VOST’s consultants combine deep technical expertise, global industry experience and practical insight to support clients across the energy sector. Their multidisciplinary knowledge helps turn complex challenges into informed decisions and effective solutions.
CONSULTANT
Founder & President, EnerGenix Consulting LLC | Operations Management, Business Development & Flow Assurance Specialist
Dr. Abul Jamaluddin is the Founder and President of EnerGenix Consulting LLC, with over 35 years of global experience in the oil and gas industry across operating companies and service organizations. His career spans leadership roles with ENNOVA, Stratum Reservoir, PETRONAS, Saudi Aramco, KFUPM, Schlumberger, Noranda Research, and Hycal Laboratory Services.
Dr. Jamaluddin has extensive expertise in operations management and business development across the Americas, Middle East, and Asia. He also maintains strong technical engagement, specializing in fluid phase behavior, flow assurance, production chemistry, heavy oil production, acid gas management, and gas injection for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
He holds nine U.S. patents and has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 100 conference papers. His contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Schlumberger Gold Medal for performance, the JCPT Best Paper Award, and multiple Best Paper Presentation awards from the Petroleum Society of CIM and the Gas Processors Association of America. Dr. Jamaluddin served as an SPE Distinguished Lecturer (2004–2005) and was named an SPE Distinguished Member in 2012. He earned a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in 1984 and MSc and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary in 1987 and 1990, respectively.
CONSULTANT
Principal Reservoir Engineer & Field Development & Energy Consultant
Dr. Arash Soleimani is a Principal Reservoir Engineer and Field Development and Energy Consultant with 28 years of international oil and gas experience across the UK, USA, Middle East and Asia. He has contributed to 43 reservoir engineering projects covering field development, EOR, simulation modeling, production optimization and flow assurance.
His career includes senior technical roles with Schlumberger, Total E&P, Ad Terra, Halliburton and other international organizations. Most recently, he has focused on reservoir simulation, field development and EOR projects in Iraq, while also contributing to reservoir management and field-development quality assurance.
Dr. Soleimani holds an M.Eng. in Petroleum Engineering and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London, as well as an MBA from Warwick Business School. He has authored and co-authored numerous technical papers and has a strong interest in sustainability, strategy and global energy economics.
CONSULTANT
Chartered Engineer (UK) | Offshore, Marine & Project Development Consultant
Dr. Oleksandr Chechotkin is a Chartered Engineer (UK) with over 40 years of international experience in the oil and gas, offshore and marine industries. He has led the development and execution of major offshore and onshore projects across the Middle East, Caspian Sea and CIS regions.
During his tenure in the Middle East with Dragon Oil (an ENOC company) and other companies, he managed complex EPC projects, field development programs planning and large-scale engineering, projects, business development and abandonment and decommissioning initiatives. He coordinated multidisciplinary international teams and contractors in full compliance with international standards and stringent HSE requirements.
Dr. Chechotkin combines strong technical expertise with strategic project leadership across the full lifecycle, from concept and FEED through construction, commissioning and start-up. He holds Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Hydromachinery, both from National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine in 1978 and 1985, respectively.
CONSULTANT
Engineering, Technology & Program Management Consultant | Project Management, Governance & Strategic Planning
Dr. Refaat Shulaiba has more than 25 years of experience in leading projects in engineering, technology and program management. His experience spans oil and gas, construction, IT, education, and health care, where he has managed complex projects and helped move strategic initiatives from planning into execution.
In addition to his industry work, he has also contributed to doctoral education by mentoring Ph.D. students and supporting dissertation research. His academic involvement has included topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, project management, enterprise risk management, governance, leadership, and strategic planning.
More recently, he has worked in the oil and gas sector, leading engineering and construction teams in demanding operating environments. He brings a combination of technical depth, leadership experience, and practical judgment to the work he does. Dr. Shulaiba is a certified Project Management Professional and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Basra, Iraq (1987), an MSc in Computer and Information Technology from the University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan, USA (1999), and a PhD in Management in Information Technology from Lawrence Technological University, Michigan, USA (2011).
CONSULTANT
Reservoir Engineering & Energy Technology Consultant | EOR, Digital Transformation & AI-Enabled Subsurface Technologies
Dr. Shahin Negahban is a reservoir engineering and energy technology expert with more than 30 years of international experience across the oil and gas industry, applied research, and academia. He has held senior leadership positions with Dragon Oil, ADNOC Onshore, BP, Amoco, and the University of Kansas, leading strategic initiatives in reservoir management, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), digital transformation, and AI-enabled subsurface technologies.
Throughout his career, Dr. Negahban has designed and managed major field development, reservoir optimization, and EOR programs across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. He led ADNOC’s applied R&D strategy and the GCC’s first CO₂-EOR pilot, and directed advanced subsurface technology programs for Dragon Oil, including AI-driven reservoir management, geomechanics, reservoir characterization, and production sustainability initiatives in Egypt and Iraq.
Dr. Negahban has also held senior academic and research roles, including Research Director at the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi and Associate Professor and Director of R&D at the University of Kansas. His work has focused on EOR, digital rock physics, subsurface monitoring, and artificial intelligence applications for reservoir management. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering from the University of Kansas and has authored numerous technical publications and conference papers.
CONSULTANT
Reservoir Engineering & Flow Diagnostics Consultant | Reservoir Monitoring & Technology Development
Before joining VOST, Dr. Jalali served as Product Line Director at TGT Diagnostics, based in Dubai, where he was responsible for the development of Reservoir and Flow Diagnostics solutions for clients globally.
Prior to TGT, Dr. Jalali was Reservoir Engineering Advisor at Schlumberger Oilfield Services (SLB), with postings in technology centers in Paris, Cambridge, Houston, Beijing, and Tokyo. His work included the development and introduction of technologies in Wireline and Testing, Completions, and Permanent Monitoring and Control systems. Before joining the industry, he was Assistant Professor of Petroleum Engineering at Stanford University.
Dr. Jalali holds a BSc and MSc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa, earned in 1981 and 1983 respectively, and a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Southern California, USA (1987).
CONSULTANT
Professional Engineer & Project Management Consultant | Oil & Gas Engineering, Brownfield Projects & Construction Management
Dr. Zeiad Alhachami is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) and Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 30 years of diversified experience in engineering and project management/engineering. His experience includes extensive work in offshore and onshore oil and gas projects and the chemical industry, with strong proficiency in the stage/gate project management system.
Dr. Alhachami has worked extensively on brownfield project engineering and project management in the United States and the Middle East. His hands-on experience covers multidisciplinary engineering and construction projects from concept through close-out, including project plan development, conceptual design, risk planning and assessment, design reviews, construction management, and interface management.
Dr. Alhachami holds a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from Mosul University, Iraq (1988), a Master degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA (1995), and a PhD in Project Management, focused on oil and gas projects, from the University of Liverpool, UK (2022).
CONSULTANT
Oil & Gas Executive Consultant | Operations, HSE, Risk, Procurement & Business Leadership
Mr. Ephraim Edo Ebodaghe is an accomplished executive with over 35 years of extensive international experience in the oil and gas industry across multiple regions. He is recognized for driving operational excellence and profitability through strong managerial and leadership skills, with a focus on results, team development, client relations and long-term commercial success.
His multidisciplinary expertise spans E&P operations, P&L oversight, HSE and Risk Management, Project Management, and human capital management and development. Prior to joining VOST, he served as Director of Procurement at Dragon Oil headquarters, where he managed large teams and budgets, and previously as HSE Director, streamlining safety processes.
Mr. Ebodaghe also held a dual role as Afghanistan Country Manager, leading seismic surveys and liaising with government authorities. His earlier leadership roles included Vice President & General Manager at Schlumberger in Turkmenistan, Country Manager in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, and regional support center leadership across Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. His early career included oilfield operations and engineering across Nigeria, Kazakhstan and worldwide seismic projects. He holds a Bachelor degree in Physics / Surveying from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria (1987).
CONSULTANT
Artificial Lift Consultant | ESP Design, Field Development & Production Optimization
Previously, Mr. Abboud served as the Artificial Lift Team Leader for ADNOC Onshore, where he established strategies and engineering standards for several super-giant oil reservoirs. His expertise spans the full field lifecycle, integrating subsurface requirements with surface facilities, including power supply and distribution.
He later joined Intelligent Energy Solutions-UAE as Artificial Lift Technical Manager, providing consultancy on field development, ESP design and selection, and lifecycle optimization. Mr. Abboud is recognized for delivering high-performance ESP projects that improve well availability and optimize production costs.
By integrating petroleum, process, and electrical engineering, he develops robust strategies for long-term production. Mr. Abboud holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) in Power Systems from the University of Sheffield, UK (1980).
CONSULTANT
Asset Integrity & Reliability Consultant | Structural Integrity, RBI & Asset Performance Management
Mahmoud Vaziri is an Asset Integrity and Reliability Consultant with more than 35 years of experience in civil, onshore and offshore structural engineering, asset integrity, and reliability management. His career includes major UK North Sea projects, over a decade with ADMA-OPCO (now ADNOC Offshore), and 16 years in senior leadership roles at Dragon Oil.
At Dragon Oil, he established the Asset Integrity Department and led offshore platform life-extension programs. He also implemented Risk Based Inspection (RBI), Structural Integrity Management System (SIMS), Pipeline Integrity Management (PIMS), and Corrosion Management System (CMS), while supporting ISO 9001 and ISO 55001 certifications.
In 2025, Mahmoud founded APM Oil and Gas Consultancy, providing asset performance, integrity, and reliability services to operators and engineering firms. He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering and an MSc in Ocean Engineering (Design of Offshore Platform), both from University College London (UCL), earned in 1983 and 1985 respectively.
CONSULTANT
Petrophysics Consultant | Reservoir Characterization, Log Interpretation & Production Optimization
Ms. Naira A. Wakil brings over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry across the United States and the Middle East. She most recently served as a Petrophysicist Advisor with Bapco Energy in Bahrain, supporting field development activities within the reservoir development team.
Previously, she worked with Occidental Petroleum (OXY) in Houston as a Senior Petrophysicist, supporting assets across different regions. Her expertise includes petrophysical analysis and modelling, log interpretation for conventional carbonate and sandstone reservoirs as well as unconventional reservoirs, reservoir characterization, evaluation studies, workover identification, and production optimization.
Ms. Naira also has extensive experience in cased-hole log interpretation, including PLT, RST, and cement bond log evaluation, together with the integration of core, log, and production data to improve reservoir understanding and support decision-making. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Baghdad (1984).
CONSULTANT
Asset Evaluation & Project Development Consultant | Capital Projects, Asset Management & Operational Excellence
Mr. Akram Noreldin has more than 35 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in asset evaluation, business growth, project development, capital project delivery, and operational excellence. His career has included leadership roles with BP, ADNOC Offshore, Dragon Oil, TechnipFMC, ENPPI, and SUCO, delivering strategic offshore and onshore developments across multiple regions.
His expertise covers project evaluation, asset management, mergers and acquisitions support, risk management, project governance, stakeholder alignment, and the execution of major capital investments. He has also contributed to mega projects as Program Manager, supporting investment decisions, value creation, and sustainable business growth for both operators and contractors.
Mr. Noureldin holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Zagazig, Egypt (1987), a Post Graduate Diploma in Construction Project Management from Ain Shams University, Egypt (1992), a Master Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Managing Projects from the University of Manchester. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
CONSULTANT
Petroleum Engineering, Research & Innovation Consultant | Academic Development & Strategic Initiatives
Mr. Ahmed Musa Al-Jarah is the Director of the Sabit Center for Research and Scholarly Publishing and a faculty member in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Karbala. His career combines academic expertise with administrative and industrial experience, including previous work as an engineer with the multinational company Lafarge.
Mr. Al-Jarah is an active contributor to the scientific community and has published numerous peer-reviewed research papers in international journals. He has also participated as a speaker in investment and scientific conferences in Iraq and internationally.
Driven by a strong interest in development and innovation, he has founded several initiatives across different sectors. He is currently supervising the establishment of Al-Warith City for Science and Innovation, a major project focused on supporting science, innovation, and development in Iraq.
