Upali Peter Weerasooriya

photo of Upali Weerasooriya

Senior Research Scientist

Office Address: PGE Building, 2100 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Office Phone: 512-471-9605

Research Highlight

Improved Polymer Flooding and Improved Water Flooding

In this project we are addressing the lack of field demonstration by encouraging industry participation in demonstrating the efficacy of the new technology The impact of a successful project would be to increase oil production by recovery of extra oil during polymer and or water flooding of oil fields.

Research Projects

Ultra-short hydrophobe non-ionic and anionic surfactants 

This program involves using petroleum based ultra-short alcohol, C1-C8 coupled with a large block of Propylene Oxide(PO) followed by a block of Ethylene Oxide(EO) to produce a non-ionic surfactant which can be optionally converted into an anionic such as Sulfate or Carboxylate. The extra PO on top of the ultra-short hydrophobe alcohol provides sufficient hydrophobicity and the EO block provides the required hydrophilicity to yield the appropriate HLB(Hydrophilic Lypophilic Balance) as required for the CEOR application. Preliminary studies show promising results.

Surface Active Solvents(SAS) 

These are also based on ultra-short hydrophobe alcohols, C1-C8 with a smaller block of PO(4-7PO) followed by appropriate EO block to provide water soluble solvents with surface activity. Although these don't fall into the class of surfactants, It is expected that these molecules by themselves aid in Polymer-flooding and Water-flooding processes by increased wettability of the rock surface resulting in extra oil recoveries. Preliminary studies show promising results.

View Resume

Upali Peter Weerasooriya 

Cell phone: (512)699-1947 • e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

11103 Andenwood Dr • Austin, TX 78726 • home Phone: (512)335-8492

  • Best Scientist-Rosen Award(Global) from American Oil Chemist’s Society-1999-2000
  • Faculty(retired), Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering(CPGE), The University of Texas(UT) - 2016
  • Senior Scientist Advisor, CPGE, UT -  Current
  • Board Member, Harcros Chemicals Global Manufacturing
  • Board Member of 3 Indian Companies: Venus Ethoxyethers, Esteem Industries, and Grand Organics-Harcros Indian Subsidiaries
  • Founder, Board member, and Technical Advisor, Ultimate EOR Services in Austin, Texas
  • Sc(Hons.)(Sri Lanka,’71);M.S(BGSU,’77);Ph.D(UT,’80)
  • 70+ U.S Patents and Patent applications including 40+ in the Chemical EOR field
  • Founder, Weerasooriya Family Foundation

Strengths
 

Petroleum Engineering-Chemical Technology Interface: Highly focused on finding chemical solutions to EOR problems.

Chemical Industry Interface: Focussed on finding viable Chemical solutions to complex commercial problems

Research Management: I am research-oriented and people-oriented.  I have been successful in promoting research development and, at the same time, improving job satisfaction of co-workers.

Problem-Solving: I derive a high level of satisfaction from effective problem-solving using innovative solutions.

Meeting Goals:  I set high technical and personal goals for myself.  I believe in accomplishing goals through positive motivation of myself and co-workers.

career profile

2011-                 

2011-

2012-                 

2015-                

2016-

2008-2016

2016-

2002-2008

CEO of Dr. Upali Weerasooriya Foundation – A charitable organization approved by the IRS

Founder, Principal and Director of the Board, Ultimate EOR, LLC

Director of the Board of Austin Childrens Shelter (ACS)

Director of the Board of Harcros Global manufacturing

Director of Venus Ethoxyether(India) Board

Director of Esteem Industries(India) Board

Director of Grand Organics(India) Board

The University of Texas                                                                     Austin, TX

Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering ( CPGE )

Faculty, Senior Research Scientist and Director of Surfactant Development

Senior Scientist Advisor, CPGE, The University of Texas

Board of Directors, Harcros Global Manufacturing                               

 Harcros Chemical Company                                                 Kansas City, KS

Vice President of Technology and Chief Technology Officer (2006)

Previous positions: Chief Technology Officer (2005), Vice President of Research and Development (2004), Director of Research and Development and Senior Research Fellow (2002)

o   Developed alkoxylation technology and plant processes

o   Led “Techno Marketing” effort for Harcros

2000-2002

Petroferm Incorporated                                                      Amelia Island, FL

Research Fellow and Research Director of Lambent Technology

Directed technology development at Lambent

1991-2000

CONDEA Vista Company (now SASOL)                                       Austin, TX

Research Associate: Detergent Intermediates and Surfactants (1993)

Previous Positions: Senior Research Group Leader: Surfactants (1992), Senior Research Scientist: Surfactants (1991)

o   Coordinated major technical projects for Detergent Intermediates and Surfactants business

o   Researched ethoxylation technology

o   Conducted process development for ethoxylation technology

1986-1991

Vista Chemical Company                                                       Ponca City, OK

Senior Research Chemist: Surfactants (1988)

Previous Position: Research Chemist: Surfactants (1986)

o   Provided surfactant technical services

o   Worked in new product development

1984-1986

Celanese                                                                         Corpus Christi, TX

Research Chemist: Research and Development

o   Developed Novel Surfactants

1983-1984

SOHIO                                                                                 Cleveland, OH

Senior Research Chemist: Research and Development

o   Developed surfactants for enhanced oil recovery

1982-1983

The University of Texas at Austin                                                  Austin, TX

Research Associate: Enhanced Oil Recovery Program

o   Designed surfactants and synthesis techniques for enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

1981-1982

University of Sri Lanka                                                    Colombo, Sri Lanka

Senior Lecturer: Faculty of Science

o   Taught chemistry to undergraduate students

Professional Organizations

  • Sigma Xi: Member since 1977
  • American Chemist Society: Member since 1986
  • American Oil Chemists’ Society: Member since 1989
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers: Member since 2009

Professional Degrees & Education

1977-1980
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Ph.D. in Chemistry

1975-1977
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
M.S. in Chemistry

1967-1971
University of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka
B.S. in Chemistry Special with Honors

1986-Present
Continuing Education in Influence Management, Interpersonal Skills Management, Team Management, Statistical Process Control, and Experimental Design

References

  • Thomas Kinstle-Distinguished Teaching Professor of Chemistry, Bowling Green State University, (419)575-2064, e-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • John Gilbert-Professor and Chair, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Santa Clara University, (408)510-0884, e-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Peter Radford, Vice President of Global Business Development, Harcros Chemicals, (913)424-4056, e-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Kishore Mohanty, Director, CPGE, PGE Department, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, (832)205-0873, e-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Honors, Awards, & Special Achievements

  • Co-Chair of the Chemical EOR session at the American Oil Chemists’ Society Annual General Meeting in 2011to date
  • Visiting Professor at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
  • Recipient of 1999 Samuel Rosen Memorial Awardfrom the American Oil Chemists’ Society - Best Chemist Award in the Soap and Detergent field
  • Recipient of the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) Awardfrom the American Oil Chemists’ Society for the best surfactant publication in 1998
  • Received high commendation from the Chemistry Department of The University of Texas at Austin for outstanding performance at the cumulative major examination in 1978, taken one year ahead of schedule
  • Graduated from Bowling Green State University with a 4.0/4.0 GPA in 1977
  • Won first place for excellence in scientific investigations at the annual Sigma Xi Regional Research competition held in Bowling Green, Ohio, 1977
  • Awarded Exhibition Scholarship from the University of Sri Lanka, 1968-1971

Patents, Presentations, & PUBLICATIONS in chemical EOR field Since joining The University of Texas IN sEPTEMBER 2008

Provisional patents

  • 6281 WEE, Use of Amines in Heavy Oil Transport
  • 6393 WEE, High Active Flowable Surfactant Blends for Enhanced Oil Recovery
  • 6393 WEE, High Active Flowable Surfactant Blends for Detergent and Other Cleaning Applications
  • 6416 WEE, Ammonia Compositions for Use in Gypsum Containing Wells
  • 6437 WEE, Ammonia NH4X Compositions for Use with Hard Brine
  • 6465 WEE, Gemini Epoxide Surfactant Compositions
  • 6646 WEE, Improved co-solvent structures in CEOR
  • 6647 WEE, New surfactant

US Patents FILED and in process

  • 5547 WEE,       Compositions and Methods for Controlling the Stability of Ethersulfate Surfactants at Elevated Temperatures
  • 5652 WEE,       Novel Alkaline Formulations in Hard Brine for Recovering Reactive Crude Oil
  • 5883 WEE,       Alkoxy Carboxylates in New Surfactant Composition for Recovering "Reactive" Crude Oil
  • 5961 WEE,       Large Hydrophobe Surfactants
  • 6061 WEE,       Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Alcohols
  • 6106 WEE,       Quaternary Ammonium Surfactants
  • 6113 WEE,       Novel Use of a Mild Alkaline Agent in Chemical EOR
  • 6126 WEE,       Alkyl Hydrophobe Surfactants
  • 6212 WEE,       Phenol-ethoxylate Co-solvent Surfactant Composition
  • 6213 POP,         Transport of Heavy Oil
  • 6234 WEE,       Short Chain Alkylamine Alkoxylate Compositions
  • 6261 WEE,       Multivalent Mineral Cation Tolerant Alkali System for Chemical EOR
  • 6280 WEE,       Use of Amines in Recovery of Active Oils
  • WEE, Ultra-short hydrophobe surfactant structures(2017)-Jointly with Harcros
  • WEE, Heavy oil recovery(2018)-Jointly with Harcros

US Patents ISSUED

  • 5552 WEE,       Method of Manufacture and Use of Large Hydrophobe Ether Sulfate Surfactants in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Applications
  • 5644 WEE,       Process of Using Hard Brine at High Alkalinity for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Applications
  • 5716 WEE,       Novel Anionic Polyalkoxy Group Comprising Surfactants on Basis of Guerbet-Alchols, Method of Manufacture and Use in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Applications
  • 5741 WEE,       Strylphenol Alkoxylate Sulfate as a New Surfactant Composition for Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications
  • 5846 WEE,       Alkoxy Carboxylate Surfactants

Presentations, & PUBLICATIONS

  • IOR Conference in Paris, April 20, 2009-SPE 113432-Best of Tulsa / Development of high performance surfactants for difficult oils
  • Tulsa Conference, April 26, 2010-SPE 129923-A new process for manufacturing and stabilizing high performance EOR surfactants at low cost for high temperature high salinity oil reservoirs-Adkins,Weerasooriya, et.al.
  • Tulsa Conference, April 26, 2010-SPE 129978-Low cost, high performance, Chemical Enhanced oil Recovery-Hyuntae, Weerasooriya, et.al.
  • American Oil Chemists’ Society, Phoenix, May 17, 2010-Improved stability of anionic surfactants for CEOR applications-Weerasooriya, Pope.
  • American Oil Chemists’ Society, Phoenix, May 17, 2010-Selection of the right hydrophobe size for the surfactant molecule for CEOR-Weerasooriya, Pope
  • Weerasooriya, U., Pope, G. A., Solairaj, S., Lu, J., Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G. P., Kim, D.H., and Britton, C., “Chemically Enhanced Oil Recovery: Novel Surfactants - the Concept of Large Hydrophobe Alkoxy Carboxylate Surfactants,” presented at AIChE 2012 Spring Meeting & 8th Global Congress on Process Safety, Houston, TX, 4 April, 2012
  • Liyanage, P. J., Solairaj, S., Arachchilage, G. P., Linnemeyer, H. C., Kim, D.H., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Alkaline Surfactant Polymer Flooding using a Novel Class of Large Hydrophobe Surfactants,” SPE 154274 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 14-18 April, 2012
  • Solairaj, S., Britton, C., Kim, D.H., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Measurement and Analysis of Surfactant Retention,” SPE 154247 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 14-18 April, 2012
  • Kulawardana, E. U., Koh, H., Kim, D. H., Liyanage, P. J., Upamali, K. A. N., Huh, C., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Rheology and Transport of Improved EOR Polymers under Harsh Reservoir Conditions,” SPE 154294 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 14-18 April, 2012
  • Walker, D., Britton, C., Kim, D.H., Dufour, S., Weerasooriya, U. and Pope, G. A., “The Impact of Microemulsion Viscosity on Oil Recovery,” SPE 154275 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 14-18 April, 2012
  • Lu, J., Britton, C., Solairaj, S., Liyanage, P.J., Kim, D.H., Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G. P., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Novel Large-Hydrophobe Alkoxy Carboxylate Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery,” SPE 154256 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 14-18 April, 2012
  • Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G. P., Solairaj, S., Lu, J., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Development of Thermally and Chemically Stable Large-Hydrophobe Alkoxy Carboxylate Surfactants,” SPE 154256 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 14-18 April, 2012
  • Solairaj, S., Britton, C., Lu, J., Kim, D.H., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “New Correlation to Predict the Optimum Surfactant Structure for EOR,” SPE 154262 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 14-18 April, 2012
  • Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “New Developments in Chemical EOR,” presented at 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Long Beach, CA, 29 April-2 May, 2012
  • Solairaj, S., Britton, C., Kim, D.H., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Surfactant Structure-Performance Correlation in Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery,” presented at 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Long Beach, CA, 29 April-2 May, 2012
  • Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., Arachchilage, G. P., Adkins, S., Kim, D.H., Kim, Kennedy, G., Dortona, T., Yun, W., “New Developments in Chemical EOR: Alkali/Co-solvent/Polymer (ACP) Processes,” presented at 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Long Beach, CA, 29 April-2 May, 2012
  • Lu, J., Goudarzi, A., Chen, P., Kim, D.H., Britton, C., Delshad, M., Mohanty, K.K., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Surfactant Enhanced Oil Recovery from Naturally Fractured Reservoirs,” SPE 159979 presented at SPE ATCE, San Antonio, TX, 8-10 October, 2012
  • Fortenberry, R., Kim, D.H., Nizamidin, N., Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G., Koh, H., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Use of Co-Solvents to Improve Alkaline-Polymer Flooding,” SPE 166478 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 30 September–2 October 2013.
  • Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “New Developments in Chemical EOR,” presented at 104th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 28-1 May, 2013
  • Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Evaluation of Alkaline-Cosolvent-Polymer Flooding of Heavy Oils,” presented at 104th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 28-1 May, 2013
  • Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Development of EOR Surfactants-Novel Co-Solvents,” presented at 104th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 28-1 May, 2013
  • Lu, J., Kim, D.H., Mohanty, K.K., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “New Developments in Surfactant EOR from Fractured Reservoirs,” presented at 104th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 28-1 May, 2013
  • Lu, J., Pope, G.A., and Weerasooriya, U., “Stability Investigation of Low-Tension Surfactant Floods,” SPE 164090 presented at SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, Woodlands, TX, 8-10 April, 2013
  • Lu, J., Liyanage, P.J., Solairaj, S., Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G. P., Kim, D.H., Britton, C., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Recent Technology Developments in Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery,” IPTC 16425 presented at the 6th International Petroleum Technology Conference, Beijing, China, 26-28 March, 2013
  • Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “EOR Surfactants and Chemical Supply,” presented at SPE ATW: IOR&EOR Panelist Meeting, New Delhi, India, Dec. 5, 2012.
  • Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “New Surfactant Development for Difficult Reservoir Conditions,” presented at SPE ATW: 2012 IOR&EOR Workshop, New Delhi, India, Dec. 5, 2012.
  • Weerasooriya, U.,and Pope, G.A., “Latest Developments in Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery as Applied to Different Reservoir Environments,” presented at 105th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, San Antonio, TX, May 4-7, 2014
  • Lu, J., Weerasooriya, U.,and Pope, G.A., “Gravity Stable Ultra-low Tension Surfactant Floods for Chemical EOR,” presented at 105th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, San Antonio, TX, May 4-7, 2014
  • Sharma, H., Dufour, S., Weerasooriya, U., Pope, G. A., & Mohanty, K. “ASP Process for Anhydrite-Containing Oil Reservoirs”. presented at 105th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, San Antonio, TX, May 4-7, 2014
  • Rajapaksha, S., Britton, C., McNeil, R. I., Kim, D. H., Unomah, M., Kulawardana, E., Upamali, N., Weerasooriya, U., Pope, G. A. “Restoration of Reservoir Cores to Reservoir Condition before Chemical Flooding Tests”. SPE 169887 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 12-16 April, 2014.
  • Jang, S. H., Liyanage, P. J., Lu, J., Kim, D. H., Arachchilage, G. W. P. P., Britton, C., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A., “Microemulsion Phase Behavior Measurements Using Live Oils at High Temperature and Pressure,” SPE 169169 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 12-16 April, 2014.
  • Sharma, H., Dufour, S., Weerasooriya, U., Pope, G. A., & Mohanty, K. “ASP Process for Anhydrite-Containing Oil Reservoirs”. SPE 169065 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 12-16 April, 2014.
  • Henthorne, L., Pope, G. A., Weerasooriya, U., & Llano, V. “Impact of Water Softening on Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Project Economics”. SPE 169165 presented at SPE IOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK, 12-16 April, 2014.
  • Lu, J., Liyanage, P.J., Solairaj, S., Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G.P., Kim, D.H., Britton, C., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G.A., “New Surfactant Developments for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 120:94-101, 2014
  • Lu, J., Britton, C., Solairaj, S., Liyanage, P.J., Kim, D.H., Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G.P., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G.A., “Novel Large-Hydrophobe Alkoxy Carboxylate Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery,” SPE J., SPE 154256, 2014 (in press).
  • Lu, J., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G.A., “Investigation of gravity-stable surfactant floods”, Fuel, 124: 76-84, 2014
  • Fortenberry, R., Kim, D. H., Nizamidin, N., Adkins, S., Arachchilage, G. W. P., Koh, H., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A. 2015. Use of Cosolvents to Improve Alkaline/Polymer Flooding. SPE J. 20 (2): 255-266. SPE-166478-PA.
  • Jang, S. H., Liyanage, P. J., Tagavifar, M., Chang, L. Y., Upamali, K. A. N., Lansakara-P, D., Weerasooriya, U., Pope, G. A. 2016. A Systematic Method for Reducing Surfactants to Extremely Low Levels. Paper SPE 179685-MS presented at SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April.
  • Liyanage, P. J., Lu, J., Arachchilage G. W. P., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A. 2015. A Novel Class of Large-Hydrophobe Tristyrylphenol (TSP) Alkoxy Sulfate Surfactants for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery. J. Petroleum Science and Engineering. 128: 73-85.
  • Liyanage, P.J., Upamali, K. A. N., Weerasooriya, U., and Pope, G. A. 2015. Latest Developments on Enhanced Oil Recovery related to Oleochemicals. Presented at Malaysian Palm Oil Board International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 2015.
  • Pandey, A., Koduru, N., Stanley, M., Pope, G. A., Weerasooriya, U. P. 2016. Results of ASP Pilot in Mangala Field: A Suuccess Story. SPE 179700-MS presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April.
  • Tagavifar, M., Herath, S., Weerasooriya, U.P., Sepehrnoori, K., and Pope, G.A. 2016. Measurement of Microemulsion Viscosity and Its Implications for Chemical EOR." Presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Tulsa, OK, 11–13 April. SPE-179672-MS.
  • , K., Liyanage, P. J., Cai J., Lu, J., Jang, S. H., Weerasooriya, U. P., Pope, Gary A., 2016. “New Surfactants and co-solvents Increase Oil Recovery and Reduce Cost,” SPE-179702 presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, 11–13 April 2016.
  • Li, Y., Lu, J., Churchwell, L., Tagavifar, M., Weerasooriya, U.P., and Pope, G.A. 2016. “Scaling of Low IFT Imbibition in Oil-Wet Carbonates." Presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Tulsa, OK, 11–13 April. SPE-179684-MS.
  • Chang, L., Lansakara, D., Jang, S., Weerasooriya, U.P., and Pope, G.A. 2016. “Co-solvent Partitioning and Retention." Presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Tulsa, OK, 11–13 April. SPE-179676-MS.
  • Sharma, H., Lu, J., Weerasooriya, U.P., Pope, G.A, and Mohanty, K.. 2016. “Adsorption in Chemical Floods with Ammonia as the Alkali." Presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Tulsa, OK, 11–13 April. SPE-179682-MS.

Patents, Presentations, & PUBLICATIONS Prior to joining The University of Texas IN sEPTEMBER 2008

Publications

  • D Dissertation: Generation and Chemistry of Diazoethenes. The University of Texas,    Austin, TX 78712, 1980.
  • S. Thesis; Studies of Nitrones. Bowling Green Statue University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, 1977.
  • Cox, M.F., U. Weerasooriya, Chapter on Methyl Ester Ethoxylates, in Detergency of Specialty Surfactants, edited by F.E. Friedli, Marcel Dekker, NY, 167-193 (2001).
  • Cox, M.F., U. Weerasooriya, Partially Saponified Triglyceride Ethoxylates, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, 3 (2), 213 (2000).
  • Weerasooriya, U., Ester Alkoxylation Technology, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, 2 (3), 373 (1999).
  • Cox M.F., U. Weerasooriya, Impact of Moleccular Structure on the Performance of Methyl Ester Ethoxylates,Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, 2 (1), 59 (1999).
  • Cox M.F., U. Weerasooriya, P.A. Filler, W.H. Mellors, Methyl Ester Propoxylates,Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, 1 (2), 167 (1998).
  • Cox M.F., U. Weerasooriya,Methyl Ester Ethoxylates, JAOCS74, 847 (1997).
  • Lalanne-Cassou, C., I. Carmona, L. Fortney, A. Samii, R.S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, Surfactant Mixtures,  Dispersion Sci. and Tech.8 (2), 137 (1987).
  • Selliah, R., R.S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, Phase Behavior of Isomerized α-Olefin Sulfonates,  of Dispersion Sci. and Tech., 8 (1), 75-87 (1987).
  • Abe, M., D. Schechter, R.S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, S. Yiv, Microemulsion Formation with Branched Tail Polyoxyethylene Sulfonate Surfactants,  Colloid Interface Sci., 114 (2), 343 (1986).
  • Carmona, I., R.S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, Ethoxylated Oleyl Sulfonates as Model Compounds for Enhanced Oil Recovery, SPEJ, 25 (3), 351 (1985).
  • Schechter, R.S., W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, V. Weerasooriya, S. Yiv, Synthesis and Performance of Isomer-free Secondary Alkane Sulfonate Surfactants,  of Dispersion Sci. and Tech., 6 (2), 223 (1985).
  • Carmona, I., R.S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, Ethoxylated Oleyl Sulfonates as Model Compounds for Enhanced Oil Recovery, SPEJ, 1171 (1983).
  • Carmona, I., R..S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, V. Weerasooriya, Synthesis and Performance of Linear Mono-Isomeric Ethylene Oxide Sulfonate Surfactants,  of Dispersion Sci. and Technology, 4(4), 361 (1983).
  • Lalanne-Cassou, C., I. Carmona, L.N. Fortney, A. Samii, R.S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, V. Weerasooriya, S. Yiv, Binary Surfactant Mixtures for Minimizing Alcohol Cosolvent Requirements, SPEJ, 12035 (1983).
  • Barakat, Y., L.N. Fortney, C. Lalanne-Cassou, R..S. Schechter, W.H. Wade, U. Weerasooriya, The Phase Behavior of Simple Salt-Tolerant Sulfonates, SPEJ, 913 (1983).
  • Gilbert, J.C., U. Weerasooriya, D. Giamalva, Intramolecular Carbon- Hydrogen Insertions of Alkylidene Carbenes,  Org. Chem., 48, 5251 (1983).
  • Gilbert, J.C., U. Weerasooriya, Generation of aldehydic enol ethers and enamines by olefination of ketones, Org. Chem., 48, 448 (1983).
  • Gilbert, J.C., U. Weerasooriya, Diazothenes,  Org. Chem., 47(10), 1837 (1982).
  • Gilbert, J.C., U. Weerasooriya, B. Wiechman, L. Ho, A novel synthesis of allyl vinyl ethers, Tetrahedron Lett., 5003 (1980).
  • Gilbert, J.C., U. Weerasooriya, A novel route to aldehydic enol ethers and enamines, Tetrahedron Lett., 2041, (1980).
  • Gilbert, J.C., U. Weerasooriya, Elaboration of aldehydes and ketones to alkynes,  Org. Chem., 44, 4997 (1979).
  • Gilbert, J.C., U. Weerasooriya, D. Giamalva, Diazoethenes, evidence of their production by way of a Wittig reaction, Tetrahedron Lett., 4619 (1979).

Presentations

  • Narrow Range Ethoxylation Technology, Annual General meeting, AOCS Conference, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, May 2007.
  • Narrow Range Ethoxylation Technology, Annual General Meeting, ASTM Conference, Atlanta, GA, October 2006.
  • Taught a short course on surfactant chemistry at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, in the summer of 1999.
  • Ester Alkoxylation Technology, Samuel Rosen Memorial Award Presented at AOCS annual meeting, May, 1999.
  • Synthesis schemes for making branched-chain ethylene oxide sulfonate surfactants. Presented at the Tertiary Oil Recovery Panel Meeting at the University of Texas, Fall, 1983.
  • Synthesis schemes for making sulfonate surfactants.  Presented at the Tertiary Oil Recovery Panel Meeting at the University of Texas, Spring, 1983.
  • Novel Wittig reactions of conjugated nitrones.  Presented to the Bowling Green Chapter of Sigma Xi Society, 1977- 1stprize winner.

Patents

  • Process for making Fatty amides, Weerasooriya, et.al. U.S (filed 2009).
  • Method of Producing Alkoxylation Catalysts and Their use Alkoxylation Processes, Weerasooriya et.al. U.S. 7,119,236 (2006).
  • Method for producing surfactant compositions, Weerasooriya et al. U.S.  6,268,517 B1 (2001).
  • Process for preparing alkoxylated dialkyl carbonate compounds, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 6,147,246 (2000).
  • Process for producing surfactant composition, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,020,509 (2000).
  • Polyhydroxy- fatty amide surfactant composition and method of preparing same, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,750,749 (1998).
  • Process for producing surfactant compositions, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,847,210 (1998).
  • Surfactant composition and process for producing same, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,731,461 (1998).
  • Process for sulfonating internal olefins, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,488,148 (1996).
  • Process for preparing alkoxylation catalysts and alkoxylation process, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,627,121 (1996).
  • Process for preparing isethionate ethoxylates, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,498,753 (1996).
  • Process for alkoxylation of esters and products produced therefrom, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,386,045 (1995).
  • Process for clarifying alkoxylated alcohols, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,352,842 (1994).
  • Process for alkoxylation of esters and products produced therefrom, Weerasooriya et al. U.S. 5,220,046 (1993).