Thomas de Haas

CEO and Co-Founder

Building the world's leading high-pressure microfluidic systems for energy applications. P.Eng. with expertise spanning reservoir engineering, microfluidics, and deep-tech entrepreneurship.

Experience

CEO, Co-Founder & Board Member

Interface Fluidics

Edmonton, Canada

2025 — Present
  • • Defining corporate strategy
  • • Building team of industry-leading professionals in microfluidics for energy
  • • Leading investor relations ($15M CAD raised to date)
  • • Leading product definition
StrategyFundraisingTeam BuildingProduct

CTO, Co-Founder & Board Member

Interface Fluidics

Edmonton, Canada

2016 — 2025
  • • Developed the world's first commercial PVT system capable of operating at 200°C and 1000 bar
  • • Built teams to design and build category-leading high-pressure microfluidic systems
  • • Led development of software for automated microfluidic testing and computer vision algorithms
  • • Developed IP portfolio for the company (9 patents)
  • • Defined corporate strategy around hardware and software development
High-Pressure SystemsComputer VisionIP DevelopmentTeam Leadership

Reservoir Engineer

Suncor Energy

Calgary, Canada

2013 — 2016
  • • Developed novel sub-surface technologies (leading to two patents)
  • • Managed reservoir engineering research projects with universities
  • • Oversaw testing of completions components at vendor locations
  • • Statistical analysis of field pilots to determine performance with limited datasets
  • • Deployed laboratory equipment to measure produced fluid properties
Reservoir EngineeringResearch ManagementPatentsField Testing

Education

MASc, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

University of Toronto

Thesis: Microfluidics for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage and Petroleum Applications

2011 — 2013

BEng, Mechanical Engineering

University of Victoria

2005 — 2010

Harvard Business School Online

Management courses

2018

Publications

Chip-off-the-old-rock: the study of reservoir-relevant geological processes with real-rock micromodels

W Song, TW de Haas, H Fadaei, D Sinton

Lab on a Chip, 14 (22), 4382-43

Steam-on-a-chip for oil recovery: the role of alkaline additives in steam assisted gravity drainage

TW de Haas, H Fadaei, U Guerrero, D Sinton

Lab on a Chip, 13 (19), 3832-3839

Laminated thin-film Teflon chips for petrochemical applications

TW de Haas, H Fadaei, D Sinton

Lab on a Chip, 12 (21), 4236-4239

Screening high-temperature foams with microfluidics for thermal recovery processes

TW de Haas, B Bao, H Acosta Ramirez, A Abedini, D Sinton

Energy & Fuels, 35 (9), 7866-7873

Measurement of propane and butane diffusion into heavy oil using microfluidics

H Zhao, S Pierobon, A Pettigrew, J Doan-Prevost, OF Garnier, T de Haas

Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, D022S165R002

Rapid Microfluidic Analysis of Thermal Foam Stability at 250°C

B Bao, A Sanders, G Ren, T de Haas

Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, D011S018R003

Large-Scale High-Throughput Sensitivity Analysis of CO2 MMP to Optimize Gas Injection EOR Processes

A Abedini, Z Qi, T de Haas, D O'Brian

Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, D031S113R006

Patents(9 patents)

Downhole pressure pulse and pressurized chemical treatment for SAGD startup

CA2832626A1 · Suncor Energy

System and method for heating a bitumen or heavy oil reservoir

CA2932090C · Suncor Energy

Holder for a microfluidic chip

CA3109002A1 · Interface Fluidics

Microfluidic injection and manifold assembly

CA3075568A1 · Interface Fluidics

Microfluidic assembly and method for operating a microfluidic assembly

WO2023197061A1 · Interface Fluidics

Manifolds for microfluidic chips

CA3217503A1 · Interface Fluidics

Microfluidic devices and systems

CA3053595A1 · Interface Fluidics

Microfluidic devices for assessing thermodynamic properties

CA3199501A1 · Interface Fluidics

Manifolds for microfluidic chips (international)

WO2022251951A1 · Interface Fluidics

Awards & Recognition

Techstars Energy 2018 Cohort

Techstars · 2018

Creative Destruction Labs Graduate

CDL Rockies · 2018

Outstanding Science And Technology Start-Up

ASTech Foundation · 2017

Accelerate AB Pitch Competition Winner

A100 · 2017

G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance Summit Delegate

Futurpreneur Canada · 2017

The Doghouse Pitch Competition Winner

Global Petroleum Show · 2016

Energy New Ventures Competition (3rd Place)

Hunter Centre · 2016

Invited Lectures & Presentations

2022-2023
University of Texas at Austin — Designing advanced microfluidic systems for oil and gas
2024
Interpore Conference — Microfluidics for Flow and Transport in Porous Media (3hr course)
2025
Edmonton Startup Week — From Spark to Scale: Building Meaningful AI in Startups
2019
Society of Rheology Conference — Development and Commercialization of Microfluidic Fluid Testing
2017
ADIPEC — Rapid Microfluidic Analysis of Thermal Foam Stability at 250°C
2022
Association of Chemical Professionals of Alberta — Microfluidics at 1000 bar
2023
SPE Thermal Well Integrity Symposium — Screening high temperature foams with microfluidics
2021
University of Minnesota IPRIME Workshop — Microfluidic applications in the energy industry

Professional Memberships

P.Eng.

APEGA · 2015–Present

Member

Society of Petroleum Engineers · 2013–Present

Journal Reviewer

J. Petroleum Exploration & Production Technology