Saeed Salehi, Ph.D.

J.-C. Chiao

Saeed Salehi, Ph.D.

Herman Brown Chair of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering 
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering (by Courtesy) 

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Education

  • Ph.D. Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • M.Eng., Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary 
  • B.S., Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum University of Technology
     

Biography

Dr. Saeed Salehi holds the prestigious Herman Brown Endowed Chair of Engineering and is a full professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â Lyle School of Engineering. He also has a courtesy appointment in the Civil Engineering Department at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â Lyle. Dr. Salehi's research focuses on the intersection of energy, environment, and sustainability, areas where he brings over fifteen years of academic experience, complemented by extensive industry expertise. Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Salehi worked in the oil and gas and energy sectors, serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) consultant for various energy companies. In his academic career, he has played a pivotal role as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) in research and development projects totaling over $10 million. His research has been funded by prestigious entities such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, and various energy industry companies, including startups.

Dr. Salehi has an academic publication record, with over 150 articles in scholarly peer-reviewed journals and refereed conference proceedings focused on energy and environmental topics. His contributions to the field have been recognized with several prestigious awards from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), including the Regional SPE Drilling Engineering Award, the SPE Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Social Responsibility Award, and the SPE Distinguished Achievement for Petroleum Engineering Faculty Award. He has also demonstrated leadership as the past chairman of the SPE Evangeline Section in Louisiana. In addition to his research and academic responsibilities, Dr. Salehi is a sought-after speaker at energy-related conferences and events. He has served in several editorial roles, most notably as an associate editor for the ASME Journal of Energy Resources Technology and the ASME Open Journal of Engineering, as well as a guest associate editor for various Elsevier journals..

 

Honors and Awards

  • 2023 OU Vice President for Research and Partnerships (VPRP) Annual Award for Excellence in Research Grants – in recognition of acquiring $1 million or more in 2022
  • Geothermal Collegiate Team Mentor, 1st place in the DOE sponsored geothermal collegiate competition, 2023
  • Geothermal Collegiate Team Mentor, 1st place in the DOE sponsored geothermal collegiate competition, 2022
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Social Responsibility Award, 2018 (Regional) 
  • Early Career Faculty Researcher of the Year, Collage of Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA, May 2014
  • SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Past Chairman and Outstanding Leadership and Service Award, September, 2014
     

Research

  • Subsurface energy systems (fossil fuels, and geothermal)
  • Greenhouse gas containment and mitigation
  • Subsurface monitoring, regulatory and compliance research  
  • Petroleum and natural gas engineering systems
     

Recent Publications

  • Oh, H., Akar, S., Beckers, K., Bonnema, E., Vivas, C. and Salehi, S., 2024. Techno-economic feasibility of geothermal energy production using inactive oil and gas wells for district heating and cooling systems in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Energy Conversion and Management, 308, p.118390.
  • Ugarte, E.R., Tetteh, D. and Salehi, S., 2023. Experimental studies of well integrity in cementing during underground hydrogen storage. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • Omran, M., Hjelm, S., Khalifeh, M., Salehi, S., 2023. Synthesis of sustainable one-part geopolymers for well cementing applications. Geoenergy Science and Engineering 227.
  • Anyaezu, T., Musaab, M. and Salehi, S., 2023. Experimental investigation of PAM/PEI polymer mud for reducing lost circulation in high-temperature formations. Geothermics, 114, p.102786.
  • Patel, H. and Salehi, S., 2021. Structural integrity of liner cement in oil & gas wells: Parametric study, sensitivity analysis, and risk assessment. Engineering Failure Analysis, 122, p.105203.
     

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