The Middle East energy firms are being urged to groom young nationals as geoscientists to ensure the continued progress of its oil and gas industry.

The role of geoscientists is crucial for the development of the oil and gas industry, said BP principal geophysicist Leon Thomsen.
This vital component of exploration operations is a facet of the petroleum industry that is currently challenged by severe shortages of skilled scientific and engineering staff. It may take between seven and 10 years to train such staff, filling in job vacancies created by the retirement of the current generation of geoscientists.
This effort is required to sustain and grow production levels in response to rising energy demand, said Thomsen. He made the remarks during a recent visit to Abu Dhabi from Houston, US. Speaking after two seminars to students at Abu Dhabi’s Petroleum Institute about the role of geoscience in the exploration and production of oil and gas, Thomsen said the energy sector is projected to lose 40 per cent of its skilled workers to retirement over the next 10 years, and this at a time when demand for petroleum and other commodities is reaching unprecedented highs.
Dr Thomsen said: “At BP we understand that it is essential to nurture future talent, and we run a number of programmes to educate young talent and mentor tomorrow’s employees.
“Lectures to organisations such as the Petroleum Instititue give BP the chance to speak to young people about an important, exciting, and rewarding career in oil and gas.”
Dr Thomsen, who stepped down recently from the Presidency of the worldwide Society of Exploration Geophysicists, also reviewed for the students the extensive array of SEG programmes to help and encourage student geophysicists around the world.
Local students will have improved access to these programmes once the affiliation of the Emirates Society of Geoscience with the SEG is complete later this year.
Thomsen also gave a technical lecture to Emirates Society of Geoscience members on how new data and advances in technology are impacting the exploration and development of carbonate reservoirs, which are so important throughout the Middle East.
“We also work with the countries where we operate to educate and inspire a new generation of oil and gas experts,” he added.
BP is one of the world’s largest companies with operations in more than 100 countries on six continents.