Microsoft Word cv layalaDec2013. doc

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Dr. LUIS F. AYALA H. 

 

Luis F. Ayala is Associate Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering and Associate 

Department Head for Graduate Education of the John and Willie Leone Family Department of 

Energy and Mineral Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University

1

, USA. He has also been 

an Instructor in the Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering Departments at 

Universidad de Oriente (Venezuela). His research activities focus on the areas of natural gas 

engineering, hydrocarbon thermodynamics, long-term production performance analysis of 

unconventional gas assets, numerical modeling, and artificial intelligence. He holds two summa 

cum laude degrees in both Chemical and Petroleum Engineering from Universidad de Oriente 

(Venezuela) and MS and PhD degrees in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from The 

Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), 

American Chemical Society, and the National Association of Engineers of Venezuela. He has 

received the Wilson Award for Outstanding Teaching from The Pennsylvania State U., the 

Outstanding Technical Editor Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers, a Presidential 

distinction for Academic Excellence from Venezuela, and is currently a member of a number of 

Editorial Boards in petroleum and natural gas engineering journals and former Editor-in-Chief 

of The Way Ahead, the SPE flagship magazine for young professionals in the oil and gas industry. 

 

 

Professional Preparation 

 

Universidad de Oriente (UDO), Venezuela 

Chemical Engineering Degree, summa cum laude, 1997. 

 

Universidad de Oriente (UDO), Venezuela 

Petroleum Engineering Degree, summa cum laude, 1999. 

 

The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), USA 

Master of Science in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, 2001. 

 

The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), USA 

Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, 2004. 

 

 

Appointments 

 

2013-  

Associate Department Head for Graduate Education 

 

 

John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State U. 

 

2010-  

Associate Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering 

 

 

John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State U. 

 

2004- 2010 

Assistant Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering 

Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State U. 

 

2003-2004

 

Instructor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering 

Department of Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering, Penn State U. 

 

2000-2003

 

Graduate Assistant/Assistant Lecturer, Penn State U. 

 

1997-1999

 

Instructor, joint appointment in the Petroleum Engineering Department and Chemical 

Engineering Department, Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela. 

                                                 

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Contact Information: Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State U., 103A Hosler Building, 

University Park, PA, 16802-5001. Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], email: 

[e-mail]

.

 

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Selected Publications 

 



 

Leong, C.Y. and Ayala H., L.F., Hybrid Approach Using Linear Analogs for Gas Network Simulation with 

Multiple Components, Oil and Gas Facilities J., 2013 (in press) 



 

Ayala H., L.F., and Zhang, M., Rescaled Exponential and Density-Based Decline Models: Extension to 

Variable-Rate/Pressure-Drawdown Conditions, J. of Can. Pet. Tech. , 2013 (in press) 



 

Silpngarmlert, S., Ertekin T., and Ayala H., L.F.. Numerical Modeling of Methane Hydrate Reservoirs, Int. J. 

of Modeling and Simulation, 2013 (in press) 



 

Zhang, M, and Ayala H., L. F., Gas Rate Forecasting in Boundary-Dominated Flow: Constant Bottomhole 

Pressure Decline Analysis Using Rescaled Exponential Models, SPE J., 2013 (in press) 



 

Dutta, R., Lee, C.-H., Odumabo, S., Ye, P., Walker, S.C., Karpyn, Z.T., and Ayala H., L. F., Experimental 

Investigation of Fracturing Fluid Migration due to Spontaneous Imbibition in Fractured Low Permeability 

Sands, SPE Res. Ev. & Eng. J., 2013. (in press). 



 

Vardcharragosad, P. and Ayala H., L. F., Density-Based Rate-Time Production Analysis of Unconventional 

Gas Reservoirs Under Gas Slippage and Desorption,  SPE 166377 presented at the SPE Annual Technical 

Conference and Exhibition, 30 September- 2 October 2013, New Orleans, Louisiana. 



 

Zhang, M. and Ayala H., Luis F., Rate-Time Decline Analysis for Natural Gas Wells With Significant Rock 

Compressibility Effects, SPE 166320 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 30 

September- 2 October 2013, New Orleans, Louisiana. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., and Leong, C.Y., A Robust Linear-Pressure Analog for the Analysis of Natural Gas 

Transportation Networks, J. Nat. Gas Sc. and Eng., v. 14, pp. 174-184, Sept. 2013. 



 

Ye, P, and Ayala H., L.F., Straight-Line Analysis of Flow Rate vs. Cumulative Production Data for the 

Explicit Determination of Gas Reserves, J. of Can. Pet. Tech., v. 52, n. 4, pp. 296-305, July 2013. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., and Blumsack, S., The Braess Paradox and its Impact on Natural Gas Network Performance, 

Oil and Gas Facilities J., v. 2, n. 3, pp. 52-64, June 2013. 



 

Bansal. Y., Ertekin, T., Karpyn, Z., Ayala, L., Nejad, A., Suleen, F., Balogun, O. , Liebmann, D. and Sun, Q., 

Forecasting Well Performance in a Discontinuous Tight Oil Reservoir Using Artificial Neural Networks, 

SPE Paper 164542 presented at the SPE Unconventional Resources Conference, The Woodlands, TX, Ap. 10-

12, 2013. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., and Ye, P., A Unified Type-Curve for Decline Curve Analysis of Natural Gas Reservoirs in 

Boundary Dominated Flow, SPE Journal, v. 18, n. 1, pp. 97-113, Feb. 2013. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., Chapter 22: Transportation of Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Petroleum Products, peer 

reviewed chapter, ASTM Handbook of Petroleum and Natural Gas Refining and Processing (eds: Riazi, M.R., 

Eser, S., Pena D., J.L., Agrawal, S.S.), ASTM International, 2013.  



 

Ayala H., L.F. and Ye, P., Density-based decline performance analysis of natural gas reservoirs using a 

universal type-curve, J. of Energy Resources Technology, 135(4), p. 042701, 2013. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., and Ye, P., Analysis of Unsteady Responses of Natural Gas Reservoirs via a Universal Natural 

Gas Type-Curve Formulation, SPE Paper 159956 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and 

Exhibition, 8-10 October 2012, San Antonio, TX. 



 

Alexis, D. and Ayala H., L.F., Assessment of Deliverability of a Natural Gas Gathering and Production 

System: Development of an Integrated Reservoir – Surface Model, SPE Oil and Gas Facilities Journal, v. 1, n. 

4, pp. 55-63, August 2012. 



 

Dutta, R., Lee, C.-H., Odumabo, S., Ye, P., Walker, S.C., Karpyn, Z.T., and Ayala H., L.F.,  Quantification of 

fracturing fluid migration due to spontaneous imbibition in fractured tight formations, SPE Americas 

Unconventional Gas Resources, Pittsburgh, PA, June 5-7, 2012. 



 

Silpngarmlert, S., Ayala H., L.F., and  Ertekin, T., Study of constant-pressure production characteristics of 

class 1 methane hydrate reservoirs, J. Petrol Explor Prod Technol, v. 2, n. 1, pp. 15-27, March 2012. 



 

Ye, P. and Ayala H., L.F., A Density Diffusivity Approach for the Unsteady State Analysis of Natural Gas 

Reservoirs, J. Natural Gas Science and Engineering, v. 7, p. 22-34. doi:10.1016/j.jngse.2012.03.004, 2012. 



 

Cirdi, A. P., Ertekin, T., Ayala H., L.F., and Dogru, Ali H., Mathematical Modeling of geomechanical 

behavior of tarmat during the depletion of giant oil reservoir-aquifer systems, J. Petrol Explor Prod Technol, v. 

1, n. 2-4, p. 71-80, 2011. 



 

Nago, A., Karpyn, Z., and Ayala H., L.F., Multivariate Production Optimization of a Natural Gas Field, Int. J. 

of Modeling and Simulation, DOI: 10.2316/Journal.205.2011.3.205-5381, 2011. 

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

 

Ayala H., L.F., Redespiel, E., and Ertekin, T., Analysis of Condensate Buildup and Flow Impairment of 

Retrograde Gases in Fissured Reservoirs, SPE Journal, v. 13, n. 1, pp. 95-100, March 2009. 



 

Mann, A. and Ayala H., L.F., Intelligent Design of Natural Gas Underground Storage Facilities, Int. J. of 

Modeling and Simulation, v. 129, n. 2, p. 214-223, 2009. 



 

Farías, M., Ayala H., L.F., and Watson, R.,  Experimental and Zero-Dimensional Analysis of CO2-N2 Gas 

Cyclic Injection Processes., Petroleum Science and Technology, v. 27, n. 12, pp. 1360-1379, August 2009. 



 

Ayala H., L. F. and Fernández L., J.E., Evaluating Crystallization Risks in LNG Production,  SPE Projects, 

Facilities and Construction Journal, v. 4 n. 2, pp. 27-31, June 2009. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., Alp, D., and Al-Timimy, M. ANN-aided Design and Selection of Gas-Liquid Separators, J. of 

Natural Gas Science and Engineering, v. 1, n. 3, pp. 84-94, September 2009. 



 

Kouassi, J.P. and Ayala H., L.F., An Analysis of the Pressure Transient Behavior of Gas-Condensate 

Reservoirs, Energy Sources – Part A, v. 31, p. 449-461, March 2009. 



 

Ayala H., L.F. Jack of all Trades vs. Master of Some, Editorial, The Way Ahead- SPE Publications, v. 6, n. 1, 

p. 3-5, SPE Publications, 2010. 



 

Ayala H., L.F. Carving your Own Path: The Technical vs. Managerial Career Dilemma, Editorial, The Way 

Ahead- SPE Publications, v. 5, n. 2, p. 2-3, SPE Publications, 2009. 



 

Ayala H., L.F. The Oil Roller Coaster, Editorial, The Way Ahead- SPE Publications, v. 5, n. 1, p. 3-4, 2009. 



 

Ayala H., L.F. and Alp, D., Limitations of Marching Algorithms in the Analysis of Multiphase Flow in 

Pipelines, Journal of Energy Resources Technology, v. 130, n.4, p. 4300301-4300310, Dec. 2008. 



 

Ertekin, T. and Ayala H., L.F. Numerical Analysis of Retrograde Behavior in Fissured Systems: The Single-

Block Model, Petroleum Science and Technology, v. 26, n. 10-11, p. 1141-1160, July 2008. 



 

Ayala H., L.F. and Karpyn, Z., On the Calculation of Static Bottom-Hole Pressures in Gas Wells, Petroleum 

Science and Technology, v. 25, n. 8, p. 1099-1104, August 2007.  



 

Ayala H., L.F., and Ertekin, T. Neuro-Simulation Analysis of Pressure Maintenance Operations in Gas-

Condensate Reservoirs, J. Pet. Science and Engineering,  v. 58, n. 1-2, p. 207-226, August 2007. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., Ertekin, T., and Adewumi, M., Numerical Analysis of Multi-mechanistic Flow Effects in 

Naturally Fractured Gas-Condensate Systems, J. Petroleum Science and Engineering, v. 58, n. 1-2, p. 13-29, 

August 2007. 



 

Ayala, O. F., Ayala H., L.F., and Ayala, O.M., Multi-phase Flow Analysis in Oil and Gas Engineering 

Systems and its Modeling, Hydrocarbon World 2007 ISSN: 1753-3899, p. 57-61, Touch Briefings Ltd., London, 

UK, July 2007. 



 

Kelner, E., Ayala H., L.F., and Garcia, A., Model Improves Measurement and Control; Helps Locate Liquids, 

Pipeline & Gas J., v. 234, n. 7,  p. 28-42, July 2007. 



 

Urquidi-Macdonald, M., Ashutosh, T., and Ayala H., L. F., A Neuro-Fuzzy Knowledge-based Model for the 

Risk Assessment of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) in Crude-Oil Pipelines, 2007 International 

Conference on Biocorrosion of Materials (BIOCORYS), EFC Event No. 293, Paris, France, June 12-13, 2007. 



 

Ayala H., L.F. and Koaussi, J.P., The Similarity Theory Applied to the Analysis of Multiphase Flow in Gas 

Condensate Reservoirs, Energy and Fuels., v. 21, n. 3, p. 1592-1600, May/June 2007.  



 

Ayala H., L.F., Ertekin, T., and Adewumi, M., Study of Gas-Condensate Reservoir Exploitation Using 

Neuro-Simulation, SPE Reservoir Eng. and Evaluation J., v. 10, n. 2, p. 140-149, April 2007. 



 

Baris, O., Ayala, L., Watson, R., Numerical Modeling of Foam Drilling Hydraulics, The Journal of Engineering 

Research, v. 4, n. 1, pp. 103-119, Jan. 2007. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., Ertekin, T., and Adewumi, M., Compositional Modeling of Gas-Condensate Reservoirs in 

Multimechanistic Flow Domains, SPE Journal, v. 11, n. 4, p. 480-487, Dec. 2006.  



 

Ayala H., L.F, The Role of Fluid Thermodynamic Behavior in Natural Gas Handling and Transportation, 

Business Briefing: Hydrocarbon World 2006, ISSN: 1753-3902, p. 61-66, Touch Briefings Ltd., London, UK, Dec. 

2006. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., On the Non-Ideality of Hydrocarbon Fluids: Implications for Natural Gas Engineering – Part 

A, Petroleum J. Online, e-journal of reservoir engineering, v.1, n. 1, Nov. 2006.  



 

Ayala H., L.F., On the Non-Ideality of Hydrocarbon Fluids: Implications for Natural Gas Engineering – Part 

B, Petroleum J. Online, e-journal of reservoir engineering, v.1, n. 1, Nov. 2006. 



 

Al-Farhan, F. and Ayala H., L.F: Optimization of Surface Condensate Production from Natural Gases Using 

Artificial Intelligence, J. Pet. Science and Engineering, v. 53, pp. 135-147, August 2006. 



 

Ayala H., L.F, Phase Behavior of Hydrocarbon Fluids: The Key to Understanding Oil and Gas Engineering 

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Systems, Business Briefing: Oil & Gas Processing Review 2006, ISBN: 1-905052-47-2, p. 16-18, Touch Briefings 

Ltd., London, UK, Feb. 2006. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., and Adewumi, M., Low-Liquid Loading Multiphase Flow in Natural Gas Pipelines, Journal of 

Energy Resources and Technology, Trans. ASME, v. 125, p. 284-293, December 2003.  



 

Ayala, L.F., Eltohami, E., and Adewumi, M., A Unified Two-Fluid Model for Multiphase Flow in Natural 

Gas Pipelines, paper presented in the 25

th

 Engineering Technology Conference on Energy of ASME, Feb. 4-5, 

Houston, TX, 2002. 



 

Ayala, L.F., Eltohami, E., and Adewumi, M., Avoiding Pitfalls in Multiphase Thermo-hydrodynamic 

Coupling, paper presented in the 25

th

 Engineering Technology Conference  on  Energy  of  ASME,  Feb.  4-5, 

Houston, TX, 2002. 



 

Eltohami, E., Erdogmus, M., Ayala, L.F., and Adewumi, M., PCB Migration and Cleanup Scenarios in 

Natural Gas Pipelines, paper presented in the 25

th

 Engineering Technology Conference on Energy of ASME, 

Feb. 4-5, Houston, TX, 2002. 



 

Ayala H., L.F., Ayala R., O.R., and Ayala H., O.M., Multidimensional Heat Transfer Study in Foundations of 

Tanks for Refrigerated Storage, Proceedings of III Latin-American Mass and Heat Transfer Congress, Salta, 

Argentina, 1998. 

 

 

Synergistic Activities 

 

Associate Department Head; Graduate Education, John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and 

Mineral Engineering, (2013-); Director, PSU’s Unconventional Natural Resources Consortium (PSU-UNRC, 

2012-); Chair, Graduate Council Committee on Research, The Graduate School (PSU) (2010-2011); Elected 

Member,  University Graduate Council (2009-2011); Member, SPE Reservoir Description and Dynamics Advisory 

Committee, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE); Chair, Reservoir Engineering Program Subcommittee 2014 SPE 

Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Member, Reservoir Engineering 

Program Subcommittee: 2013 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, USA, 2012 SPE 

Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, 2011 SPE Annual Technical Conference and 

Exhibition in Denver, Colorado, USA, and 2010 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in Florence, 

Tuscany, Italy;  2010-2011 Advisor of The Way Ahead, SPE; 2009-2010 Editor-in-Chief of The Way Ahead, Society 

of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Magazine; Associate Editor, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 

(JNGSE); Member of Editorial Review Board of the Society of Petroleum Engineering Journals (SPEREE J.); 

Member of Editorial Board of Petroleum Science and Technology J. (PST); Session Chair, 2007 ASME 

International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering in San Diego, California; Member of 

Technical Committee, 2007 SPE Latin American & Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference in Buenos 

Aires, Argentina; Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), American Chemical Society (ACS) and 

National Association of Engineers of Venezuela. 

 

 

Honors and Awards 

 

Wilson Award for Outstanding Teaching (PSU); SPE Outstanding Technical Editor Award; PNGE Graduate 

Merit Award (PSU); Presidential Distinction for Academic Excellence “José Félix Ribas” awarded by the President 

of the Republic of Venezuela, Summa Cum Laude distinction in Petroleum Engineering; Diploma of Recognition for 

Outstanding Academic Accomplishment granted by the Board of Trustees of Universidad de Oriente (UDO, 

Venezuela) for obtaining the highest academic distinction (summa cum laude) in two engineering majors 

studied simultaneously; Summa Cum Laude  distinction in Chemical Engineering;  Merit Medal “21

st

 of November” 

granted by the Board of Trustees of Universidad de Oriente for outstanding academic achievement.