Wai Li from the University of Western Australia has earned his place in the halls of history at the Society of Petroleum Engineering, after he developed and then patented new environmentally friendly drilling fluids for oil and gas drilling, which has earned him the official title of ‘Energy Influencer'.
"The use of traditional work fluids for oil and gas well construction are becoming unsustainable as governments begin to strengthen environmental laws and regulations," Li explained.
"Innovative fluids based on new chemical science are urgently needed to ensure oil and gas contractors can meet their business objectives in the most economic and efficient way possible, while remaining conscious of the environment."
Li, now a university graduate with a double degree in applied chemistry and petroleum engineering, is completing his PhD at UWA and plans to pursue an academic career as a lecturer in petroleum engineering science.
