Team
A group of industry experts, Professors, Post Docs and PhD students with a high level of competence in different disciplines have been nominated to constitute the core team of WIP at MUL.
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Gerhard Thonhauser
Head Chair of Drilling and Completion Engineering
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Gerhard Thonhauser
Head Chair of Drilling and Completion Engineering
Phone: +43 3842 402-3050
Education
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 1998
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, joint degree Montanuniversität Leoben and Colorado School of Mines, Golden 1996
Experience
- Head of Department Petroleum Engineering since 2015
- Head of Chair of Drilling and Completion Engineering since 2013
- Head of “Environmental Friendly Drilling Systems” initiative in Europe since 2009
- Consultant with ENI Technology, Milano, Italy, working in drilling fluids design and solids control 2001-2002
- Founder and Chairman of TDE Group, servicing the international industry with drilling performance analysis and benchmarking, as well as software, electronics and equipment development, and manufacturing since 2000
- Member of the Mittelplate-Dieksand Team, RWE Dea, Hamburg, Germany, drilling of record extended reach wells, development of cuttings transport solution in cooperation with Petrobras/CENPES 1997-1998
- Consultant with CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization), Australia, for the Genesis 2000 Project, from January 1999 managing of Genesis 2000 Europe 1996-2001
Research Interests
Prof. Gerhard Thonhauser has 20 years of experience providing the petroleum industry with the evaluation, analysis, and management of drilling and well-related data. His areas of research and development include “Drilling Process Monitoring and Analysis” combining modeling, advanced monitoring and sensing, and drilling analysis to optimize and automate the drilling process and to improve learning and knowledge management in drilling organizations. He has authored and co-authored around 100 publications in the area of drilling and completion engineering and data science. Head of “Environmental Friendly Drilling Systems” initiative in Europe since 2009, focusing on drilling and completion technologies with “Zero Harmful Environmental Impact”.
Univ.-Prof. MBA, PhD
Kris Ravi
WIP Managing Director
Univ.-Prof. MBA, PhD
Kris Ravi
WIP Managing Director
Mobile: +1 (713) 213-0073
Education
- MBA, Oklahoma State University/Rotterdam School of Management 1996-1999
- PhD, Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University 1985-1989
Experience
- President, Kris-Ravi Consultancy LLC, Kingwood, TX, USA since 2016
- Technology Fellow, Halliburton, Houston, TX, USA 2011-2016
- Chief Scientific Advisor, Halliburton, Houston, TX, USA 2008-2011
- Technical Advisor, Halliburton, Houston, TX, USA 2001-2008
- Team Leader, Halliburton Europe, The Netherlands 1995-2001
- Principal Scientist, Halliburton, Duncan, OK, USA 1989-1995
Research Interests
Designing and deploying Barrier elements to secure well integrity. Cement design and deployment for challenging wells such as CO2, Deepwater, HPHT, extended reach, geothermal and steam injection. Innovation and product development. Designing for P&A. Solving challenges during drilling and cementing such as lost circulation, gas migration. Designing and deploying monitoring system to verify Barrier elements. Data analysis, capturing lessons learned for continuous improvement. Teaching, training, mentoring. Leading teams. Improving organization efficiency. Raising funds for innovation. Growing business and improving return on investment. Developing strategy for growth.
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Michael Prohaska
WIP Deputy Managing Director
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont.
Michael Prohaska
WIP Deputy Managing Director
Mobile: +43 660 2205580
Phone: +43 3842 402-3033
MSc
Alexander Fine
Expert for Material Science
MSc
Alexander Fine
Expert for Material Science
Hours: Mon 8:00-14:00 Tue 8:00-12:00
Mobile: +43 676 3956889
Phone: +43 3842 402-3005
Education
- MSc Materials Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel 1994-1998
- Dipl.-Eng. Materials Engineering, Samara State Technical University, Russia 1977-1982
Experience
- Research Associate, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2017
- Owner, Fine Solutions, Austria since 2016
- Senior Project Engineer, Weatherford company, Russia 2011-2012
- Materials Engineer, TDE Group GmbH, Leoben, Austria 2011-2015
- Project Engineer, Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing Project at Malmö University, Sweden 2008
- Research Materials Engineer, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel 2007-2009
- Project Manager, STI Laser Industries, Israel 2004-2007
- Quality Assurance/Metallurgy Manager, Advanced Coding Systems Ltd., Israel 2002-2004
- Aerospace industry, Carmel Forge LTD. (Subsidiary of Pratt & Whitney), Process Metallurgist, Israel 1998-2002
- Assistant Lecturer, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel 1994-1998
Research Interests
- Materials expertise and testing
- Aluminum Alloy Tubulars application in extended-reach wells
- Advanced materials application in drill bit design
- Solid Expandable Liner Systems in cased-hole and open-hole applications
- Fiber optic technology in well integrity monitoring
- Work performance analysis of materials under well-operating conditions
- Types of damages identification depending on operating conditions
- Design concepts review
- Manufacturing supervision
Dipl.-Ing.
Thomas Sammer
Expert for Material Science
Dipl.-Ing.
Thomas Sammer
Expert for Material Science
Education
- MSc, Applied Geosciences, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 2019-2021
- BSc, Applied Geosciences, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 2014-2019
Experience
- University Assistant, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2021
- Student Assistant, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 2019-2021
Research Interests
- Applied Mineralogy
- Underground Hydrogen Storage
- Cement sheath integrity
- Material Sciences
- Cements & Ceramics
Elisabeth Koch
WIP Administrative Officer
Elisabeth Koch
WIP Administrative Officer
Phone: +43 3842 402-3051
Dipl.-Ing.
Sharen León
Expert for Well Integrity Management Systems
Dipl.-Ing.
Sharen León
Expert for Well Integrity Management Systems
Phone: +43 3842 402-3055
Education
- PhD candidate, Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2022
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 2016-2019
- BSc Petroleum Engineering, UNAM, Mexico City 2004-2009
Experience
- Senior Lecturer, Chair of Drilling and Completion Engineering, Montanuniverstät Leoben, Austria since 2019
- Social Media & Web Content Manager, Department Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniverstät Leoben, Austria 2016-2023
- Administrative Manager, DMX Technologies, Mexico City 2013-2016
- Drilling Engineer, Well Design Department, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Tabasco, Mexico 2010-2013
- Junior Drilling Engineer, Well Design Department, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Tabasco, Mexico 2009-2010
Research Interests
- Well Plug & Abandonment
- Wellbore Instability
- Metal Additive Manufacturing in O&G Industry
- Digital Design and Manufacturing
Dipl.-Ing. Fogh-lis.
Arash Nasiri
Expert for Cementing Technologies
Dipl.-Ing. Fogh-lis.
Arash Nasiri
Expert for Cementing Technologies
Phone: +43 3842 402-3058
Education
- MSc International study program in Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering. Montanuniversität Leoben 2017-2020
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Drilling and Production. Sharif University of Technology, Iran 2013-2015
- BSc Chemical Engineering: Design Oil Industry Processes. Mazandaran University, Iran 2007-2012
Experience
- University Assistant, Chair of Drilling and Completion Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben since 2019
- Project member, Chair of Reservoir Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben 2018-2019
- Sazeh Consultants Engineering and Construction, Shazand oil refinery 2011-2013
Research Interests
- Investigation of fluid-fluid properties using microfluidics
- Digitalization and monitoring of safe carbon storage
- Fracture propagation models
- Cement sheath integrity
- Enhanced oil recovery
- Hydrogen production
M. Tech. PhD
Shwetank Krishna
Expert for Solidification Modeling and Simulation
M. Tech. PhD
Shwetank Krishna
Expert for Solidification Modeling and Simulation
Phone: +433842402-3008
Education
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia 2018-2021
- MTech Petroleum Exploration and Production, Andhra University, India 2013-2015
- BTech Geoscience Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, India 2009-2013
Experience
- Senior Lecturer, Chair of Drilling and Completion Engineering, Montanuniverstät Leoben, Austria since 2021
- Graduate Research Assistant, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia 2020-2021
- Graduate Assistant, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia 2018-2020
- Dissertation Trainee, Institute of Oil and Gas Production Technology, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), India 2015
- Assistant Professor, Chandigarh University, India 2015-2018
- Research Summer Intern, National Institute of Hydrology, India 2012
Research Interests
- Mathematical Modelling
- Predictive Modelling
- Fluid Flow Analysis
- Drilling Fluid Rheological Studies
Dipl.-Ing.
Asad Elmgerbi
Drilling Digitalisation and Automation Expert
Dipl.-Ing.
Asad Elmgerbi
Drilling Digitalisation and Automation Expert
Mobile: +43 660 3255869
Phone: +43 3842 402-3009
Education
- PhD Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2014
- MSc Petroleum Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria 2010-2012
- BSc Petroleum Engineering, Tripoli University, Libya 1996-2000
Experience
- Work as lecturer at Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2014
- Field drilling engineer with Wintershall Libya 2008-2009
- Drilling engineer with Wintershall world wide 2006-2007
- Production Supervisor with Wintershall Libya 2002-2005
Research Interests
Developing a new concept for detecting losses and kick events while drilling.
MSc
Sahar Keshavarz
Drilling Digitalisation and Automation Expert
MSc
Sahar Keshavarz
Drilling Digitalisation and Automation Expert
Phone: +43 3842 402-3053
Education
- MSc Petroleum Production Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran 2014-2016
- BSc Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran 2010-2014
Experience
- Senior Lecturer, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria since 2020
- Guest Researcher, Department of Chemical and Biochemical engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark 2020
- Drilling Engineer, Sealand Engineering and Well Services, Tehran, Iran 2017-2019
- Drilling Engineer Trainee, Sealand Engineering and Well Services, Tehran, Iran 2016-2017
- Trainee at Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran 2013
Research Interests
- Drilling Optimization
- Oil Field Digitalization
- Data Analysis
- Cost Optimization
- Directional Drilling
- Drilling Automation
MSc Student Assistants
Plessing Elias, BSc
Knechtl Lukas, BSc
Shams Sahand BSc
Seiwald Maximilian
Weiskirchner Stefan