MIST showcases research contribution to UAE’s oil and gas exploration and recovery

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business

The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, (MIST) an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, announced it is showcasing its research activities that contribute to the UAE’s oil and gas exploration and recovery at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2016.
As a research-based institution mandated to supporting Abu Dhabi’s drive for enhanced oil recovery and solidifying its existing revenue streams, Masdar Institute is participating in the event presenting research papers, with faculty actively taking part as judges at various panels. The conference program agenda also includes panel sessions, breakfast and luncheon sessions, as well as 106 technical sessions.
Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf, Interim Provost, Masdar Institute, said: “Masdar Institute is committed to advancing and developing the UAE’s innovation ecosystem, which includes providing panel experts, judges and research participants in technical events like ADIPEC. In particular, many of research projects aim to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the UAE’s oil exploration and recovery techniques, which is a critical part of the UAE’s transition to a sustainable knowledge economy.”
Dr. Al Yousuf is on the Regional Select Jury panel and will be involved in the final selection of the best student submission. Dr. Mohamed Sassi, Professor, Institute Center for Energy (iEnergy), Department of Mechanical and Materials Sciences, and Dr Matteo Chiesa, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, are on the 2016 Best Dissertation of the Year Committee. In addition, Dr. Khalid Al-Ali, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, is an applicant for the ‘best thesis’ award category.
The project aims to support Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification and has the potential to be valuable to ADNOC in creating a path towards a “solar fuel” production with higher commercial value, in addition to hydrogen which is intensively used in the hydrodesulfurization and heavy oil hydrogenation units.
Another project by Dr. Ameena Saad Al-Sumaiti, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, reflects the role of UAE in enabling electricity access in poor developing countries. Such a project is an indication of the great support that UAE, a leading country, is always providing to such countries. The project does not only target electricity services’ improvement to facilitate consumers’ lives, but also countries’ economies.
At the same time, Masdar Institute PhD student Hongxia Li and her advisor Dr. TieJun Zhang, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, are presenting a research paper focused on understanding subsurface pore-scale oil trapping mechanisms with the aim of developing knowledge that will help the ADNOC group achieve its 70% oil recovery target.
A research project is also being presented by Aamna AlShehhi, part-time PhD student who is currently working with ADCO, accompanied by faculty advisor Dr. Irfan Saadat, Professor,
Microsystems Engineering.
The project aims to design a new type of sensor and system based on graphene, for online mitigation of fracturing issue for CO2 pipelines This work is aimed at benefiting the ADNOC Group of companies through the development of modular sensor systems that can readily be adapted for many modes of function, including wireless, energy autonomous monitoring.

Hosted by ADNOC, ADIPEC 2016 has attracted more than 2,000 exhibiting companies, 8,500 delegates, 700 speakers, and 25 international pavilions, including major oil producing countries.