Name: Robert L. Lee

 

Citizenship: US.                 

 

Address:                New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center (PRRC/NM Tech)

                                New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (a.k.a New Mexico Tech)

                                801 Leroy Place, Socorro, New Mexico 87801

                                Tel: (505) 835-5408,  Fax: (505) 835-6031, E-mail:  lee@nmt.edu

 

Home:                    1306 North Drive, Socorro, New Mexico 87801, Tel: (505) 835-0869

 

Education:             Ph.D.,     Chemical Engineering,         U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor,               1986

                                                Advisor: Dr. M.R. Tek

                                M.S.,       Chemical Engineering,         Oregon State U., Corvallis, 1982

                                                (minor in Statistics) Advisor: Dr. R. Mrazek

                                B.S.,        Chemistry,                             Chung Yuan College, Taiwan,           1976

 

Professional Experience:

 

                1999-present         Commissioner (appointed by the Governor of New Mexico)

New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, NMOCC

                1998-present         Regional Lead Officer, Southwest Region

Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, PTTC

                1998-present         Director, New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center, New Mexico Tech

                2002-present         Professor of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, New Mexico Tech

                1992-2002               Associate Professor of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, New Mexico Tech

                1996-1997               Chemical Engineering Coordinator, P&ChE Department

                1994-1997               Chairman, Petroleum & Chemical Engineering Department

                1987-1992               Assistant Professor of Petroleum Engineering, New Mexico Tech

1986-1987                      Research Fellow, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Supervisor: Dr. D.L. Katz

                1982-1986               Teaching/Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

                1978-1982               Teaching Assistant, Oregon State University, Corvallis

                1976-1978               Electronic Technician, Taiwanese Air Force, Taipei, Taiwan

 

Research Interests:

               

Purification of Produced Water, Hydrogen Generation by Natural Gas Conversion, Gas Storage, Coal-Bed Methane, Water Coning, Reservoir Characteristics, Fluid Flow in Porous Media, and Applied Numerical Methods.

 

Awards: NM Tech President’s Faculty Award, 2003

                                                by New Mexico Tech’s President, Dr. Daniel Lopez

                                                for outstanding leadership role in bringing national academic distinction and promoting research excellence.

                NMOGA Pete Porter Award, 2000

                                                by New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA)

                                                for outstanding contribution to New Mexico oil and gas industry.

Distinguished Faculty Award, 1989, 1990, 1991

                by Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter

                for excellent teaching and supervision.

 

Professional Activities:

               

Editor of  Elsevier’s Petroleum Science & Engineering; Member of SPE; Referee for Journals of SPE, Energy Sources, Energy Resources Technology (ASME); Session Head of AIChE annual meetings; SPE Reservoir Engineering Committee; Session Head of SPE annual meetings.

 

1999-present         Member, Research Committee (appointed by the Governor of New Mexico)

                                Interstate Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, IOGCC

 

Students Supervision:

 

                [1] Guo, Gordon; Ph.D., 1989-1992, now an Associate Professor at University of Louisiana

                                Exact Solution of Water/Gas-Oil Coning Problems in Horizontal Wells

                [2] Ouenes, Ahmed; Ph.D., 1990-1992, now with RC square, Denver

                                Application of Simulated Annealing to Reservoir Characterization and  Petrophysics Inverse Problems

                [3] Cochrane, Tom; MS, 1987-1991, now with ExxonMobil

                                Flow Visualization of CO2-Foam at Reservoir Conditions

                [4] Engler, Tom; MS, 1989-1992, now an assistant professor at New Mexico Tech

                                Dual Porosity, Multiphase Model for Coal Bed Reservoirs

                [5] Cotta, Olivier; MS, 1990-1992, now with ARCO France

                                THT Adsorption in Underground Natural Gas Storage

                [6] Sasnanand, Santan; MS, 1991-1993, now with Unocal, Thailand

                                Adsorption of THT in Porous Media; An Experimental Approach

                [7] Nath, Shyamal Kumar; MS, 1992-1993,

                                Water Cone Subsidence Time

                [8] Khan, Mashiur; MS, 1992-1994,

                                Adsorption of THT in Porous Media; A Theoretical Approach

                [9] Anwar, Jabed; MS, 1992-1994,

                                Simulated Annealing Method on Reservoir

                [10] Zellou, Abdel, MS, 1993-1995, now with RC Square.

                                Neural Net Applications on Reservoir Characterization

                [11] Kelly, Mike, MS, 1995-1996, Ph.D., 1998-2000, New Mexico Tech

                                Net-Stress Effect on Non-Darcy Flow

                                Optimal In-fill Drilling Location for Tight Gas Reservoir

[12] Mohamed, Badrul Jan, MS, 1995-1997, Ph.D., 1997-2001,

an assistant professor at University of Malysia, Malaysia

                                Horizontal Wells in Coalbed Methane

                                Flow Relative Permeability for Condensate Reservoir

                [13] Hidayati, Dewi, MS, 1995-1997, co-advisored with Dr. Huang

                                THT Bio-Remediation in Underground Natural Gas Storage

                [14] Seldal, Marlin; MS, 1995-1997, co-advisored with Dr. Seright

                                Profile Control

                [15] Wang, Jianxin; MS, 1995-1997, Ph.D.,1997-2000, co-advised with Dr. Buckley

                                Wettability

                [16] Al-Maamari, Rashid S.H., Ph.D., 1998-2000, Co-advisored with Dr. Buckley

                                Effect of Asphaltene Destabilization on Wettability

                [17] Siagian, Ucok; Ph.D., 1998-2000, an assistant professor at ITB, Indonesia

                                Wellbore Stress-Fluid Flow Impact

                [18] Li, Liangxiong; Ph.D., 2002-present

                                Produced Water Purifications

 

Grants and Contracts:

 

                1987-1988               RE&D, Dr. Kuellmer                                                             $8,000

                                                Initiation Grant

                1988-1989               Graduate Office, Dr. Smoake                                              $4,000

                                                Initiation Grant

                1989-1990               Engineering Foundation                                                     $20,000

                                                Hydrate Kinetics

                1989-1993               Gaz de France, Paris                                                             $260,200

                                                THT adsorption

                1990-1990               ITC, Albuquerque                                                                $1,500

                                                WIPP Simulator

                1991-1992               SMMRRI                                                                               $10,000

                                                Coal Seam Simulation

                1991-1992               RE&D, Dr. Gutjahr                                                               $9,000

                                                Coal Seam Type Curve

                1991-1993               National Science Foundation                                             $49,000

                                                Natural Gas Laboratory

                1992-1993               RE&D, Dr. Gutjahr; with A. Sung and R.E. Bretz            $6,000

                                                Expert System for Waste-Management

                1992-1993               Gas Company New Mexico, Albuquerque                       $6,000

                                                Storage Sites Selection

                1992-1993               Rio Grande Technology; with R.E. Bretz                          $104,000

                                                Separation of Oil by Centrifuge

                1993-1994               SMMRRI                                                                               $6,000

                                                Water Coning Subsidence Time

                1993-1994               Gas Company New Mexico, Albuquerque                       $22,000

                                                Reserve Prediction

                1994-1995               WERC; with Greg Hazlett                                                   $60,000

                                                Water Cleaning at Navajo Cite

                1996-1999               Gaz de France, Paris                                                             $200,000

                                                Impact of THT in Underground Storage

                1996-1999               Gaz de France, Paris, with Al Smoake                               $90,000

                                                Toxicity Study of THT

                1996-1999               Gaz de France, Paris, with Frank Huang                           $90,000

                                                Bio-Remediation of THT in Storage Operations

1996-1997               Gaz de France                                                                       $15,000/year

                                                Discretionary

                1998-1999               Questa Pipeline                                                                    $15,000

                                                Reservoir Management

                1998-2003               NPTO/NETL/DOE                                                                $340,000/year

                                                Petroleum Technology Transfer Council

                2000-2002               NPTO/NETL/DOE, with Mike Whitworth                        $1.2 M

(DE-PS26-00FT40759)

                                                Modified Reverse Osmosis for Produced Water

                2002-2004               NPTO/NETL/DOE, with Martha Cather                           $0.55 M

                                                (DE-PS26-01BC15300)

                                                New Mexico Water & Information System

 

Courses Taught:

 

                [1] ES 110L,           Drawing Lab

                [2] ES 111L,           Basic Engineering (Matlab) Lab

                [3] ES 216,              Fluid Mechanics

                [4] ES 332,              Electrical Engineering

                [5] ES 347,              Thermodynamics

                [6] ES 350,              Heat & Mass Transfer

                [7] ES 447,              Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

                [8] ES 531,              Viscous Fluids, Advanced Transport Phenomena

                [9] ED 431,             Fluid and Thermal Design, I

                [10] ED 432,           Fluid and Thermal Design, II

                [11] ChE 326,         Chemical Engineering Principles

                [12] ChE 451,         Chemical Kinetics

                [13] ChE 471,         Engineering Numerical Analysis

                [14] ChE 472,         Advanced Transport Phenomena

                [15] PETR 245,      Petroleum Fluids

                [16] PETR 345,      Reservoir Engineering I

                [17] PETR 424,      Production I

                [18] PETR 425,      Production II

                [19] PETR 445,      Reservoir Engineering II

                [20] PETR 460,      Numerical Method

                [21] PETR 464,      Natural Gas Engineering

                [22] PETR 523,      Reservoir Simulation

                [23] PETR 544,      Advanced Reservoir Engineering

                [24] PETR 570,      Graduate Seminar

                [25] PETR 571,      Advanced Stimulation

 

Industrial Courses:

 

                [1] Natural Gas Storage Courses, 1990-1996, with D. Elenbass

                [2] Natural Gas Storage Courses, 1987-1988, with D. Katz

                [3] Natural Gas Storage Courses, 1983-1986, with M.R. Tek

 

 

Present and Past Consulting Activities:

 

                [1] Public Service Company, Gas Services, 1993-1997

                [2] Gaz de France, 1989-1997, Guy Fasanino, (33-1) 47.54.29.30

                [3] Elenbaas Consulting Firm, 1988-1996, Doug Elenbaas, (616) 957-3243

                [4] Grynberg Petroleum, 1988-present, Morris Ettinger, (303) 850-7490

                [5] Northern Illinois Gas, 1992-1995, Lonni Upshaw, (630) 983-8676 ext.2254

                [6] Shell Canada, Calgary, 1985-1986

                [7] Texon Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1983-1985, M.R. Tek, (808) 325-7618

 

Books:

 

                [1] Inventory-Migration-Deliverability in Underground Storage, with M.R. Tek and others,                                            

                         American Gas Association, Monograph, 1986.

 

                [2] Natural Gas Engineering; Production and Storage, co-author with late Professor D.L. Katz,                                     

                         McGraw-Hill, 1990, 780 pages, 400+ figures, in McGraw-Hill Chemical Engineering Series.

 

Patents:

 

[1] Guo, B., Bretz, E.R., and Lee, R.L. “Method and Apparatus for Generating, Transportating,

and Dissociating Gas Hydrates,” US Patent 5,473,904 (December 12, 1995).

 

Papers: (*, peer reviewed or a chapter in a book; **, a referred SPE paper)

Peer reviewed

[1] Whitworth, T. M. and Lee, Robert, (2003) “Deasalting of saline waters: applications to New Mexico,” New Mexico Geology, Volume 25, No. 1. *

[2] Whitworth, T. M., Siagian, Ucok. W., and Lee, Robert, (submitted) Reverse osmosis separation of NaCl using a bentonite membrane, Separation and Purification Methods. *

[3] Li, Liangxiong, Whitworth, T. M., and Lee, Robert (submitted) Separation of Inorganic Solutes from Oil Field Produced Water Using a compacted Bentonite Membrane, J. Membrane Science. *

[4] Li, Liangxiong, Whitworth, T. M., and Lee, Robert (submitted) Construction of an ultra-thin, compacted clay membrane, Clay Science. *

[5] Li, Liangxiong, Lee, Robert, and Whitworth, T. M., (2002), “Solute rejection capabilities of compacted bentonite membranes,” The Clay Minerals Society 39th Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts, p. 116.

[6] Torres, David, Lee, Robert, and Whitworth, T. M., (2002), Concentration polarization-induced precipitation of NaCl, The Clay Minerals Society 39th Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts, p. 166.

 

[7] Mohamed Jan, Badrul H., Ucok Siagian and Robert L. Lee, (2003) “Effect of Permeability Distribution and Interfacial Tension on Gas Condensate Relative Permeability; An Experimental Study,” SPE 80511, SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, 15-17 April 2003.

 

[8] Mohamed Jan, Badrul H.,. N. Mohamad Ibrahim, Ucok Siagian and Robert L. Lee, (2002) “Experimental Study of Gas Condensate Relative Permeability,” Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCHE), Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, 28-30 October 2002.

 

[9] Mohamed Jan, Badrul H, U. Siagian, and R. Lee, (2002) “A new and Robust Simulation  Model for Coalbed Methane Reservoir,” SPE paper 78696, presented at 2002 SPE Eastern Region Meeting, October 23-25, Lexington, Kentucky.  *

 

[10] Thichloroethylene Reduction on Zerovalent Iron: Probing Reactive versus Nonreactive Sites, with Frank Huang and others, Chapter 13, American Chemical Society, Symposium Series No. 837, Chlorinated Solvent and DNAPL Remediation.  Innovative Strategies for Subsurface Cleanup, edited by Susan M. Henry and Scott D. Warner, 2002. *

 

[11] Ye, Bing, Fan, T., Lee, R., and Whitworth, T. M.,  “Using Clays as Reverse Osmosis Membranes to Treat Produced Water,” Association of Engineering Geologists Annual Meeting, St. Louis Missouri, 2001.

 

[12] Bustamante, E., P. Anselmo, and R. Lee, (2000) New Mexico Energy Future, background report of the New Mexico First 24th Town Hall, New Mexico First, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

[13] Seright, R.S. and R.L. Lee, (1998) “The Potential of Gel Treatments for Reducing Channeling Through Naturally Fractured Reservoir,” SPE paper 39802, presented at 1998 Permian Basin Oil and Gas Recovery Conference, 23-26 March, Midland, Texas. SPE Production & Facilities, 269, 14(4), November 1999. *

 

[14] Huang, F.Y.C., R.L. Lee, B.Wear, and P. Guerra,  (1997) “Biodegradation of Mechaptans,” 7th Annual West Coast Conference on Contaminated Soils and Groundwater, Oxnard, CA.

 

[15] Huang, F.Y.C. and R.L. Lee, (1997) “Degradation of Ethyl Mercaptan in the Presence of  Zero-Valence Iron,” 4th Annual International Petroleum Environmental Conference, San Antonio, TX.

 

[16] Kelly, M., B. Mohamed, and R. Lee, (1997) “Net Stress Effect on Non-Darcy Flow,” SPE paper 38038, presented at 1997 SPE Asian Pacific Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. **

 

[17] Elenbaas, D., D.T. Hidayati, F. Huang, B. Mohamed, M. Khan, and R. Lee, (1996) “The Environmental Impact of Mercaptans in Underground Gas Storage,” SPE paper 37383 presented at the Eastern Regional Meeting, October 23-25, Columbus, Ohio. **

 

[18] Chen, H.-Y., L.W. Teufel, and R.L. Lee, (1995), “Coupled Fluid Flow and Geomechanics in Reservoir Study -- I. Theory and Governing Equations,” SPE paper 30752 presented at SPE Annual Meeting, October 23-25, Dallas, Texas.  **

 

[19] Permadi, P., R. Lee, and P.S.T. Kartoatmodjo, (1995), “Behavior of Water Cresting Under Horizontal Wells,” SPE paper 30743 presented at SPE Annual Meeting, October 23-25, Dallas, Texas. **

 

[20] Lee, R., S. Nath, and M. Khan, (1995), “Water Cone Subsidence Time of A Horizontal Well,” SPE paper 29295 presented at SPE Asian Pacific Meeting, March, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. **

 

[21] Guo, B. and R.L. Lee, (1993), “A Simple Approach to Optimization of Perforating Interval in Water-Coning System,” SPE Reservoir Engineering, November. SPE paper  23994 presented at the Permian Basin Oil and Gas Recovery Conference, Midland, Texas, March 18-20, 1992. *

 

[22] Liang, L.T., R.L. Lee, and R. Seright, (1993), “Placement of Gels to Modify Production Profiles,” SPE Production & Facilities, November. SPE/DOE paper 20211 presented at SPE/DOE 7th Symposium on Enhance Oil Recovery, Tulsa, April 22-25, 1990. *

 

[23] Guo, B., S. Miska, and R.L. Lee, (1993), “An Innovation in 3-D Well Trajectory Design Using Concept of Constant Curvature,” Journal of Energy Resources Technology, ASME, September. Paper presented at the ASME 1993 Energy-Resources Technology Conference and Exhibition. *

 

[24] Guo, B., S. Miska, and R.L. Lee, (1993), “Constant -Curvature Equation Improve Design of 3D Well Trajectory,” Oil & Gas Journal, April 19. *

 

[25] Guo, B., R.L. Lee, and S. Miska, (1993), “Gas Volume Requirement for Directional Drilling,” Proceedings of the 3rd Lerkendal Petroleum Engineering Workshop held in Trondheim, Norway, January 20-21.

 

[26] Ouenes, A., A. Gutjahr, and R.L. Lee, (1993) “Global Optimization Methods in Petroleum and Gas Reservoir Engineering: Current Status and Future Perspectives,” presented the SIAM conference on Mathematical and Computational Issues in the Geosciences, April 19-21.

 

[27] Guo, B., Jean-Eric Molinard, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “A General Solution of Gas/water Coning Problem for Horizontal Well,” SPE paper 25050 presented at The Europec '92, Cannes, France, November 16-18. **

 

[28] Guo, B., R.E. Bretz, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Gas Hydrate Decomposition and Its Modeling,” presented at The 1992 International Gas Research Conference, Orlando, Florida, November 16-19.

 

[29] Ouenes, A., G. Fasanino, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Simulated Annealing for Interpreting Gas/Water Laboratory Corefloods,” SPE paper 24870 presented at The SPE 67th Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition at Washington, D.C., October 4-7.  **

[30] Ouenes, A., A. Gutjahr, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Conditioning Permeability Fields by Simulated Annealing,” presented at The 3rd European Conference on the Mathematics of       Oil Recovery, Netherlands, June 17-19.

[31] Guo, B., S. Miska, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Constant-Curvature Method to Plan 3-D Directional Wells,” SPE paper 24381, presented at The SPE Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting, Casper, Wyoming, May 18-21. **

[32] Guo, B. and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Determination of the Maximum Water-Free Production Rate of a Horizontal Well with Water-Oil Interface Cresting,” SPE paper 24324, presented at The SPE Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting, Casper, Wyoming, May 18-21. **

 

[33] Elenbaas, D., T. Engler, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Gas Storage Prospect Evaluation,” presented at The Annual Spring AIChE Meeting, New Orleans, March 29.

 

[34] Ouenes, A., G. Meunier, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Application of Simulated Annealing Method (SAM) to Gas Storage Reservoir Characterization,” presented at The Annual Spring AIChE Meeting, New Orleans, March 29.

 

[35] Guo, B., R.E. Bretz, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “Decomposition of Methane and Ethane Hydrates,” presented at the 16th Annual Symposium of the Rocky Mountain Fuels Society, 7th Symposium of Western States Catalysis Club, Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 19-20.

 

[36] Ouenes, A., I. Bahralolom, A. Gutjahr, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “A New Approach for Reservoir Characterization Using Simulated Annealing,” presented at The 2nd Lerkendal Workshop, Norwegian Institute of Technology, University of Trondheim, February 5-6.

 

[37] Guo, B. and R.L. Lee, (1992), “An Exact Solution to Critical Oil Production Rate of Horizontal Wells with Water-Oil Interface Cresting,”  presented at The 2nd Lerkendal Workshop, Norwegian Institute of Technology, University of Trondheim, February 5-6.

 

[38] Ouenes, A., I. Bahralolom, A. Gutjahr, and R.L. Lee, (1992), “A New Method for Predicting Field Permeability Distribution,” presented at the Mediterranean Petroleum Conference and Exhibition, Tripoli, January 19-22.

 

[39] Lou, F., S. Miska, and R.L. Lee, (1991), “Pressure-Transient Testing at Drilling Stage of Well Development,” SPE paper 23007, presented at the SPE Asia-Pacific Conference, Perth, Western Australia, November 4-7. **

 

[40] Guo, B. and R.L. Lee, (1991), “An Exact Solution to Critical Rate of Horizontal Wells with Gas-Oil-Interface Dipping,” SPE paper 23555, unsolicited. **

 

[41] Lee, R.L., (1991),``Nitrogen Injection in Gas Storage Reservoirs,'' presented at CPPT Symposium, Houston, Texas, May 25-26.

 

[42] Oren, P., M.D. Stevenson, R.L. Lee, and M.R. Tek, (1989), “The Development of a Generalized Drawdown Equation for Real Gas Flow Including the Effects of Wellbore Storage and Turbulence,” Underground Storage of Natural Gas: Theory and Practice, 129-138, Kluwer Academic Publishers. *

 

[43] Beck, F.E. and R.L. Lee, (1988), “A Method for Determination of Permeability, Skin, and Turbulence Factor from an Open-Flow Potential Test,” SPE paper 18270, presented at The 63rd Annual SPE Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, October 2-5. **

 

[44] Lee, R.L., P. Oren, and M.R. Tek, (1988), “The Effects of Wellbore Storage, Skin, and Turbulence on Early Time Transient of Real Gas Through Porous Media,” SPE Formation Evaluation, September, 547-554. *

 

[45] Lee, R.L., R.W. Logan, and M.R. Tek, (1988), “Effect of Turbulence on Transient Flow of Real Gas Through Porous Media,” SPE Formation Evaluation, March, 108-120. *

 

[46] Logan, R.W., R.L. Lee, and M.R. Tek, (1985), “Microcomputer Gas Storage Simulation Using Finite Element Method,” SPE paper 14449 presented at The 60th SPE Annual Meeting at Las Vegas, Nevada. **

 

[47] Lee, R.L., R.W. Logan, and M.R. Tek, (1984), “Deliverability of Natural Gas,” Proceedings of the 8th Doha Technical Symposium, Doha, 41-47.