![Dr AMIN SHARIFI Dr AMIN SHARIFI](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/s18as5/IMG_1448editededited.jpg)
CEng MIMechE, FHEA
Senior Lecturer
- About
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- Email Address
- amin.sharifi@abdn.ac.uk
- School/Department
- School of Engineering
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
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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
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Engineering.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Research Specialisms
- Chemical Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Fluid Mechanics
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
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.
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Understanding the rheology and dynamics of foam and emulsions
- Nanofluid suspensions for multiphase transport in annular channels
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Hybrid thermal/chemical fluid flow in porous media
Supervision
My current supervision areas are: Engineering.
Current members:
Talal Mostafa
Talal re-joined the University of Aberdeen in October 2017 to pursue his PhD on the dynamics of two-phase flow in complex channels. In his research project, the aim is to find a flow model for predicting immiscible displacement process in subsurface porous media (e.g. in oil recovery and soil remediation). He received his Bachelor's degree from University College London in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Master's degree from the University of Aberdeen in Petroleum Engineering.
David Vazquez
David received his Bachelore's Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Mexico. He worked with Schlumberger at the Gulf of Mexico and with Grupo R on projects with PEMEX. He then joined the University of Aberdeen for his Master's in Petroleum Engineering, and upon completion of his degree in 2018, he started his PhD research project on dynamics of foams and emulsions in wellbores. His research goal is to enhance the flow potentials in water loaded wells using suspensions(led by Dr Rafati).Mohamed Reyani
Mohamed joined our group in 2020, he received his Bachelore's degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Universty of Leeds and completed his Master's in International Oil & Gas Management at the University of Dundee. He worked as subsurface petroleum engineer at Sirte Oil Company for 3 years before joing the Universty of Aberdeen. In his PhD he investigate the physicochemical characteristics of emulsions and their flow dynamics in rocks.
Samuel Felix Ofesi
Samuel received his BSc and MSc degrees in Petroleum Engineering, from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) and Federal University of Technology Owerri, respectively. Before joining our group, he worked as a lecturer in Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, a drilling engineer in SINOPEC/NPDC OML 64/66 swamp project. His PhD research project focuses on the characterization of oil-based foam drilling fluids, aiming at inventing an oil-based foam drilling fluid suitable for drilling high-temperature reservoirs and geothermal aquifers.
Tomi Erfando
Tomi started his PhD in January 2023, he worked as a lecturer at Universitas Islam Riau (UIR) for 7 years before joining the University of Aberdeen. Tomi received his Master’s in Petroleum Engineering from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in Indonesia. He is currently studying the development of technologies for mineral extraction from petroleum and geothermal reservoirs, aiming to support the Energy Transition.
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Visiting Scholar:
Natalie Boyou
Natalie was a visiting PhD student in our group from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. She visited us in summer 2018.
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Former group members:
Joseph Sherratt, PhD (Currently a Reservoir Engineer at Equinor)
PhD student (graduated): Sept 2017 to June 2023. His research project was focused on the modelling of hydraulic fracturing process and multiphase flow in tight formations using CO2 and foam.
Linda Tatiana Lezama, PhD (Currently a Project Engineer at HUNTING)
PhD student (graduated): Sept 2017 to June 2023. Her research project was focused on the phase behaviour of emulsion systems, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of hazardous chemicals in oil and gas industry(led by Dr Rafati).
Natalie Boyou, PhD
Postdoc: Sept 2019-Dec 2021. Her project was focused on nano-enhanced suspensions for wellbore cleaning in directional drilling.
Mahdi Sadri, PhD (Currently a Research Consultant at TÜV SÜD)
Postdoc: Jan-May 2021. His research project was focused on foam flow in pipes, the project (led by Dr Rafati) is in collaboration with the operator and service companies (ChampionX, M-I Swaco, Chrysaor).
Rizky Novara, PhD (Currently at Heriot-Watt University)
PhD student (graduated): Sept 2016 to Sept 2021. His research project was focused on the application of nanoparticles in drilling fluids for deepwater drilling operations and in the arctic conditions (led by Dr Rafati).
Ahmed Bashir, PhD (Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Khartoum, Sudan)
PhD student (graduated): Feb 2017 to May 2022. His research project was focused on the experimental investigation of foam rheology and its application in enhanced oil recovery processes from unconventional reservoirs.
Lawrence Boampong, PhD (Currently a Postdoc at Los Alamos National Lab, USA)
PhD student (graduated): Oct 2017 to Dec 2022. His research project was focused on modelling wettability alteration during low salinity water flooding process (led by Dr Rafati).
Funding and Grants
- A joint industry project on flow dynamics of suspensions and foams in wells, funded by four companies based in the UK and US, 2020-2021
- A 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
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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
- Publications
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Effects of ultrasonic waves on carbon dioxide solubility in brine at different pressures and temperatures
Petroleum Science, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 597-604Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCO2-based heavy oil recovery processes for post-CHOPS reservoirs
Journal of CO2 Utilization, vol. 19, pp. 238-246Contributions to Journals: ArticlesModeling solvent enhanced gravity drainage from a single matrix block in fractured oil reservoirs
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 152, pp. 555–563Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2017.01.043
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/9934/1/PETROL3852.pdf
Ultrasound-Assisted CO2 Flooding to Improve Oil Recovery
Ultrasonics sonochemistry, vol. 35, no. Part A, pp. 243-250Contributions to Journals: ArticlesExperimental study on stability and rheological properties of aqueous foam in the presence of reservoir natural solid particles
Colloids and Surfaces. A, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, vol. 509, pp. 19-31Contributions to Journals: ArticlesModelling of Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand (CHOPS) using a fluidized sand algorithm
Fuel, vol. 158, pp. 937-947Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.06.032
Characterization of Scale‐Dependent Dispersivity in Fractured Formations Through a Divergent Flow Tracer Test
Ground Water, vol. 53, no. S1, pp. 149-155Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12187
Application of tracer injection tests to characterize rock matrix block size distribution and dispersivity in fractured aquifers
Journal of Hydrology, vol. 510, pp. 504-512Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.01.008
Lumped mass transfer coefficient for divergent radial solute transport in fractured aquifers
Journal of Hydrology, vol. 495, pp. 113-120Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.05.007
Advective–diffusive mass transfer in fractured porous media with variable rock matrix block size
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, vol. 133, pp. 94-107Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2012.02.008