Abdulla Ali Ahmed Aldambi

[email protected] • +967 - 777219707 • Khor maksar – Aden - Yemen

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Dynamic Petroleum Executive and Professor with over 20 years of proven leadership in upstream oil and gas, driving exploration, drilling, reservoir management, and production optimization to deliver measurable results. Spearheaded multimillion-dollar projects that boosted operational efficiency by 25% and streamlined crude oil export operations, including cargo loading and partner share allocation. A champion of HSE compliance and digital transformation, expertly integrating advanced reservoir simulation tools like Petrel and Eclipse with machine learning to enhance data-driven decision-making. Bilingual in Arabic and Russian with professional English proficiency, dedicated to mentoring high-performing teams and fostering collaborative stakeholder partnerships that accelerate sustainable growth and innovation.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Deputy General Manager for Technical Affairs

10/2023 - Present

YICOM - Block 4 , Yemen

• Led technical operations and engineering projects for Block 4, deploying proprietary reservoir simulation and drilling optimization technologies that increased operational efficiency by 15%, reduced costs by 10%, and ensured 100% on-time delivery, driving strict budget adherence and cost control

• Solved complex production, reservoir, and drilling challenges by implementing data-driven methodologies and integrated risk management frameworks, reducing downtime by 10% and optimizing resource allocation across multi-million-dollar projects

• Served as the primary technical liaison between multidisciplinary engineering teams and senior management, improving project ROI by 12%, enhancing safety compliance through rigorous protocols, and strengthening budget oversight via strategic resource allocation

• Mentored and developed a high-performing engineering team by instituting best practices, continuous improvement programs, and safety initiatives, boosting technical competencies and innovation output by 20%, fostering a culture of operational excellence and leadership

Production Manager

04/2019 - Present

YICOM - Block 4

• Led production operations at YICOM - Block 4 by implementing Lean manufacturing principles and advanced SCADA systems, increasing output by 15% and well performance by 10%, which boosted asset profitability and operational efficiency while managing a $10M operational budget

• Implemented data-driven optimization strategies using OSIsoft PI and AspenTech software, reducing operational downtime by 12% and generating over $500K in annual cost savings, delivering a strong ROI on technology investments and optimizing resource allocation

• Directed cross-functional teams in proactive troubleshooting and rapid incident resolution, cutting response time by 20%, improving safety compliance by 15%, and enhancing production reliability, resulting in zero lost-time incidents over 12 months

• Mentored and developed junior staff through targeted training and succession planning programs, fostering a culture of continuous improvement that reduced turnover by 10%, improved team retention rates, and strengthened workforce capability

General Manager of the Exploration and Drilling Department

04/2025 - Present

YICOM

• Spearheaded exploration and drilling operations across 5+ upstream oil and gas fields, implementing innovative drilling technologies and advanced reservoir modeling with Schlumberger Petrel and OFM software, resulting in a 15% increase in recovery rates and a 12% reduction in operational costs

• Directed comprehensive field development planning and reservoir management strategies that generated $50M in incremental annual revenue by optimizing production workflows and aligning cross-functional teams to accelerate decision-making

• Led and mentored a high-performing team of 40+ technical professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and agile project management, which improved project delivery timelines by 20% and enhanced operational efficiency

• Championed rigorous HSE compliance and risk management protocols, achieving zero lost-time incidents over 3 consecutive years and earning the Safety Excellence Award, reinforcing a culture of safety and sustainable upstream operations

Professor / Associate Professor

07/2015 - 09/2022

Faculty of Science, Aden University

• Led the design and deployment of an innovative petroleum engineering curriculum integrating Python programming, machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, Scikit-learn), and digital oilfield technologies, resulting in a 30% increase in graduate employment by aligning competencies with evolving industry demands and emerging technologies

• Secured $500K in competitive research grants and published 14 peer-reviewed articles utilizing advanced reservoir modeling software (ECLIPSE, Petrel) and data analytics, enhancing reservoir forecasting accuracy by 25% and accelerating exploration decision-making processes

• Revitalized academic programs as Vice Dean by spearheading strategic faculty development initiatives and forging impactful partnerships with industry leaders such as Schlumberger and Halliburton, driving a 20% increase in faculty research output and a 15% growth in external collaborations through joint projects and technology transfer

• Mentored over 30 graduate students employing structured career development and research guidance, achieving an 80% success rate in placement within top-tier industry roles or publication acceptance within six months post-graduation, significantly advancing student career trajectories and industry integration

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering

03/2002

Russian State University of Oil and Gas named after I.M. Gubkin , Moscow, Russian Federation

Master of Science in Development and Exploitation oil and gas fields

06/1997

State Academy of Oil and Gas named after I.M. Gubkin , Moscow, Russian Federation

Preparatory Faculty for Foreign Citizens

01/1991 - 12/1992

, Novomoskovsk, Russia

SKILLS

Technical Skills: Exploration & Drilling Management, Reservoir Engineering, Production Optimization, Field Development Planning, Reservoir Simulation, HSE Management, Risk Assessment, Machine Learning in Oil & Gas, Advanced Analytics, Digital Transformation, Research & Development

Soft Skills: Strategic Leadership, Team Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Problem Solving, Project Management, Cross-cultural Communication, Mentoring, Continuous Improvement

Tools: Petrel, Eclipse ETS, OFM, Microsoft Office Suite, Tableau, Power BI

Other: HSE Certification, Project Management Certification, Exploration & Drilling Industry Knowledge, HSE Standards, Regulatory Compliance, Upstream Oil & Gas Operations, YICOM Industry Experience, Arabic (Native), Russian (Fluent), English (Professional Working Proficiency)

PROJECTS

Operational Overhaul & Export Logistics Excellence, Rudhum Petroleum Terminal

Technologies: Coriolis flow meters, Ultrasonic flow meters, Real-time data validation algorithms, Anomaly detection techniques, Tank gauging systems, Cryptographic digital signatures, ISO 9001 compliance frameworks, SAP ERP, Oracle ERP, Agile methodology, Lean Six Sigma, Automated exception handling, Integrated reporting dashboards, Cross-functional team leadership, Process automation tools, Operational budget cost analysis, Proactive risk management solutions, Continuous improvement frameworks

• Led the full operational transformation of Yemen's Rudhum Petroleum Terminal by architecting and integrating Coriolis and ultrasonic flow meters with custom real-time data validation and anomaly detection algorithms, resolving synchronization challenges and increasing crude oil export throughput by 15%, significantly enhancing process reliability and minimizing downtime

• Designed and implemented precision auditing and reconciliation workflows leveraging real-time tank gauging and flow metering data, incorporating automated data integrity checks and exception handling that achieved 99.8% accuracy in volume allocations, reduced manual interventions by 40%, and exceeded operational budget cost-saving targets by 12%

• Developed a secure, automated digital documentation system for Bills of Lading and Certificates of Quantity with embedded cryptographic digital signatures and ISO 9001 compliance validation, reducing documentation errors by 30%, accelerating processing times by 25%, and ensuring strict adherence to international trade regulations

• Spearheaded cross-functional collaboration among logistics, finance, and HSE teams to customize and integrate SAP and Oracle ERP modules with terminal operations, applying Agile and Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve operational uptime by 10%, enable proactive risk management through integrated reporting dashboards, and enhance stakeholder engagement through transparent communication and data-driven decision-making

Field Development & Production Optimization, Block 4

Technologies: Eclipse, CMG, SCADA, IoT Sensor Networks, Cloud Streaming Analytics, Random Forest, Time-series Forecasting, Machine Learning, Agile Methodologies, Jira, Confluence, Data Pipeline Integration, Economic Modeling

• Led end-to-end development and deployment of advanced reservoir simulation models using Eclipse and CMG, processing multi-terabyte geological and production datasets to optimize hydrocarbon recovery, resulting in a 12% increase in output through detailed economic modeling and scenario analysis

• Engineered and integrated real-time machine learning surveillance systems across 150+ wells by leveraging IoT sensor networks and SCADA infrastructure, supported by cloud-based streaming analytics, boosting production efficiency by 15% and reducing operational response times by 30%

• Designed and implemented predictive maintenance algorithms utilizing time-series forecasting and Random Forest models on high-frequency sensor data, reducing equipment downtime by 20% while leading Agile teams with Jira and Confluence to accelerate issue resolution and continuous delivery

• Collaborated cross-functionally with geoscientists, engineers, and data scientists to integrate multi-source data pipelines and advanced analytics platforms, driving a 10% growth in field output through dynamic production optimization and data-driven decision making

Digital Transformation in Petroleum Engineering Education

Technologies: Python, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, Unity3D, MATLAB, Machine Learning, AI-driven Predictive Analytics, Physics-based Simulation, Real-time Data Synchronization, Middleware Integration, Agile Methodologies, Jira, Slack, Cross-functional Team Collaboration Tools

• Led the comprehensive modernization of the petroleum engineering curriculum by integrating digital oilfield technologies with custom Python-based machine learning models using TensorFlow and scikit-learn, employing iterative testing, cross-validation, and hyperparameter tuning to address critical industry skill gaps and ensure practical, real-world applicability

• Developed immersive virtual laboratory environments and high-fidelity simulation platforms leveraging Unity3D and MATLAB, overcoming challenges in real-time data synchronization and physics-based modeling through innovative middleware solutions, which boosted student engagement by 40% and enhanced experiential learning for over 300 students annually

• Established and managed strategic academia-industry partnerships, coordinating cross-functional teams via Agile methodologies and collaboration tools such as Jira and Slack to co-create AI-driven reservoir management and production optimization solutions, including predictive algorithms that improved forecasting accuracy by 25% through advanced feature engineering and model optimization

CERTIFICATIONS

Supreme Management & Modern Methods in Petroleum Engineering

10/2004

Al Amal Petroleum Training Institute, Egypt

Advanced Petroleum Production Intensification & Recovery Enhancement

02/1998