The University of Nicosia’s Department of Engineering will host this industry-focused seminar under the theme: “Insights in Materials for Drilling Fluid Technologies,” on December 19th. The event spotlights the industry-linked doctoral work of the PhD candidate, who will present her innovative research on repurposing industrial waste into high-performance drilling fluid additives.
The project investigates a direct challenge from the energy sector, which is developing sustainable, cost-effective materials for transforming waste potassium-rich (K+-rich) bentonite, which was a byproduct, into a useful component for water-based drilling fluids. She will demonstrate the activation process and how her subsequent development of advanced polymer-modified composites successfully meets stringent American Petroleum Institute (API) standards. The seminar underscores the power of collaboration, featuring key academic and industry figures who have guided and contextualized the research.
Speakers
- Mrs Youstina Ramsis, a PhD Candidate of the Department of Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering of the University of Nicosia, is to present her research findings on Drilling Fluids Technologies with Sustainable materials.
- Mr. Stelios Georgiou, Regional Drilling Fluid Plant Manager at Halliburton, will set the industrial stage, outlining the critical functions and current challenges in drilling fluids technology.
- Dr. Loizos Papaloizou, Assistant Professor at the department of Engineering will present complementary Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, translating experimental data from the new fluids into predictive models of their behavior.
- Dr. Ernestos Sarris, The PhD candidate advisor, will reveal results from dynamic thermal aging tests, proving the resilience of the novel fluid systems under high downhole temperature and pressure conditions.
- Mr. Demitris Vattis, The Industrial Supervisor, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) will discuss the consortium’s framework and the significance of such partnerships for innovation.
The project PhD in Industry/1123/2024/0146 is funded by the Republic of Cyprus, through the Research and Innovation Foundation, and is implemented within the framework of the Cohesion Policy Programme ‘THALEIA 2021–2027’, through the RESTART/2016–2020 programmes.
Agenda Includes:
Welcome from the Head of Engineering, Dr. Neophytou, the SPE Student Chapter, and the Hellenic Mining Company-HMC, followed by the technical research presentations, and a concluding discussion moderated by the SPE student chapter.
“Academia links with Industry” Initiative of the University of Nicosia
This initiative fosters deep collaboration between the university and the industrial sector, enabling doctoral candidates to conduct cutting-edge research that addresses real-world challenges, driving innovation, setting the stage for marketed products and prepare graduates for leadership roles in their fields. This seminar is a testament to the University of Nicosia’s commitment to this initiative.
