Agenda

Tuesday, November 15

08:00 - 09:00
08:50 - 09:00
09:00 - 10:00
Plenary Session 1: Highlighting the Challenges Facing Governments, National Oil Companies, and International Oil Companies, in Ensuring Skills for the Future Meeting Room 3&4
Moderator(s) Robert Merrill, ADNOC

Moderator:

Robert Merrill
Head of Discipline
Reservoir & Petroleum Engineering
Thamama Subsurface Excellence Division
ADNOC

Speaker(s):

Albertus Retnanto
Program Chair
Texas A&M University at Qatar

Mohamed Al Marzouqi
Senior Vice President Development Function
ADNOC

Sima AlDroubi
Head of HR Talent Management
Dragon Oil

Oil and gas will be essential for the foreseeable future. Lower cost suppliers will be able to leverage their natural advantage, provided they can ensure that they have skills which may be increasingly rare in the future. In addition, governments and national oil companies have an additional desire to provide sustainable careers for national staff and organizations. However, enrollment in traditional petroleum educational programs is near historical lows, threatening the viability of some programs.  Furthermore, the future may not require traditional “petroleum” engineers and geoscientists, particularly as the world pivots towards alternative energy sources and pursues carbon capture technologies. And, although some traditional skills will be required, the number of professionals may be lower than previously planned. This session will highlight the challenges faced by governments, national oil companies and international oil companies in their plans to maintain a sustainable, skilled, and professional workforce.

10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:55
Session 1: Attracting Talent Meeting Room 3&4
Session Chairpersons Mahmood Al-Oraimi, Petroleum Development Oman; Mohamed Sassi, Khalifa University
Speaker(s) Kulthoom Bulushi, Petroleum Development Oman; Shirish Patil, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Moderator(s):

Mahmood Al-Oraimi
Omanisation and Talent Manager
Petroleum Development Oman

Mohamed Sassi
Professor - Mechanical Engineering
Khalifa University

Speaker(s):

Khaled Elghanduri
Schlumberger

Kulthoom Bulushi
Resourcing Lead
Petroleum Development Oman

Shirish Patil
Saudi Aramco Chair Professor
Department of Petroleum Engineering
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Petroleum and geoscience degrees are no longer attractive to young high school graduates nor their parents due to the notion that oil and gas reserves are being depleted and the industry will soon disappear. This is, of course, not true when we see that ADNOC, for example, increased its production from 3.2 million barrels/day to 4 million from 2017 to now, and is projecting an increase to 5 million by 2025. To help them attain this target they planned 1600 horizontal wells, especially in unconventional reservoirs.

Similarly, worldwide, new conventional and unconventional reserves are being unlocked while oil and gas prices are increasing sharply because no new investments are being put towards drilling new wells. Oil and gas will remain the major energy source for decades to come and petroleum engineers and geoscientists are needed to drive the aging industry. Therefore, it is critical to address the challenge of attracting young talent to the petroleum and geoscience programmes as this is key to the continuous supply of skills to the oil and gas industry and to the survival of their related university degree programmes.

However, the energy industry is going through a transition that needs to be taken in consideration when tackling the above challenges. Renewable energies are the talk of every politician and household, and they cannot be ignored in this consideration. Thus, it is better to look at the challenge from the perspective of both present and future energy resources, and propose new university programmes that address the energy portfolio as a whole rather than just the oil and gas resources. Graduating engineers that are conversant in energy as a whole, would probably attract youngsters to the degree programme. Petroleum and geoscience skills can be covered within subsurface energy resources.

This session will highlight the challenges faced by the aging oil and gas industry, which is no longer attractive to young people. The very low student numbers in petroleum and geoscience degree programmes are pushing them to closure in most of the universities. New and innovative programmes and curriculum focusing on energy resources must be introduced to revive interest in the field among young talent looking for university degrees that ensures them a stable and prosperous future.

11:55 - 13:00
Session 2: Providing Skills for the Future Meeting Room 3&4
Session Chairpersons Nayef Alyafei, Texas A&M in Qatar

Moderator(s):

Nayef Alyafei
Associate Professor
Petroleum Engineering Program
Texas A&M in Qatar

Speaker(s):

Theis Solling
Director for the Center of Integrative Petroleum Research
Senior Research Scientist (Professor)
KFUPM

Topic - The Role of the Integrative Research Model in the Energy Transition

Emad El-Shalabi
Assistant Professor
Petroleum Engineering
Khalifa University

The energy industry is changing—on the one hand, companies are expanding their portfolio of activities beyond oil and gas, including but not limited to CCUS, hydrogen production, or renewable energy. On the other hand, new tools such as machine learning and virtual reality, and new ways of working such as blended working, impact the way the energy industry operates and industry professionals interact with each other. However, these changes also imply that the skills needed for the jobs of the future are less clearly defined than in the past.

This session will, therefore, explore how universities can deliver the right training to graduate skilled scientists and engineers that can thrive in the energy industry of future – from providing the right technical skills that allow them to adapt to new challenges across a growing range of energy applications to excelling in virtual team environments – so that they can make significant and positive contributions during our transition to a sustainable and just energy future.

13:00 - 14:00
14:00 - 15:25
Session 3: Gaps - What Needs to be Addressed? Meeting Room 3&4
Session Chairpersons Robert Merrill, ADNOC

Moderator:

Robert Merrill
Head of Discipline
Reservoir & Petroleum Engineering
Thamama Subsurface Excellence Division
ADNOC

Speaker(s):

Yahya Essa AlBastaki
Senior Business Partner, Human Capital
Human Capital Business Partner (Upstream) Function
ADNOC

Topic - ADNOC Upstream Academy – Supply & Demand against Talent Value Chain

Zuwaina Al-Rawahi
Exploration Capability & Operation Excellence Manager
Petroleum Development Oman

Topic - TBC

C. Susan Howes PE, PHR
Vice President of Engineering
Subsurface Consultants & Associates, LLC (SCA)

Topic - Building a Resilient Energy Workforce of the Future

 

The difference between the levels of current enrolment in traditional petroleum engineering and geoscience programmes with the projected needs of the industry is clearly a gap that will need to be filled in some fashion to sustain the needed levels of hydrocarbon production. There are other gaps that will need to be addressed as well. Gender balance remains one such gap, especially in STEM subjects. The growing divergence in orientation between academia and industry will need to be addressed. 

Academic programmes are changing faster than the industry they have traditionally supported. Some programmes have placed an increasing emphasis on machine learning and data science, while others have widened their scope to include energy topics (e.g. wind generation) that are well beyond the scope of traditional petroleum engineering. 

With the addition of new subject areas, others must go unaddressed, opening gaps in graduates’ exposure.  Within industry, there are gaps between knowledge and practical experience that often go unaddressed.  This session will discuss the gaps that are currently recognised and will include working groups to consider other gaps that have not been specifically identified.

15:25 - 16:00
16:00 - 17:15
Breakout Session: What have we heard regarding the needs and the challenges? Meeting Room 3&4

Facilitator(s):

Clare Wale
Manager
Competency Development Competency Management Division
ADNOC

Nayef Alyafei
Associate Professor
Petroleum Engineering Program
Texas A&M in Qatar

17:15 - 17:30

Wednesday, November 16

08:00 - 09:00
08:50 - 09:00
09:00 - 10:00
Plenary Session 2: Challenges in Academia and Training Companies Meeting Room 3&4
Speaker(s) Salam Salamy, Saudi Aramco; Ford Brett, PetroSkills; Naser Al Siyabi, Oman Institute for Oil and Gas

Moderator:

Clare Wale
Manager
Competency Development Competency Management Division
ADNOC

Speaker(s):

​Salam Salamy
Administrator
UPDC
Saudi Aramco

Topic - Professional development in the era of digital transformation and decarbonization

Ford Brett
CEO
PetroSkills

Topic - EXACTLY just how similar are PetroTechnical competencies to those needed for NetZero and Renewables?

Naser Al Siyabi
General Manager
Oman Institute for Oil and Gas

Topic - Impact of Energy Transition on Professional Education Institutes

Many universities that have traditionally delivered renowned petroleum engineering and geoscience training have changed their traditional degree programmes to cover a much broader range of subsurface energy applications than oil and gas. These changes are at least partly driven by internal and external views that challenge the close cooperation between the oil and gas industry and academia, but also by the need to diversify classical oil and gas degrees to attract new students by delivering the geoscience and engineering training needed to transition to a sustainable and just energy future.

In addition, there is growing awareness at universities that education needs to become more inclusive, diverse, and equitable such that talented students from all walks of life can pursue degrees in science and engineering. Service companies are also increasingly expanding their teaching portfolio to cover a much broader range of tailored training, including but not limited to CCUS, geothermal energy, hydrogen storage, or machine learning to enable continued upskilling and life-long learning for industry professionals.

This session will identify the key challenges that universities, professional training providers, and the energy industry, need to overcome to ensure that the engineers and scientists of the future obtain the right training throughout their careers so that they can excel in a rapidly changing environment and make lasting and positive contributions to the energy transition.

10:30 - 11:00
10:30 - 11:55
Session 4: Curriculum Meeting Room 3&4
Session Chairpersons Shirish Patil, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Speaker(s) Dhafer Al-Shehri, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM); Ron Hinn, Petroskills; Albertus Retnanto, Texas A&M University at Qatar

Session Chair:

Emad El-Shalabi
Assistant Professor
Petroleum Engineering
Khalifa University

Moderator:

Shirish Patil
Saudi Aramco Chair Professor
Department of Petroleum Engineering
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Speaker(s):

Dr. Dhafer Al-Shehri
Chairman, Petroleum Engineering
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)

Topic - Preparing the Future Petroleum Engineering graduates: Curriculum Enhancement for the Digital Age

Ford Brett
CEO
Petroskills

Topic - Accreditation Criteria Supportive of PE Department Energy Transition Initiatives

Albertus Retnanto
Program Chair
Texas A&M University at Qatar

Topic - Preparing New Engineers for the Challenging Job Markets over the Next Decade

Energy transition from hydrocarbons to renewables is accepted as a future path towards decarbonisation. The impact it will have on the petroleum and natural gas engineering (PNGE) programmes around the world will vary according to the geographical distribution of fossil fuel resources and access to other forms of energy. Sustainability, CCUS, and digital technologies will also play a vital role in energy transition and decarbonisation.

However, the E&P industry and service companies will need a steady stream of PE graduates to sustain oil and gas production while we navigate through this energy transition. Currently, despite the increase in oil prices, most PNGE programmes around the world are struggling to attract high school graduates to pursue PNGE careers.

So, this fundamental question remains—how should academia prepare today's graduates for the challenges of tomorrow’s energy transition? Reviewing the current curriculums of the PNGE programmes and revising it to prepare PE graduates for the future energy transition will attract more students to careers in the E&P industry. Rebranding the PNGE programme with digital technologies and sustainable development might be an alternative to attract students to the PNGE programmes.

Currently, ABET-accredited PNGE programmes must satisfy the SPE Programme Criteria and the ABET General Criteria in order to retain its accreditation. Significantly tailoring the curriculum to address energy transition would require a review and change of the SPE Programme Criteria. This session will engage academia and industry colleagues in a dialogue to address both the needs of the E&P industry, and how academia should respond to address those needs, while protecting accreditation.

11:55 - 13:20
Session 5: Internal Programmes: Filling the Gaps Meeting Room 3&4
Session Chairpersons Syed Razaa, Kuwait Oil Company; Robert Merrill, ADNOC

Moderators:

Syed Razaa
Senior Training Coordinator
Competency Development Specialist
Kuwait Oil Company

Robert Merrill
Head of Discipline
Reservoir & Petroleum Engineering
Thamama Subsurface Excellence Division
ADNOC

Speaker(s):

Jorge Gomes
Head of Discipline, Geoscience
Thamama Subsurface Excellence Division
ADNOC

Topic - Future GeoScience Skills During the Energy Transition

Sylvia Reyer
Head of Training Services
HOT Engineering

Topic - Challenges of Collaborative Partnerships in View of the Increasing Demand for Qualified Workforce

​​Syed Razaa
Senior Training Coordinator - Competency Development Specialist
Kuwait Oil Company

Topic - Attracting and retaining Talent during energy Transition: Challenge or Opportunity?

The industry cannot rely solely upon academia to meet the challenge of maintaining a sustainable skill pool. Historically, companies have often relied on internal programmes to train engineers and geoscientists in the specifics of the petroleum industry. With lower enrolment in both petroleum engineering and petroleum geoscience, internal programmes in the era of energy transition will be called upon to do more.

This session will take an in-depth look at the different internal company programmes being considered to meet the challenge, the roles of collaborative partnerships between industry, academia, and service providers. Consideration will also be given to onboarding, summer/intern, and graduate/life-long learning programmes to attract and retain skills.

13:20 - 14:20
14:20 - 15:45
Session 6: Success Stories Meeting Room 3&4
Session Chairpersons Syed Razaa, Kuwait Oil Company; Nayef Alyafei, Texas A&M in Qatar

Moderators:

Syed Razaa
Senior Training Coordinator
Competency Development Specialist
Kuwait Oil Company

Nayef Alyafei
Associate Professor
Petroleum Engineering Program
Texas A&M in Qatar

Speaker(s):

Sara Alhammadi
Engineer, Reservoir Management
SE Development
ADNOC Onshore

Topic - Challenges Define Success

Peter Tipler
MD
X-Academy

Topic - Professional Skills Partnerships for a Net Zero World

Hamood Al Rashdi
Graduate Program Lead
Competency Development Specialist
Petroleum Development Oman

Topic - PDO young professional development programme

In the era of energy transition and rapid change of technological advancement, it is evident that there is less attraction from the new generation towards the conventional oil and gas sector. It is also felt that there is a gap between academia curriculum and industry needs. Therefore, this session will focus on the success stories of NOCs, IOCs, and service companies regarding how they are identifying and dealing with current challenges in terms of developing a competent workforce. Sharing best practices always helps to expand the knowledge process and it is a very strong tool to adopt changes effectively with less effort. It generates creative and Innovative ideas, enables better decision making and boosts efficiency and performance.

Over the past few years, the number of student enrollments in petroleum engineering programmes has significantly declined. Many programmes worldwide had to shut down due to a low number of students or lack of interest in petroleum engineering, in general. However, on the other side, several programmes have sustained their number of students, and some have showed an increase in student enrollment.

In this session, we will highlight these programmes' success stories and the strategies they have followed to achieve these milestones. In addition, we will address the industry's perspectives on such initiatives and future recommendations.

15:35 - 16:00
16:00 - 17:15
Breakout Session: What should we being doing now to ready ourselves for the tasks ahead? Meeting Room 3&4

Facilitator(s):

Clare Wale
Manager
Competency Development Competency Management Division
ADNOC

Nayef Alyafei
Associate Professor
Petroleum Engineering Program
Texas A&M in Qatar

17:25 - 17:40