معرفی
Farouq Ali is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering. With over 40 years of experience spanning academia and industry, he is globally recognized as a leading expert in reservoir engineering and enhanced oil recovery techniques. Previously holding the Encana/Petroleum Society Chair at the University of Calgary, he has also served as a professor at Pennsylvania State University, University of Alberta, and University of Regina.
His educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
- M.S. in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
- B.Sc. (Hons.) in Petroleum Production Engineering, Birmingham University, England
- B.Eng. in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Karachi University, Pakistan
Professor Ali's research focuses on breakthrough methods for oil recovery from challenging reservoirs, particularly heavy oil systems. His pioneering work established micellar-polymer flooding as an industry standard and developed foundational steam injection techniques. Current investigations center on solvent-assisted thermal processes, pore-scale modeling of bitumen mobilization, and advanced reservoir simulation for optimizing steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) and in-situ combustion.
His 2015-2018 publications reveal a concentrated research trajectory toward integrating solvents with thermal recovery methods, developing non-equilibrium pore-scale simulators, and optimizing SAGD performance through analytical modeling. Key thematic clusters include solvent-steam synergies, temperature-dependent reservoir behavior, and field-scale implementation of advanced recovery techniques for oil sands and heavy oil deposits.
His exceptional contributions are evidenced by prestigious accolades including:
- Election to the US National Academy of Engineering (2009)
- Anthony F. Lucas Gold Medal (SPE's highest technical honor, 2007)
- Kapitsa Gold Medal from Russian Academy of Sciences (1998)
- SPE Lester C. Uren Award (1996)
- Multiple SPE Distinguished Lecturer appointments
Professor Ali maintains active industry engagement through over 250 reservoir studies and 30 major oilfield designs, advising governments and corporations on production strategies. His academic mentorship includes current Ph.D. candidate Seyed Mahdi Razavi, continuing his legacy of training petroleum engineering leaders. Research funding stems from extensive consulting contracts and collaborative industry projects focused on thermal recovery optimization.
His laboratory investigations emphasize thermal recovery mechanisms and reservoir simulation, with current projects developing integrated solvent-steam models and advanced analytical tools for SAGD performance prediction. The research team maintains close industry partnerships for field validation of novel recovery techniques.
