The course included an overview of drilling rigs, an introduction to well planning geology and directional drilling design issues. Dr. Mahmood Amani, associate professor of petroleum engineering and course instructor, commented on the course, saying, “This continuing education course fits well within the mission of the Petroleum Engineering Program to provide close cooperation with the local oil and gas industry and support their petroleum engineering training needs.” The course was offered by the Network of Excellence in Training (NExT), a Schlumberger company, in collaboration with Texas A&M at Qatar.

For information contact: continuingeducation@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0079.

Undergraduate students from Texas A&M at Qatar and petroleum engineering university in Kuwait will compete, and winners will proceed to the SPE regional contest. Students Fares Attar, Sabrina Allan and Fatima Al Emadi from Texas A&M at Qatar are scheduled to participate.

For information contact Dr. Mahmood Amani: mahmood.amani@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0119.

The course, instructed by Dr. Anuj Gupta, associate professor of petroleum engineering, focused on solving real-world reservoir engineering problems based on application of analytical techniques. Case studies were used to interpret well test data from real reservoirs using commercial software and laboratory demonstrations. The course was offered by the Network of Excellence in Training (NExT), a Schlumberger company, in collaboration with Texas A&M at Qatar.

For information contact: continuingeducation@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0079.

The competition challenges juniors, seniors and graduate students to write and present technical papers. Industry professionals will judge the papers and presentations with top presenters awarded in each session.

For information contact Ghada Hamed: ghada.hamed@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0263.

Faculty, former students and industry representatives will discuss with students career opportunities connected to each respective major. Shannon McNulty, program coordinator for academic services and event organizer, said, “Career Exploration Days help students find exciting careers in their fields and encourage students in other majors to learn more about various disciplines within the University.” The Petroleum Engineering Program will host its Career Exploration Day on 16 Jan. The Chemical Engineering Program will welcome students on 19 Jan. The Mechanical Engineering Program’s event will take place on 23 Jan., and the Electrical Engineering Program’s on 24 Jan.

For information contact Shannon McNulty: shannon.mcnulty@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0193.

The course follows the reservoir and oilfield life cycle from exploration stages through reservoir management and production operation phases. Course content includes exercises, class discussions, team presentations and interactive challenges. Relevant concepts and topics from geology, geophysics, petrophysics, reservoir engineering, economics, drilling engineering and production operations are integrated into the course, which is appropriate for entry-level professionals.

For information contact: continuingeducation@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0079.

Faculty, former students and industry representatives will discuss with students career opportunities connected to each respective major. Shannon McNulty, program coordinator for academic services and event organizer, said, “Career Exploration Days help students find exciting careers in their fields and encourage students in other majors to learn more about various disciplines within the University.” The Petroleum Engineering Program will host its Career Exploration Day on 16 Jan. The Chemical Engineering Program will welcome students on 19 Jan. The Mechanical Engineering Program’s event will take place on 23 Jan., and the Electrical Engineering Program’s on 24 Jan.

For information contact Shannon McNulty: shannon.mcnulty@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0193.

Students Mustafa Al-Waily, Kelsey Prestidge, Kazi Alam and Ahmed Nosseir also participated in the annual Petrobowl quiz competition during the conference. For information contact Ghada Hamed: ghada.hamed@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0263.

The lecture is part of the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) 5th Student Lecture Tour in the Middle East, which is being welcomed to Texas A&M at Qatar for the fourth consecutive year. To register for the event, visit the EAGE Web site. For information contact Dr. Mashhad Fahes: mashhad.fahes@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.4423.0153.

Story by Elisabeth Kent
Video by Jamie Arrexi

Engineering students are too-often stereotyped as nerds, constantly experimenting in a laboratory, with few interests outside of academics. Anesa Al-Saiqal, a Qatari, petroleum-engineering senior, completely breaks this stereotype. For Anesa, Texas A&M University at Qatar has provided both academic and personal growth by offering a top engineering education coupled with extracurricular activities such as basketball and soccer that have challenged her to become a leader.

Anesa is currently one of three team captains for the Texas A&M at Qatar women’s basketball team, but when she entered the University in 2008, the there was no women’s basketball team. “There were three other girls [besides me] who were interested in forming a team,” says Anesa. “So we got together and tried to recruit as many people as possible. We created advertisements, did everything we could to recruit people, and finally we formed the team.”

After being named Most Valuable Player for both the women’s basketball and soccer teams in the 2010-2011 season, it is clear that Anesa stands out as a team leader. But for Anesa, leading others starts with focusing on your own actions. “As a team captain, I think the best thing I can do to be a leader is be an example,” she says. “This means showing up on time or earlier than the other players, giving 110 percent, never giving up and keeping myself motivated so that my teammates are motivated.”

Learning to be a leader on the basketball court propelled Anesa towards leadership in other areas as well, first in the “family-like” environment of the University and then outside the University. “As a child, I was very shy,” Anesa remembers. “But being a leader for the first time [on the basketball team] gave me the confidence to really go out and grab what I want in life. I knew I had to go outside my comfort zone if I wanted to be a leader, but step by step, I have gained confidence in the leadership role.”

For Anesa, one of Texas A&M at Qatar’s best characteristics is that studying at a University with strong values and a commitment to developing the whole person did not require a loss of academic quality. Anesa describes her delight at finding a University with both a world-class education and priority on encouraging students to be well rounded.

“Texas A&M is one of the top universities in petroleum engineering,” she says. “Knowing that I have this strong academic background makes me confident that I will be able to do well in my future career. But on a personal level, Texas A&M at Qatar has also made me take the next step in leadership.”

What’s next for Anesa after graduating in 2012? She jokes that she sadly cannot build a career out of playing sports and baking desserts, her second hobby. Instead, she plans to work in the oil and gas industry in Qatar.

“I recently finished an internship with Occidental Petroleum, and I saw firsthand what will be expected of me in the future when I begin working,” Anesa says.  ”I’m so happy that Texas A&M at Qatar is giving me the strong academic background I need to succeed in the workplace.”

The shy child Anesa described is nowhere to be found in the outgoing, petroleum-engineering student you see today. Anesa is now a confident, well-rounded leader ready to engineer a world of difference in her workplace and community.

“I hope to engineer a world of difference, as a Qatari national with a top engineering degree, by bringing something new to my country,” Anesa says.