Saloua Tiar, Senior Petroleum Engineer, ADNOC

What was your first job in the industry

I started my career as a Production Engineer with an International Oil Service Company in Hassi-Messaoud – Algeria. I supported clients’ projects from: Petroleum engineering software, licensing, training, and modelling to data analysis.

How did you get into the oil and gas industry and was this always the industry for you?

I decided to study Hydrocarbon and Gas Production Engineering, as it was a relatively unexplored field for females in Algeria. Once I completed my degree I applied to Schlumberger. Already the selection process was a challenge due to the number of applicants as well as the selection process itself, which involved technical, psycho-technical and team building activities. Since I started to work in the O&G business, I never considered going out of it because of the technical challenges, the international assignments that provided enriching exposure to other countries and cultures.

 What has been the high point of your career so far?

So far, my highest point of my career is my current position with ADNOC ONSHORE. It’s very rewarding to be a part of such an exciting team, that has allowed me the opportunity to grow.

Have you had to face any challenges?

As a mother of two, the biggest challenge is to conciliate family with career. Professional wise the biggest challenges come from finding solutions to daily operational problems that need to be solved in a short time, keeping up with new technologies and looking for opportunities to implement them, working in a multicultural environment with people from different backgrounds and interacting with a multitude of technical disciplines.

What sparked your interest in engineering?

In addition to what I mentioned above, the diversity of the problems each requiring a unique approach triggered my interest.

How have you found working for one of the largest oil companies in the UAE?

What opportunities are there in the Middle East? It gives me great pride to be contributing directly to the largest percentage of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. I feel a great sense of belonging and feel fully integrated with the ADNOC community across all its multicultural nationalities. ADNOC has provided me with the needed space and freedom and acted as an incubator to my aspirations. The Middle East is well-known in the O&G world for the challenging nature of its reservoirs, placing the region at the center of the industry innovations for many years. It is part of ADNOC`s vision to use the latest technologies associated with Artificial Intelligence tools aiming to increase production and enhance recovery in more efficient and profitable way, making these very exciting times.

Is there anything you would like to see change in the industry?

O&G is historically a male dominated industry; however, women have already demonstrated that they can contribute and perform in this industry given equal opportunities. Furthermore, women can contribute to positive changes by providing a different perspective and ways of thinking. In the UAE, the government and specifically O&G companies are gradually promoting best practices to embrace and empower women in the industry.

 What would be your advice for other women looking to get into the industry?

The O&G industry calls for women that have sharp thinking, are committed and enthusiastic to develop themselves technically and scientifically, objective driven and ready to make positive changes. Every woman that enjoys professional challenges and looks forward to work within an industry that is on the cutting edge of technology while conciliating it with family, will feel she is in the right place.