Expert Profile
Youssef Sallam
Wells Engineering Advisor / Instructor / Competency Assessor / Technical Facilitator
Overview
Youssef Sallam is a distinguished Wells Engineering Advisor and Instructor, bringing over four decades of expertise in petroleum engineering to the industry. Graduating from Cairo Engineering University in 1984, Youssef started his career as a Drilling Engineer and Supervisor, honing his skills with entities such as GUPCO, Petrobel, and Schlumberger. Notably, his tenure at BP Egypt showcased his adept leadership in achieving milestones like completing the deepest HPHT Deepwater well and consistently delivering top-quartile drilling performance wells in Egypt's Mediterranean deep-water.
In his current role as an Associate at Relentless Pursuit of Perfection (rp2), Youssef continues to exemplify excellence, focusing on providing technical training, teaching Drilling Engineering courses, and developing competency assessments for well engineers. His extensive knowledge spans global drilling projects across Egypt, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean Sea. Youssef's skill set includes negotiating critical service agreements, delivering wells ahead of planned time and cost, and implementing advanced technologies like Managed Pressure Drilling and the StressCage technique.
Youssef Sallam is renowned for his commitment to advancing drilling practices, showcasing a unique blend of technical prowess and leadership acumen. His expertise in Managed Pressure Drilling, StressCage technique, and other cutting-edge technologies has left an indelible mark on the industry. Youssef's dedication to fostering collaboration between operators and service contractors underscores his influence, making him a valuable asset in the realm of Wells Engineering.
Education
Youssef Sallam's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Petroleum Engineering, which he obtained from the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University in 1984.
- 2022: Presented “Batch Drilling Application in Deepwater” SPE D&C Optimisation workshop, Cairo, Egypt.
- 2018: Submitted a paper “The Challenges and Solutions of Drilling Raven Wells, Offshore Egypt” to Egypt Show 2019 and SPE conference in Bahrain 2019.
- 2018: Presented “Well Design Considerations” in SPE Drilling and Optimisation Workshop, Egypt.
- 2018: Delivered and co-authored “Cementing Challenges in Deepwater Nile Delta” presentation, Liston, Portugal.
- 2017: Presented “Differential Stuck Pipe Training” for EDC Rig 9 Crew, Cairo, Egypt.
- 2017: Presented “Underreaming Drilling Challenges” for SPE Young Professionals, Egypt.
- 2016: Presented “Deepwater Drilling Challenges in The Mediterranean Sea” in SPE Deepwater Challenges workshop, Egypt.
- 2016: Supervised and coached delivering two technical Presentations “MPD and Atoll Drilling Practice” that presented by my Drilling Team in SPE/IADC Drilling in Africa Conference, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 2009: Presented “Drilling Practices with MPD Application” poster, BP Drilling Conference, San Diego, California, USA.
- 2006: Presented a paper “Challenges of Cementing Horisontal Wells” MOC meeting in Alexandria, Egypt.
- 2004: Presented “Step Change in HSE performance in GUPCO” poster, BP Drilling Conference, Banff, Calgary, Canada.
This foundational degree laid the groundwork for his extensive career in the oil and gas industry. Furthermore, Youssef pursued advanced studies in the field by completing a pre-master program in Drilling Engineering at Cairo University in 1988, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning and specialisation in the intricacies of drilling operations.
Comprehensive Career Overview and Achievements in Drilling Engineering
- Relentless Pursuit of Perfection (rp2) – Associate (2021 – Present):
- Position: Drilling Engineering Instructor/Trainer/Assessor
- Responsibilities:
- Providing technical training and teaching for oil and gas professionals at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
- Training and teaching Drilling Engineering and Operation courses at AUC, including Advanced Drilling Engineering, Deepwater Well Engineering and Construction, Drilling Well Control, Drillstring Design, and Drilling Performance Improvement & Training to Reduce Unscheduled Events (T.R.U.E).
- Developed and provided Wells Engineering training and competency assessment to Petro-Gas Oman Wells Engineering team (both well site and office).
- Baker & ENI – Technical Project Manager and Wells Engineering Advisor (2019 – 2021):
- Responsibilities:
- Provided drilling technical support to Baker and ENI drilling teams during the successful drilling of the first HPHT Deepwater exploration well (Nour-1).
- Joined Shell/RPC as Wells Engineering Advisor, providing technical engineering and operational support during the HPHT Deepwater exploration wells campaign (Montu-1, Scorpion-1).
- Achievements: Delivered within planned AFE time and cost; Baker-related NPT was less than 1% of total well NPT.
- Responsibilities:
- BP Egypt – Drilling Engineering Team Leader (2010 – 2018):
- Responsibilities:
- Reviewed and ensured implementation of well design and planning activities according to Well Delivery Process and company standards.
- During execution phase, reviewed drilling operations with a strong focus on well control and process safety aspects.
- Achievements: Delivered GEB deep-water well slightly ahead of AFE; Delivered Atoll-1, the deepest and hottest exploration well in the Mediterranean Sea, 60 days ahead of plan with around $60m savings from planned AFE cost.
- Responsibilities:
- Schlumberger – Abu Dhabi, UAE – Drilling Engineer Manager – Gulf Area (2000 – 2003):
- Responsibilities:
- Supervised and managed Drilling Engineering Center in Abu Dhabi, standardising well planning and drilling engineering processes.
- Provided technical drilling engineering and directional drilling support for operations in the Gulf Area.
- Responsibilities:
- Schlumberger – Kuala Lumpur – Directional Drilling Expert (1999 – 2000):
- Responsibilities:
- Planned and designed drilling campaigns in Champion Field, Shell Brunei Petroleum Company.
- Achievements: Achieved best-of-the-best wells drilled in Shell Brunei over the last 10 years.
- Responsibilities:
Additional Information:
- Youssef Sallam’s technical expertise and research roles showcase his profound contributions to drilling operations and his commitment to advancing the field through training and advisory roles.
Technical Expertise and Research Roles
- 2018: IWCF Well Control – Combined Surface & Subsea BOP, Smith Mason Training, Cairo Egypt.
- 2013: Sand Control Training, BP, Houston, USA.
- 2013: Deepwater Completion Training, BP, Houston, USA.
- 2009: Deepwater Drilling Training, BP, Houston, USA.
- 2009: Rig Inspection Workshop, BP, Cairo, Egypt.
- 2005: HSE and Leadership Development, EDN, Cairo, Egypt.
- 2002: Advanced Casing Design, Entrac-Petroleum, UK.
- 2002: WellPlan, COMPASS, and StressCheck Software Training, Landmark, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- 2002: H2S and Desert Training Course, GTSC, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- 2001: Extended Reach Drilling and Horizontal Drilling course, K&M, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- 2000: Drilling the Limit (DTL) Workshop, Shell Brunei, Brunei, Darussalam.
- 1998: ERD Learning Transfer: Business Trip to BP Amoco Wytch Farm, Schlumberger, UK.
- 1998: Power Plan Directional Drilling Software Seminar, Schlumberger, Houston, USA.
- 1996: Advanced Directional Drilling School, Schlumberger, Houston, USA.
- 1995: Training to Reduce Unscheduled Events (TRUE), T.H. Hill, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1994: Drill String Failure Prevention School, T.H. Hill, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1993: Stuck Pipe and Drill String Failure Prevention, T.H. Hill, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1991: Oil Field Quality Control, Amoco, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1990: Drilling Fluids Training, Baroid, Houston, USA.
- 1989: Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Expertise
More About Youssef
Youssef Sallam, a seasoned petroleum engineer, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. With a career spanning several years, he has made significant contributions in drilling challenges, technical presentations, and HSE performance. Youssef is an active member of esteemed industry organisations such as the Project Management Institute and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Proficient in both Arabic and English, he communicates complex ideas with clarity and precision. His commitment to continuous improvement and innovation makes him a valuable asset in the field of petroleum engineering.
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