Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Top 20 Doctoral Program—National Research Council

Location

Dept. of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
University of Houston
S222 Engineering Bldg 1,
Houston, TX 77204-4004
phone: 713-743-4300

Faculty

Dr. Michael J. Economides

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Office Location: S339, Engineering Building 1

Tel: (713) 725-3826 | Fax: (713) 743-4323

Email: mje [at] uh [dot] edu

Education

  • B.S., M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas
  • Ph.D., Petroleum Engineering, Stanford University (1984)

Courses

  • PETR 6397: Natural Gas Engineering
  • PETR 6308: Advanced Petroleum Production Operations

Research Interests

Dr. Michael Economides’ research efforts involve the optimization of the overall hydrocarbon production system from the reservoir, the wellbore and to the market. He has done major contributions on reservoir stimulation theory, advanced reservoir exploitation strategies and complex well architecture design features. He is currently conducting industry efforts for driving deep offshore technology development, world energy scenario forecast and natural gas development. Next generation technology of oil and gas industry involves the development of advanced computer-aided tools.

Petroleum Production Engineering

The Petroleum Production System, starting from the reservoir, to the well and the surface facilities. Improving reservoir deliverability (fracturing and acidizing), lift performance and artificial lift.

Complex Well Architecture in Petroleum Production

Maximizing reservoir recovery by using multi-branched well architecture and intelligent completion systems.

Reservoir Stimulation (fracturing and acidizing)

Promoting hydraulic fracturing as the completion of choice for nearly all wells, and improving the Productivity Index by better understanding the near-well state of stress in elastic and plastic rocks. Development of tools to measure these stresses during stimulation.

Advanced Reservoir Exploitation Strategies

Accelerated production and simultaneous improved recovery by combining complex well architecture and a various production/injection schemes.

Next Generation High Intensity Design

Development of a High Intensity Design Engine, which would enable the petroleum strategist to look at all different exploitation schemes before the platform is first built and reduce design time significantly.

Economides' research

Current Research Projects

  1. Next Generation High Intensity Design.
  2. Complex Well Architecture in Petroleum Production.
  3. Advanced Petroleum Exploitation Strategies.
  4. Near-well state of stress in Elastic and Plastic Rocks.

Awards and Honors

  • Doctor Honoris Causa, Petroleum and Gas University, Ploeisti, Romania, 2001
  • Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Inducted as Foreign Member, 2000
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers, 1997 Production Engineering Award
  • Doctor Honoris Causa and Honorary Professor
  • The Gubkin Russian State Academy of Oil and Gas, Moscow, 1994
  • Distinguished Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 1994
  • Outstanding Faculty Award, 1984 (University of Alaska, School of Mineral Industry)

Journal Papers / Refereed Journal Publications

  1. Sankaran, S., Deeg, W., Nikolaou, M. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Far-Field State of Stress Estimation,” PetroMin, p. 58 ff.

    , 2002
  2. Economides, M.J., Demarchos, A.S. and Saputelli, L.,

    “Energy Sources and Energy Intensity for the Twenty-First Century,” Paper SPE 75504

    , 2002
  3. Indriati, S., Wang, X. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Adjustment of Hydraulic Fracture design in Gas-Condensate Wells,” Paper SPE 73751

    , 2002
  4. Romero, D. J., Valkó, P. P. and Economides, M. J.,

    “The Optimization of the Productivity Index and the Fracture Geometry of a Stimulated Well with Fracture Face and Choke Skins,” Paper SPE 73758

    , 2002
  5. Economides, M. J. and Ghalambor, A.,

    “Equivalency of International Petroleum Engineering Programs,” JPT, 64-68

    , 2001
  6. Economides, M. J., Oligney, R. E. and Demarchos, A. S.,

    “Natural Gas: The Revolution is Coming,” JPT, 102-109

    , 2001
  7. Economides, M. J., Oligney, R. E., Demarchos A.S. and Lewis, P.E.,

    “Natural Gas: Beyond All Expectations,” Paper SPE 71512

    , 2001
  8. Economides, M. J., Valkó, P. P. and Wang, X.,

    “Recent Advances in Production Engineering,” JCPT, 35-44

    , 2001
  9. Ehlig-Economides, C.A., Fernandez, B. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Multibranch Injector/Producer Wells in Thick Heavy-Crude Reservoirs,” SPEREE, 195-200

    , 2001
  10. Sankaran, S., Deeg W., Nikolaou, M. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Measurements and Inverse Modeling for Far-Field State of Stress Estimation,” Paper SPE 71647

    , 2001
  11. Sumrow, M. H. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Pushing the Boundaries of Coiled Tubing Applications,” Paper SPE 68480

    , 2001
  12. Economides, M. J. and Oligney, R. E.,

    “Energy Mix of New Economy Dominated by Natural Gas,” The American Oil & Gas Reporter, 35-41

    , 2000
  13. Economides, M. J., Oligney, R. E., and Demarchos A. S.,

    “Natural Gas: The Revolution is Coming,” Paper SPE 62884

    , 2000
  14. Ehlig-Economides, C. A. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Oil Recovery Could be Accelerated Using p-Mode Production Strategy,” World Oil, 53-56

    , 2000
  15. Ehlig-Economides, C.A. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Single Well Reservoir Management - the Ultimate Multibranch Well Challenge,” Paper SPE 59447

    , 2000
  16. Ghalambor, A. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Formation Damage Abatement: A Quarter-Century Perspective,” Paper SPE 58744

    , 2000
  17. Nikolaevskiy, V.N. and Economides, M.J.,

    “The Near-Well State of Stress and Induced Rock Damage,” Paper SPE 58716

    , 2000
  18. Sankaran, S., Nikolaou, M. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Fracture Geometry and Vertical Migration in Multilayered Formations from Inclined Wells,” Paper SPE 63177

    , 2000
  19. Saputelli, L., Cherian, B., Gregoriadis, K., Nikolaou, M., Oudinot, C., Reddy, G. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Integration of Computer-Aided High-Intensity Design with Reservoir Exploitation of Remote and Offshore Locations,” Paper SPE 64621

    , 2000
  20. Wang, X., Indriati, S., Valkó, P. P. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Production Impairment and Purpose-Built Design of Hydraulic Fractures in Gas-Condensate Reservoirs,” Paper SPE 64749

    , 2000
  21. Aggour, T.M., and Economides, M.J.,

    “Impact of Fluid Selection on High-Permeabiltiy Fracturing,” SPEPF, 72-76

    , 1999
  22. Chen, Z. and Economides, M.J.,

    “The Effect of Near-Wellbore Fracture Geometry on Fracture Execution and Post-Treatment Production of Deviated and Horizontal Wells,” SPEPF, 177-186

    , 1999
  23. Economides, M. J., Oligney, R. E., and Izquierdo Rodriguez, A.,

    “Culture and Technology in the Petroleum Industry,” Petroleum Engineer International, 75-82

    , 1999
  24. Fernandez, B., Ehlig-Economides, C., and Economides, M.J.,

    “Multilevel Injector/Producer Wells in Thick Heavy Crude Reservoirs,” Paper SPE 53950

    , 1999
  25. Franquet J. A., and Economides, M.J.,

    “Effect of Stress and Stress Path on Young’s Modulus and Poisson Ratio of Unconsolidated Rocks: A New Idea for Hydraulic Fracturing,” Paper SPE 54012

    , 1999
  26. Fuentes, J., Economides, M.J., and Carbonell, R.S.,

    “Stability of Junctures for Multilateral Wells,” Paper SPE 57279

    , 1999
  27. Reiter, D.F., and Economides, M.J.,

    “Prediction of Short-term Natural Gas Prices Using Econometric and Neural Network Models,” Paper SPE 52960

    , 1999
  28. Valkó, P., and Economides, M.J.,

    “Fluid Leakoff Delineation in High-Permeability Fracturing,” SPEPF, 117-130

    , 1999
  29. Aggour, T.M. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Optimization of the Performance of High-Permeability Fractured Wells,” Paper SPE 39474

    , 1998
  30. Ispas, I.N., Britt, L.K., Tiab, D., Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Methodology of Fluid Leakoff Analysis in High-Permeability Fracturing,” Paper SPE 39476

    , 1998
  31. Muñoz, A., Ehilg- Economides, C. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Principal Permeability Determination from Multiple Horizontal Well Tests,” Paper SPE 50396

    , 1998
  32. Oligney, R. E. and Economides, M. J.,

    “Technology as an Asset,” Petroleum Engineer International, 27-39

    , 1998
  33. Retnanto, A. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Inflow Performance Relationships of Horizontal and Multibranced Wells in Solution-Gas-Drive Reservoir,” Paper SPE 49054

    , 1998
  34. Valkó and Economides, M.J.,

    “Heavy Crude Production from Shallow Formations: Long Horizontal Wells Versus Horizontal Fractures,” Paper SPE 50421

    , 1998
  35. Valkó, P., R.E. Oligney and Economides, M.J.,

    “High Permeability Fracturing of Gas Wells,” Petroleum Engineer International, 75-88

    , 1998
  36. Mayerhofer, M.J. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Fracture-Injection-Test Interpretation: Leakoff Coefficient vs. Permeability,” SPEPF, 231-236, (Also Paper SPE 28562)

    , 1997
  37. Retnanto, A., Economides, M.J., Ehlig-Economides, C.A., and Frick, T.P.,

    “Optimization of the Performance of Partially Completed Horizontal Wells,” Paper SPE 37492

    , 1997
  38. Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Foam-Proppant Transport,” SPEPF, 244-249, (Also Paper SPE 27897)

    , 1997
  39. Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Transient Behavior of Finite Conductivity Horizontal Fractures,” SPEJ, 213-222

    , 1997
  40. Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Fluid Leakoff Delineation in High-Permeability Fracturing,” Paper SPE 37403

    , 1997
  41. Dittoe, S. R., Retnanto, A. and Economides, M.J.,

    “An Analysis of Reserves Enhancement in Petroleum Reservoirs with Horizontal and Multi-Lateral Wells,” Paper SPE 37037

    , 1996
  42. Economides, M.J., Brand, C.W., and Frick, T.P.,

    “Well Configurations in Anisotropic Reservoirs,” SPEFE, 257-262

    , 1996
  43. Fan, Y. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Fracture Dimensions in Frac&pack Stimulation,” SPEJ, 403-412

    , 1996
  44. Frick, T.P., Brand, C.W., Schlager, B. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Horizontal Well Testing of Isolated Segments,” SPEJ, 261-273.

    , 1996
  45. Nelson, D.G. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Qualitative Pressure Profiling to Determine Wellbore Contacts with Hydraulic Fractures,” Paper SPE 36440

    , 1996
  46. Nikolaevskiy, V.N., Economides, M.J., Liao, Y., and Lopukhov, G.P.,

    “Residual Oil Recovery with Seismic Vibrations,” SPEPF, 98-94

    , 1996
  47. Retnanto, A. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Performance of Multiple Horizontal Well Laterals in Low- to Medium-Permeability Reservoirs,” SPERE, 73-77.

    , 1996
  48. Retnanto, A., Frick, T.P., Brand, C.W., and Economides, M.J.,

    “Optimal Configurations of Multiple-Lateral Horizontal Wells,” Paper SPE 35712

    , 1996
  49. Rogers, E.J. and Economides, M.J.,

    “The Skin due to Slant of Deviated Wells in Permeability-Anistropic Reservoirs,” Paper SPE 37068

    , 1996
  50. Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Performance of a Longitudinally Fractured Horizontal Well,” SPEJ, 11-19

    , 1996
  51. Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Performance of Fractured Horizontal Wells in High-Permeability Reservoirs,” Paper SPE 31149

    , 1996
  52. Villegas, M.E., Wattenbarger, R.A., Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Performance of Longitudinally Fractured Horizontal Wells in High-Permeability Anisotropic Formations,” Paper SPE 36453

    , 1996

Books

  1. Oligney, R.E., Economides, M.J. and Dunn, N.,

    Energy Integration, Round Oak

    , 2002
  2. Economides, M.J., Oligney, R.E. and Valkó, P.P.,

    Unified Fracture Design, Orsa Publishers

    , 2002
  3. Economides, M. J. and Oligney, R.E.,

    The Color Of Oil, 200 p. (hardbound) Round Oak Publishing, Houston

    , 2000
  4. Economides, M.J. and Nolte, K.G.,

    Reservoir Stimulation, Third Edition, 750 p. (hardbound) Wiley, NY and Chichester

    , 2000
  5. Economides, M. J.,

    Horizontal Wells: Complex Well Architecture (softbound), IHRDC, Boston

    , 1998
  6. Economides, M.J., Watters, L.T., and Dunn-Norman, S.,

    Petroleum Well Construction, 622 p. (hardbound) Wiley

    , 1998
  7. Valkó, P. and Economides, M.J.,

    Hydraulic Fracture Mechanics, 300 p. (hardbound), Wiley, NY and Chichester

    , 1995
  8. Economides, M.J., Hill, A.D., and Ehlig-Economides, C.A.,

    Petroleum Production Systems, 600 p. (hardbound), Prentice Hall, NY

    , 1994
  9. Economides, M. J.,

    Horizontal Wells: Completion and Stimulation, 96 p. (softbound), IHRDC, Boston

    , 1993
  10. Economides, M.J.,

    A Practical Companion to Reservoir Stimulation, 236 p. (hardbound), SES, Houston and Elsevier, Amsterdam

    , 1991
  11. Economides, M.J. and Nolte, K.G.,

    Reservoir Stimulation, Second Edition, 440 p. (hardbound), Prentice Hall, NY

    , 1989
  12. Economides, M.J. and Nolte, K.G.,

    Reservoir Stimulation, 367 p. (hardbound), SES, Houston, TX

    , 1987
  13. Economides, M.J. and Ungemach, P.O. (Eds.),

    Applied Geothermics, 238 p. (hardbound), John Wiley and Sons

    , 1987

Editorials / Edited Volumes

  1. Economides, M. J. and Kronman, G. E.,

    “The Role of Politics and Economics in International Exploration and Production: Future Implications,” Chapter 2 in International Oil and Gas Ventures: a Business Perspective, G. Kronman, D. Felio and T. O’Connor (Eds.), AAPG

    , 2000
  2. Reiter, D.F. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Structure and Economics of the Natural Gas Industry Following Deregulation,” in Advances in the Economics of Energy and Resources, John R. Moroney (Ed.), JAI Press, Stamford, CT

    , 1999
  3. Economides, M.J. (Ed.),

    Henry J. Ramey Jr., SPE Memorial Series Vol. 1, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Dallas

    , 1995
  4. Ostermann, R.D. and Economides, M.J.,

    “Pilot Plant Studies and Process Design for the Production of Calcium Magnesium Acetate,” Chapter 18 in Calcium Magnesium Acetate, Wise, Levendis and Metschalchi (Eds.), Elsevier

    , 1991
  5. Economides, M.J.,

    “Implications of Cementing on Well Performance,” Chapter 1 in Well Cementing, E.B. Nelson (Ed.), Elsevier

    , 1990
  6. Economides, M.J., McLennan, J.D., Brown, J.E. and Roegiers, J-C.,

    “Performance and Stimulation of Horizontal Wells,” Chapter 15 in World Oil’s Handbook of Horizontal Drilling and Completion Technology, Gulf Publishing

    , 1990