Curriculum Vitae - Harold Vance Department of Petroleum ...

Curriculum Vitae 

MARIA A. BARRUFET 

1 

Maria Antonieta Barrufet 

Assistant Department Head of Administration 

Baker Hughes Endowed Chair of Petroleum Engineering, Adjunct Professor of Chemical 

Engineering, and Director of Distance Learning Program Petroleum Engineering 

Professional Engineer 78012, TX 

Citizenship: USA 

Texas A&M University 

College Station, Texas 77843-3116 

e-mail: maria.barrufet@pe.tamu.edu 

Phones 

Office: (979) 845-0314 

Fax: (979) 845-1307 

Res: (979) 268-0293 

Cell: (979) 739-5490 

EDUCATION 

• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering: Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. December, 

1987. 

• M.S. Chemical Engineering: Universidad Nacional del Sur, Planta Piloto de lngeniería 

Química, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina. May, 1983. 

• B.S (Chemical Engineer): Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina. May, 1979. 

RESEARCH INTERESTS 

• Reservoir simulation of near-critical fluids. Hydrocarbon characterization methods. 

Simplified methods to model gravitational gradients in compositional reservoir simulation. 

• Equations of State (EOS) for multiphase equilibria. Liquid-Liquid-Vapor equilibrium in steam 

flooding processes and Solid-Liquid-Gas equilibria in asphaltene precipitation processes. 

• Enhanced Oil Recovery: Thermodynamics and transport phenomena applied to chemical, 

miscible and thermal recovery processes. 

• Analytical and Numerical Modeling of CO2 Storage and Capture 

• Rock and Fluid Properties: Correlation and measurement of capillary pressures and relative 

permeabilities, polymer and gel rheology for profile modification and water control. 

• Electron Beam Upgrading of Heavy Oil and Radiation Thermal Cracking 

• Reverse Osmosis and Desalination Technologies to Process Oilfield Brines. 

• Multiphase Flow: Pipe flow design, numerical methods, optimization, and statistics. 

EXPERIENCE 

Academic 

• 2006 – present – Director Distance Learning Program – Petroleum Engineering Department 

(Texas A&M University) 

• 2006 – present – Assistant Department Head for Administration- Petroleum Engineering 

Department (Texas A&M University) 

• September 2007 – present – Adjunct Professor Chemical Engineering Department, Texas 

A&M University.

2 


• September 2004 – present – Professor Petroleum Engineering Department, Texas A&M 

University. 

• September 1997- August 2004. Associate Professor in the Petroleum Engineering 

Department, Texas A&M University. 

• September 1991- August 1997. Assistant Professor in the Petroleum Engineering 

Department, Texas A&M University. 

• June 1991 - August 1991. Assistant Lecturer in the Petroleum Engineering Department and 

in the Chemical Engineering Department, Texas A&M University. Responsibilities included 

teaching a course and research. 

◊ Lecturer of an undergraduate course in the Chemical Engineering Department. 

“Chemical Engineering Fluid Operations” (CHEN 304). 

◊ Preparation of two proposals for Advanced Technology/Research Program (ATP/ARP) 

from the Coordinating Board of Texas. 

• November 1987- June 1991. Postdoctoral Research Associate under advisors P.T. Eubank 

(11/87-02/90) and R.W. Flumerfelt (03/90-08/91), Texas A&M University. Activities 

included: 

◊ Summer 1990 Lecturer of a graduate level course in Chemical Engineering. Developed a 

completely new course: “Introduction to Networks and Percolation Theory.” (CHEN 689). 

◊ Modeling and computer simulation of flow of non-Newtonian fluids through pipe 

networks. 

◊ Co-Principal investigator, with P. T. Eubank, in project sponsored by Dow Chemical: 

“Phase Equilibria and Density Measurements for Propylene Mixtures” (RF #6034). 

(5/23/88 - 5/23/89). 

◊ Co-advisor in NSF Project RF#5931. VLE (vapor-liquid-equilibrium) simulation, algorithm 

development and optimization studies. 

◊ Mathematical modeling for the EDM (Electro-Discharge-Machining) process. Included 

modeling of erosion in cathode and anode, plasma dynamics and dielectric selection. 

◊ Preparation of proposal: “Model Development of Spark Erosion Processes.” AGIE, a 

leading manufacturer of EDM equipment in Europe, awarded $70K to pursue this 

research (May 1990). 

◊ Co-principal investigator with P. T. Eubank and A. M. Gadalla in Engineering Research 

Equipment Grant: “Precision EDM Die-Sinker for Research.” (Awarded by National 

Science Foundation (NSF), Grant MSS-9007472. 

• Summer 1987 Lecturer of a senior level course in Chemical Engineering, Chemical 

Engineering Thermodynamics (CHEN 354). Texas A&M University. 

• 1984-1987 Research Assistant Texas A&M University. Participating in research towards 

completion of PhD research and dissertation. 

• 1983-1984 Graduate Teaching Assistant. Texas A&M University. Assisting in the instruction 

of two graduate courses: “Theory of Mixtures” (CHEN 633), and “Process Dynamics” (CHEN 

631). 

• 1982 Graduate Non-Teaching Assistant. Texas A& M University. Assisting in the instruction 

of a senior level course in Chemical Engineering : “Chemical Engineering Fluid Operations” 

(CHEN 304).

3 


• 1980-1982 Scholarship from CONICET (Consejo Nacional de lnvestigaciones Científicas y 

Técnicas) Argentina to pursue M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. 

• 1979-1980 Research Assistant UNSa (Universidad Nacional de Salta). Research project. 

“Permeation and Solubility of Organic Gases Through Polymer Membranes.” 

• 1979 Training at NISALCO S.A, Buenos Aires (Argentina). A process and plant design 

company. Job included the design of ion exchange columns for water softening and 

wastewater treatment plant. 

Industrial/Consulting 

• DOW/Chemical -“Evaluation of phase equilibria for mixtures of close volatility” (1988) 

• AMOCO/Ecuador – Short course in Quito (Ecuador) “Metodos de Recobro Mejorado e 

Industria Petroquimica”. (Feb. 1-3. 1996) 

• Torch Energy Advisors Incorporated. Advising on recovery techniques for heavy oils 

containing sulfur. Determination of viscosity and densities for crude oil samples. (1996) 

• HTRI: Analysis of transport and thermodynamic properties of oils obtained from vacuum 

distillation and other refining streams for heat transfer applications. (1995-96). 

• CHEVRON- Petroleum and Technology Center – Sept 1998 to May 1999. Faculty 

Development Leave. “Evaluation of Thermal Models for Steam Flooding Recovery of Heavy 

Oils”. –Development of Workshop “Compositional/Thermal Simulation”, June 1999. 

• OPICOIL (Taiwan) – “Waterflooding and Water Production Control”. Short Course August 21- 

25 2000. 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “Introduction to Exploration and Evaluation” – 

OFS 1. Short training course. Kellyville OK. November 6-11 2000. 

• UIS – Universidad Industrial de Santander . “Termodinamica de Hidrocarburos” – Curso 

corto para la maestria en Ingenieria de Hidrocarburos. May 14-19, 2001. 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “Applied Reservoir Simulation” – FDM - Moscow. 

Short training course. Moscow – March , July, October 2002. 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “Heavy Oil Simulation” – Bogota, Colombia. 

Short training course. December, 2003. 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “PVT Analysis and Equations of State – Leading to 

Compositional Simulation ” – Bogota, Colombia, June, 2004 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “Waterflood Management” – Izhevsk (Udmurtia, 

Russia) – August, 2004 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “Improved Oil Recovery Methods – Theory and 

Applications ” – Port Harcourt (Nigeria) – August, 2005 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “Miscible, Polymer and Thermal Enhanced Oil 

Recovery Processes” – Dehradun, India, April, 2006 


Recovery Processes” – Buenos Aires, Argentina - November, 2006 


Recovery Processes” – Buenos Aires, Argentina - November, 2006 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “PVT Workshop and Compositional Simulation” – 

Maracaibo Venezuela - March, 2007

4 


• AD Little – Reservoir Engineering Senior Advisor. Assessment of Enhanced Oil Recovery in 

Vizcacheras Field (Mendoza, Argentina) – 2007 – Present 


Recovery Processes” – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - April, 2008 


Recovery Processes” – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - April, 2008 

• NExT – (Network of Excellence in Training) “PVT Analysis and Equations of State – Leading to 

Compositional Simulation ” – Houston, TX, 2011 

Awards and Society Memberships 

• (1979-1982) Fellowships from Consejo de lnvestigaciones de Salta and from CONICET 

(Argentina). 

• (1992) General Electric Faculty of the Future Award. ($14,000). 

• (1993) Burlington Resources Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. ($1,500). 

• (1994) Elected Member of Sterling Who's Who. 

• (1994-1995) W. M. Keck Foundation’s Award for Teaching Excellence from the College of 

Engineering. ($10,000). 

• (1995) Tenneco Meritorious Teaching Award. ($1,000) 

• (1999) Employee Recognition Award – Chevron Technology Center CPTC ($500) 

• Member of AlChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers). 

• Member of SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers). 

• Member of Omega Chi Epsilon honor society of Chemical Engineers. 

• Assessing Technology in Teaching Award from the Office of Distance Education for 

Petroleum Reservoir Fluids PETE 310 (2004) 

• TEES faculty fellow (2004-2005) 

• Charles Crawford Service Award (2006) 

Service 

Professional Service 

• Chair Session “Produced Water Management” LACPEC 2009 SPE Cartagena 

• External Committee Member – Doctoral Dissertations – Trondheim – Norway (2006) 

Collaboration with Curtis Whitson 

• Invited to co-edit special issue of Journal of Petroleum Science and Technology – Theme: 

Exploration, Production, and Downstream Processing in Central and South America (2003). 

• Member of the Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data (JCED) Advisory Board. January 

2001- December 2003. 

• Reviewer for the Journal of Fluid Phase Equilibria (Elsevier). 

• Reviewer for the Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering (Elsevier). 

• Reviewer for the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research journal. 

• Reviewer for Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data (Elsevier). 

• Member, Education and Professionalism Committee, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), 

(1996-1999) 

• Reviewer for proposals submitted to the Energy Resources Programs/TAMU (1993).

5 


• Reviewer for proposals submitted to the Energy Resources and Interdisciplinary 

Programs/TAMU (1994, 1995) 

• Reviewer for proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation (1993), (1996) 

• Reviewer for proposals submitted to the ACS – Petroleum Research Fund (2000), (2003) 

• Reviewer for Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering. 

• Elected Section Chairman in Symposium on Particulate Processes in Porous Media. Session: 

Rock/Fluid Interactions in Petroleum Reservoirs-Stimulation, Formation Damage and EOR, 

Chicago August 27, 1993. 

• Elected Chairman of a Session in the Third SPE Latin American and Caribbean Conference. 

Session: Enhanced Oil Recovery, April 28-29, 1994. 

• Participation on Workshop “Standardization in Oil Lubricants Conference.” Hosted 

participants from Latin American Countries: Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. Workshop 

included listening to technical presentations from these representatives, translating, and 

providing advice and technical solutions. 

• Elected Vice-Chairman in the SPE/DOE: Improved Oil Recovery Symposium. Session: 

Conformance and Mobility Control. Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 21-24, 1996. 

University and Community Service 

• Member of Academic Civil Rights Investigation Committee (ACRIC) (2012-201?) 

• Member of Search Committee for Department Head of Chemical Engineering (2012) 

• Member of Search Committee for Department Head of Petroleum Engineering (2012) 

• Departmental representative for College Level Tenure and Promotion Committee (2011- 

2014) 

• Member Graduate Admissions committee (Petroleum Engineering) 2011-current 

• Member Undergraduate Scholarships committee (2010 - current) 

• Faculty Senate Representative 2009-2010 

• Reviewer TEES Young Investigators Award (2008) 

• Committee, Environmental Stewardship – College of Engineering (2008) 

• Head of Faculty Search Committee, Petroleum Engineering Department (November 2005 – 

2007) 

• Member of Search Committee for Department Head of Chemical Engineering (2006 –2007) 

• Director Distance Learning Program, Petroleum Engineering Department (2006, current) 

• Assistant Department Head for Administration, Petroleum Engineering Department (2006, 

current) 

• Member of Faculty Search Committee, Chemical Engineering Department (2005 – 2006) 

• Lecturer for Texas A&M University - “Academy for Future International Leaders” – World 

Energy Resources and the Environment (2003-present) 

• Member, Planning Committee for Petroleum Engineering Department (2003). 

• Member, Undergraduate Committee for Petroleum Engineering Department (2003,2005). 

• Member, Search Committee for Head of the Petroleum Engineering Department (2003). 

• EFAC Representative, Petroleum Engineering Department – 2002 – 2003 

• Member, Search Committee for Head of the Petroleum Engineering Department (2000). 

• PhD. qualifying exam committee Petroleum Engineering (1993- present).

6 


• Faculty representative of the Petroleum Engineering Department for the Library Committee 

(1992-1998). 

• Member, Graduate Affairs Committee - Petroleum Engineering (1993). 

• Member, International Internships Committee (1992-1993, dissolved). 

• Head, Research and Undergraduate Laboratories Committee (1993). 

• Host to Delegation of Prospective Students (5) from University of Michoacana (Mexico): 

Gave seminar on Petroleum Engineering and tour of Department Research Facilities and 

Labs. June 27-29 (1994). 

• Active participation in the Society of Women Engineers program Summer Camp for Girls 

(10-12 years). (June 1995). Gave presentation with visual demonstrations of different oil 

types, products from oil such as lubricants and kerosene, and various rock types samples. 

Presented where oil is located, how it is extracted and processed. 

• Participation in course: “History of Women in Science and Engineering.” WMST 200. 

Sponsored by NSF Model projects for Girls and Women. Project title: Women’s retention 

and leadership development in scientific and technical fields. Objectives: To retain women 

in engineering and science and enhance their career success. 

• Moderator for Engineering Scholars Program Seminar (1996) 

Discussed seminar given by Dr. Ronald J. Robinson, Head of Technology Division (Texaco), 

on changes happening in our world and how these change affect engineers in a global 

setting (1996). 

• Member, Safety Committee - Petroleum Engineering (1993-present) 

• Elected graduate advisor for Southern Cone Club Students Organization (1995 - present). 

Technical Publications, Papers, and Presentations 

Peer-Reviewed Publications 

1. Rowlinson, J. S., Esper, G., Holste, J. C., Hall K. R., Barrufet, M.A., and Eubank, P.T., “The 

Collinearity of Isochores at Single- and Two-Phase Boundaries for Fluid Mixtures.” Ch. 2 in 

“Equations of State: Theories and Applications.” ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES, 300, Equations 

of State Theories and Applications. Edited by K. C. Chao and Robert L. Robinson (1986), 

pp. 42-59. 

2. Barrufet, M.A. and Eubank, P.T., “Second Virial Coefficients of 3 Helium + 4 Helium and Their 

Mixtures Below 5K.” Fluid Phase Equilibria 35 (1987), pp. 107-116. 

3. Eubank, P.T. and Barrufet, M.A., “The General Conditions of Collinearity at Phase 

Boundaries for Fluid Mixtures.” AIChE Journal. Vol. 33, No 11 (1987), pp. 1882-1887. 

4. Barrufet, M.A. and Eubank, P.T., “New Physical Constraints for Fluid Mixture Equations of 

State and Mixture Combining Rules.” Fluid Phase Equilibria 37 (1987), pp. 223-240. 

5. Barrufet, M.A. and Eubank, P.T., “A Simple Algorithm for Calculation of Phase Separation 

in a Thermodynamics Course.” Chemical Engineering Education Winter (1988), pp. 36-41. 

6. Barrufet, M.A. and Eubank, P.T., “Generalized Saturation Properties of Pure Fluids via 

Equations of State.” Chemical Engineering Education, Summer (1989), pp. 168-175. 

7. Eubank, P.T., Barrufet, M.A., Duarte-Garza, H., and Yurttas, L., “PVT Experiments for 

Precise VLE Data for Mixtures of Similar Volatility.” Fluid Phase Equilibria, 52 (1989), pp. 

219-227.

7 


8. Joffrion, L., Eubank, P.T., and Barrufet, M.A., “Isochoric Collinearity Studies with Density 

Dependent Mixing Rules.” Fluid Phase Equilibria, 48 (1989), pp. 219-222. 

9. Patel, M., Eubank, P.T., Dibitonto, D., and Barrufet, M.A., “Theoretical Models of the 

Electrical Discharge Machining Process. Part I: A Simple Cathode Erosion Model.” Journal 

of Applied Physics, Vol. 66, No 9, Nov. (1989), pp. 4095-4103. 

10. Patel, M., Eubank, P.T., and Barrufet, M.A., “Theoretical Models of the Electrical Discharge 

Machining Process. Part II: The Anode Erosion Model.” Journal of Applied Physics. Vol. 66, 

No 9, Nov. (1989), pp. 4104-4111. 

11. Eubank, P.T. and Barrufet, M.A., “New Spark Model Proves EDM Stock Removal Caused by 

Superheating.” EDM Digest, Vol. Xl1, No 4, July/August, (1990), pp. 6-11. 

12. Eubank, P.T., Patel, M., and Barrufet, M.A., “Equilibrium Thermodynamic Properties of 

Steam from 6000 to 60000 K and 1 bar to 10 K bar.” Proc. 11 th International Steam 

Conference. Hemisphere Publ. Corp. New York. (1990), pp. 515-522. 

13. Barrufet, M.A., Eubank, P.T., and Patel, M., “Novel Computations of a Moving Boundary 

Heat Conduction Problem Applied to EDM Technology.” Computers Chemical Engineering 

Journal Vol. 15, No. 8, (1991), pp. 609-618. 

14. Elhassan, A., Eubank, P.T., Barrufet, M.A., and Whiting, H., “The Area Method for 

Prediction of Fluid Phase Equilibria.” I&EC Research, Vol. 31, (1992), pp. 942-949. 

15. Elhassan, A., Eubank, P. T., and Barrufet, M. A., “Correlation of the Critical Properties of 

Normal Alkanes and Alkanols.” Fluid Phase Equilibria, 78 (1992), pp. 139-155. 

16. Eubank, P. T., Bozkurt, B., Patel, M. R., and Barrufet, M. A., “Theoretical Models of the 

Electrical Discharge Machining Process. Part III: The Variable Mass, Cylindrical Plasma 

Model.” Journal of Applied Physics. Vol 73, No 11, June (1993), pp. 7900-7909. 

17. Habiballah W., Startzman R., and Barrufet, M. A., “Use of Neural Networks for Prediction 

of Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium K-values.” IN SITU, 17(2), (1993), pp. 227-242. 

18. Barrufet, M.A. and Iglesias-Silva, G. A.: “A Generalized Correlation to Predict Liquid 

Viscosities of Crude Oils and Petroleum Fractions.” Latin American Applied Research, 23, 

(1993), pp. 125-134. 

19. Barrufet, M.A., Chen, H.S. and Flumerfelt, R., “Chemical-Foam Cleaning Processes for the 

Control of Power Plant Particle Erosion.” International Journal of Energy Research. Vol 18, 

(1994), pp. 665-687. 

20. Habiballah, W. A., Startzman, R., and Barrufet, M. A., “Use of Neural Networks for 

Prediction of Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium K-values for Light Hydrocarbon Mixtures.” SPE 

Reservoir Engineering, May (1996), pp. 121-126. 

21. Barrufet, M.A., Habiballah, W. A., Liu K., and Startzman, R., “Warning on the Use of 

Composition Independent K-Value Correlations for Reservoir Engineering” J. of Petroleum 

Science and Engineering 14, (1995), pp. 25-34. 

22. Rahman, S. and Barrufet, M.A., “A New Technique for Simultaneous Measurement of PVT 

and Phase Equilibria Properties of Fluids at High Temperatures and Pressures.” J. of 

Petroleum Science and Engineering 14, (1995), pp. 15-23. 

23. Barrufet, M. A. and Liu, K., “Unusual Three-Phase Flash Equilibrium Problems.” Chemical 

Engineering Education, Summer (1995), pp. 192-196. 

24. Barrufet, M.A., Wirawan, J. F. S., and Iglesias-Silva, G. A., “An Efficient Procedure to 

Measure Bubble-Point Pressures for Hydrocarbon + CO2 Mixtures.” Journal of Chemical 

and Engineering Data, 40, (1995), pp. 1072-1075.

8 


25. Ali, L., and Barrufet, M.A., “Study of Pore Structure Modification Using an Environmental 

Scanning Electron Microscope.” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 12, (1995), 

pp. 323-338. 

26. Ali, L. and Barrufet, M.A., “Profile Modification due to Polymer Adsorption in Reservoir 

Rocks.” Energy & Fuels Vol. 8, No. 6, (1994), pp.1217-1222. 

27. Barrufet, M. A., El-Sayed Salem, S. K., Tantawy, M., and Iglesias-Silva, G., “Liquid 

Viscosities of Carbon Dioxide + Hydrocarbons from 310 K to 403K.” Journal of Chemical 

and Engineering Data. Vol. 41, No. 3. (1996), pp. 436-439. 

28. Moreira, R.G. and Barrufet, M.A., “Spatial Distribution of Oil After Deep-Fat Frying from a 

Stochastic Model.” J. of Food Engineering. Vol 27. No. 3, (1996). pp. 279-290. 

29. Barrufet, M. A., Liu, K., Rahman, S., and Wu, C., “Simultaneous Vapor-Liquid-Liquid 

Equilibria of a Quaternary System of Propane + Pentane + Water.” Journal of Chemical and 

Engineering Data. (1996) Vol 41, No 4, 918-922. 

30. Beladi, M. K., Barrufet, M. A., Eubank, P.T., and Wu, C. H., “V-L-L Equilibria Data and K- 

Values for Pseudo-Components of a Crude Oil.” SPE Journal. September (1996) Vol 1., No 

3, 251-259 

31. Barrufet, M. A., Liu, K., Rahman, S., and Wu, C., “A Method to Determine Experimental 

Uncertainties from Phase Equilibria Data of Quaternary Systems of Hydrocarbons + 

Water.” Fluid Phase Equilibria 132 (1997), 225-246. 

32. Barrufet, M. A., Liu, K., Rahman, S., and Wu, C., “Phase Densities and Vapor-Liquid 

Equilibria of a Quaternary System of Propane + Pentane + Octane + CO2.” Journal of 

Chemical and Engineering Data 42, Number 1, (1997), 120-123. 

33. Barrufet, M.A. “A Brief Introduction to Equations of State for Petroleum Engineering 

Applications” – Harts Petroleum Engineering International, March 1998. 

34. Barrufet, M.A. “Evaluation of Standard PVT Properties from Equations of State” – Harts 

Petroleum Engineering International, May 1998. 

35. Barrufet, M.A. “Equations of State Properties for Simulated Depletion of Gas Condensates 

and Volatile Oils” – Harts Petroleum Engineering International, August 1998. 

36. Barrufet, M.A. “Importance of the C7 + fraction in Phase Behavior Calculations” – Harts 

Petroleum Engineering International, October 1998. 

37. Moreira G. R. and M. A. Barrufet “A new approach to describe oil absorption in fried 

foods: a simulation study” Journal of Food Engineering, Volume 35, Issue 1, January 1998, 

Pages 1-22 

38. Barrufet, M.A. and Morales G. “Evaluation of Hydrate Formation and Inhibition Using 

Equations of State” – Harts Petroleum Engineering International, January 1999. 

39. Barrufet, M.A., Rasool A., and Aggour M., “Effect of Fluid Property Models in the 

Prediction of Bottom-Hole Flowing Pressures for Multiphase Systems”. Latin American 

Applied Research, 29:129-136 (1999). 

40. Emeshi, G. C., Moreira R. G., and Barrufet M.A. “Evaluation of Modified Starches for 

Improved Oil Recovery”, Applied Engineering in Agriculture Vol 15(3):237-242 (1999). 

41. Estrada-Baltazar, A., Alvarado, J.F.J, Iglesias-Silva, G.A, y Barrufet M.A. “Experimental 

Liquid Viscosities of Decane and Octane + Decane from 298.15 K to 373.15 K and up to 25 

MPa,” J. Chem. Eng. Data, 43, 441-446 (1998).

9 


42. Estrada-Baltazar, A., Iglesias-Silva, G.A, and Barrufet M.A. “Experimental Liquid Viscosities 

of Pentane and Pentane + Decane from 298.15 K to 373.15 K and up to 25 MPa,” J. Chem. 

Eng. Data, 43, 601-604 (1998). 

43. Iglesias-Silva, G. A., Estrada-Baltazar, A., Hall, K. R., and Barrufet, M. A. “Experimental 

Liquid Viscosity of Pentane+Octane+Decane Mixtures from 298.15 to 373.15 K up to 25 

MPa,” J. Chem. Eng. Data, J. Chem. Eng. Data, 44, 1304 -1309, (1999). 

44. Barrufet, M. A.; Hall, K. R.; Estrada-Baltazar, A.; Iglesias-Silva, G. A. “Liquid Viscosities of 

Octane and Pentane + Octane from 298.15 to 373.15 and up to 25 MPa”. J. Chem. Eng. 

Data 44, 1310 (1999). 

45. Ali, L. and Barrufet, M.A., “Using centrifuge data to investigate the effects of polymer 

treatment on relative permeability”. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 

Volume 29, Issue 1, January 2001, Pages 1-16. 

46. Dexheimer, D. Jackson, C. and Barrufet M.A. “A Modification of Pedersen’s model for 

saturated crude oil viscosities using standard black oil PVT data”. Fluid Phase Equilibria, 

Volumes 183-184, 1 July 2001, Pages 247-257. 

47. Gonzalez A., Barrufet M. A. and Startzman R. “Improved Neural-Network Model Predicts 

Dewpoint Pressure of Retrograde Gases” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering – 

37 (2003), 183-194. 

48. Rajkumar V., Moreira R., and Barrufet M. A. “Modeling the Structural Changes of a Food 

Product During Frying” Journal of Food Engineering, Volume 60, Issue 2, November 2003, 

Pages 167-175 

49. Gonzalez A., Barrufet M. A. and Startzman R. “Improved Neural-Network Model Predicts 

Dewpoint Pressure of Retrograde Gases” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering – 

37, pp. 183-194, 2003. 

50. Barrufet, M. A. and Setiadarma A., “Experimental Viscosities of Heavy Oil Mixtures up to 

450 K and High Pressures Using a Mercury Capillary Viscometer” - Journal of Petroleum 

Science and Engineering, Volume 40, Issues 1-2, October 2003, Pages 17-26 

51. Rajkumar V., Moreira R, and Barrufet M. A., “Modeling the Structural Changes of a Food 

Product During Frying” - Journal of Food Engineering, Volume 60, Issue 2, November 2003, 

Pages 167-175 

52. Barrufet, M. A. and Setiadarma A., “Reliable Heavy Oil –Solvent Viscosity Mixing Rules for 

Viscosities up to 450 K, Oil-Solvent Viscosity Ratios up to 400,000, and any Solvent 

Proportion” Fluid Phase Equilibria, Volume 213, Issues 1-2, 15 October 2003, Pages 65-79 

53. Barrufet, M.A. and Jaramillo J.M. “Effects in the Determination of Oil Reserves Due to 

Gravitational Compositional Gradients in Near-Critical Reservoirs,” JCPT, July 2004, Vol 43 

No 7 pp 31-37. 

54. Barrufet, M. A. and Dexheimer D., “Use of an Automatic Data Quality Control Algorithm 

for Crude Oil Viscosity Data” – Fluid Phase Equilibria, Volume 219, Issue 2, 28 May 2004, 

Pages 113-121 

55. Luo, S. and Barrufet, M.A., “Compositional Gradient: its role in near-critical reservoir 

development,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering – Volume 45, Issues 3-4, 15 

December 2004, Pages 193-201 

56. Vega, L. Barrufet M.A. “Analysis of a Non-Volumetric Gas-Condensate Reservoir Using a 

Generalized Material Balance Equation with Fluid Properties from an Equation of State –

10 


Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. Volume 48, Issues 1-2, 30 July 2005, Pages 

105-119 

57. Shanqiang Luo and Maria A. Barrufet. “Reservoir Simulation Study of Water-in-Oil 

Solubility Effect on Oil Recovery in Steam Injection Process” SPE Reservoir Evaluation and 

Engineering Vol. 8, No 6, pp-528-533. 2005 

58. Adegoke A. A., Barrufet M. A., and Ehlig-Economides C. “Integrated GTL powergeneration 

technology: the optimal solution to natural gas exploitation in Nigeria” Int. J. 

Oil and Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 1, No. 4, 2008 

59. Ameripour S., and Barrufet M.A. “Improved Correlations Predict Hydrate Formation 

Pressures or Temperatures for Systems With or Without Inhibitors” JCPT, May 2009, Vol. 

48, No. 5, pp. 45-50 

60. Barrufet M.A., SPE, Texas A&M University, and Brett C. Mareth, Total Petrochemicals - 

Evaluation of Renewable Energy as a Source of Power for Desalination of Remote-Oilfield 

Brines SPE Projects, Facilities & Construction Volume 5, Number 2, June 2010, 97-103 

61. Barrufet, M.A., Bacquet, A., Falcone, G., “Analysis of the Storage Capacity for CO2 

Sequestration of a Depleted Gas Condensate Reservoir and a Saline Aquifer”, Journal of 

Canadian Petroleum Technology, Vol. 49, No. 8, August 2010, 23-31. 

62. Limpasurat, A., Falcone, G., Teodoriu, C., Barrufet, M.A., Bello, O., “Artificial Geothermal 

Energy Potential of Steam-Flooded Heavy Oil Reservoirs”, accepted in February 2010 for 

publication in the Int. J. Oil, Gas and Coal Technology. 

63. Rondon N. J., Falcone G. and Barrufet M.A. “A Novel Downhole Sensor to Determine Fluid 

Viscosity, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, accepted for publication 11-Dec-2011, 

available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2011.12.001 

64. Rajnauth J. and Barrufet M.A. “CO2 hydrate as a possibility for CO2 disposal” Carbon 

Capture Journal, Jan/Feb 2012, Issue 25. 

65. Rahnema H., Barrufet M., Mamora D. “Experimental Analysis of Combustion Assisted 

Gravity Drainage” PETROL 3741 – accepted for publication with minor revision – Journal of 

Petroleum Science and Engineering (Feb. 2012). 

66. Rajnauth J. , Barrufet M.A. and Falcone G. “Hydrate Formation: Considering the effects of 

Pressure, Temperature, Composition and Water”, CS Canada Energy Science and 

Technology Vol 4, No 1, (2012) pp. 60-67. 

67. Rajnauth J. , Barrufet M.A. and Falcone G. “ Potential Industry Applications Using Gas 

Hydrate Technology” The West Indian Journal of Engineering Vol 35, No 2 January 2013. 

pp- to be determined. 

Conference Presentations and Other Publications 

1. Barrufet, M.A. and Eubank, P.T., “New Physical Constraints for Fluid Mixture Equations of 

State and Mixture Combining Rules.” AIChE, Spring National Meeting, Houston, April 

1987. 

2. Barrufet, M.A. and Eubank, P.T., “Generalized Saturation Properties of Pure Fluids via 

Equations of State.” AIChE, Spring National Meeting, New Orleans, March 1988. 

3. Barrufet, M.A. and Eubank, P.T., “Prediction of Critical Constants and Critical Loci from a 

Combined Corresponding States/Congruence Method. XIII Inter American Congress of 

Chemical Engineering, invited lecture, Acapulco, October 1988.

11 


4. Joffrion, L., Eubank, P.T., and Barrufet, M.A., “Isochori Rahnemac Collinearity Studies with 

Density Dependent Mixing Rules.” AIChE, Spring National Meeting, Houston, April 1989. 

5. Eubank, P.T., Barrufet, M.A., Duarte-Garza, H., and Yurttas, L., “PVT Experiments for 

Precise VLE Data for Near Azeotropic Mixtures.” International Conference Phase Equilibria 

and Fluid Properties for Chemical Industries, Banff, Canada, May 1989. 

6. Eubank, P.T., Patel, M., and Barrufet, M.A., “Equilibrium Thermodynamic Properties of 

Steam from 6000 to 60000 K and 1 bar to 10 Kbar.” Proc. 11 th International Steam 

Conference. Prague, Czechoslovakia, September 1989. 

7. Hassan, A., Eubank, P.T., Barrufet, M.A., and Whiting, H., “The Area Method for Prediction 

of Fluid Phase Equilibria.” AIChE, Spring National Meeting, Houston, April 1991. 

8. Perez, J.M, Poston, S. W., and Barrufet, M.A., “Studies of Carbonated Water Imbibition 

Using MRI.” Paper SCA 9221 presented at the Society of Core Analysts, SCA/SPWLA Joint 

Annual Conference, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, June 14-17, 1992. 

9. Perez, J.M, Barrufet, M.A., and Poston, S. W., “MRI Studies of Permeability Control Using 

Biopolymers.” Poster paper presented at the Society of Core Analysts, SCA/SPWLA Joint 

Annual Conference, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, June 14-17, 1992. 

10. Barrufet, M.A. and Iglesias-Silva, G. A., “A Generalized Correlation to Predict Liquid 

Viscosities of Crude Oils and Petroleum Fractions.” Presented in Tercer Simposio 

Latinoamericano de Propiedades de Fluidos y Equilibrio de Fases para el Diseno de 

Procesos Químicos” (Third Latin American Symposium of Fluid Properties and Phase 

Equilibria for the Design of Chemical Processes). Oaxaca, Mexico, September 7-11, 1992. 

11. Barrufet, M.A., Perez, J. M., Ali, L., Mandava, S., and Poston, S. W., “MRI Studies of 

Permeability Control Using Biopolymers.” SPE 24809, paper presented at the 67 th Annual 

Technical Conference & Exhibition, October 4-7, 1992, Washington, D.C. 

12. Ali, L., Barrufet, M.A., and Poston, S.W., “An Experimental Study of Profile Modification 

due to Polymer Adsorption in Reservoir Rocks.” Paper presented in the ACS Symposium 

on Enhanced Oil Recovery, Denver CO, March 28 to April 2, 1993. 

13. Ali, L., Barrufet, M.A., and Tantawy, M., “The Effect of an Adsorbed Polymer Layer on 

Relative Permeability Curves.” Paper presented at the Ninth Wyoming Enhanced Oil 

Recovery. Casper, Wyoming, May 12-13, 1993. 

14. Jiang, C., Chen, H.Y., Poston, S.W., and Barrufet, M. A., “Simulation of the Linear 

Imbibition, Carbonated Waterflood Process.” Symposium on Particulate Processes in 

Porous Media. Session: Rock/Fluid Interactions in Petroleum Reservoirs-Stimulation, 

Formation Damage and EOR, Chicago, August 27, 1993. 

15. Shamshuddib, H. S., Wu, C.H., and Barrufet, M. A., “Compositional Modeling of CO2 - 

Enriched Waterfloods in Naturally-Fractured Reservoirs.” Symposium on Particulate 

Processes in Porous Media. Session: Rock/Fluid Interactions in Petroleum Reservoirs- 

Stimulation, Formation Damage and EOR, Chicago, August 27, 1993. 

16. Beladi, M. K., Barrufet, M. A., Eubank, P.T., and Wu, C. H., “V-L-L Equilibria Data and K- 

Values for Pseudo-Components of a Crude Oil.” SPE 27873 presented at the Society of 

Petroleum Engineers 1994 Western Regional Conference - March 23-25, 1994. 

17. Barrufet, M.A. and Ali, L., “Modification of Relative Permeability Curves by Polymer 

Adsorption.” SPE 27015. SPE Third Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering 

Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 26-29, 1994.

12 


18. Barrufet, M. A. and White, R. Jr. “A Waterflood Model Based on Percolation Theory 

Concepts.” SPE 27018 presented at the SPE Third Latin American and Caribbean 

Petroleum Engineering Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 26-29, 1994. 

19. Barrufet, M. A. and Rahman, S., “Experimental Determination of K-values of Hydrocarbon/ 

CO2/Water Systems,” HARC - Houston, June 23, 1994. 

20. Habiballah, W. A., Startzman, R., and Barrufet, M. A., “Use of Neural Networks for 

Prediction of Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium K-values for Light Hydrocarbon Mixtures.” SPE 

28597. 1994 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 25-28 September 1994, 

New Orleans, Louisiana. 

21. Barrufet, M. A., Aggour, M., and Rasool, A., “Prediction of Bottom-Hole Flowing Pressures 

in Multiphase Systems Using a Thermodynamic Equation of State.” SPE 29479. Presented 

at the SPE Production Operations Symposium, Oklahoma City, Ok. April 2-4 1995. 

22. Wu, C.H., Beladi, M.K., Xue, G.P., Barrufet, M., Chawla, I., Liu, K “Influence of 

Temperature, Pressure and Molecular Weight of Hydrocarbon Components on the Multi- 

Phase Equilibria of Hydrocarbon/Water systems. SPE 30788 SPE Annual Technical 

Conference and Exhibition, 22-25 October 1995, Dallas, Texas 

23. Barrufet M. A., Tantawy, M., and Hassan M. “A Reliable Computational Technique for 

Natural Gas z-Factors.” Accepted for presentation at the Fifth International Conference on 

Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgical Engineering, Suez Canal University (Egypt). Feb 24- 

26, 1997. 

24. Wu, C.H., Beladi M., Xue G. P., and Barrufet M.A. SPE 37537, 1997. Three Phase K-Values 

of Heavy Paraffins and Crude Oil Pseudocomponents in Presence of Water, International 

Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium. 1997 Copyright 1997, Society of 

Petroleum Engineers, Inc., Bakersfield, California. 

25. Barrufet, M. A., Tantawy, M., “Iso-Propyl Alcohol can Improve Miscibility of Surfactant-Oil- 

Brine Systems”. Accepted for presentation at the Fifth International Conference on 

Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgical Engineering Suez Canal University (Egypt). Feb 24-26, 

1997. 

26. El-Sayed, S. K., Barrufet, M. A., Khatab, H., and Tantawy, M., “CO2 Minimum Miscibility 

Pressure: Theoretical and Experimental Study.” Accepted for presentation at the Fifth 

International Conference on Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgical Engineering Suez Canal 

University. (Egypt). Feb 24-26, 1997. 

27. Barrufet, M. A., Burnett, D. and Macauley, J. “Screening and Evaluation of Modified 

Starches as Water Shutoff Agents in Fractures” SPE Paper 39692. Inc. SPE/DOE Improved 

Oil Recovery Symposium held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 19-22. 

28. Håland K, Barrufet M. A., Rønningsen H. P. and Meisingset K. K., “An Empirical Correlation 

Between Reservoir Temperature and the Concentration of Hydrogen Sulfide” SPE 50763. 

SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry held in Houston, Texas, 16–19 

February 1999. 

29. Barrufet M. A., Gross S., and Burkett G. Compositional/Thermal Simulation Workshop - 

Chevron Phase Calculation Program CPTC – Reservoir Simulation Consulting team – 

(Restricted to Company Use, Chevron . (June 1999) 

30. Lima H. R, Barrufet M. A. and Juvkam-Wold H.C., “Pressure Calculations and Kick 

Detection with Synthetic-Based Muds in a Riserless Drilling Configuration” Offshore 

Technology Conference, 3 May-6 May 1999, Houston, Texas

13 


31. Vega L. and Barrufet M. A. “Evaluating Non-Volumetric Gas-Condensate Reservoirs” – 

Presented at the AIChE Spring 2001 Meeting, Houston, TX April 22-26, 2001 (Paper 85a) 

32. Vega L. and Barrufet M. A. “Analysis of a Non-Volumetric Gas-Condensate Reservoir” 

presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Jakarta, 

Indonesia, 17-19 April 2001 

33. Barrufet M. A., Jaramillo J.M. and Luo S. “Evaluating Oil Reserves Under Gravitational 

Compositional Gradients in Near-Critical Reservoirs” Presented at the AIChE Spring 2001 

Meeting, Houston, TX April 22-26, 2001 (Paper 85b). 

34. Barrufet M. A., and Jaramillo J.M.. “Understanding Gravitational Compositional Gradients 

in Near-Critical Reservoirs” Canadian International Petroleum Conference 2001, June 12- 

14, 2001, Calgary, Alberta. 

35. Barrufet M. A., and Dexheimer D. “An Automated Data Quality Control Procedure to 

Screen Crude Oil Viscosity Data” Presented at the AIChE Spring 2001 Meeting, Houston, 

TX April 22-26, 2001 (Paper 87h) 

36. Jaramillo J.M. and Barrufet M. A., “Effects in the Determination of Oil Reserves Due to 

Gravitational Compositional Gradients in Near-Critical Reservoirs” SPE 71726 presented 

at 2001 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in New Orleans, Louisiana, 

30 September-3 October 2001. 

37. Luo S. and Barrufet M.A. “The Role of Compositional Gradients in Near-Critical Reservoir 

Development,” proceedings of the ASEE 2002 Gulf-Southwest Section Annual Conference, 

Lafayette, Louisiana March 20-22 (2002) 

38. Morales G. and Barrufet M.A. “Desalination of Produced Water Using Reverse Osmosis” = 

Gas TIPS – Technology Development in Natural Gas Exploration. Production and 

Processing. Summer 2002, Vol. 8 N 3 pp 13-17. 

39. Barrufet M. A. and Burnett D. “A modular design and implementation of a brine 

conversion process: oil removal and desalting units” 11 th IPEC Conference, Albuquerque 

New Mexico, October 11-13 (2004). 

40. Singh A. Benavidez M., Saint-Marcoux J. F. and Barrufet M. A. “Optimal Dilution Strategies 

for Wax Management and Control From a Flow-Assurance Perspective” SPE 90688 – 

Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, September 26-29, 2004, Houston. 

41. Imam, A. S., Startzman, R. A. and Barrufet M. A. “Multicyclic Hubbert model shows global 

conventional gas output peaking in 2019” – Oil and Gas Journal, August 16, 2004. 

42. Patel, C.V., Barrufet, M.A., and Petriciolet, A.B., “Effective Resource Management of 

Produced Water in Oil & Gas Operations”; paper CIPC 219 presented at the Petroleum 

Society's 5th Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 

June 8-10,2004 

43. Luo S. and Barrufet M.A. “Water-in-Oil Solubility: Its Effect on Oil Recovery in Steam 

Injection Processes” – SPE 89407, SPE/DOE Fourteenth Symposium on Improved Oil 

Recovery, Tulsa, April 17-21, 2004. 

44. Izgec, B., Barrufet, M.A.: “Performance Analysis of Compositional and Modified Black-Oil 

Models for a Rich Gas Condensate Reservoir,” paper SPE 93374 presented at the 2005 SPE 

Western Regional Meeting, Irvine, California, 30 March-1 April. 

45. Izgec, B., Barrufet, M.A.: “Phase Redistribution and Horizontal Well Effects on Black-Oil 

Model of a Rich Gas Condensate Reservoir,” paper SPE 93377 presented at the 2005 SPE 

Production Operations Symposium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 17 -19 April.

14 


46. Izgec, B., Barrufet, M.A.: “Performance Analysis of a Modified Black-Oil Model for a Rich 

Gas Condensate Reservoir,” paper CIPC 2005-018 will be presented at the 2005 Canadian 

International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, Alberta, 7 -9 June. 

47. Izgec, B. and Barrufet, M.A., 2005. Performance Analysis of Compositional and Modified 

Black-Oil Models for a Rich Gas Condensate Reservoir, SPE Western Regional Meeting. 

Society of Petroleum Engineers Â Irvine, California. 

48. Barrufet, M.A. and Burnett, D. “Modeling and Operation of Oil Removal and Desalting 

Oilfield Brines With Modular Units” accepted abstract SPE-95647 for annual 2005 SPE 

Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition- 09-OCT-05 to 12-OCT-05. 

49. Mago A. and Barrufet M.A. “Assessing the Impact of Oil Viscosity Mixing Rules in Cyclic 

Steam Stimulation of Extra-Heavy Oils” accepted abstract SPE-95643 for annual 2005 SPE 

Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition - 09-OCT-05 to 12-OCT-05. 

50. Izgec, B. and Barrufet M.A. “Performance Analysis of Compositional and a Modified Black- 

Oil Models for A Rich Gas Condensate Reservoir” – SPE-93378-PP - Offshore Europe 2005 

51. A. Adegoke, M. Barrufet, and C. Ehlig-Economides. “GTL Plus Power Generation: The 

Optimal Alternative for Natural Gas Exploitation in Nigeria.” International Petroleum 

Technology Conference, 21-23 November 2005, Doha, Qatar 

52. M. Barrufet, D. Burnett, and B. Mareth. “Modeling and Operation of Oil Removal and 

Desalting Oilfield Brines With Modular Units” SPE 95647-MS SPE Annual Technical 


53. B. Izgec and M.A. Barrufet. “Phase Redistribution and Horizontal Well Effects on Black-Oil 

Model of a Rich Gas Condensate Reservoir” 2005 

54. M. Barrufet, D. Burnett, and B. Mareth. “Modeling and Operation of Oil Removal and 

Desalting Oilfield Brines With Modular Units” SPE 95647-MS SPE Annual Technical 


55. A.L. Mago, M.A. Barrufet, and M.C. Nogueira. “Assessing the Impact of Oil Viscosity Mixing 

Rules in Cyclic Steam Stimulation of Extra-Heavy Oils” 2005 

56. Ehlig-Economides, C.A., Barrufet, M.A., Longbottom, J.R. and Velu, B., 2005. 

Unconventional Uses for Unconventional Oil, SPE/PS-CIM/CHOA International Thermal 

Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium. SPE/PS-CIM/CHOA International Thermal 

Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

57. Luo, S. and Barrufet, M.A., 2006. Simulation Study of Reentry Drilling for Gas-Condensate 

Reservoir Development, International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage 

Control. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Lafayette, Louisiana U.S.A. 

58. Luo S. and M.A. Barrufet “Reservoir Simulation Study of Water-in-Oil Solubility Effect on 

Oil Recovery in Steam Injection Process” SPE 89407 

59. Rajnauth J., K. Ayeni, and M. Barrufet. “Gas Transportation: Present and Future” 

SPE114935-MS CIPC/SPE Gas Technology Symposium 2008 Joint Conference, Calgary, 

Alberta, Canada 2008 

60. Rajnauth J. and M. Barrufet. “Monetizing Gas: Focusing on developments in gas hydrate as 

a mode of gas transportation” SPE113811-MS EUROPEC/EAGE conference and Exhibition, 

Rome, Italy 2008 

61. Barrufet M.A., Bacquet A., and Falcone G. Analysis of the Storage Capacity for CO2 

Sequestration of a Depleted Gas Condensate Reservoir and a Saline Aquifer JCPT-0110-

15 


0075 Canadian International Petroleum Conference (CIPC) 2009, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 

16-18 June 2009 

62. Espinel A.L., and Barrufet M.A. “A Generalized Semi-analytical and Statistical Model To 

Estimate Oil and Water Production, Pore Volume Injected, and Ultimate Recovery in 

Mature Waterflooding Projects” SPE122749-MS Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum 

Engineering Conference 2009 

63. Rajnauth J. and Barrufet M. A.”CO2 Hydrate: A possibility for future CO2 disposal” 

SPE121281-MS EUROPEC/EAGE conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

2009 

64. Barrufet M.A. and A.B.C. Mareth. “Optimization and Process Control of a Reverse osmosis 

Treatment for Oilfield Brines” SPE 121177-MS Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum 


65. Barrufet M.A. and A.B.C. Mareth. “Evaluation of Renewable Energy as Source of Power for 

Desalination of Oilfield Brines” SPE 121178-MS Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum 


66. D. Yang, J. Kim, P.C.F. Silva, M.A. Barrufet, R. Moreira, and A.J.M. Sosa. “Laboratory 

Investigation of E-Beam Heavy Oil Upgrading” SPE121911-MS Latin American and 

Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference 2009 

67. Limpasurat, A., Falcone, G., Teodoriu, C. and Barrufet, M.A., “Unconventional Heavy-Oil 

Exploitation for Waste Energy Recovery”, SPE 139054-MS SPE Latin American and 

Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Lima, 

Peru. 

68. Odi U.O,. Lane R. H., and Barrufet M.A. “Ensemble Based Optimization of EOR Processes” 

SPE Western Regional Meeting, 27-29 May 2010, Anaheim, California, USA 

69. Rondon, N.J., Barrufet, M.A. and Falcone, G., Calibration and Analysis of a Novel 

Downhole Sensor to Determine Fluid Viscosities, SPE 131322, 2010, SPE EUROPEC/EAGE 

Annual Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Barcelona, Spain. 

70. Rajnauth, J.J., Barrufet, M.A. and Falcone, G., Hydrate Formation: Considering the effects 

of Pressure, Temperature, Composition and Water, SPE 131663, 2010, SPE 

EUROPEC/EAGE Annual Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers, 

Barcelona, Spain. 

71. Rajnauth, J.J., Barrufet, M. and Falcone, G., Potential Industry Applications Using Gas 

Hydrate Technology, SPE 133466, 2010, Trinidad and Tobago Energy Resources 

Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Port of Spain, Trinidad. 

72. Yang, D., Kim, J., Silva, P., Barrufet, M. and Moreira, R., SPE 133919, 2010, Electron Beam 

(E-Beam) Irradiation Improves Conventional Heavy-Oil Upgrading, SPE Annual Technical 

Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Florence, Italy. 

73. Teodoriu, C., Barrufet, M., Epps, M.L., Falcone, G. and Reinicke, K.M., Real-Time Long- 

Distance Teaching: The Texas A&M DL Experience, SPE 134440, 2010, SPE Annual 

Technical Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Florence, Italy. 

74. Rondon, N.J., Naughton, M., Barrufet, M.A. and Falcone, G., SPE 131322, 2010, An 

Analytical Model To Determine the Rheological Properties of Well Fluids Using a Novel 

Downhole Sensor, SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum 

Engineers, Florence, Italy. 

75. Ardali, M., Mamora, D.D. and Barrufet, M., SPE 138170, 2010 A Comparative Simulation

16 


Study of Addition of Solvents to Steam in SAGD Process, Canadian Unconventional 

Resources and International Petroleum Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers, 

Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

76. Jorge Gabitto, Prairie View A&M University, Maria A. Barrufet, Texas A&M 

University,David B. Burnett, Texas A&M University. ‘Improved oil production using 

economical biopolymer-surfactant blends for profile modification and mobility control’ 

NETL 679-NETL 2010 

77. Jorge Gabitto, Maria Barrufet ‘Transport and Phase Equilibria Properties for Steam 

Flooding of Heavy Oils’ NETL 3893-NETL 2010 

78. Gabitto, Jorge; Barrufet, Maria ‘Experimental and Theoretical Determination of Heavy Oil 

Viscosity Under Reservoir Conditions’ NETL 3818-NETL 2010 

79. Rahnema H., Barrufet M.A., and Martinez J.A., , Dual Horizontal Well Air Injection Process, 

SPE 153907-MS, SPE Western Regional Meeting, 21-23 March 2012, Bakersfield, 

California, USA 

80. Rahnema H., Barrufet M., Mamora D. Experimental Study of Air Injection in SAGD 

Chamber, SPE 149195-MS, Canadian Unconventional Resources Conference, 15-17 

November 2011, Alberta, Canada 

81. Teodoriu C., Epps M.L., Barrufet M. A, Falcone G. , Real-Time Long Distance Teaching: An 

Extensive Evaluation of the Techniques and Student Response of 6 Years of Non-stop 

Process, SPE 146050-MS, SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 30 October-2 

November 2011, Denver, Colorado, USA 

82. M. Ardali M., Mamora D.D., Barrufet, M., Experimental Study of Co-injection of Potential 

Solvents with Steam to Enhance SAGD Process, SPE 144598-MS, SPE Western North 

American Region Meeting, 7-11 May 2011, Anchorage, Alaska, USA 

Upcoming Accepted Conference Papers 

• SPE Latin America and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference Mexico City, Mexico, 

16-18 April. 

• SPE Paper 153528, Utilization of Charged Particles as an Efficient Way To Improve 

Rheological Properties of Heavy Asphaltic Petroleum Fluids, by M. Alfi, P. Da Silva, M.A. 

Barrufet, and R. Moreira. 

• SPE Paper 153307, Analytical Estimation of CO2 Storage Capacity in Depleted Oil and Gas 

Reservoirs Based on Thermodynamic State Functions, by E. Valbuena, M.A. Barrufet, and G. 

Falcone. 

• 2012 SPE Symposium: Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 14-18 April. 

• SPE Paper 154333, Self-Sustained CAGD Combustion Front Development: Experimental and 

Numerical Observations, by H. Rahnema, M.A. Barrufet, and D. Mamora. 

• SPE Heavy Oil Conference Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 12–14 June 2012 

• SPE Paper 146996 , Effect of Non-condensable Gas on Solvent-Aided SAGD Processes, by M. 

Ardali, M. Barrufet and D.D. Mamora 

• SPE Paper 157981, Experimental Study of In-Situ Upgrading for Heavy Oil Using Hydrogen 

Donors and Catalyst Under Steam Injection Condition, by Zhiyong Zhang, M. Barrufet, R. 

Lane, and D. Mamora.

17 


Book 

Moreira R. G., Castell-Perez M.E. and Barrufet M.A. “Deep Fat Frying Fundamentals and 

Applications” Food Engineering Series. Aspen Publishers, Inc. 1999. 

Current and Technical Collaboration 

• Prof. Gustavo Iglesias-Silva / Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya (Guanajuato, Mexico) 

• Prof. Rosana G. Moreira, Agricultural Engineering Department, Texas A&M University. 

• Prof. Christine Ehlig-Economides, Petroleum Engineering Department, Texas A&M 

University. 

• Prof. Ken Hall, Chemical Engineering Department, Texas A&M University. 

• Prof. Curtis Hays Whitson NTNU (Norwegian U. Science & Technology) 

• Institute for Petroleum Technology. 

Invited Lectures/Presentations 

• Universidad del Comahue, Río Negro (Argentina). Chemical Engineering Department - 

“Potential of CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Río Negro,” May 1, 1994. 

• Universidad de Michoacana, Morelia (México). Chemical Engineering Department. 

Symposium Chemicals and the Environment. “Environmental Issues in Enhanced Oil 

Recovery,” September 8, 1994. 

• Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta (Argentina) - “Evaluación de Prácticas de Producción de 

Petróleo para Minimizar la Producción de Agua,” May 15, 1995. 

• University of Texas, Petroleum Engineering Department. Invited Seminar Speaker. 

“Evaluation of Biopolymers for Oil Field Processes,” May 1, 1995. 

• Universidad Nacional de Celaya, Guanajuato (México). “Introducción a Métodos de 

Recuperación Mejorada del Petróleo”. January 8 - 12, 1996. 

• Escuela Superior de Técnicos del Ejército, Quito (Ecuador). “Importancia de la Industria 

Petroquímica y Técnicas de Recuperación Térmica,” February, 1, 1996. 

• Universidad Surcolombiana de Neiva (Colombia). “Termodinamica de Hidrocarburos” 

August 26-September 2. 2000. 

• Universidad Nacional de Santander, Bucaramanga (Colombia), “Termodinámica y 

Comportamiento de Fases de Hidrocarburos” – May 2001 – A graduate course towards a 

Master of Science Degree in “Ingenieria de Hidrocarburos. 

• SPE Annual Meeting, New Orleans – Debate Team: What is the Future of Petroleum 

Engineering? October 2001. 

• Petroleum Engineering Department - University of Austin – “Understanding Near-Critical 

Reservoirs” – Graduate Seminar, April 22, 2002. 

• PVTSim Users Group Meeting, Houston – “The Use of PVTSim in Research and Education in 

Petroleum Engineering”. June, 3, 2003. 

Educational Development 

Undergraduate Courses 

• ENG 201: Conservation Principles in Engineering (Credit 4) – Develop new set of class notes 

and problems.

18 


• ENG 211: Conservation Principles in Engineering II (Credit 3) – Developed class notes and 

new problem sets. 

• PETE 310: Reservoir Fluids. (Credit 4) Modernized and improved undergraduate laboratory 

manual. Implemented field-trips to commercial laboratories and to Oil-Production leases as 

part of laboratory procedures. 

Introduced use of Educational Software packages: (1) SOPE, which presents a Graphical 

Visualization and Simulation of Volumetric and Phase Equilibria of single and twocomponent 

systems, and (2) in house developed Aggie-PVT for constant volume depletion 

studies, gas hydrates and waxes, swelling, and hydrocarbon characterization. 

• PETE 417: Numerical Methods. (Credit 3) Revised course contents stressing use of FORTRAN 

over Spreadsheets. Developed a series of new problems and Fortran Codes and instructed 

the Computer Lab session of the course as well. 

• PETE 206: Rock Properties. (Credit 4) Included a field trip with an interview as part of the 

course requirements. Developed a set of new exercises establishing ties with other 

Petroleum Engineering courses. 

• PETE 420: Reservoir Engineering. (Credit 3). Revised course content and developed new set 

of class notes which were provided electronically through the local network. 

• PETE 323: Reservoir Models. (Credit 3). Revised course content and developed new set of 

class notes which were provided electronically through the local network. Included three 

designed projects as part of the course. Performance projections of Gas Reservoirs, Oil 

Reservoirs, and a Comparison of Waterflooding vs. Polymer Flooding. 

Graduate Courses 

• PETE 605: Phase Behavior of Hydrocarbon Fluids. (Credit 3) Significantly revised this course 

by adding topics such as: gas hydrates, paraffin deposition, water/hydrocarbon phase 

equilibria. Heavy emphasis on use of Equations of State for phase equilibria computations 

and rigorous thermodynamic approaches. Elimination of repetitive material from 

undergraduate courses. 

• PETE 616: Engineering Near Critical Reservoirs. (Credit 3). Redesigned this course from 

scratch. Incorporated workshops using commercial simulators. Stressed the use of UNIX and 

Eclipse 300 simulators. The course ends with a comprehensive competition project to 

develop a gas condensate field using the strategies learned in the course. 

• PETE 607: Chemical and Miscible EOR. (Credit 3) Completely redeveloped this course by 

incorporating more fundamentals. Topics included include rheological behavior of polymers 

used in EOR, phase equilibria interactions in CO2 flooding, environmental and economic 

issues. 

• PETE 609: Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes. (Credit 3) Completely developed this course by 

incorporating more fundamentals. Topics included include rheological behavior of polymers 

used in EOR, phase equilibria interactions in CO2 flooding, environmental and economic 

issues. Modern technologies in thermal flooding applications including : SAGD, insitu 

combustion and use of additives to increment heavy oil recovery and in-situ upgrading. 

• PETE 685: 

Problems in Phase Behavior. (Credit 3-4) Design of a series of problems that require 

extensive use of simulations. These include evaluation of current fluid property correlations

19 


for viscosity, density, MMP (minimum miscibility pressure) with data bases. 

Characterization procedures for the C7 + • 

fraction. Development of codes to evaluate 

constant volume depletion of gas condensates. Sensitivity analysis using Equations of State 

with various mixing rules. Stability analysis techniques. 

Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery: Evaluation of pore size distributions and relative 

permeability curves before after polymer treatment from capillary pressure data. 

Sensitivity analysis on oil recovery vs. oil/polymer/rock properties. 

Analytical Methods to Estimate CO2 Storage in Depleted Oil and gas Reservoirs 

Thermodynamic models to estimate the ultimate CO2 storage capacity of a reservoir, this 

particular project led to 4 recent publications 

PETE 644: CO2 Capture and Uses: Sequestration, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) (Credit 3) CO 

2 

capture and storage (CCS) involves the injection and containment of CO in geological 

2 

structures such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, onshore and offshore saline aquifers 

located deep in the earth’s crust, salt caverns or un-minable coalbeds. This is an approach 

that can be used to improve the energy production from existing fossil fuel operations 

(Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery) as well as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

This course will provide a scientific and technological foundation designed to provide 

answers to questions important to those interested in investigating the potential of CCS to 

enhance energy production and reduce greenhouse gases as well as to policy makers. 

Continuing Education: 

• Advanced Phase Behavior. Short course for YPF students (three weeks). 

• Waterflooding and Water Production Control. OPICOIL. Taiwan (one week). 

• Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Phase Behavior – Universidad Nacional de Salta 

(Argentina) (One week , June 1999). 

• Phase Behavior of Near Critical Reservoirs – Universidad Surcolombiana Neiva (Colombia) 

(one week, August 2000). 

Professional Development 

Activities to Improve Teaching 

• Completed a teaching portfolio for the Center of Teacher Excellence. June 1993. 

• Participated in Workshop on Enhancing the Student/Teacher Interaction: “A Workshop on 

Teaching and Learning Styles”, by William Banks, January 15, 1994. 

• Attended course The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - A video based leadership 

development course. (12 weeks - Fall 1995). 

• Engaged as a member in SPE, Education and Professionalism Committee (1996). 

• Developed educational software to teach PETE 310 (Reservoir Fluids) includes 

o PVT Simulator to simulate PVT experiments 

o Multiple interactive VBA/Excel files to predict fluid properties 

• Introduced mini incentive awards for best performances in homework and exams thanks to 

grant from the Keck foundation for teaching. 

• Development of Virtual Fluids Laboratory Using (2002 – present) – PETE 310.

20 


I have attended most of the annual SPE meetings and many regional conferences, with the 

objectives of becoming aware and updated on the latest academic and industrial 

developments. The following, are some of the most important activities that helped my 

research and teaching. 

• Attended the 1993 SPE Forum Series: Phase Behavior, Snowmass, CO., June 1993. 

• Selected to participate in Pilot Faculty Abroad Seminar in Mexico City (May 15 to May 26 

1994). Research Component: Presentation: “Facts of Texas A&M University and the 

Petroleum Engineering Department at Texas A&M University.” 

• Attended short course “Miscible Flooding” by Lynn Orr. Tulsa, April 9, 1994. 

• Attended short course “Thermodynamics of Reservoir Fluids,” by Abaas Firoozabadi. 

Reservoir Engineering Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA. (August 7-11, 1995). 

• Took a year faculty development leave at Chevron CPTC and worked in the Reservoir 

Engineering Simulation Consulting group (1998-1999) 

• Developed a Compositional/Thermal Simulation Workshop for Chevron (June 1999). 

Additional Information 

I speak Spanish, Catalan, and English fluently, and I have a good knowledge of Portuguese. 

Recent Funding 

Title Sponsor Dates Dollar Share 

Electron Beam Work on Heavy Conoco-Phillips 2010-2011 75,000 

Oils 

(TEES) 

Steam Management and In- Petronas / 2009-2011 60,000 

situ Upgrading of Oil Using 

Hydrogen Donors 

Crisman 

Value Chain Analysis of Heavy 

Oil From Wellhead to the 

Refinery 

Schlumberger 2010-2011 50,000 

Theoretical and Experimental QATAR National 2010-2012 120,000 

Study of Asphaltene 

Deposition During CO2 

Injection in Qatar’s Oil 

Reservoirs 

Research Fund 

Distance Learning 

Approximate Revenues 

MENG and Certificate 

2011 600,000 

Current Number of Students Chaired 

During the last 5 years I collaborated with 176 students as a member of chair in their degree 

plans (mostly DL) 

From these 176 I was or I am still the chair or co-chair of 57. I graduated 12 MENG (chair), 7 

MENG (co-chair), 3 MS chair, 1 MS co-chair, 2 PhD chair

The rest are in progress mostly MENG (DL). Currently supervise 7 PhD’s and 6 MS’s. 

21 

Maria Antonieta Barrufet

Curriculum Vitae - Harold Vance Department of Petroleum ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?