Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
The chair is recognized as a leading center for education, training and research in petroleum production and geothermal engineering with strong ties to a wide range of industries.
We are committed to research programs that meet the requirements of an environmentally conscious and responsible energy recovery including natural gas, petroleum, geothermal energy and other unconventionals. The international and interdisciplinary team of the chair is constantly working on innovative solutions for the future.
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
DPE
Research
Artificial Lift Systems
Artificial lift systems play a significant role in the recovery of oil, gas, and geothermal fluid. The change in reservoir conditions and techniques applied to increase the fluid recovery, alter the produced fluid properties, and challenge the artificial lift systems. The chair is specialized in testing and improving artificial lift systems for the complete range of its application. Simulations, like computational fluid dynamics analysis and finite element analysis, are applied to evaluate the overall performance and improvement of the systems. Mechanical and operational optimizations of the artificial lift systems are studied.
The chair’s pump test facility allows testing artificial lift systems at almost real field conditions and fills the gap between simulations and field tests. The pump test facility allows low testing costs in a controlled environment before expensive field testing is performed.
Coupled Processes Simulation
Geological media are a strategic resource for the forthcoming energy transition and constitute an essential ally in the fight to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Several energy and environmental processes in the subsurface involve multi-physical interactions between the porous and fractured rock and the fluids filling the voids: changes in pore pressure and temperature, rock deformation, and chemical reactions coincide and impact each other. This characteristic has profound implications for energy production and waste storage. Forecasts are bounded to the adequate understanding of field data associated with thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes. Predictive capabilities heavily rely on the quality of the integration between the input data (laboratory and field evidence) and the mathematical models describing the evolution of the multi-physical systems.
Our chair is dedicated to studies investigating THMC problems, mainly utilizing analytical and numerical methods with applications of carbon capture and storage (CCS), geothermal systems, energy storage, fluid injection-induced seismicity, and radioactive waste storage.
Geomechanics
Geomechanics used to be a branch of geoscience that interests primarily drilling and completions engineers. However, with the advent of unconventional resource development, geomechanics now touches almost every aspect of geo-energy exploration and production activities from well completions to reservoir management (subsidence or induced seismicity). Beyond geo-energy applications, geomechanical integrity is a crucial component in the operation design for underground energy storage, CO2 sequestration, or nuclear waste disposal.
We look into subsurface stress estimates and its evolution associated with anthropologic pore-pressure or temperature changes. Apart from application importance, our chair is very fascinated by the scientifical challenges in the area of fracture mechanics.
Geothermal Energy Recovery
Geothermal energy is an inexhaustible source of primary energy, spread globally and in massive amounts worldwide. The recovery of geothermal energy requires only small footprint facilities, and its extraction is known to be CO2 neutral and waste-free. To reach the defined emission limits, a considerable effort will be spent in the early future. A key technology will be to recover geothermal energy from small to large scale, as it provided besides other ground load potential.
The chair concentrates on steady-state and transient heat flow simulations for the conditions in- and outside of the geothermal well. Besides, the investigation of alternative materials for improving the operability of geothermal wells is done.
Simulation and Production Data Management
We are living in the era of data and we must learn how to capitalize its meaning. In Petroleum Production Engineering we are focusing on developing tools based on gigabytes of production data received daily in order to reduce operating costs and risks, increase production rates, contribute to faster and better decision making processes, reduce emissions, all these in order to lead to a more sustainable industry.
Our Chair has already been successful in this area during tight collaborations with several operating companies by building well monitoring and failure prediction tools for artificial lift systems. The outcome has demonstrated an increased data quality, more efficient production operations and more effective decision support tools.
Ultrasound in Oil and Gas Industry
The ultrasonic technology provides a commercial and environment friendly solution to:
- treat different types of scaling, corrosion and precipitations,
- manipulate fluid viscosity,
- clean cuttings/sand contaminated by oil,
- optimize physical properties of cement and
- kill bacteria and algae in fluid media.
Well Stimulation
Be it a production or an injection well, many of them require stimulation at some point in their lives. A well could be damaged from drilling or completion operation or builds up formation damage during the course of production or injection. For Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS), well stimulation is a prerequisite for resource development.
We study not only conventional stimulation techniques such as hydraulic fracturing, acidizing, or acid fracturing but also unconventional techniques using ultrasound.
Faculty
Univ.-Prof. PhD
Keita Yoshioka
Head of Chair, University Professor
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University 2007
- BS Resources and Environmental Engineering, Waseda University 2003
Experience
- Head of Chair of Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery, Montanuniversität Leoben since 2022
- Work Group Leader, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany 2017-2022
- Geothermal Reservoir Engineer, Chevron Geothermal, Jakarta, Indonesia 2008
- Staff Research Scientist, Chevron, Houston, USA 2007-2017
Research Interests
- Fracture propagation in porous media – recorded talks at youtube and BIRS
- THM/C coupled process
- Well stimulation
- Computational geomechanics
- Supercritical geothermal system
- Profiles on ResearchGate and Google Scholar
Scientific Staff
Dr.mont. inz.
Elena Chevelcha
Senior Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- PhD Production Engineering, Mining University of Leoben, Austria 2010-2014
- Dipl.Eng., Pipeline design, gas and oil storage and transportation, Ufa State Petroleum Technical University, Russia 2004-2009
Experience
- Production Reporting Expert, MOL Upstream, Budapest, Hungary 2017-2018
- Senior Production Engineer, MOL Upstream, Budapest, Hungary 2017-2022
- Management Consultant, GCI Management, Vienna, Austria 2016-2017
- Data Analyst, OPEC Secretariat, Vienna, Austria 2015
- Intern Production Engineer, Production System Optimization Department, OMV Upstream Vienna, Austria 2014-2015
- Intern Production Field Engineer, Production Department, RAG Upstream Kremsmuenster, Austria 2010-2011
- University Assistant, Chair of Petroleum Production, Mining University of Leoben, Austria 2010-2014
- Project Engineer in EGC-Project, Naberezhnye Chelny and Moscow Service Company, Ufa, Russia 2009
- Intern Coiled Tubing Field Engineer, Schlumberger Russia, Muravlenko, Russia 2008
Research Interests
- Geothermal energy
- Geoenergy systems
- Production engineering
PhD
Hadi Fathipour Azar
Senior Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Clemens Langbauer
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 2015
- MSc Geotechnical Engineering and Tunneling, Montanuniversität Leoben 2012
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 2011
Experience
- External Lecturer Montanuniversität Leoben, Petroleum and GeoEnergy Engineering since 2021
- Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism, Local Mining Authority Leoben since 2021
- Senior Scientist, Montanuniversität Leoben 2011-2021
Research Interests
- Research in the optimization and development of Artificial Lift Systems
- Pump Test Facility (performance testing of state-of-the-art artificial lift technology)
- Recovery of renewable energy (geothermal energy, hydrogen technology)
- Production optimization and flow assurance for oil, gas and geothermal wells
Dipl.-Ing.
Julian Pflügl
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MSc Drilling Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 2019
- None-Degree Petroleum Engineering & Economics, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia 2018
- Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 2017
Experience
- Visiting Lecturer, Department Petroleum Engineering at Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2023
- Accenture GmbH, Intelligent Asset Management Consulting, Vienna Austria since 2022
- T.A. Cook & Partner Consultants GmbH, Intelligent Asset Management Consulting, Berlin, Germany since 2020
Research Interests
- Reliability Management
- Maintenance & Work Order Management
- STO (Shutdown / Turnaround / Outage) Management
- Digitalization
- Oil & Gas, Chemicals & Parma, Metals & Mining
Dipl.-Ing.
Reinhard Pongratz
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 1975
Experience
- Head of Production Technology OMV E&P, Austria, Europe since 2012
- Senior Sales Manager Halliburton Energy Services Austria, Europe 2009-2012
- Senior Principal Consultant Halliburton Energy Services Austria, Europe 2008-2009
- Regional Technology Manager – Europe/Eurasia Halliburton Rijswijk, Netherlands 2006-2008
- PE Engineering and Technology Manager Halliburton Energy Services Moscow, Russia 2002-2006
- Regional Technical Advisor Halliburton Energy Services Jakarta, Indonesia 2001-2002
- Regional Technical Advisor Halliburton Energy Services, Dubai, UAE 2000-2001
- Technology Leader / Technical Project Manager Muscat, Oman 1997-1999
- Technical Advisor, Marine Stimulation Coordinator, Doha, Qatar 1995-1996
- Operations Engineer, Halliburton Services, Bugulma, Russia 1993
- Senior Field Engineer, Halliburton Energy Services, Doha, Qatar 1993-1995
- Operations Engineer, Halliburton Services Offshore, North Sea 1991-1992
- Field Engineer, Halliburton Services Offshore, North Sea 1990-1991
- Engineer in Training, Halliburton Services, Germany, Yugoslavia, The Netherlands, North Sea, and USA. 1989-1990
- Director, Institute of Drilling and Production Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 1988
- Assistant Professor, Institute of Drilling and Production Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 1984-1988
Research Interests
- Artificial lift
- Completions
- Stimulation
- Sand control
- Water control
- Flow assurance
B.Eng.
Joy Singh
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- Certificate Change Manager, Prosci, USA 2016
- Certificate Reliability Centred Maintenance Facilitator, Aladon, Canada 2014
- B.Eng Mechateronics Engineering, McMaster University, Canada 2009
Experience
- Visiting Lecturer, Montanuniversität Leoben since 2023
- Accenture GmbH, Industry X, Intelligent Asset Management Consulting, Berlin, Germany since 2022
- T.A. Cook Consultants Inc., Intelligent Asset Management Consulting, North America 2017-2022
- Deloitte, Strategy & Operations Consulting, Toronto, Canada 2014-2016
- Suncor, Project Engineer-In-Training, Fort McMurray Canada 2013
- ADI, Operations & Maintenance Manager, Mississauga, Canada 2010-2012
- Various, Sales Engineer, Toronto, Canada 2007-2010
Research Interests
- Asset Management and Operations
- Maintenance efficiency and Work Order Management
- STO (Shutdown / Turnaround / Outage) Management
- Maintenance & Reliability effectiveness and condition monitoring
- Oil & Gas, Chemicals & Parma, Metals & Mining
Dipl.-Ing.
Thomas Spörker
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- Post Graduate Studies focus on Economics and Legal Business, Technical University Vienna, Austria 1998
- Petroleum Engineering, Mining University Leoben, Austria 1993
Experience
- Lecture Mining University Leoben Health, Safety and Environment in the oil & gas industry since 2008
- Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy Head of division Mining - Technology and Safety since 2006
- Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor division Mining - Technology and Safety 2002-2006
- Federal Ministry of Economics - Local Mining Authority Vienna 1994-2001
Research Interests
- Safety in Borehole Mining Operations
- Occupational Safety and Health Issues
- Environmental Aspects in Oil & Gas Operations
- Risk Management and Emergency Planning
Dipl.-Ing. BSc MBA
Claudio Srepel
Visiting Lecturer
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MBA, University of Business and Economics Vienna 2017-2019
- Exchange Semester at University of Adelaide, Australia 2011
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 2010-2012
- Bsc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversotät Leoben 2007-2011
Experience
- COO Oil&Gas / CPI Platform, voestalpine High Performance Metals GmbH since 2021
- Visiting Lecturer, Montanuniversität Leoben since 2021
- Lead for Development of Country Strategies for Gas Developments Globally, ENI, Milano, Italy 2019-2021
- Project Development Planner, ExxonMobil, Norway 2018
- Strategic Development Planning Lead & Area Optimization Lead, Var Energi, Norway 2018-2019
- Business Planning Advisor, ExxonMobil, Norway 2017
- Area Optimization Lead, Point Resources, Norway 2017-2018
- Strategic Planning, ExxonMobil, USA 2015
- Production Engineering Lead, ExxonMobil, Norway 2015-2016
- Production Engineer, ExxonMobil Norway 2012-2015
Research Interests
Energy, Oil&Gas, Finance, Projects, Economics, Metals
MSc
Mojtaba Abdolkhani
University Assistant
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MSc Mechanical Engineering- Solid Mechanics, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran 2019-2023
- BSc Mechanical Engineering, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful, Iran 2015-2019
Experience
- University Assistant, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2023
- Research Intern, Engineering Mechanics of Soft Interfaces Laboratory, EPFL, Switzerland 2022
- Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran 2019-2022
- Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company, Iran 2017
- National Iranian Gas Company, Iran 2016
Research Interests
● Multiphysics modeling
● Computational methods for fracture prediction
● Phase field modeling
● Computational mechanics of materials
● Geomechanics
Dipl.-Ing.
Ramzy Albishini
University Assistant
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MSc International Study Program in Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery, Montanuniversität 2016-2019
- BSc Petroleum Engineering, Al-Baath University, Syria 2001-2008
Experience
- University Assistant, Montanuniversität since 2021
- Production Engineer, Syrian Petroleum Company, Syria 2011-2015
Research Interests
- Produced Water Treatment
- Stimulation
- Flow Assurance
- Shallow Geothermal Energy
Karsh.A.
Ameneh Sobhani
University Assistant
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Recovery
Education
- MSc, Petroleum Engineering- Reservoir Management, Petroleum University of Technology, Tehran, Iran 2014-2017
- BSc, Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Petroleum University of Technology, Ahvaz, Iran 2010-2014
Experience
- University Assistant, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2022
- Petroleum Engineer, National Iranian South Oil Company 2019-2022
- QC, Petroleum Upstream Laboratory 2018-2019
- EOR Researcher, NKN Co. 2017-2018
- Internship at Integrated Planning and Director, National Iranian Oil Company 2015
- Researcher in Petroleum Laboratory of Sharif University 2015-2017
- Internship at Petroleum Engineering department, National Iranian South Oil Company 2013
- Internship at Production Engineering Department, Karoon Oil and Gas Production Company 2012
Research Interests
- Data Science
- Machine Learning
- Well Logging Analysis
- Geothermal Energy
- Underground Gas Storage
- Economic Analysis of Petroleum Engineering Projects
Staff
Student Assistants
Mohammad Khasheei