Ahmed M. Al Otaibi
Dhahran
Summary
Energy Executive leadership role driving organizational performance, strategy execution, and cross-functional alignment. 35 years of progressive experience at Saudi Aramco with professional and leadership roles spanning exploration portfolio development, upstream joint ventures, Drilling & Workover JV formation and governance, and gas strategy & reservoir characterization and technology & Innovation. Proven track record of building organizations from inception, leading large multidisciplinary teams, shaping enterprise-level strategy and driving value through disciplined execution, stakeholder alignment, technology-driven technology and risk-managed decision-making.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work history
Director, Gas Reservoir Characterization Department
Saudi Aramco
2018.01 - 2026.01
- Change Management: Led and started new department for Gas Reservoir Characterization as part of the gas strategy to streamline subsurface geological, geophysical and modeling support for gas development in the Kingdom. Major new functions and teams were established with proper organization structures along with innovative workflows and technologies that take the subsurface characterization to a unique level in the oil and gas industry.
- Adopt new Technology & Innovation: Out of necessities and to improve recovery factor for gas resources, gas wells delivery and well revivals; new technologies with innovative workflows were the cornerstone of the gas strategy to meet the kingdom gas demand. About 60+ patents were filed/granted since the inception of the new department and some of which are approved by the Technology Committee to be commercialize as they are unique in the industry and the rest of technologies are being assessed for commercialization.
- Vice President Assignment: During 7-8/2025 covered for the Vice President C&CFDG. Oversight ongoing projects, Geosteering Operations, Training and development and VIP visits to GOC.
- AI-Driven Reservoir Characterization (ADRC): In 2025 new unique solution in the industry has reached representing a breakthrough in AI-Driven Reservoir Characterization (ADRC). All manual work of data preparation and quality, formation facies and diagenesis predations as well as advanced special characterization were automated though AI and ML. Time turnaround time and accuracy are improved from 60-90% and 70-85% respectively in addition to preserving standardized workflows and competency with much higher efficiency.
Head of Drilling & Workover JV Office
Saudi Aramco
2017.01 - 2018.01
- JV Setup and Governance: Led Saudi Aramco team to form two new JVs between Saudi Aramco, Neighbors Drilling and Rowan Drilling. Selected team members to work with internal and external interties to finalize the investment decision through well established gates all the way to the Final Investment Decision. In addition, Saudi Aramco team provided Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for services provided by parent companies.
- Human resources: Worked with both Saudi Aramco relevant departments and other investors to establish the proper job families, salary structure, secondees and staffing.
- Finance and Legal Frame work: led Saudi Aramco team to prepare Project Agreements aligned with investment guidelines and provide input to the legal teams of parent companies to finalize the legal framework. In addition, the team provided input for service costing models, feedback on the financial reporting and established dashboard for financial and performance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Director, Upstream Venture Department
Saudi Aramco
2013.05 - 2016.01
- JV Exit & Liquidation: Worked with Upstream gas JVs operating in Rub Al Khali to exit the Upstream Projects as per the Concession Agreements including Enviromental Impar Assessment (EIA) for wells and seismic locations, data transfer to Ministry of Energy and Saudi Aramco, studies documentation and other liquidation obligations.
Manager/Chief Geologist
Saudi Aramco
2006.01 - 2013.04
- Technical Services: Established new services to support subservice exploration including new service such as establishment of Henry-Ford Production Line in the core laboratory, chemostratigraphy, geomechanics and mobile laboratory biostratigraphy.
- Operations: Oversight of drilling operations to provide hotshot rock sample petrography and description both on-site through mobile labs or in the Exploration Core Center. In addition provided sedimentologic, chemostratigraphic and image analysis studies to our clients in Exploration Organization.
- Data Management: Provided data taxonomy and structure for the corporate database, established data quality metrics and methodology.
Exploration Geologist
Saudi Aramco
1991.01 - 2005.01
- JV Advisor (2003-2005): Participated as JV advisor as a team member of the first Gas Ventures in the Kingdom under the leadership of HE Khalid AL Faleh to establish Upstream JVs for gas exploration in Rub Al Khali. After the formation of the JVs continued to work in the Gas Ventures Department (GVD) and JV manager for three years.
- Exploration Geologist (1996-2002): Worked on geological and geophysical data to map prospects for wildcat drilling for oil and gas targets. Some of these prospects discovered commercial oil and gas.
- Reservoir Geologist (1991-1995): Worked on field development utilizing G&G data and 3D seismic to produce 3D models for oil and gas reservoirs.
Education
Master of science - Geoscience
Keel University
UKBachelor of science - Engineering Geology
KAA University
KSAProfessional Affiliations & Awards and Leadership Programs
Professional Affiliations & Awards, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), Dhahran Geological Society (DGS), DGS Past President, European Association of Geoscience and Engineers (EAGE), Exploration Professional Award (Geologist of the Year 1998), Program Chairman of several technical workshops and conferences in oil and gas.
Leadership Programs
- Executive Business Program – Accounting, Finance and Risk Management – Edwin Cox School of Business, South Methodist University (SMU)
- Finance for Executives – INSEAD
- Effective Communication and Media Relation for Saudi Aramco management – RADA Business
- HR Partnership Program
- London Business School Program (LBSP) – Hosted program
Timeline
Director, Gas Reservoir Characterization Department
Saudi Aramco
2018.01 - 2026.01
Head of Drilling & Workover JV Office
Saudi Aramco
2017.01 - 2018.01
Director, Upstream Venture Department
Saudi Aramco
2013.05 - 2016.01
Manager/Chief Geologist
Saudi Aramco
2006.01 - 2013.04
Exploration Geologist
Saudi Aramco
1991.01 - 2005.01
Master of science - Geoscience
Keel University
Bachelor of science - Engineering Geology
KAA University