Professor in the Mork Family Department Behnam Jafarpour (R) receives his award from Society of Petroleum Engineers President Terry Palisch (L) on September 24, 2024. Image/Sushma Bhan
USC professor of chemical engineering and materials science Behnam Jafarpour has been honored with the 2024 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) International Data Science and Engineering Analytics Award.
This prestigious award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of petroleum engineering through advancements in data science and engineering analytics.
Jafarpour was honored at SPE’s Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) in New Orleans on September 24. SPE also recognized Jafarpour in 2023 with the SPE Distinguished Member Award for achieving eminence in the petroleum industry or the academic world.
“I am honored to receive this award, which is a testament to the dedication and contributions of my research lab,” Jafarpour said. “This recognition inspires us to further our efforts in harnessing data science and domain expertise to make a greater impact in advancing subsurface energy technologies.”
Behnam Jafarpour is an expert in subsurface energy and environmental systems.
Jafarpour, who also has joint appointments in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, leads the Subsurface Energy and Environmental Systems lab. By integrating data science with fluid dynamics in porous media, Jafarpour’s lab develops innovative technologies for improved characterization, prediction and management of complex subsurface energy and environmental systems, including hydrocarbon, geothermal, and geological CO2 storage reservoirs.
In a press release on September 24, SPE noted that “Dr. Behnam Jafarpour brings technological advancement to Petroleum Engineering. At his research laboratory, the Subsurface Energy and Environmental Systems (SEES), he merges advanced data science and systems science principles with reservoir engineering expertise to develop state-of-the-art reservoir description, prediction, and decision support technologies.”
Jafarpour has maintained close collaborations with industry partners to accelerate the impact of his research. He manages the Industrial Research Chair Program in Subsurface Energy Data Science, supported by the Energi Simulation Foundation and additional funding from industry and government, to create tailored data science solutions for complex subsurface flow problems. Additionally, he serves as the principal investigator and director of the recently established National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) titled “CO2 Storage Modeling Analytics and Risk Reduction Technologies (CO2-SMART).” This collaborative center, involving USC and Penn State researchers, addresses critical industry needs for implementing geologic CO2 storage as a feasible decarbonization solution.
Jafarpour’s research is underpinned by his extensive multidisciplinary expertise. He holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering and an MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.
Published on September 24th, 2024
Last updated on September 27th, 2024
