rahman, A. A. Al-Majed, “Effect of Nanoclay on Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Oil Well Cement Slurry under HPHT Environment” IPTC­18989­MS presented at 10th International Petroleum Technology Conference held 14-16 November, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Murtaza, M.K. Rahman, A. A. Al-Majed, “Mechanical and Microstructural Studies of Nano Clay Based Oil well Cement Mix under High Pressure and Temperature Application” IPTC-18991-MS presented at 10th International Petroleum Technology Conference held 14-16 November, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Hafiz Mudaser Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Mobeen Murtaza, Mamdouh A. Al-Harthi, “Improving the Drilling Fluid Properties Using Nanoparticles and Water-Soluble Polymers”. SPE-188140-MS presented at the SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, 24–27 April 2017.
  • Hafiz Mudaser Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Mamdouh A. Al-Harthi, , Salaheldin Elkatatny, Mobeen Murtaza,” Synthesis and Experimental Investigation of Novel CNT-Polymer Nanocomposite to Enhance Borehole Stability at High Temperature Drilling Applications”, SPE-192352-MS presented at SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, 23-26 April, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
  • Zeeshan Tariq ,Abdulazeez Abdulraheem, Salaheldin Elkatatny, Arqam Muqtadir, Mobeen Murtaza,” Geomechanical Studies on CO2 Sequestrated Rocks in an Aqueous Saline Environment”, SPE-192242-MS presented at SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, 23-26 April, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
  • Salem Basfar, Salaheldin Elkatatny, Mohamed Mahmoud, Mohammad Shahzad Kamal, Mobeen Murtaza, ” Prevention of Barite Sagging while Drilling High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) Wells”, SPE-192198-MS presented at SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, 23-26 April, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Awards & Honors

  • US Patent granted for “Nanoclay-enhanced Cement Composition for Deep Well Cementing” under patent # US 10065890 B2
  • US Patent granted for “SAUDI TYPE-G CEMENT AND NANOCLAY FOR HIGH PRESSURE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE OIL WELLS” under patent #US 9650296 B2
  • Presented as Career Pathways Advisor in MEOS 2017.
Tel: +966 (013) 860-3187
Fax: +966 (013) 860-3989

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 123

Xianmin Joe Zhou

Engineer I, CIPR

Mr. Zhou is a highly experienced enhanced oil recovery researcher who has been for long designing and supervising lab experiments and infrastructure and handling a wide spectrum of routine and sophisticated projects, advanced core analysis, core flooding lab, and PVT Lab Setups. Xianmin has conducted research in different areas such as CO2 IOR, chemical EOR and two-phase and three-phase relative permeability in porous media. He is currently working on multiple projects such as the displacement efficiency of oil recovery by Supercritical CO2 and chemical solutions injection. Before joining KFUMP in 2016, he served as a Petroleum Engineer at Reservoir Engineer Technology Team, EXPEC Advanced Research Center at Saudi Aramco (2010-16), as a Quality Control Supervisor/ Senior Special Core Analyst at Intertek Caleb Brett, Houston, TX, USA (2007-10), and as a Senior Special Core Analyst at Core Labs Inc., Houston, TX (2005-07) among other high-profile incumbencies.

Mr. Zhou is a registered patentee of a number of breakthroughs like “Core Holder for Three Piece Core Flooding Experiments”, China, 1988, “A Method of Measuring Oil-Water-Gas Relative Permeability for Oil Reservoir Samples”, China, 1989, “Plugging thief zone and fractures by in-situ and in-depth crystallization for improving water sweep efficiency of sandstone and carbonate reservoirs”, USA, 2014. “Multiple Function Core Flooding Apparatus and Experimental Methodology for Study of Secondary and Tertiary Oil recovery,” In processing, U.S. Application No. 15/452,949 filed on March 8, 2017.

Educational Qualification

  • MS, Natural Gas & Petroleum Engineering, University of Wyoming, USA, 1996.
  • BS, Petroleum Engineering, Daqing Petroleum Institute, China, 1976

Research Interests

  • Oil Recovery by Water, Chemical Solutions, and Supercritical CO2 Injection.
  • Two-Phase and Three-Phase Relative Permeability and flow in porous media.
  • Wettability of reservoir rocks.

Selected Publications

  • Deng, X.; Zhou, X.; Kamal, M.S.; Hussain, S.M.S.; Mahmoud, M.; Patil, S. A Modified Contact Angle Measurement Process to Suppress Oil Drop Spreading and Improve Precision. Molecules 2022, 27, 1195. https://doi.org/10.3390/ (IF= 4.412, Q1)
  • Hussain, S.; Adewunmi, A.; Mahboob, A.; Murtaza, M.; Zhou, X.; Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, M. S. Fluorinated surfactants: A review on recent progress on synthesis and oilfield applications. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 303 (2022)102634. (IF= 12.984, Q1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2022.102634.
  • Mobeen Murtaza, M.; Ahmad, H. M.; Zhou, X. Dhafer Al-Shehri, D.; Mahmoud, M. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, M. S.  Okra mucilage as environment-friendly and non-toxic shale swelling inhibitor in water-based drilling fluids. Fuel 320 (2022) 123868 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123868 (IF=6.609, Q1)
  • Yu, W.;  Zhou, X.; and Mazen Yousef Kanj, M. Y.  Microfluidic Investigation of Foam Coarsening Dynamics in Porous Media at High-Pressure and High-Temperature Conditions. Langmuir 2022, 38, 9, 2895-2905. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c03301   (IF=3.883, Q1)
  • Khan, S.; Gbadamosi; A.; Norrman, K.; Zhou, X; Hussain, S. M. S.; Patil, S.; Kamal, M. S. Adsorption Study of Novel Gemini Cationic Surfactant in Carbonate Reservoir Cores—Influence of Critical Parameters. Materials 2022, 15(7), 2527; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15072527 (IF=3.623, Q1)

Extended Publications (+)

  • Elsayed,; Al-Abdrabalnabi, R.; Zhou, X.; Wu, Y. Influence of long-term stored oil on wettability and its recovery in depleted petroleum reservoirs, Energy reports 8,(2022) 2085-2099 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.01.099 (IF=6.870, Q1)
  • Sakthivel, S.; Zhou, X.; Giannelis, E. P.; Kanj, M. Carbon nanodots for enhanced oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs, Energy reports 7, (2021) 8943-8959, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.11.194 (IF=6.870, Q1)
  • Deng, X.; Kamal, M. S.; Patil, S.; Hussain, S.; Zhou, X.; Mahmoud, M. Wettability alteration of locally synthesized cationic gemini surfactants on carbonate rock, Journal of Molecular Liquids 344 (2021) 117817, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117817 (IF=6.165, Q1)
  • Tariq, T., Kamal, M. S.; Mahmoud, M.; Murtaza, M.; Abdulraheem, A.; Zhou, X. Dicationic Surfactants as an Additive in Fracturing Fluids to Mitigate Clay Swelling: A Petrophysical and Rock Mechanical Assessment, ACS Omega 2021, 6, 18567-15877, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c01388 (IF=2.870, Q2)
  • Wang, S.; Di, Y.; Li, J.; Zhou, X.; Wu, Y.;  and Yao, B., Understanding the Multiphysiscal Processes in Carbonate Dioxide Enhanced-oil-Recovery Operations: A Numerical Study Using A General Simulation Framework,  27 October SPE Journal, 2020. (IF=4.310, Q1)
  • Zhou, X.; AlOtaibi, F.; Kamal, M. S.; Sunil L. Kokal, S. L., Effect of Conformance Control Patterns and Size of the Slug of In Situ Supercritical CO2 Emulsion on Tertiary Oil Recovery for Carbonate Reservoirs, ACS OMEGA 2020, 5, 51, 33395-33405, DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05356. (IF=2.870, Q2)
  • Majeed, T.; Kamal, M. S.; Zhou, X.; Solling, T.;A Review on Foam Stabilizers for Enhanced Oil Recovery, Energy & Fuels, March 15, 2021, DOI.org/10.1021/acsenergyfuels.1c00035. (IF=3.421, Q1)
  • Murtaza, M.; Tariq, Z.; Zhou, X.; Al-Shehri, D.; Mahmoud, M.; Kamal, M. S., Okra as an Environment-Friendly Fluid Loss Control Additive for Drilling Fluids: Experimental & Modeling Studies, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 4 April 2021, Doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108743 (IF=3.706, Q1)
  • Zhao, X.; Al-Abdrabalnabi, R.; Wu, Y.; Zhou, X., Evaluation of the Feasibility of Oil Storage in Depleted Petroleum Reservoirs through Experimental modeling Studies, Fuel, Vol. 294, 15 June 2021, 120316. (IF=5.578, Q1)
  • Aleidan, A.; H. T. Kwak, H. T.; H. Muller, H.; Zhou, X., Paleo Oil Characterization and Fundamental Analysis. SPE REE, Vol. 20 (02) 2017, 260-268, DOI:10.2118/179545-PA, (IF=3.14, Q1)
  • Zhou, X.; AlOtaibi, F.; Kokal, S., Relative Permeability Characteristics and Wetting Behavior of Supercritical CO2 Displacing Water and Remaining Oil for Carbonate Rocks at Reservoir Conditions. Energy Fuels 2019, 33, 5464-5475. DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01053 (IF=3.421, First Author and Corresponding author, Q1)
  • AlOtaibi, F. M.; Zhou, X.; Koka, S. L., Laboratory Evaluation of Different Modes of Supercritical CO2 Miscible Flooding for Carbonate Rocks. SPE REE 22(01) 2019, 137-149. DOI:10.2118/177986-PA (IF=3.140, Corresponding author)
  • Deng, X.; Kamal, M. S.; Patil, S.; Hussain, S.; Zhou, X., A Review on Wettability Alteration in Carbonate Rocks: Wettability Energy Fuels 2019, 34, 31-54. DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b03409 (IF=3.421, Q1)
  • Zhou, X.; Kamal, M. S.; Experimental Study on the Relationship between Carbonate Reservoir Quality Index and Dynamic Parameter of Chemical Solution for Oil Recovery Practice. Energy  Fuels 2019, 33 10, 9747-9758, DOI: DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b02491 (IF=3.421, First Author and Corresponding author, Q1)
  • Tariq, Z.; Kamal, S. M.; Mahmound, M.; Hussain, S.; Abdulraheem, A.; Zhou, X., Polyoxyethylene Quaternary Ammonium Gemini Surfactant as a Completion Fluid Additive to Mitigate Formation Damage, SPE Drilling & Completion, Feb. 2020. DOI:10.2118/201207-PA (IF=2.240, Q2)
  • Zhou, X.; Kamal, M. S.; and Fuseni, F. B., Comprehensive Investigation of Dynamic Characteristics of Surfactant-Polymer Solution on Carbonate Rocks at Reservoir Conditions. ACS Omega 5 (29), 2020, 18123-18133. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01690. (IF=2.870, First Author and Corresponding author, Q2)

Awards & Honors

  • Tau Beta Phi Honorary Society Award, University of Wyoming, 1995.
  • Scientific and Technical Advance Award, China National Petroleum Corporation Award 1990.
  • Scientific and Technical Advance Award, Daqing Petroleum Administrative Bureau, 1986, 1989 and 1990.
  • Best Paper Awards, 1989, 1990.
  • Achievement Award, Saudi Aramco, KSA, 2015.
Tel: +966 (013) 860-4361
Fax: +966 (013) 860-3989

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 2033

Abdullah M. Alqubalee

Engineer I, CIPR

Educational Qualification

  • M.Sc., Geology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, KSA, 2017.
  • B.S., Engineering Geology, University of Aden, Yemen, 2007.

Research Interests

  • Sedimentology
  • Stratigraphy
  • Petrophysics
  • Diagenesis and Reservoir Quality

Selected Publications

  • Alqubalee, A., Babalola, L., Abdullatif, O., Makkawi, M., 2019. Factors Controlling Reservoir Quality of a Paleozoic Tight Sandstone, Rub’ al Khali Basin, Saudi Arabia. Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-03885-9
  • Alqubalee, A., Abdullatif, O., Babalola, L., Makkawi, M., 2019. Characteristics of Paleozoic tight gas sandstone reservoir: integration of lithofacies, paleoenvironments, and spectral gamma-ray analyses, Rub’ al Khali Basin, Saudi Arabia. Arab. J. Geosci. 12, 344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4467-0
  • Abdullatif, O.M., Alqubalee, A., Babalola, L., Makkawi, M., 2018. Sedimentological Controls on Reservoir Properties of a Paleozoic Tight Sandstone Reservoir, Saudi Arabia. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201900217
  • Alqubalee, A., Abdullatif, O., Babalola, L., 2017. Application of Spectral Gamma Ray for Lithofacies and Paleo-environmental Interpretation: A Case Study from The Late Ordovician Glaciogenic Deposits, Saudi Arabia, in: EGU General Assembly 2017. EGU2017-16887, Vienna, Austria, p. 16887.
  • Alqubalee, A., Abdullatif, O., Babalola, L., Makkawi, M., 2017. Reservoir Characterization of Tight Gas Sand – Integration of lithofacies and Petrophysical properties, Subsurface, Saudi Arabia, in: 79th EAGE Conference. Paris. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201701379
  • Alqubalee, A., Abdullatif, O., Babalola, L., Makkawi, M., 2017. Diagenetic Controls on Reservoir Quality: Insight into the Late Ordovician Sarah Tight Sand, Rub’ Al-Khali Basin, Saudi Arabia, in: Geosciences Technology Workshop. AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90299, Amman, Jordan.
  • Alqubalee, A., Abdullatif, O., Babalola, L., Sahin, A., Makkawi, M., 2017. Lithofacies and Paleoenvironments of the Late Ordovician Sarah Tight Sand, Subsurface of the Rub’ Al-Khali Basin, Saudi Arabia, in: AAPG/SEG International Conference and Exhibition. AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90310, London, England.

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Awards & Honors

  • Scientific Excellence Certificate, Engineering Geology, University of Aden, Yemen, 2006/2007.
  • Recipient of King Fahd University Petroleum & Minerals, KSA, MS Scholarship, 2013.
Biographies-Sarmad
Tel: +966 (013) 860-2649

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1053

Sarmad Zafar Khan

Engineer I, CIPR

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

Educational Qualification

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

Selected Publications

  • “Revisiting Reaction Kinetics and wormholing phenomena during Carbonate Acidizing” by X. Qiu, S. Khan, S. Dyer and A. Sultan, presented at International Petroleum Technology Conference, 19-22 Jan, 2014, Doha, Qatar.
  • “Investigation of Core Length and CO2 Phase Effects on Propagation of Wormholes in Carbonate Rocks” by S. Khan, A. Sultan and S. Dyer presented at SPE Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, 21-24 Apr, 2014, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
  • Keynote Speaker at “Career Development Seminar” held at Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Pakistan on Sep 24, 2014
Tel: +966 (013) 860-4525
Fax: +966 (013) 860-3989

Location: Bldg. 78, Rm. 1055

Ahmad Mahboob

Engineer I, CIPR

Ahmad has a master’s degree in petroleum engineering with specialization in CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). In Sept. 2017, he joined Laboratory Technical Support Services (LTSS) department, at CPG-KFUPM where he worked as a Lab Specialist in Quantitative Analysis Laboratory, Core Preparation Laboratory and PVT Laboratory. In Dec. 2018, he joined Center for Integrative Petroleum Research (CIPR)-KFUPM as Engineer-II in Oil Field Chemistry group and with his expertise and experience, he has progressed both in stature and status amongst his peers. He is also the assistant coordinator for “Fluid Characterization Laboratory”.

Educational Qualification

  • M.S. Petroleum Engineering from KFUPM, Dhahran, KSA
  • B.S. Petroleum & Gas Engineering from UET, Lahore, Pakistan

Research Interests

  • Fluid Characterization
  • CO2 Capture and Utilization
  • Enhanced Oil Recovery
  • Water Conformance Control Gels
  • Emulsification
  • Interfacial and Wettability Studies
  • HPHT Multiphase Fluid Behavior and PVT- Studies
  • Phase Behavior
  • Foam

Expertise in following HPHT Equipment:

  • Phase Behavior
  • Foam Analyzer
  • Foam Rheometer
  • Fluid Rheometer
  • Densitometer
  • IFT/SFT/Wettability
  • PVT System

Selected Publications

Extended Publications (+)

A comprehensive study of surfactant foaming stability using fluorinated and hydrocarbon surfactants – 2020, MS Kamal, SMS Hussain, LT Fogang, A Mahboob, VIRTUAL 2020 AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo

A Rigorous correlation for quantitative prediction of water cresting in multi-fractured horizontal wells – 2016, A Mahboob, S Al-Nuaim, MH Rammay, SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia annual technical symposium and exhibition, https://doi.org/10.2118/182778-MS

Performance evaluation of novel polymers for CO2 foam enhanced oil recovery – 2019, T Majeed, MS Kamal, T Solling, A Mahboob, X Zhou, Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, https://doi.org/10.2118/197839-MS

An experimental study of interfacial tension and contact angles of CO2/brines/surfactants/oil systems with dolomite rock – 2016, A Mahboob, AS Sultan, SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, https://doi.org/10.2118/182839-MS

Awards & Honors

  • Winner of Paper Contest of the 2016 Young Professional’s Technical Symposium (YPTS), SPE-KSA YPSO, Dhahran KSA
  • On-Merit Full tuition fee waiver Scholarships from KFUPM, Dhahran from 2013 to 2016
  • “Govt. Internal merit Scholarship” at UET, Lahore from 2007 to 2011
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