
Passionate about student development.
Encourages critical thinking and analysis.
Creates dynamic and engaging lessons.
Creates a safe space for learning and growth.
Brings energy and passion to every lesson.
Henry Elochukwu Okafor serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin University Malaysia. He possesses qualifications as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Master of Science (M.Sc.), and Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.). Okafor is professionally affiliated with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), the Energy Institute UK, and holds Fellowship status with the Higher Education Academy UK. His career at Curtin University focuses on teaching and research in petroleum and energy engineering disciplines.
Okafor's academic interests and research specializations include flow assurance challenges such as asphaltene deposition, paraffin wax, emulsions, and scales; well intervention and stimulation techniques; drilling fluids and cement formulations; carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration; and enhanced oil recovery methods. He has contributed significantly to the field through peer-reviewed publications. Notable works include 'A review on borehole instability in active shale formations: Interactions, mechanisms and inhibitors' co-authored with R. Gholami et al., published in Earth-Science Reviews in 2018 (328 citations); 'An approach to improve the cuttings carrying capacity of nanosilica based muds' with R. Gholami and S.S. Dol in Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering in 2017 (88 citations); 'Integrity analysis of CO2 storage sites concerning geochemical-geomechanical interactions in saline aquifers' with A. Raza et al. in Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering in 2016 (88 citations); 'A review on the mechanisms of low salinity water/surfactant/nanoparticles and the potential synergistic application for c-EOR' with S.S.S. Lim et al. in Petroleum Research in 2023 (46 citations); and 'A methodology to improve nanosilica based cements used in CO2 sequestration sites' with K. Abid et al. in Petroleum in 2018 (44 citations). Additionally, he co-authored the book chapter 'Cement degradation in CO2 geosequestration sites: mechanisms interactions and possible solutions' in Oil Well Drilling: Problems, Processes and Industry Prospects (Nova Publication, 2017). As principal investigator, Okafor has obtained competitive research funding, including the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) 2020 award of RM75,700 for 'Wettability and adsorption of Methyl Ester Sulphonate (MES)/Polystyrene nanofluid to enhance recovery from matured Malaysian Tapis oilfield'; FRGS 2016 of RM71,000 for 'Improving rheological properties of water-based drilling fluid using palm derived methyl ester sulphonate surfactant and waste polystyrene nano-particle'; CMTIP 2020 of RM2,000 for 'Techniques to humanize online laboratory learning delivery'; and CMTIP 2017 of RM2,000 for 'Move towards technology-driven concept based learning'. He also served as co-investigator on CMTIP 2018 grant of RM2,000 for 'A move towards interdisciplinary industry-driven project based learning'. These grants and publications underscore his influence in advancing drilling technologies, CO2 storage integrity, and sustainable energy recovery solutions within the petroleum engineering domain.
