Dr. Guanqun Li | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Associate Researcher at Shengli oilfield, SINOPEC, China

Guanqun Li (李冠群), born in May 1994 in Shandong, China 🇨🇳, is an Associate Researcher at Shengli Oilfield Company, SINOPEC 🛢️. He earned his PhD in Oil and Gas Field Development Engineering from China University of Petroleum (East China) 🎓. His work focuses on the microscopic characterization of shale reservoirs and fluid dynamics in oil and gas systems 🔬💧. With numerous publications in top journals like Fuel and Physics of Fluids 📚, he brings innovation to shale oil recovery technologies. Passionate about fractal modeling and fluid imbibition research, Guanqun Li is contributing significantly to modern energy development ⚙️🌍.

Professional Profile:

🔹 Education and Experience

🎓 Sep. 2016 – June 2019: Master’s in Oil and Gas Field Development Engineering, Yangtze University

📚 Sep. 2019 – June 2023: PhD in Oil and Gas Field Development Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China)

🏢 July 2023 – Present: Associate Researcher, Shengli Oilfield Company, SINOPEC

🔹 Professional Development

Dr. Guanqun Li 📘 has shown consistent professional growth, moving from academic research to applied industry innovation. His academic journey through Yangtze University and the China University of Petroleum provided a solid foundation in oilfield development ⚒️. At SINOPEC, he applies his expertise in reservoir simulation, fracturing mechanics, and fluid flow modeling 🔬. He actively contributes to peer-reviewed journals and international conferences 🌍. Guanqun continuously develops novel analytical and fractal models for imbibition in shale formations 🌀. His cross-disciplinary collaboration and technical excellence are hallmarks of his evolving career in the energy sector 🚀.

🔹 Research Focus Category

Guanqun Li’s research centers on unconventional oil and gas recovery, specifically shale oil reservoir characterization and fluid imbibition mechanisms 🛢️💧. His work explores microscale fluid motion, fractal modeling, and productivity analysis in hydraulically fractured formations 🔍📈. He is especially interested in the spontaneous and forced imbibition processes in complex porous media under various boundary conditions 🧪. His models help optimize horizontal well performance and support enhanced oil recovery (EOR) strategies 🧠⚙️. With a clear focus on improving efficiency in volume fracturing and fluid migration mechanisms, his research is highly impactful in modern petroleum engineering 🚧.

🔹 Awards and Honors

🏅 Interpore Conference Presentation (2020) – Recognized for outstanding research on production enhancement in fractured wells

📖 Multiple First-Author Publications – Published in top journals like Fuel, Physics of Fluids, and Energy & Fuels

🧠 Acknowledged for Innovative Fractal Modeling – In spontaneous/forced imbibition in shale formations

🥇 Highly Cited Review Paper – On EOR techniques in shale oil (Geofluids, 2021)

Publication Top Notes

Title: Quantifying lithofacies-dependent imbibition behavior in continental shale oil by fractal modeling: A case study of the gentle slope fault zone, Jiyang DepressionAuthors: Li Guanqun, Peng Yanxia, Yang Yong, Cao Xiaopeng, Su YuliangJournal: Fuel

Year: 2025

Conclusion

Dr. Guanqun Li stands out as an emerging leader in petroleum reservoir engineering with clear scientific originality, engineering relevance, and a solid record of first-author publications in high-impact journals. His work has contributed meaningfully to advancing the understanding of shale oil imbibition mechanisms and their application in field operations.

Dr. Alex Chandraraj | Engineering | Excellence in Research

Dr. Alex Chandraraj, Kieluniversity, Germany

Dr. Alex Chandraraj is a post-doctoral fellow at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics, specializing in condensed matter physics and materials science. His research focuses on advanced materials, nanostructures, and their applications in renewable energy technologies. Dr. Chandraraj has authored several peer-reviewed publications in prestigious scientific journals and has presented his work at international conferences. He is dedicated to exploring innovative solutions to global energy challenges through material science.

PROFILE

Orcid Profile

Educational Details

Dr. Chandraraj earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry, specializing in electro-catalysis, from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bangalore, in 2022. His thesis, titled “Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Water Activation,” was supervised by Dr. Neena Susan John. He also holds an M.Sc. (2014) and B.Sc. (2012) in Chemistry from S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil, affiliated with Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, where he was a university rank holder in both degrees.

Professional Experience

Dr. Alex Chandraraj has extensive experience in the field of electro-catalysis, having worked on various research projects focused on advanced nanomaterials and sustainable energy applications. Since February 2024, he has been a Post-doctoral Fellow at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany, where he focuses on modifying nickel surfaces through wet-chemical deposition as part of the PrometH2eus project. His work aims to enhance the performance of nickel-based catalysts for energy-efficient applications. Prior to this, from August 2023 to January 2024, he was a Guest Researcher at the same institution, where he investigated oxide interface structures under real-time reaction conditions using operando surface X-ray diffraction techniques. Between February 2022 and July 2023, he served as a Project Associate at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences in Bangalore, where he developed and characterized high-valent nickel-based electrocatalysts for urea electrolysis, emphasizing hydrogen production and energy efficiency. Additionally, as a Research Associate from August 2022 to January 2023, Dr. Chandraraj contributed to the development of nanomaterials for catalytic processes and renewable energy applications. His diverse research background underscores his expertise in electro-catalysis and nanomaterials for clean energy technologies.

Research Interest

Dr. Alex Chandraraj’s research focuses on electro-catalysis and advanced nanomaterials, with a particular emphasis on sustainable energy solutions. His work explores the use of nanomaterials and metal oxides in water splitting and electrochemical water activation, aiming to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production through oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. He is also deeply involved in urea electrolysis, where he investigates high-valent nickel-based catalysts to develop cost-effective and energy-efficient processes for hydrogen production from urea-based waste. Additionally, Dr. Chandraraj’s research addresses nitrate and oxygen reduction reactions by tuning metal oxidation states in catalyst systems, optimizing their performance for environmental and energy applications. His broader goal is to innovate in renewable energy by developing advanced nanomaterials and surface modifications that enhance the efficiency and durability of catalysts used in clean energy technologies.

Top Notable Publications

“Role of active redox sites and charge transport resistance at reaction potentials in spinel ferrites for improved oxygen evolution reaction”