Mohammed Alyousef
Associate Petroleum Engineer
Saudi Aramco
As a recent graduate from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) with first honors, I am currently an associate petroleum engineer in EXPEC Advanced Research Center (ARC) at Saudi Aramco. My time at KFUPM was marked by hands-on experience in core flooding, pore-scale emulsification, interfacial tension (IFT) measurements, wettability assessments, and particle hydrodynamics. These skills were instrumental in my unique research on hybrid enhanced oil recovery (HEOR), where I pioneered the development and optimization of nanofluids using surfactants, polymers, and nanoparticles to improve performance in challenging reservoir conditions.
My academic pursuits at KFUPM were not limited to theoretical knowledge. I also delved into practical applications, particularly enhancing produced water quality and devising innovative reinjection techniques for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). These initiatives, which I continue to work on as an Aramco employee, focus on finding sustainable alternatives to traditional disposal wells and on promoting environmentally responsible resource management.
My commitment to conducting high-quality research is demonstrated by the first-place awards I received at the 2024 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) MENA Regional Student Paper Contest in Oman and the 2023 Society of Petrophysicists and Well Logging Analysts (SPWLA) International Student Paper Contest in the US. Additionally, my research experience at Cornell University as a summer trainee, where I focused on nanoparticle synthesis for EOR, has resulted in several pending patents. As an Aramco employee and first-honor graduate, I am dedicated to advancing innovation and addressing new challenges in the petroleum industry.
Participates in
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Energy Infrastructure
Produced water (PW) from hydrocarbon operations, rich in divalent cations, offers an untapped route for permanent CO₂ storage through rapid carbonate precipitation. This review synthesises the past decade of laboratory, pilot and techno-environmental studies to chart how PW mineralisation can be integrated with existing water-handling infrastructure and linked to enhanced-oil-recovery schemes. Emphasis is placed on reaction chemistry, process intensification and life-cycle performance rather than economics.
Methods & Approach:
Hundreds of peer-reviewed papers and conference proceedings were screened with PRISMA protocols, and global PW chemistry databases were mined for ion-composition trends. Reaction-rate data were normalised for temperature, alkalinity source and nucleation promoter. Life-cycle models then compared greenhouse-gas abatement, freshwater displacement and residue liabilities across representative process trains, accounting for energy used in mixing, separation and sludge conditioning.
Results & Insights:
Brines typical of mature carbonate reservoirs consistently achieve carbonate yields equivalent to roughly one-quarter to nearly one-half of their theoretical capacity within a few hours at moderate reservoir temperatures, provided alkalinity is sufficiently elevated. Hybrid smart-water workflows can recycle a significant share of precipitated solids for conformance-control duties, trimming disposal requirements by multiple factors. Life-cycle analysis indicates that, when existing heat-recovery loops and separators are leveraged, mineralisation imposes only a modest incremental cost on PW management, with overall climate benefit highly sensitive to sludge logistics and alkali sourcing. Recent policy drafts offering credits for treated-PW sequestration could further strengthen the business case.
Novel / Additive Value:
This is the first study to weave together mineralisation chemistry, field water-management practice and life-cycle performance into a single design envelope. The resulting phase diagrams and decision trees enable operators to transform PW from an environmental liability into a dual asset—secure CO₂ storage and reduced disposal burden—advancing the conference goal of marrying energy production with stewardship.
Co-author/s:
Hassan Alqahtani, Lead Petroleum Scientist, Saudi Aramco.
