Mahdi AbuAli

I have over thirty years of Paleozoic petroleum geology and exploration experience in Saudi Arabia. I am expert on risking, analyzing, and managing exploration portfolios. I have a proven record of adding multi mmb oil and several tcf gas to the annual exploration portfolio. My extensive proficiencies cover petroleum systems analysis, basin modeling, geochemistry, source rock evaluation, R&D studies with high caliber institutes and universities, strategic planning, risk evaluation, integration of multidisciplinary G&G data, prospect and regional play fairway assessment and working with multi-cultural joint ventures. I have carried out work on Paleozoic and Mesozoic basins, generating regional and sub-regional basin models and integrated petroleum system element fairway maps. I have technically contributed and managed teams that integrate multidisciplinary data including seismic, structural, stratigraphic, petrophysical, geochemical and basin modeling. My experience with international IOCs covered both technical and administrative roles of joint venture operations with Saudi Aramco, exploring for gas in the Paleozoic section of the Rub’ Al Khali basin. I was particularly selected to transfer regional data and knowledge to the IOC’s data rooms during the licensing rounds in 2000-2004. These companies include Shell, Total, Eni, Repsol, ExxonMobil, Sinopec, and Lukoil, amongst others. I have published key papers on the major carbonate and siliciclastic petroleum systems of Saudi Arabia. I am considered the first geochemist and petroleum system analyst in Saudi Aramco by both education and experience. I have advised, coached, and mentored young geoscientists and won regional and international prizes. These include first place in the AAPG Middle East Regional Barrel Award in 2020 virtually and in 2015 in Oman, and second place in 2018 in Bahrain. I was the industrial advisor to the KFUPM team that won the Seeley Cup (second place) in 2020 (virtual) and the Stonely Award (third place) in the AAPG International Barrel Award in 2015 in Denver. My major publication was co-editing the AAPG Memoir #114 titled “Petroleum Systems Analysis-Case Studies”, 2017. I hold five US patents as a primary author and three patents as a co-author. Currently, I am working with a private oil company evaluating oil and gas acreage opportunities in Western Australia as well as consulting with international mining companies on mining projects in the Middle East.

35 years of exploration experience in the Paleozoic section of Saudi Arabia. Managed, risked and analyzed the exploration portfolio for Saudi Aramco. Expertise in risking analysis, geochemical evaluation, integration of G&G data, prospect evaluation and risking and geological research studies.

PhD, Geoscience, RWTH Aachen University, Germany, 2005

MSc, Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, USA, 1989

BSc, Industrial Chemistry, KFUPM, Saudi Arabia, 1985