Dr Roozbeh Rafati

Biography

• Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen (UK). Jan. 2022 - Present.
• Lecturer, University of Aberdeen (UK). Aug. 2015 - Dec 2021
• Teaching Fellow, University of Aberdeen (UK). Aug. 2013 - Aug 2015
• Lecturer, University Technology Mara (Malaysia). Jul. 2010 - Aug.2013.
• Researcher, University Technology Malaysia (UTM). Jun. 2009 - May.2010.
• Reservoir Engineer, South Pars Gas Field Development (Iran). Nov. 2006 - Dec.2008.
• Research Assistant, Sharif University of Technology (Iran). Oct. 2005 - Nov.2006.
• Internship, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Jul. 2002 - Sep.2002.

Research Overview

My main research is the application of smart materials in the upstream petroleum industry. The focus of my research is on phase behaviour, transportation and retention of smart colloidal systems such as emulsions and foams in pipes/porous media and their impact on oil/gas production enhancement as well as a fundamental understanding of the interactions at the interfaces between gaseous, liquid and solid phases at high pressure and temperature conditions. I am currently working on the application of nanoparticles in gas leakage reduction, rheologically stable drilling fluids in deepwater drilling and smart foams for artificial lifting process.

Research Interests:
• Foam phase behaviour, stability and rheological properties
• Foam flow in porous media
• Application of Nanotechnology in upstream oil and gas industry
• Biodegradable and green chemicals for upstream oil and gas industry
• Modelling and simulation of EOR processes
• Pore-scale studies of multiphase fluid

Current Research

- Effect of Nanoparticles and viscosifiers on water unloading in low energy gas wells

- Application of magnetic nanoparticles on oil-water separation

- Effect of nanoparticles on heat transfer and rheological properties of drilling fluids

Funding and Grants

-APPLICATION OF NANOPARTICLES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF BATCH FOAM LIFTING PROCESS

OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AND 3 INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS

£136,794 (PLUS £111,000 MATERIAL CONTRIBUTION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT BY INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS)

5/03/20 → 4/03/21

-FORMULATING NEW NANO-BASED DRILLING FLUIDS WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY SURFACTANTS EXTRACTED FROM AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD WASTES

BRITISH COUNCIL

£158,991

1/09/19 → 31/08/21

-USING TEMPERATURE INCREASE TO ACCELERATE THE SETTING OF CEMENT IN OIL WELL CONDUCTOR CEMENTING OPERATIONS (OGIC)

OIL AND GAS INNOVATION CENTRE

£51,000

22/01/19 → 15/07/19

-INVESTIGATION OF ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESSES IN COMPLEX FRACTURED RESERVOIR

LIBYAN EMBASSY

£56,500

1/04/20 → 31/03/23

-FORMULATION OF COST-EFFECTIVE NANOCOMPOSITE-GEL FROM WASTES TO CONTROL UNWANTED GAS PRODUCTION FROM PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS

CARNEGIE TRUST

£9,981

1/04/18 → 31/03/19

-APPLICATION OF ULTRASOUND RADIATION FOR STIMULATING CONDENSATE BANKING AROUND WELLBORE IN GAS CONDENSATE RESERVOIRS

PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FUND

£49,200

1/02/18 → 31/01/21

-FACULTY ENHANCEMENT TRAVEL GRANT

SOCIETY FOR PETROLEUM ENGINEERS (SPE)

$1,000

1/01/18 → 30/09/19

-APPLICATION OF STABLE-RHEOLOGY DRILLING FLUID TO INHIBIT HYDRATE FORMATION IN DEEPWATER DRILLING

INDONESIA ENDOWMENT FUNDS

£34,253

1/05/16 → 30/04/20

-EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF NANOPARTICLE-STABILISED FOAM AND ITS DYNAMIC RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AT HIGH-TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS

CARNEGIE TRUST

£7,485

1/09/17 → 31/10/18

Teaching Responsibilities

• Reservoir Engineering (Coordinator and Contributor)
• Reservoir Simulation (Coordinator and Contributor)
• Petroleum Engineering Design (Coordinator and Contributor)
• Field Development Plan and Economics (Contributor)