The Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering has been on the forefront and leading in different research areas at the College of Engineering and the University levels. Research at PCE has grown tremendously over the years. Supported by the College strong drive to promote research and make of SQU a house of consultancy, and inspired by industrial challenges, the department is striving to keep the lead and contribute to solutions for real industrial problems. With state of the art research facilities, highly motivated faculty members, who hailed from renowned international teaching and research institutions, and qualified technical staff. Faculty specializations in PCE are listed below:

In addition, the Department is always keen to conduct research and consultancy and provide services in a wide spectrum of areas, including:

• Oil Field Water Analysis
• Horizontal Well Performance
• Reservoir Production, Characterization and Simulation
• Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
• Artificial Neural Networks and Wettability and Asphaltenes
• Counter-current Multi-phase Flow in Porous-media
• Fluid Distribution Networks
• Rheology of Emulsions and
• Loss Circulation Material Design and Analysis
• Mineral Resources: Genesis and Economics, Feasibility Studies, Mine Planning and Design, Environment, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Applications of Geostatistics, and Mineral Processing
• Mercury Analysis
• CO2 Solubility in blended amines
• Catalytic reactions, reactor design and kinetic studies
• Simulation of Chemical and Transport Processes
• Applications of expanded graphite and polymers, composite materials
• Simulation of heat and mass transfer and reactors.
• Pollution prevention and waste treatment
• Desalination

Research Activities

Since 1997, The Department has developed the culture of publicizing the staff research capabilities and very much gained publicity through providing a few services to the local industry at no cost. That has benefited the Department a great deal and lead companies, like PDO in particular, to use the Department staff expertise in a few research projects, and services. The Department has also provided consultancy to the Ministry of Oil and Gas and to Oman Oil Company (OOC) and is always keen to do so with other interested parties locally and elsewhere. The following table summarizes the Department research activities over the past 5 years (2000-2004).

Petroleum Development Oman has, currently and over the past years, been a model collaborator with PCE and a remarkable partner. PDO has used the Department expertise in finalizing 13 projects for a total cost amounting to more than RO 900,000. The considerable figures reflect the level of confidence a leading company like PDO has entrusted in the Department capabilities. The following table summarizes PDO awarded contracts to the Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Department.

Currently, the PCE Department is working on three different proposals that have been or are in the process of being submitted to PDO. These are:

1. "Setting-up IOR/EOR R&D Experimental Capabilities @ SQU/PCE (Phase I)" for a total value exceeding R.O. 200,000.

2. "Set-up of Chemical Profile Control Capability @ SQU/PCE" for a total value exceeding R.O. 170,000.

3. "Nimr Production Optimization - A Numerical Simulation Study (Phases I & II)" for a value exceeding R.O. 115,000.