Petroleum Engineering honors new technologist and advanced degree program graduates

Petroleum Engineering (PE) held its annual graduation ceremony in March to recognize six graduates from its flagship Technologist Development Program (PE-TDP). PE also celebrated 20 professionals for completing advanced degree programs.

PE-TDP helps ensure that Aramco has enough internal technical subject matter expertise. The program has so far graduated 52 professionals who are now serving the company in various technical and leadership positions. 

The 20 PE professionals recognized for completing advanced degree programs (four Ph.D. and 16 M.S. degrees) are expected to rejoin PE-TDP to continue their technical development journey and work with their mentors to develop in line with Aramco’s goals and aspirations.

Ali A. Al-Meshari, senior vice president, Technology Oversight & Coordination, and TDP Steering Committee chairman, opened the event by highlighting the excellent development opportunities offered by the PE-TDP, enabling employees to gain further technological expertise with full Aramco support. 

Transformed and expanded

Al-Meshari explained the pivotal role of the PE-TDP in supporting Aramco’s objectives of providing a safe, stable, and affordable source of energy to the world. 

The transformed and expanded program has increased participants by 40% year-on-year, and there are plans to enroll 100 young professionals by year-end. 

Al-Meshari congratulated the graduates of the program, as well as the TDP Steering Committee, and all those involved. He also encouraged the celebrated advanced degree program graduates and other young professionals to join PE-TDP and help Aramco achieve its goal of maintaining technological excellence.

The combined achievements of the PE-TDP graduates are testimony to their enthusiasm and dedication, and included: 30-plus patents, 70-plus technical studies, 50-plus days of teaching, 50-plus publications (including 19 peer-reviewed journal papers), 600-plus citations, and more.  

Deep technical knowledge

Graduation projects also demonstrated the wide scope and deep technological knowledge required by PE professionals, from planning to drilling and producing, while safeguarding reservoir integrity.

For example, Anas M. Almarzooq, a petroleum engineering specialist, leveraged machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to show the potential for significant savings for unconventional producers. 

While Hasan A. Nourdeen, a reservoir simulation specialist, also leveraged the power of AI and machine learning to develop a rig scheduling assistant, enhancing the business and investment plan processes, reducing the time of the planning cycle, and assessing uncertainty in drilling cost and time estimates.

The event concluded with a recognition ceremony presided over by the senior vice president of Petroleum Engineering and Development, Waleed A. Al-Mulhim, in addition to Al-Meshari and other members of Aramco management. 

Caption for top photo: Graduates from advanced degree programs and the Petroleum Engineering’s flagship Technologist Development Program pose with members of management at a recent recognition ceremony.