Chris Russell, Corporate Scientist, ChampionX

Chris has always had a strong passion for crude oil chemistry, gaining a Master of Science in Petroleum Geochemistry and a PhD in the same subject. He had a keen interest in asphaltenes and throughout his studies, explored novel research techniques across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. In his current role as Corporate Scientist at ChampionX, Chris is a key member of our asphaltenes steering team and works closely with the other members to discover and develop new ways to treat asphaltenes.

He explained: “It’s interesting that asphaltenes remain a challenging industry-wide issue despite the vast amount of research work contributing to their characterization and behaviour. The steering team was set up to meet this challenge, with the development of new test methods, monitoring techniques, and to deliver novel product development. It’s fantastic that ChampionX really sees the value in investing time and resources so we can better guide our customers in this challenging area.” In addition to his asphaltenes work, Chris is a key mentor for the younger generation of scientists, providing his experience and expertise to guide them through their projects and provide direction for their research. He also supports the development of paraffin control to modify and trial new test methods.

“The great thing about chemistry is that there is always more to learn, and new tests give us greater insight into what our chemicals are doing. This allows us to provide greater results for our customers which is always so satisfying,” Chris said.

Learn more about the innovative approach that Chris’s team brings to solving the problem of asphaltenes