Petroleum research on international stage

UNSW Petroleum Engineering PhD student Abdul Ravoof Shaik has been invited to take part in a major international contest after making a winning presentation on his research into oil and gas reservoirs.

In a strong result for UNSW, Ravoof took first place among seven contestants in the postgraduate division of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Asia Pacific Regional Student Paper Contest, held in Perth last month, while School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD student Justin Ugbo placed third.

Ravoof was awarded first place for a presentation on his research into simulation of fluid flow through stress-sensitive, naturally fractured reservoirs. The research has been supervised by Dr Nam Tran and Professor Sheik Rahman of the School of Petroleum Engineering.

The win means Ravoof has now been invited to attend the Society of Petroleum Engineers International Student Paper Contest, which will be held in the United States in October, 2009.

Justin Ugbo's third-placed presentation was on his research into using quantitative X-ray diffraction for improved definition of sediments in oil and gas reservoirs. His research is supervised by Professor Colin Ward of the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Another UNSW engineer, Airul Hafneh, was a place-getter in the Undergraduate Division at the Perth conference. Airul, who graduated from the School of Petroleum Engineering in August this year and now works for Shell Brunei, came third in a field of 10 contestants for a paper on co-optimisation of carbon dioxide storage and enhanced gas recovery. His research was supervised by Dr Yildiray Cinar of the School of Petroleum Engineering.

Media Contact: Peter Trute | 02 9385 1933 | 0410 271 826 | p.trute@unsw.edu.au