Nigerian engineer brings technical excellence to Yemen's oil fields

The Middle Eastern oil and gas sector has long been a testing ground for drilling professionals worldwide, demanding not just technical proficiency but adaptability to challenging operational environments.

For Nigerian drilling engineer Oluremi Emmanuel Oyekanmi, his deployment to Yemen represents a significant milestone in a career dedicated to operational excellence and safety innovation.

Oyekanmi, who joined TotalEnergies in late 2006, has quickly distinguished himself through meticulous attention to safety protocols and cost management. In his role as Junior Drilling Supervisor in Yemen, he works alongside senior operations teams to maintain stringent Health, Safety, and Environmental standards while closely monitoring the financial aspects of drilling operations. His daily oversight of drilling costs and rental equipment expenses has contributed to more efficient resource allocation on active rigs.

What sets Oyekanmi apart is his systematic approach to safety management. He maintains rigorous follow-up on scheduled muster drills and STOP card reporting systems, ensuring that safety objectives remain at the forefront of operations. His commitment to pre-job safety meetings has helped foster a culture where every team member understands their role in maintaining operational integrity.

The young engineer's journey to Yemen began with solid academic foundations. After earning his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, he pursued specialized training in petroleum engineering, completing his Master's degree from the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Port Harcourt.

This combination of chemical engineering principles and petroleum-specific knowledge has proven invaluable in understanding the complex interactions between drilling fluids, formations, and equipment.

Before his assignment in Yemen, Oyekanmi served as a Rig Engineer in Nigeria, where he developed expertise in performance tracking, drilling & completion operations, and contractor management. His experience in managing simultaneous operations and interfacing between production and drilling teams laid the groundwork for his current supervisory responsibilities.

He became particularly skilled at identifying, documenting non-productive time and working with contractors to implement measures to prevent recurrence, while ensuring accountability across service companies and drilling contractors.

Industry observers note that international assignments, such as Oyekanmi's posting to Yemen, serve as crucial development opportunities for African petroleum professionals. These experiences not only broaden technical competencies but also build the cross-cultural collaboration skills essential in today's globalized energy sector.

For Nigeria, which continues to develop its indigenous technical capacity in oil and gas, having professionals gain exposure to diverse operational environments strengthens the nation's overall industry capability.

Oyekanmi's focus on operational efficiency extends beyond mere cost control. His systematic tracking of drilling operations and database management ensures that lessons learned on each well can inform future activities. This data-driven approach, combined with his engineering background, positions him to identify optimization opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed.

As global energy companies increasingly seek to optimize operations across their international portfolios, professionals like Oyekanmi who can deliver results while maintaining uncompromising safety standards become invaluable assets.

His work in Yemen demonstrates that technical excellence, when combined with strong operational discipline and a safety-conscious approach, can drive meaningful improvements even in challenging environments.

The trajectory of Oyekanmi's career reflects a broader trend in the oil and gas industry: the recognition that operational success depends on professionals who can bridge engineering theory with practical field execution while keeping human safety paramount in every decision.