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We are a Team with more than 14 years of experience
in Upgrading & Refining. Mainly in Distillation, Hydroprocessing,
Delayed Coking and Synthetic Crude Oil Processing.
| Visitor Profesor |
Research Associate |
Graduate Students |
Carlos Scott
Dr. Carlos Scott
Research Associate
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- Dr. Scott joined to the CBUHP group at the University of Calgary as a Visitor Professor and is mainly working in the area of catalytic processes using ultradispersed catalysts.
- Dr. Scott is full professor in the Catalysis and Petroleum Research
Centre of the Central University of Venezuela. Member of the academic
staff since 1977. PhD degree from Reading University , UK , in 1984. Post-doctoral
fellow in Universite des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Villeneuve
D’Ascq , France , 1993. Leader of the “Catalysis by Transition
Metal Sulfides” group. Principal investigator in a number of FONACIT
(National Foundation for Science and Technology), CYTED (Iberoamerican
Programme for Science and Technology for the Development) and European
Union grants in the area of Hydrotreating Catalysts and Petroleum Upgrading,
and a co-investigator in others.
- Main research fellow in a number of collaborations with the state
Petroleum Industry (PDVSA), and with Universities in Iberoamerica and
France, including several studentships with the French National Centre
for Scientific Research (CNRS).
- Invited professor at Universite des Sciences et Techniques de Lille
Flandres-Artois – 1998.
- Consultant in the area of crude oil upgrading and hydrotreatment for
the Venezuelan Petroleum Industry (PDVSA), until 2002.
- Main research areas:
- H and XH crude oil upgrading using hydrogen donating and hydrogen precursor compounds to be use in down hole or ground processes.
- Study of mixed sulfides as catalysts for hydrotreatment using different transition metals in the formulation, as well as different preparation conditions and supports (for example pillared clays with Al, Ru, Fe, e.t.c.).
- Use of ultrasonic irradiation in the preparation of pillared clays and for assisting HDS, HDN, HYD reactions.
- Preparation of nanometric Molybdenum Sulfide particles, from aqueous solutions, using either water-oil emulsions, or ultrasonic irradiation.
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Lante Carbognani
Lante Carbognani
Research Associate
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- Mr. Carbognani joined to the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for In Situ Energy
in 2005 where he works as a Research Associated.
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Mr. Carbognani is Chemist with twenty-nine years of experience in three
fields of knowledge:
1. Analysis, Separation and Characterization of crude oil and hydrocarbon fractions (26 years). Ample experience in Petroleum/Petrochemical technical services but, mostly conceived and conducted research on diverse Petroleum related fields both upstream and downtream: Asphalt, Asphaltenes and solid deposition, Environmental, Fuels and Lubricants, Fraction stability, Heavy oil, Hydrocarbon separation and charaterization, Resid upgrading, Petrochemicals and, Waxes. Extensive number of investigation reports (128), peer-reviewed papers or book chapters (52) and performances/non-reviewed publications (57). Recognized author in the fields of Liquid Chromatography, Hydrocarbon analysis, Asphaltenes/ Wax and Solid deposition. Well known designer of LC separation systems.
2. R&D on Flavors and Fragances.
3. Organic Chemistry (original background).
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Abdellatif Eldood
Abdellatif Eldood
Graduate Student
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- MSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada (Candidate)
- MSc.,Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Czech Republic, 1996
- Intensive courses of Czech language and scientific subjects, 1990.
- University of Cairo, Khartoum Branch, Faculty of Commerce, 1989.
- 8 years of work experience in the petrochemical industry.
- As Process Design Engineer for Chemoprojeckt, A.S. worked in two projects: design of a new line for production of synthetic rubber and optimization of ammonia cooling plant (SBR plant). Made data sheets of instrumentation, PFDs and PIDs; wrote technical reports and supported other departments (piping, civil, mechanical).
- Process engineer for Kaucuck, A.S. (Petrochemical company producing monomers, plastics and synthetic rubber) and Chemopetrol (The biggest petrochemical company in the Czech rep. producing monomers and plastics): Units monitoring and optimization; development of new products; wrote technical reports; analyzed operating procedures and equipment functions for energy saving and product quality, troubleshooting, Provided technical support to the plant's operations during shutdown and start-up; assisted in the implementation of ISO-system.
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Redescal Gómez
Redescal Gómez
Research Associate
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- BSc. In Mechanical Engineering, Central University of Venezuela, Venezuela (1985). Mrs. Gómez had over sixteen years of experience working at PDVSA-Intevep, Venezuela (1986-2002).
- Mr. Gómez has worked over 20 years in the formulation, execution, and management of multi-disciplined projects, as well as in the execution of professional and consulting services for a variety of industries including petroleum, automotive, service, government agencies, manufacturing and transportation.
- Mr. Gómez gained extensive hands-on experience at developing and evaluating petroleum products such as lubricants and fuels. More specifically he specialized in lubricants and fuels for internal combustion engines.
- Mr. Gómez joined the CBUHP group, at the University of Calgary in September 2006 where he works as a Research Associate and is working in the operation of a Visbreaking pilot plant for oil upgrading. He will also work in modifications to existing facilities including the development, and construction of an on-line emulsifying unit as part of a staged setup of a modular Pilot Plant Unit capable of simulating the envisioned integrated catalytic upgrading process.
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Maria Laura Frauwallner |
| Postdoc |
Francisco López-Linares
Dr. Francisco López-Linares
Research Associate
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- PhD in Chemistry, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research, Venezuela, 1994.
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12 years of work experience in the petroleum industry developing catalytic systems to improve the quality of fuels.
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Specialist in liquid biphasic catalysis. Background in: design and set-up of catalytic systems from transition metal complexes in homogenous, liquid-liquid biphasic and supported catalyst for selective hydrogenation of naphtha to develop a new fuel with less environmental impact, and selective oxygenation of Diesel and naphtha to produce respectively Oxy-Diesel and Oxy-naphtha.
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Participated in projects to develop catalytic systems
for the petrochemical industry: ethylene polymerization and selective
hydrogenation of α-β-unsaturated molecules.
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Experience in scale up preparation, and evaluation on pilot plants.
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Author or co-author of 36 scientific publications 3 US Patents, 3 VE Patents, 1 EP Patent.
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Carmen Galarraga
Carmen Galarraga
Graduate Student
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- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Calgary (Candidate).
- MSc. In Chemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, Canada (1998).
- Mrs. Galarraga joined to the CBUHP group at the University of Calgary to develop catalytic processes using ultradispersed catalysts.
- Mrs. Galarraga has over twenty-four years of experience working at
PDVSA-Intevep , VENEZUELA (1979-2003).
- Mrs. Galarraga worked particularly in the areas of catalysis, catalysts preparation and characterization, with strong emphasis in heavy oil upgrading, and more specifically, participating in projects to develop catalysts and processes for hydrotreatment and hydroconversion of heavy and extra heavy oils.
- Mrs. Galarraga has either authored or coauthored: 4 US patents, several scientific papers published in related journals, and more than thirty technical reports for different projects dealing with R&D for the design, characterization, preparation and evaluation of catalysts for heavy oils upgrading. She has participated, attended and/or presented into major scientific congresses and meetings related to the catalysis science or heavy oils upgrading, and she is also experienced in handling multidisciplinary teams for research and development projects.
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Azfar Hassan
Azfar Hassan
Postdoc
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- Dr. Azfar Hassan is a Post Doc who recently joined Dr. Pereira’s group working on heavy oil upgrading and hydrogen production.
- Dr. Hassan has a M.Sc. and an M. Phil in Chemistry from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry (1997) from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
His area of research was synthesis of heterocyclic organic molecules and use of variable temperature NMR spectroscopy to measure free energy for chemical bond rotation. He then joined the Research Institute at KFUPM, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as a Research Scientist.
- Dr. Hassan worked for four years on client funded projects related to development of heterogeneous catalyst systems for olefin polymerization (SABIC, Saudi Arabia) and for hydrocracking reactions (JPEC, Japan). He then immigrated to Canada (2001) and worked for four years as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa. He joined the Schulich School of Engineering in 2005 to work with Dr. Hill.
- Dr. Hassan is presently developing methods to characterize heavy oil residues by thermo gravimetric methods. He has thirty publications in international journals and conferences.
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Clementina Sosa
Clementina Sosa
Research Associate
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- MSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada (Candidate)
- Master in Oil Refining, Gas & Petrochemistry (BEICIP/ I.F.P) , Metropolitan University, Venezuela,1992
- BSc in Chemical Engineering, Metropolitan University, Venezuela, 1991.
- Mrs. Sosa has 13 years of experience in the process refining area of the Oil Industry.
- Process engineer at Cardón Refinery responsible for monitoring, evaluation and optimization of the Hydrotreating Complex and the Delayed Coker.
- Process Engineer in the start up of 2 new Vacuum and Delayed Coker units at the Phillips Refinery in Sweeny Texas and OCN in Jose, Venezuela.
- Technical assistance, troubleshooting, evaluation, optimization, process simulations and design of many types of Units: Hydrotreater, Delayed Coker, Amine, Merichem, Sour Water Stripping, Claus Units.
- Responsible for technical support to PDVSA refineries, headquarter, and client’s corporation overseas, covering projects and products development including activity planning, resources, personnel supervision, project sales, relation with third parties in the area, and technology suppliers.
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Herbert Loria
Herbet Loria
Graduate Student
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- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Calgary (Candidate).
- MSc. in Chemical Engineering, Technological Institute of Celaya in Mexico, Mexico (2004).
- B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, with Honorary Mention, Technological Institute of Merida, Mexico (2003).
- Mr. Loria is recently working in the CBUHP group, at the University of Calgary, modeling transport phenomena of chemical processes which will be applied in the fluid dynamics of the catalytic particles.
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Gustavo Trujillo
Gustavo Trujillo
Research Associate
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- MSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada (Candidate)
- Process Engineering Specialist, Francisco de Miranda University, Venezuela, 1996.
- BSc in Chemical Engineering, Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela, 1985.
- Mr. Trujillo has 14 years of experience in the oil industry.
- Specialist during the incorporation of Cerro Negro Vacuum Residue in the Delayed Coker at Mobil Chalmette refinery.
- Delayed coker process engineer at Amuay, Cardon, Chalmette, Hovensa and OCN (Cerro Negro Operator) refineries. Supported in monitoring, made process specifications and simulations to optimize the unit performance.
- Team member, as delayed coker process engineer, to complete peer reviews of start-up programs and operational procedures for OCN and SINCOR.
- Team member in the start up of the delayed cokers in Hovensa and OCN.
- Deep knowledge in set up and operation of pilot plants: Delayed Coking, FCC, Hydrotreating and MTB-TAME.
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Fathi Mazin |
| Lab Technologists |
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Luis Patruyo
Luis Patruyo
Graduate Student
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- MSc. In Chemical Engineering, Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela (2001).
- BSc. In Chemical Engineering, Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela (1997).
- Mr. Patruyo is currently on the second year as a chemical engineering
MSc candidate in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University
of Calgary. My research has been supported by AICISE, and looks
into the reactivity of iron nanoparticles as a media to recover
the H2S produced during in-situ oil upgrading. I have also been
involved in the installation and operation of an oil-upgrading
pilot plant.
- Mr. Patruyo worked as a research assistant for three years, at Simon Bolivar University where he studied the polymer-surfactant interaction in different flow patterns as a option for the enhanced oil recovery.
- Mr. Patruyo was awarded with an assistantship from a European program to follow up with his research in Bristol, UK (1999).
- Mr. Patruyo has over two years of experience working at PDVSA Intevep where he focused on the economical assessment, analysis and optimization of the gross profit of new refining schemes and processes.
- Mr. Patruyo gained fairly hands-on experience at using the software packages PIMS and PASSMAN.
- Mr. Patruyo also worked as a process engineer in the pilot plant units of Aquaconversion and Visbreaking for oil upgrading at Intevep.
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Lina
Marcela Díaz
Lina Marcela Díaz
Lab Technologist
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- Ms. Diaz is finishing her studies as a Chemical Technology at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of technology). She has several years of experience working as a laboratory Technician in different areas like: Bitumen and heavy oil, Animal Health Sciences, and Biotechnology.
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Enzo Peluso
Enzo Peluso
Graduate Student
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- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Calgary (Candidate).
- MSc. In Chemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, Canada (1998).
- Mr. Peluso worked as independent consultant from 2003 to 2005 before
joining to the CBUHP group at the University of Calgary to integrate different
multidisciplinary research group areas of Steam Dealkylation and development
of catalytic processes using ultradispersed catalytic particles for heavy
oils.
- Mr. Peluso has over twenty years of experience working in the Refining
and Petrochemical field at PDVSA-Intevep, VENEZUELA (1981-2003).
- Mr. Peluso main work was related to different technical assistance projects, in the following process units: Hydrotreaters and Fluid Catalytic Crackers (FCC).
- Mr. Peluso, has also gained an interesting experience in Applied Catalysis R&D projects, that include not only the development of new catalysts for synthesis of middle distillate hydrocarbons but also the evaluation (pilot plant scale) of several commercial catalysts for ammonia and hydrogen production plants, and more than 12 years of experience on several routes for the valorization of natural gas, more specifically on the Disol Process to produce middle distillates (Gas to Liquids Technology - GTL).
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| Eumir Hernández |
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John Thompson
John Thompson
Graduate Student
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- MSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada (Candidate)
- BSc in Mining (Mineral Processing/Environmental Option) Engineering, 1999.
- Mr. Thompson research area is related to the synthesis and evaluation of ultra-dispersed molybdenum hydroprocessing catalysts within a porous media (in-situ nanocatalysts for the upgrading and refining of heavy oil) in the CBUHP group at the University of Calgary.
- Worked as laboratory technician in the core lab of Hycal Energy in Calgary carrying out reservoir optimization tests including relative permeability tests and wettability measurements.
- Technical Sales Engineer for MinnovEX Technologies where he assisted in the sale of engineering services to mining firms, traveled internationally to provide technical support for mineral processing pilot plants, client database administrator & tradeshows.
- Mineral Processing Laboratory Assistant at Queen’s University. Mr. Thompson studied the impact of copper sulphate addition to a pyrrhotite-pentlandite middlings sample from the Falconbridge Strathcona Mill using froth flotation, LECO sulphur analysis, sieving and cyclosizing.
- Mineral Processing Technician for Lakefield Research Ltd (Summers 1996 & 1997): base metal sulphide, wollastonite & diamond froth flotation pilot plants, gold leaching, communition (i.e. crushing/grinding) operations and statistical analysis of product streams.
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| Linda Roa |
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Alejandro Vásquez
Alejandro Vásquez
Graduate Student
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- MSc in Chemical Engineering (Candidate), University of Calgary, Canada.
- BSc. In Chemical Engineering, Rafael Urdaneta University, Venezuela (1997).
- Mr. Vasquez is currently working in the CBUHP in the synthesis and evaluation of a novel ultra-dispersed catalyst for hydrotreating reactions, where patent applications have been submitted.
- Presented a preliminary study of ultra-dispersed catalysts in the 2005 Spring National Meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the 19th Canadian Symposium on Catalysis.
- Mr. Vasquez performed his internships at PDVSA-INTEVEP (Venezuela) where his main duties where to develop a mathematical tool to monitor the process mass and energy balances of a fluid catalytic cracking unit in the Puerto La Cruz Refinery. He also designed and built a fluid catalytic cracking laboratory scale unit to evaluate the performance of new catalyst replacements for the Puerto La Cruz fluid catalytic cracking unit.
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