About Us
Pioneering Smart Fluid Technology for the Future of Oil & Gas
We started our research on the applications of Smart Fluids in Oil & Gas industry in 2013. The primary aim of this research was to explore whether Smart Fluids could solve drilling problems such as Lost Circulation and increase Fracture Gradient. Since then, UMD researchers over the years solved some of the toughest challenges and achieved great success with Smart fluids. They invented new methods, procedures, and processes. They had developed Smart fluids and demonstrated precise control of their properties. We are confident of solving some of the toughest challenges in oil and gas industry through our Smart Fluid Technology. Our Smart Fluid Technology saves time, cost and improves safety.
Dr. Rajarajan (Raja) Naidu
Founder
Dr. Rajarajan (Raja) Naidu has 33+ years of experience in Oil & Gas industry. His experience includes onshore and offshore field development, well location selection using stochastic modeling, Sub-surface (well planning, geomechanics, pre-drill PPFG, wellbore stability modeling and analysis, risk mitigation), drilling (real-time monitoring, drilling problem solving, performance improvement), sand failure prediction and control, rock mechanics, laboratory testing, reservoir modeling, research and development. His worldwide experience includes in-depth experience in North Sea, Caspian Sea, Egypt, Angola, Oman and Indonesia. Dr. Naidu holds Ph.D. Degree from Heriot-Watt University, UK and M.S. Degree from The University of Texas at Austin, USA and B.Engg. Degree from CEG, Anna University, India.
Prof. Srinivasa (Srini) Raghavan
Technical Advisor and Collaborator
Prof. Srinivasa (Srini) Raghavan heads a Research Group (Complex Fluids and Nanomaterials Group ) at Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, University of Maryland (UMD). He obtained his B.Tech. from IIT-Madras and his Ph.D. from NCSU. He has been at UMD since 2001 and pioneered the creation of ‘smart fluids’ with tunable rheology. In particular, light-responsive or photorheological (PR) fluids have been a key innovation from his lab. A PR fluid’s viscosity could be reversibly switched a million-fold by shining UV and visible light! Dr. Raghavan had graduated 28 Ph.D. and 20 M.S. students. Dr. Raghavan had published 180 papers, in Langmuir, Soft Matter, JACS, ACS-AMI, AdvFunctMat, Small, NatureComm and holds Patents - 17 issued, 8 pending. Dr. Raghavan founded the companies Medcura, Gelectric, GripBoost, Prasidiux and Commercialized a product (Rapid-Seal Wound Gel by Medcura).
Dr. Martin Rylance
Senior Advisor - Well Productivity
Dr. Martin Rylance is the Discipline Lead and Distinguished Advisor for Reservoir and Well Enhancement at MEDCO Energi, THREE60 ENERGY and also Managing Director at IXL Oilfield Consulting. Previously he worked at bp, their NOJVs and partner companies for more than 40 years. Having lived in 12 Countries and pumped in 55 Countries he has a truly International footprint in fracturing, sand control, stimulation services, well control and multilateral drilling. He holds a BSc (Hons) degree from Salford University, is a Chartered Mathematician, a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and is also a Fellow of the Geological Society.
Dr. Mohamed Hashem
Senior Advisor - Technology Applications
Dr. Mohamed Hashem is currently the Managing Director of X.Shell B.V. and Sr. Advisor to Dragon Oil. Previously he was the Reservoir Development Manager for Dragon Oil and he took the production from 70,000 to 102,500 BOPD in 18 months. Dr. Hashem’s illustrious worldwide experience in Shell over 25 years includes Deepwater GoM, Australia, Norway, Brazil, Russia, Kazakhstan, Middle East, Caspian, and South East Asia. He was Shell’s Principal Technical Expert for formation testing and sampling. He holds BS (Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt), MS (University of Southern California, LA, USA) and DE degree (Stanford University, USA). Dr. Hashem holds 24 patents, numerous publications, and chaired many major SPE conferences. He served as Distinguished Lecturer in SPE and SPWLA. Dr. Hashem is a world renowned expert in Wireline Formation Testing and Mature Fields Rejuvenation.
Allan Twynam
Senior Advisor - Formation Damage
Allan Twynam, Senior Fluids / Formation Damage Specialist, was employed by BP Exploration as an expert on formation damage for almost 28 years. He led the Drilling and Completion Fluid Laboratories at BP Sunbury and has significant experience from around the globe. He is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable formation damage and sand control fluids design specialists in the world becoming Senior Advisor within BP with accountability for Fluids Basis of Design for reservoir sections for BP global operations. Allan was awarded SPE Distinguished Lecturer (2007), Distinguished Member (2016) and was awarded SPE North Sea Drilling Engineering Technical Achievement (2017). He has authored / co-authored over 34 SPE technical papers.
Antoine Thomas
Senior Advisor - Waterflooding and EOR/IOR
Antoine Thomas is an experienced geoscientist and reservoir engineer with over 18 years of international experience in chemical EOR/IOR, with deep expertise in polymer flooding, conformance control, R&D and coreflooding workflows. Specialist in the design and implementation of EOR projects in all types of reservoirs, integrating new technologies, geological models, laboratory testing, and operational deployment. Strong cross-functional background in reservoir engineering, R&D project management, AI-based seismic analysis, and knowledge transfer. Author the book “Essentials of Polymer Flooding Technique”.
Michael Wilder
Senior Advisor - Fluids - Wellbore Stability and Loss Prevention
Michael Wilder brings over 40 years of progressive experience in the international oilfield sector and is widely recognized as a respected leader within the oil and gas industry. His extensive career encompasses a broad range of roles, including operations management, business administration, and technical advisory. Michael has been actively involved in all phases of drilling, completions, and workovers, with additional expertise in production enhancement. He is widely regarded as an expert in wellbore stabilization, loss circulation prevention and remediation, as well as the full spectrum of activities from drilling operations through to production. Throughout his career, Michael has worked in more than 50 countries across Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. He has also lived in 16 countries, giving him a deep understanding of global operational environments and cross-cultural collaboration.