Dr AMIN SHARIFI

Biography

PhD, Engineering, University of Calgary

MEng, Engineering, University of Calgary

Recipient of the College of Physical Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2017.

Research Overview

I am an academic in the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen. My primary research interests span across experimental/theoretical fluid dynamics in porous media and narrow channels.

The applications of such studies are in developing solutions for energy recovery from subsurface resources, energy storage, and minerals extraction.

In my group, we have expertise in materials science and electrochemistry application in mineral extraction, this is in collaboration with European companies and Universities.

I also work on developing solutions for hydrogen storage, carbon capture and storage (CCS), this includes optimisation and prediction of multiphase flow in surface facilities and subsurface storage capacities. The solutions also aim at decarbonisation of industry and clean energy storage.

I work closely with local and international research councils and industry from Africa, Middle East, and North America to address the current problems in the energy sector and explore future opportunities. In recent years, I have been managing/co-managing a range of research projects that attracted more than £500k external grants.

Key research areas in my group:

• Fluid flow in complex channels and porous media 
• Mechanics of non-Newtonian fluids (Colloidal suspensions, Foams, Polymer solutions and Nanofluids)
• Chemistry of colloidal suspensions/emulsions/minerals and ionic transport with a focus on energy transition

Current Research

• Developing FUSim, a Fracture Upscaling Simulator, to predict the flow path of fluids in hydraulically fractured rocks. The use of this simulator can reduce the cost up to 20% by giving the best configuration of flow directions.

• Understanding the rheology and dynamics of foam and emulsions

  

• Nanofluid suspensions for multiphase transport in annular channels

• Hybrid thermal/chemical fluid flow in porous media

  

Funding and Grants

• EPSRC funded research project on hydrogen transport via pipelines, 2024-2026.
• International science partnership with Indonesian institution and industry on critical mineral extraction from geothermal resources, 2025-2026. 
• Industry project on the design of new tools for methane containment for a US-based company, 2024-2025.
• Joint industry project on flow dynamics of suspensions and foams in wells, funded by four industrial partners based in the UK and US, 2020-2021
• Collaborative project on the dynamics of non-Newtonian suspensions (Nano-enhanced fluids) in mud flow in drilling operations with Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, funded by BEIS & British Council, 2019-2021
• Development of a software package for optimisation of heat generation and flowrate in cementing jobs in wells, funded by Oil and Gas Innovation Centre & Deltatek, 2019
• An investigation on the emulsions phase behaviour and their stability in the presence of nanomaterials, funded by CONACyT, Mexico, 2018-2021
• A study on the use of foams and suspensions for enhancing vertical flows in wells, funded by CONACyT, Mexico, 2018-2021
• Application of nanotechnology in oil recovery, funded by The Royal Society, 2017-2018
• A project on the investigation of foam rheology and dynamics at reservoir conditions, funded by The Carnegie Trust, 2017-2018
• Modelling of oil recovery processes through smart waterflooding, funded by Ghana Education Trust fund, 2017-2021
• Environmentally Friendly drilling fluid design for directional and deepwater drillings, funded by Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education, 2016-2020

Teaching Responsibilities

Courses taught:

Undergraduate level:

EG55HI: Enhanced Oil Recovery 

EG4013: MEng Individual Project

EP3595: Drilling and Well Engineering

Postgraduate level:

EG551W: Well & Production Engineering

EG551R/EG502B: Field Development & Petroleum Economics

EG501Y/EG55Q1: Enhanced Oil Recovery

Teaching Leadership:

Deputy Examinations Officer for the School of Engineering (Oct 2023 - now)

Programme Leader for MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering (March 2024 - now) 

UG Level 2 Coordinator for Engineering programmes (Sept 2019 - March 2024)

Deputy Programme Coordinator for MSc Oil and Gas Engineering (Sept 2018-Now)

Workshops and Talks:

• Petroleum Engineering Capacity Development-Unconventional Reservoirs

PetroChina-Canada, Calgary September 2014

• Invited talk on Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods (EOR)

Subsea Engineering Program, Aberdeen November 2016

•  Short course:An Introduction to Drilling in Heavy Oil, Oil Sands, Shale Gas Fields

EU funded capacity building project with University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Tanzania, Aberdeen April 2017