Academic degree/rank: Doctor of Science in Geology and Mineralogy, Professor.

Affiliation: Head of Department of Sedimentary Basin Geochemistry and Fluid Dynamics at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.

Scopus ID: 24170958500

Education and skills:

• Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry, Mining Engineer–Geoscientist (1970);
• Candidate of Science, All-Union Institute of Nuclear Geophysics and Geochemistry, Moscow (1983);
• Doctor of Science (1992).

Research interests (key words): petroleum industry systems; fluid dynamics; genesis and isotopic-and geochemical composition of organic matter in rock; oil and gases and in mud volcanoes; geochemical exploration; geoecology.

Professional development:

• Working in the oil industry (1970–1972);
• Engineer at the Azerbaijan Division of the All-Union Research and Design Institute of Gas—VNIPIGaz (1972–1973);
• Institute of Geology (now Institute of Geology and Geophysics) at the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (1973 up to this date);
• Head of Department of Oil and Gas Geology and Geochemistry and, later on, Department of Sedimentary Basin Geochemistry and Fluid Dynamics at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (2003 up to this date).

Major scientific achievements

• Validation of the epigenetic nature of oil and gas and their origin mostly from organic matter of diatomite and maikopian sediments based on the modern isotopic and geochemical studies of organic matter and fluids in sediments of the South Caspian Basin, sediment–oil and oil–oil correlations, basin analysis and modeling;
• Geodynamic model of oil and gas origin and spatial distribution within the South Caspian Basin;
• Assessment of generation depth (5–15 km) and isotopic and geochemical properties of oil and gas;
• Comparative analysis of reservoirs and mud volcanoes in the Po River basin (Italy) and in the South Caspian Basin;
• Investigation of gas conditions and evaluation of efficiency of direct gas geochemical exploration of oil and gas in the South Caspian Basin;
• Analysis of spatial heterogeneity of oil-saturated geological environment and operating efficiency of underground gas storages in Azerbaijan;
• Abnormally high and abnormally low fluid pressure research and testability;
• Analysis of ecological after-effect of long-term oil and gas field operation;
• Quantitative evaluation of contribution made by methane emissions from mud volcanoes in greenhouse gases;
• Azerbaijan’s first mapping of radon patterns in accommodation facilities, soil, thermal sources and mud volcanoes as well as recommendations on health risk reduction in Azerbaijan.

International cooperation

• Head and/or executive in charge for more than 20 international R&D projects and 18 grant-financed R&D projects;
• Head of 3 international expeditions;
• Scientific expert of a number of international geological tours;
• Research activities at Universities of Florence and Pavia, Italy, within the framework of the Fellowships Program of the Landau Network-Centro Volta, with financial backing from the Cariplo Foundation, Italy (2002 and 2006)

Personnel training:

• Lecturer at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences;
• Research supervisor of 10 Candidates of Science;
• Scientific consultant to 3 doctoral dissertations.

Academic and professional communities:

• Full member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan;
• Chairman of the Council for defence of doctoral dissertations at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences;
• Editorial Board member of journals ANAS Transactions, Earth Sciences, Stratigraphy and Sedimentology of Oil–Gas Basins and Novosti geofiziki Azerbaidzhana (Azerbaijan Geophysics News);
• Full member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers (EAGE).

Awards:

• Taraggi Medal for scientific and research & management activities (2008);
• Co-prizeman of Azerbaijan National Prize in science for international publications on mud volcanism and oil/gas content of the South Caspian Basin (2010);
• Diploma of Honor from the President of the Azerbaijan Republic for merits in scientific advancement of Azerbaijan and on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (2015);
• Order of Labor 3rd class (2017);
• Certificates of Honor of the Presidium and Geoscience Department of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Publications: Professor A. Feyzullaev is an author of more than 340 scientific publications, including 89 papers and 83 theses in international periodicals, 1 Author’s Certificate and 2 patents.

The main publications:

• Feyzullayev A. A. Sedimentary-condensation model of formation of hydrocarbon fields in the South Caspian Basin. Izvestiya – Atmospheric and Ocean Physics, 2021, 57(10), 1349–1366, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821100042;
• Feyzullayev A. A. Peculiarities of the rock–fluid system of the subduction zone in the South Caspian Basin. Izvestiya – Atmospheric and Ocean Physics, 2021, 57(11), 1461–1478, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821110025;
• Feyzullayev A. A. Present-day fluid dynamics in the South Caspian Basin: features and quantitative estimates. Izvestiya – Atmospheric and Ocean Physics, 2021, 57(7), 754–770, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821070045;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Lerche I., Mamedova I. M., Gojayev A. G. Dynamics of hydrocarbon production in long-developed fields of the South Caspian basin with emphasis on reserves renewability. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production, 2021, 11 (3), 1081–1091, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-021-01094-5;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Gojayev A.G. Influence of geological reservoir heterogeneity on exploitation conditions of garadagh field / underground gas storage (Azerbaijan). Mining Science and Technology (Russian Federation), 2021, 6(2), 105–113, https://doi.org/10.17073/2500-0632-2021-2-105-113;
• Feyzullayev A. A. Depth of Diagenetic Processes and Lower Boundary of the Biosphere in the South Caspian Basin. Izvestiya – Atmospheric and Ocean Physics, 2020, 56(8), 811–827, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433820080034;
• Tassi F., Feyzullayev A.A., Bonini M. et. al. Mantle vs. crustal fluid sources in the gas discharges from Lesser Caucasus and Talysh Mountains (Azerbaijan) in relation to the regional geotectonic setting. Applied Geochemistry, 2020, 118, 104643, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104643;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Lerche I. Temperature-depth control of petroleum occurrence in the sedimentary section of the South Caspian basin. Petroleum Research, 2020, 5(1), 70–76, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptlrs.2019.10.003;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Aliyev C. S., Mardanov M. J. et. al. Statistical Analysis of Monitoring the Results of the Radon Level and Meteorological Parameters in the Buildings of Geophysical Stations in Azerbaijan. Izvestiya - Atmospheric and Ocean Physics, 2019, 55(8), 893–904, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433819080036;
• Aliyev C. S., Feyzullayev A. A., Baghirli R. J., Mahmudova F. F. Results of Measurements of Radon Volume Activity in Azerbaijan. Izvestiya - Atmospheric and Ocean Physics, 2018, 54(7), 654–660, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433818070022;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Guseynova A. N. Conditions of formation and hydrocarbon potential of the lower pliocene sediments of the Absheron-Balkhan uplift Zone: Evidence from geochemical indicators. Geochemistry International, 2018, 56(9), 895–903, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702918090045;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Kadirov F. A., Kadyrov A. G. Tectono-geophysical model of the Southern Caspian in the context of the presence of oil and gas. Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, 2016, 52(6), 912–922, https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351316050049;
• Faber E., Schmidt M., Feyzullayev A. A. Geochemical hydrocarbon exploration-insights from stable isotope models. Oil Gas European Magazine, 2015, 41(2), 93–98;
• Feyzullayev A., Tagiyev M., Lerche I. On the origin of hydrocarbons in the main Lower Pliocene reservoirs of the South Caspian Basin, Azerbaijan. Energy Exploration and Exploitation, 2015, 33(1), 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1260/0144-5987.33.1.1;
• Kadirov F. A., Guliyev I. S., Feyzullayev A. A. et. al. GPS-based crustal deformations in Azerbaijan and their influence on seismicity and mud volcanism. Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, 2014, 50(6), 814–823 https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351314060020;
• Antonielli B., Monserrat O., Bonini M. et. al. Pre-eruptive ground deformation of Azerbaijan mud volcanoes detected through satellite radar interferometry (DInSAR). Tectonophysics, 2014, 637, 163–177, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.10.005;
• Allen C. C., Oehler D. Z., Etiope G. et. al. Fluid expulsion in terrestrial sedimentary basins: A process providing potential analogs for giant polygons and mounds in the martian lowlands. Icarus, 2013, 224(2), 424–432, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2012.09.018;
• Bonini M., Tassi F., Feyzullayev A. A. et. al. Deep gases discharged from mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan: New geochemical evidence. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2013, 43, 450–463, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.12.003;
• Green-Saxena A., Feyzullayev A., Hubert C. R. J. et. al. Active sulfur cycling by diverse mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms in terrestrial mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan. Environmental Microbiology, 2012, 14(12), 3271–3286, https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.12015;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Movsumova U. A. The nature of the isotopically heavy carbon of carbon dioxide and bicarbonates in the waters of mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan. Geochemistry International, 2010, 48(5), 517–522, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702910050083;
• Etiope G., Feyzullayev A., Milkov A.V. et. al. Evidence of subsurface anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons and potential secondary methanogenesis in terrestrial mud volcanoes. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2009, 26(9), 1692–1703, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2008.12.002;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Lerche I. Occurrence and nature of overpressure in the sedimentary section of the South Caspian Basin, Azerbaijan. Energy Exploration and Exploitation, 2009, 27(5), 345–366, https://doi.org/10.1260/0144-5987.27.5.345;
• Etiope G., Feyzullayev A., Baciu C. L. Terrestrial methane seeps and mud volcanoes: A global perspective of gas origin. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2009, 26(3), 333–344, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2008.03.001;
• Hudson S. M., Johnson C. L., Efendiyeva M. A. et. al. Stratigraphy and geochemical characterization of the Oligocene-Miocene Maikop series: Implications for the paleogeography of Eastern Azerbaijan. Tectonophysics, 2008, 451(1-4), 40–55, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2007.11.045;
• Kadirov F. A., Lerche I., Guliyev I. S. et. al. Deep structure model and dynamics of mud volcanoes, southwest absheron peninsula (Azerbaijan). Energy Exploration and Exploitation, 2005, 23(5), 307–332, https://doi.org/10.1260/014459805775992717;
• Etiope G., Feyzullayev A., Baciu C. L., Milkov A. V. Methane emission from mud volcanoes in eastern Azerbaijan. Geology, 2004, 32(6), 465–468, https://doi.org/10.1130/G20320.1;
• Mukhtarov A. Sh., Kadirov F. A., Guliyev I. S., Feyzullayev A., Lerche I. Temperature evolution in the Lokbatan mud volcano crater (Azerbaijan) after the eruption of 25 October 2001. Energy Exploration and Exploitation, 2003, 21(3), 187–207, https://doi.org/10.1260/014459803769520043;
• Feyzullayev A. A., Guliyev I. S., Tagiyev M. F. Source potential of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic rocks in the South Caspian Basin and their role in forming the oil accumulations in the Lower Pliocene reservoirs. Petroleum Geoscience, 2001, 7(4), 409–417, https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo.7.4.409.