Staff
Director - Dr. Cem Sarica
Contact: 918-631-5154; Email Dr. Sarica
Cem Sarica holds B.S. (1982) and M.S. (1984) degrees in petroleum engineering from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and a Ph.D. (1990) degree in petroleum engineering from The University of Tulsa (TU). After serving as an Assistant Professor of Petroleum Engineering at ITU, he joined the research staff at TU in 1992, and was Associate Director of the Tulsa University Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP) until 1998 when he joined the faculty at The Pennsylvania State University. He joined the Petroleum Engineering Department at TU in 2001. He is currently serving as Professor of Petroleum Engineering. His responsibilities include the directorships of both TUFFP, and the Tulsa University Paraffin Deposition Projects (TUPDP)
Cem's research interests are multiphase flow in pipes, flow assurance and oil and gas production. He has authored several publications on these subjects.
Cem is a member of both the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He served as an Associate Technical Editor of ASME Journal of Energy Resources Technology (JERT) from 1998 -2004. He has previously served as a member of the SPE Production Operations Committee and is a member of the SPE Journal Editorial Board. He was one of the recipients of the SPE's Outstanding Editor Award in 2000. He is a member of SPE Facilities and Construction Standing Committee. He is currently serving as the Chair of SPE Facilities and Construction Award Committee. In addition to his SPE activities, he serves as a Technical Advisory Committee member of BHRg's Multiphase Technology Conferences.
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Associate Director - Dr. Eduardo Pereyra
Contact: 918-631-5114; Email Dr. Pereyra
Eduardo Pereyra received his M.S. (2006) and Ph.D. (2010) degrees in petroleum engineering from The University of Tulsa. He holds two B.S. degrees from the University of Los Andes: Mechanical Engineering (2000) and System Engineering (2000).
From 2000 to 2003, Eduardo worked for the R&D center of the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA-Intevep. In 2004, he joined The University of Tulsa as a Research Assistant. During 2006 he worked for Multiphase System Integration (MSI) in the areas of multiphase transport, facilities design, and multiphase flow metering systems. Eduardo continued to work as a Research Assistant at The University of Tulsa from 2007 to 2010. In summer 2005, 2006 and 2007, he worked as a Research Scientist Intern at Chevron's Advanced Production Technology Unit.
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Research Associate - Dr. Hamidreza Karami
Contact: Email Dr. Karami
Hamidreza Karami is a PhD graduate from the University of Tulsa and a research associate in TUFFP and TUHWALP. He received his B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran in July 2009. He joined The University of Tulsa and TU's Paraffin Deposition Projects (TUPDP) in fall 2009, and completed his MSc degree in Petroleum Engineering, with the thesis title “Investigation of Single-Phase Paraffin Deposition Characteristics under Turbulent Flow”. He then joined TUFFP in fall 2011 to pursue his PhD degree in Petroleum Engineering. His dissertation was completed in May 2015, with the title “low liquid loading three-phase flow and effects of MEG on flow behavior”.
As a research associate, he is currently involved in several projects, applying his experimental knowledge on multiphase flow through pipelines and tubing. Multiphase flow through venturi, foam lifting, plunger lift, and wet gas pipeline transportation are some of his areas of focus. He is also proficient in multiphase flow modeling and computational fluid dynamics.
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Research Associate - Rob Sutton
Contact: Email Rob
Rob Sutton holds BS and MS degrees in petroleum engineering from Marietta College and Louisiana State University at Lafayette, respectively. He recently retired from Marathon Oil and is serving as a Research Associate for TUFFP and TUHWALP.
Consultant - Dr. Abdel Al-Sarkhi
Al-Sarkhi Abdelsalam is currently an Associate Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology and a Ph.D degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. Before joining KFUPM he was a Research Associate in the Tulsa University Fluid Flow Project (TUFFP) at The University of Tulsa. He served as an Assistant and Associate Professor at Hashemite University, Jordan from 2001-2006. He also worked as a Research Associate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with Prof. T.J. Hanratty’s multiphase flow group from 1999-2001. Dr. Al-Sarkhi has conducted research in the multiphase flow area since 1999; he has been the principle investigator on many research projects and is author of over 34 refereed journal publications.
The main research interests of Dr. Al-Sarkhi are in the field of multiphase flow and thermo-fluid sciences.
Consultant - Dr. Carlos Torres
Dr. Carlos F. Torres is currently full professor at the University of Los Andes – Venezuela. He worked as Research Associate in TUFFP and TUHWALP at The University of Tulsa – OK (2012-2014), and also in Chemical Engineering Department at University College London - UK (fall-winter 2008). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Tulsa (2006), his M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics and his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering both from University of Los Andes – Venezuela in 2001 and 1995 respectively. He develops fluid flow software for to oil and gas industries. His research interests are multiphase flow modeling (steady and transient), CFD for single and multiphase flows, mathematical modeling of energy systems and data processing. He has also served as reviewer in Journals related to petroleum, gas and energy technologies. He received the Ph.D. from University of Tulsa – U.S.A. (Mechanical Engineering) in 2005, and the dissertation title was “Modeling of Oil-Water Flow in Horizontal and Near Horizontal Pipes”. He received the M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from University of Los Andes – Venezuela in 2001 and the thesis title was “Adaptive Mesh Implementation for CFD Computer Code”. He received the B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Los Andes – Venezuela in 1995, and the undergraduate thesis was honored. Since September 1995, he started working at the University of Los Andes – Venezuela as Instructor in the Thermal Science Department teaching courses in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, turbomachinery and introduction to oil production. He has been advisor of undergraduate and graduate (M.Sc.) thesis related to thermal systems, and oil & gas production.
During the PhD he participated in I/UCRC on Multiphase Transport Phenomena (sponsored by the National Science Foundation), and co-developed the computer code “FLOWPATN”. He has expertise in designing and developing mechanistic models for predicting the performance/transitions of various multiphase devices, and developing CFD analysis for them. He has published papers in journals and conferences in areas such as gas lift optimization, turbulent diffusion, multiphase flow, thermal systems and CFD. Also, he has worked in industrial projects for Chevron, Shell, Gazprom and Zeibel and teaching courses for the industry. Recently, he completed a postdoc in the Chemical Engineering department in UCL – UK, developing research in CFD for liquid-liquid flows. Actually, he is an Associate Professor at Thermal Science Department at the University of Los Andes – Venezuela where he continues teaching and conducting research in energy and oil & gas industries.
Senior Project Coordinator - Kelley Friedberg
Contact: 918-631-5110; Email Kelley
Kelley Friedberg holds a BA in Languages and Literature from the University of Oklahoma and received her MA in English at The University of Tulsa in May 2016. Kelley has worked at TU since 2002 and joined TUFFP in 2013.
Kelley is currently responsible for executive team planning and monitoring of various consortia and projects; preparing and monitoring the various budgets; coordination of various sub-projects; and planning all aspects of two Advisory Board meetings per consortium per year. She is the primary representative of all consortia to consortia members. Kelley also is responsible for preparing business proposals to various entities to secure future research funding; preparing business reports for presentation to members; supervise Project Coordinator and part-time employees; assist in hiring of post-doctoral and other research associates, technicians, and other staff; oversee all consortia web presence (this is the main source of transferring deliverables to consortia members); and editing of project reports, theses, dissertations and papers for publication in various industry journals.
Project Engineer - Scott Graham
Contact: 918-631-5147; Email Scott
Mr. Graham is a Project Engineer for The University of Tulsa (TU) serving primarily the TU Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP) and TU Paraffin Deposition Projects (TUPDP) consortia within the Petroleum Engineering Department. This consortium consists of sixteen international oil companies and focuses it’s studies on fluid flow and paraffin deposition. His responsibilities include working with Master and Ph.D. students to develop innovative measurement systems and sensors; plus teach and transfer practical instrumentation and control knowledge to students. He has an Associates Degree in Electrical/Electronics and has over 23 years of experience in the application and development of instrumentation devices and systems. He is currently working on his Bachelors in Political Science. Prior to coming to TU, Scott was the Program Coordinator for the Electrical/Electronic program of study at Oklahoma State University (OSU) – Okmulgee. In addition to the administrative responsibilities of his position, he served as the advisor to the ISA student section and taught the Process Measurement and Control classes. He served in that position for five years.
Scott began his career working as a roustabout for Conoco NGP in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Later as an instrument technician Scott designed and installed automation systems for gas processing plants. He also performed new electrical construction and assisted in putting together an electrical/instrumentation training program classes for Conoco's associate engineers in New Mexico and West Texas.
In 1992 after working for Conoco and gaining experience elsewhere, his career lead him to operate his own company based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Through Panel-Tek Inc., he designed, manufactured, and marketed chemical injection equipment, and electronic controls for the petroleum industry. From this work he holds several patents related to measurement of crude oil and related processes. The products produced included such items temperature and pressure measurement devices, flow computers, and data acquisition equipment. In 1997 Emerson Electric purchased Panel-Tek where he stayed on as Operation Manager for two years.
Scott enjoys working with students to help them to develop and master the technical skills needed to function in today’s marketplace.
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Research Technician - Franklin Birt
Contact: (918) 631-5140; Email Franklin
Franklin Birt is an electronics technician joining the Fluid Flow group after working for the Hydrates group for the past 3 years. Before coming to The University of Tulsa, Birt worked for more than 20 years in the electronics industry. At Time Mark Corporation, he worked as an engineering technician and draftsman, designing and mass producing custom industrial controls and three-phase power monitoring equipment. He was recruited from Time Mark by Panel-Tek Inc., a design and development company specializing in oilfield related electronics and equipment, to serve as an engineering technician, circuit board designer, and customer service representative. He then moved to Control Devices Inc., an industry leader in pipeline pig locating and tracking equipment, Birt worked as a circuit board and electronics packaging designer and championed the development of innovative manufacturing processes and practices. He then moved to Tucker Technologies, the technology division of Tucker Energy Services, as a circuit board designer and later as the Manufacturing Group Leader where he supervised the Manufacturing and Test departments. Tucker Technologies designs and manufactures state of the art downhole logging tools and software.
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Research Technician - Don Harris
Contact: (918) 631-2350; Email Don
Research Technician - Craig Waldron
Contact: 918-631-5131; Email Craig
Craig has 20 years experience working as a research technician in labs and pilot plants for Du Pont and Conoco prior to coming to work at The University of Tulsa in April 2001.
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Research Assistant - Yasser AlSaadi
Contact: 918-631-5138; Email Yasser
Yasser Alsaadi holds B.S. degree from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, and a M.S. degree from the University of Tulsa. He worked as a research assistant in his M.S. with TUFFP and studied Liquid Loading in Highly Deviated Gas Wells. Yasser currently works for Saudi Aramco as a flow assurance engineer, and in fall 2014, he return to TUFFP to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Petroleum Engineering.
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Research Assistant - Yilin Fan
Contact: EMail Yilin
Yilin Fan earned her B.S. in Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Engineering from China University of Petroleum (East China) in 2009. She joined University of Tulsa in Fall 2010 as a Research Assistant in TU High-Viscosity Oil Projects (TUHOP) and received her M.E. degree in Petroleum Engineering in 2012. She joined in TU Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP) as a Research Assistant in 2013 to pursue her Ph.D. degree in Petroleum Engineering. Yilin is currently working on “Onset of Liquid Accumulation in Oil and Gas Pipelines.”.
Research Assistant - Hendy Rodrigues
Contact: Email Hendy
Hendy Rodrigues has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Federal Technical University at Parana (UTFPR) - Brazil. He has being working in Petrobras Research Center since 2008, with the Flow Assurance and Artificial Lift Technology Development Group. Hendy is working towards his Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering under Dr. Sarica supervision on the TU Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP).
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Research Assistant - Duc Vuong
Contact: Email Duc
Duc Vuong joined the TUFFP team as a Research Assistant to pursue his Ph.D. degree in Petroleum Engineering in the spring 2013 semester. He has B.S. (2007) and M.S. (2009) degrees in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Tulsa. Duc earned his M.S. working as a Research Assistant on the TU High-viscosity Oil Projects (TUHOP) team performing experiments on high-viscosity-oil and water two-phase flow. He worked for PetroVietnam Exploration and Production Company in Vietnam from 2010-2012. He is currently working on a 6-inch loop studying high pressure liquid loading in oil-gas two-phase flow. Duc passed the Ph.D. qualifying exam in August 2013 and successfully defend his dissertation proposal in November 2014.
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Research Assistant - Teawoo Kim
Contact: (918) 934-0052; Email Teawoo
Teawoo Kim earned his B.S. (2012) degree in Energy Resource and Development Engineering from Seoul National University (SNU) – Korea. He has M.S. (2014) degree in Petroleum Engineering from SNU. He joined in TU Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP) team as a Research Assistant for his Ph.D. degree in Petroleum Engineering in the spring 2015 semester. Kim is currently working on “Detailed Flow Field Analysis of High Viscosity Oil-Air Slug Flow”.
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Research Assistant - Anh Nguyen
Contact: Email Anh
Anh Nguyen has a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa. He is working towards his M.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering under Dr. Eduardo Pereyra's supervision in the Tulsa University Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP). His research interest lies in the unified modeling of oil-water flow in pipelines.
Research Assistant - David Roullier
Contact: Email David
David holds a M.E. in Chemical Engineering from Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse. He focused his internships towards the E&P sector as a flow assurance engineer in Total Norge and ConocoPhillips. David joined TUFFP to pursue a M.S. in Petroleum Engineering and his research topic is slug flow analysis in large diameter vertical pipes.
Research Assistant - Auzan Soedarmo
Contact: Email Auzan
Auzan Soedarmo holds BS in Chemical Engineering (2010) from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, and MS in Petroleum Engineering (2015) from The University of Tulsa. In 2010, he conducted an internship as a process engineer in Badak Natural Gas Liquefaction (LNG) plant. From 2010 to 2013 he was working as Facilities Surveillance Engineer for ExxonMobil in Indonesia, during which he gained practical experience in flow assurance, loss-prevention, process design, and facilities engineering.
In 2013, he took a leave of absence from his professional duties and received Fulbright Scholarship to pursue his MS degree, for which he worked for Tulsa University Paraffin Deposition Project (TUPDP). In TUPDP, he was responsible for facility design and experimentation program to enable microscopic visualization of wax deposition process under flowing conditions. From his work in TUPDP, he has authored/co-authored several peer-reviewed publications. Currently, he is conducting doctorate study while working for Tulsa University Fluid Flow Project (TUFFP) as a research assistant.