1) What attracted you to a career in venture capital, and what have been some of the key challenges and sources of satisfaction along the way?

Abdelrahman: I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of business, science, and technology, and venture capital sits right at that crossroads. What excites me most is helping transform innovative ideas into real field impact—combining technical understanding with commercial strategy to create measurable value. One of the biggest challenges is that we’re innovating in an environment we can’t directly see—everything happens underground—so uncertainty is unavoidable and iteration, testing, and learning are always part of the journey. The most rewarding moments are when a technology moves from pilot to repeat deployment and you can clearly see improvements in production or operations. That’s when innovation becomes real.

2) Looking ahead 3–5 years, where do you see new technologies having the greatest impact on O&G operations?

Abdelrahman: I believe the biggest impact will come from technologies that increase recovery factors, especially in unconventional reservoirs where significant resources still remain unrecovered. Key areas include completion and stimulation technologies that improve fracture efficiency and reservoir contact; nanotechnology and advanced materials for EOR, wettability control, and near-wellbore optimization; production-enhancement and flow-assurance solutions that sustain performance and reduce decline rates; AI-driven optimization and digital workflows to accelerate decisions and predict failures; and integrated systems that combine data, materials science, and deployment into proactive well management. We’ve made tremendous progress in drilling and completions efficiency over the past decade—the next major value opportunity is unlocking more recovery from existing assets.

3) Your work involves extensive travel. What do you enjoy most about traveling, and what is a favorite pastime outside of work and travel?

Abdelrahman: Travel has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career—I’ve had the opportunity to work across multiple continents, collaborating with people from different cultures and backgrounds who share a common passion for our industry and technical challenges. Outside of work, I’m very passionate about horse riding. Riding builds confidence, discipline, and leadership—there’s a powerful sense of trust and control when working with a horse that translates strongly into professional life. It’s both energizing and grounding at the same time.

1) Where do you see digital technologies being deployed in Drilling Engineering, and what has been the impact?

Ashutosh: Digital technologies are now deeply rooted and reshaping how wells are planned, executed, and optimized. Automation, real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, dysfunction detection, and data-driven decision-making are enabling unconventional wells to be drilled in ~20 days. It is helping us reach targets faster, reduce NPT, and deliver operations with greater consistency and safety.

2) What are some of your fondest memories of your time at OU? How did your Ph.D. training prepare you for a career in oil and gas, and what advice would you offer to current students?

Ashutosh: The OU Petrobowl competition was one of them. In addition to the teamwork and collaboration, the sense of pride and joy in carrying the OU colors will stay with me for a long time. My Ph.D. training was very important. It taught me how to be resilient, how to navigate uncertainty, and how to break down complex technical challenges, skills that translate directly into day-to-day engineering in oil and gas. My advice to current students is: embrace every opportunity that challenges you, whether it’s competitions, research projects, internships, or leadership roles. Those experiences prepare you just as much as coursework does. And don’t be afraid to explore new technologies; the industry is changing fast, and being adaptable is one of the biggest advantages you can have.

3) What are some of your favorite comfort foods, and is there a vacation spot you’d love to return to?

Ashutosh: Biryani… I can have it anytime and all the time! I’d love to go back to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, among other places in Utah. They were absolutely mesmerizing, something that stays with you long after you’ve left.

1) What initially attracted you to the oil and gas industry, and how is your first year at work shaping up?

Johnbaptist: The interplay between engineering, economics, and geopolitics that is ever-present in the O&G industry, all of which I’m deeply passionate about, drew me in. My first year at work is amazing! Working with TotalEnergies EP on the Tilenga, Kingfisher, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects has been such a great experience so far. My workmates are very supportive. What is most interesting is that I get to wake up every morning knowing I’m contributing to a project that will transform the region’s energy outlook.

2) You have been actively involved in SPE, as R&D Officer for the SPE Uganda Section and as President of the SPE Student Chapter at your university. How did these roles influence your personal and professional growth?

Johnbaptist: Getting involved with SPE has been such a blessing! As R&D Officer at the SPE Uganda Section, I’ve been able to interact with a lot of people within SPE, including professionals and students. Serving as SPE President while at the university enabled me to create a lasting impact on many students, from mobilizing them to register for SPE membership to encouraging their participation in Petrobowl.

3) Your region is known for its natural beauty. Is there a place you would recommend to someone visiting?

Johnbaptist: For anyone who wants to experience nature in its most pristine form, I’d recommend Murchison Falls National Park in Southwestern Uganda. You need to be there to see how beautiful those animals are! From lions, leopards, cheetahs, to elephants, antelopes, zebras, monkeys, and so many more. What’s most interesting is the efforts the local businesses are making to preserve biodiversity in the park, including actively fighting poaching.

1) What were some of the key challenges you had to overcome while starting your ventures, and what sources of satisfaction have you found along the way?

Yoshi: As I transitioned, many professional relationships had to be reset. I needed to build a consistent client base from scratch. Replacing the stability of corporate income was a real challenge. I found satisfaction in the relationships I developed through SPE and other networking, as well as in helping and mentoring others along the way.

2) You are chairing the organizing committee for the first SPE Quantum Computing (QC) workshop (May 2026). What is the core value proposition, and why is it timely for the industry?

Yoshi: QC represents a paradigm shift for the O&G industry. By efficiently exploring vast combinatorial solution spaces, QC can complement classical computing approaches, including AI and machine learning. This opens new possibilities to simulate subsurface reservoirs with greater fidelity, optimize production workflows across thousands of variables, and accelerate materials discovery for carbon capture and low-emissions technologies. The workshop aims to demystify this technology, highlight real-world applications, and provide participants with a practical roadmap for adoption. We have strong industry support for the workshop. The timing is right due to rapid advancements in QC hardware and algorithms, making this another powerful technology lever in our quest to advance energy security, affordability, and sustainability.

3) How do you typically unwind from a stressful day? Is there a travel experience you would love to revisit?

Yoshi: I exercise, read, and love spending time with my husband. I’d love to go skydiving in Guam again! We love to travel!

1) What motivated you to pursue post-graduate studies?

With a background in Computer Engineering, I became interested in reservoir simulation and applied Bayesian optimization to history-matching problems—one key aspect was comparing classical and quantum computing approaches. More broadly, my biggest motivation was a strong drive to learn more about the world around me. Having the opportunity to deeply explore a topic and apply it to real-world problems has been extremely fulfilling.

2) Machine Learning (ML) is a transformational technology. Where do you see it being applicable in Oil & Gas (O&G) operations?

During my Ph.D. research, I directly experienced the benefits of applying ML to history-matching reservoir simulation models. In reservoir modeling, replacing complex nonlinear partial differential equations with high-speed physics-informed ML proxy models can deliver significant gains in speed and performance. In well path planning, applying techniques like path-finding methods to create well paths in static models could improve iteration speed by acting as a filter in low-precision models before moving to methods with higher precision and accuracy. I see this framework as having broad applicability across O&G operations.

3) What do you do for fun?

I enjoy spending time outdoors—skiing, mountain biking local trails, and more recently, long-distance running. The peace of mind that comes from getting out into the wilderness and exercising really helps balance the busy and loud nature of everyday life. And now we have a newborn son, so we’re also experiencing a good new chapter of life!

1) You actively volunteer in the SPE Ghana regional section, a part of the SPE Africa. Please tell us about your role there.

We were delighted to receive the 2023 SPE Presidential Award for Outstanding Section. I currently serve as the Deputy Student Liaison Chair, where we organize webinars and student-focused programs, including our recent Effective Leadership Orientation for Student Chapter Officers. We are also organizing the national Petrobowl competition. One highlight was serving as Team Lead and Coach for UMaT’s winning 2024 SPE Drillbotics Team. As an RDTS Board member, I help channel webinars and related events to a broader audience here. Overall, I’ve benefited greatly from connecting with people across SPE.

2) What attracts you to a university environment and R&D?

R&D gives me the space to think critically, innovate, and experiment, rather than settling for solutions that are simply “good enough.” The university environment offers the freedom to pursue unconventional approaches that could potentially reshape entire fields. I also value the strong culture of mentorship, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

3) Please share some of your favorite places, events, or experiences.

I enjoy visiting the Kwame Nkrumah Museum in Accra, Ghana, which captures the struggles and journey of Kwame Nkrumah, a nation builder. Beyond its educational value, his vision inspires me to be a change agent. Outside of work, I enjoy playing the piano, guitar, flute, and saxophone, and I also love to sing. I enjoy watching live football matches with friends, especially Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. I’m a big fan of Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus.

1) What is the role of a Flow Assurance Simulations Engineer? What tools and techniques do you use?

We ensure the uninterrupted transport of hydrocarbons from the reservoir to processing facilities. Wax, hydrates, asphaltenes, scale, and corrosion can cause flow issues. I use advanced modeling and simulation tools to predict fluid behavior, design and optimize pipeline systems, validate fluid-handling capacities, and develop mitigation strategies for start-up, shutdown, and steady-state operations. This work also involves chemical selection, risk assessment, and operational troubleshooting, all aimed at maintaining safe, reliable, and cost-effective production. Ultimately, flow assurance is critical to both the integrity and profitability of oil and gas operations.

2) What was the topic of your Ph.D.? What motivated you to pursue post-graduate studies? How did it help you prepare for your O&G career?

I focused on understanding the role of wax and hydrate inhibitors in solving flow assurance challenges. In the field visits during my undergraduate studies, I saw the operational difficulties associated with transporting crude oil. At the same time, I gained a deeper appreciation for the critical role energy plays in our collective well-being. This triggered an interest in designing solutions that led to a Ph.D. and subsequently an engineering career in O&G.

3) You must be a cricket fan 🏏 Who is your favorite team?

I love both playing and watching cricket in my free time. My favorite teams are the Indian Men’s and Women’s cricket teams. The game-day atmosphere can be electric, and watching games with friends and family makes it even more exciting.

1) What does a typical work rotation look like for you as an MWD / Directional Drilling Field Engineer?

On-site, I work with a family of advanced MWD tools, which require careful handling. As a crew of about four people, we are responsible for operations, including tool programming, deployment, monitoring, and data quality control. A single run can last days or weeks. Safety is always the top priority. The data we acquire provides the client with information such as wellbore trajectory, formation properties, and drilling dynamics, which informs drilling decisions.

2) What sparked your interest in an oil & gas career, and how did your studies prepare you for field engineering?

My involvement in the Drillbotics competition, where our university team designed and built a fully functional laboratory-scale directional drilling rig, sparked my interest in O&G. Through Drillbotics, I gained hands-on experience with drilling mechanics, automation, data acquisition systems, and control algorithms, which closely reflect real-world MWD and directional drilling workflows. Beyond the technical skills, the project strongly developed my problem-solving ability, communication, and leadership skills, preparing me well for the real world.

3) How do you spend your time off rotation?

Part of my off-field time is dedicated to rest and recharge. At the same time, the rotation allows me to continue developing myself as an engineer. This flexibility allowed me to start CLS Engineering & Energy, an engineering-focused initiative where I work together with colleagues on concept studies, technical evaluations, and simulation-based analyses supporting city councils in Germany on geothermal-related topics.