Strategic Panel: Navigating the New Era: Strategic Synergies Across Algeria’s Offshore Frontiers and Mature Basins

Moderated by Laura Sima (S&P Global Energy)

Date: 11 May 2026 | Time: 10:25AM - 12:25AM UTC+1

Moderator:

Mrs. Sima, a Director with Upstream Solutions at S&P Global Energy, brings over 15 years of extensive experience with S&P Global and its heritage companies, with a career spanning advisory and research roles covering the upstream sector and broader dynamics shaping the energy landscape.

Her areas of expertise include strategic shifts in the global oil and gas industry, risks and fiscal analysis, capital and portfolio strategies, M&A activity, IPOs and bond issuance, energy transition and low-carbon energies. A frequent speaker and moderator at high-profile conferences, Mrs. Sima is recognised for her ability to navigate complex discussions on energy transition, financing, market and industry trends.

Mrs. Sima holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School with a specialization in Petroleum Economics and Management from IFP School, both in France. A Romanian native, Mrs. Sima is fluent in both French and English.

Panelists:

Thierry Le Maux is Chairman of the Management Board of Beicip Franlab and heads the Global Solutions division, overseeing subsurface studies for oil and gas exploration and field production and the development of advanced software solutions based on IFPEN technologies. Trained in Petroleum Engineering at Heriot Watt University (UK), he has over 30 years of international experience in reservoir development, fractured reservoirs, and enhanced oil recovery, with projects across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South America, and Asia. He has been directly involved in numerous subsurface studies and field development projects in Algeria. 

Mr. Anan Amornprabharwat is Senior Vice President at PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), currently serving as Regional Manager for Africa. He has over 25 years of experience in the upstream oil and gas sector, covering subsurface disciplines, asset management, and complex international portfolios.

Moufdi Zakaria Chikh was appointed Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP Algérie and Country Chair in Algeria in August 2023, bringing over 23 years of extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. He has a proven track record in exploration and production across a range of global locations, specializing in M&A, business development, and asset management.

Mr. Chikh began his career with Anadarko and BP before joining TotalEnergies in 2002. Throughout his tenure, he has held key leadership positions in reservoir engineering and geosciences at TotalEnergies HQ in France. His contributions have been pivotal to significant projects, including the acquisition of the Elk-Antelope gas field in Papua New Guinea and the exploration initiative in Namibia that led to the notable Venus discovery. He has also excelled in managing world-class assets across key affiliates in Nigeria, Congo, and Angola, overseeing projects such as Pazflor, Egina, and N’kossa.

Before his current role in Algeria, Mr. Chikh served as Vice President for Merger & Acquisition, where he successfully negotiated TotalEnergies’ entry into the North Field Expansion LNG Project in Qatar and secured a 20% stake in Adani Green Energy, the largest solar developer globally. His strategic insight also facilitated several high-profile divestment transactions, including the sale of a 50% stake in TotalEnergies Marketing Egypt to ADNOC Distribution and the divestment of TotalEnergies' interest in the Dunga Oil Field in Kazakhstan.

Born in 1978, Mr. Chikh holds a master’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et de l'Industrie (ESTP) and a master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering and Project Development from École Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole et des Moteurs (ENSPM / IFP School). His educational background complements his extensive professional experience, positioning him as a leader in the industry.

Amal Belkhirat is a senior energy executive with nearly two decades of global leadership experience at Baker Hughes, spanning operations, commercial strategy, and cross-regional business transformation. She began her career in Drilling Services in Algeria and has since built a uniquely multidimensional portfolio across Field Engineering, Applications Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Commercial management, with assignments across MENATI, Sub-Saharan Africa, North America Land, North America Offshore, and global corporate roles. 

Recognized for her ability to navigate complex markets and unite diverse teams behind a clear strategic vision, Amal currently serves as Executive Managing Director for North Africa Oilfield Services & Equipment. In this role, she leads end-to-end operational execution, accelerates commercial growth, and forges high-impact partnerships across one of the most strategically significant and high-potential regions in the energy sector. Her leadership is defined by disciplined execution, cultural fluency, and a deep understanding of product lines and regional dynamics—enabling her to consistently deliver performance in volatile environments. 

A strong advocate for talent development and inclusive leadership, Amal is committed to mentoring emerging leaders and advancing diversity across the energy value chain. She is widely regarded as a role model for women in energy, demonstrating how executive excellence and family life can coexist with purpose and ambition. Amal is married and the proud mother of an eight-year-old daughter.achievements, she is married and a proud mother of an eight‑year‑old daughter, balancing her executive responsibilities with family life and serving as a role model for women in energy leadership. 

Moderator:

Johannes Wendebourg is an exploration geologist working for more than 30 years in the oil and gas business. He specializes in basin analysis and petroleum systems. He joined TotalEnergies in 2010 and is currently a Manager in the Exploration Excellence department in Paris. Previous positions were with Shell International E&P in the Netherlands and with the French Petroleum Institute IFP near Paris. Johannes holds a PhD in Applied Earth Sciences from Stanford University and a geology degree from Freiburg University, Germany. In 2015, Johannes received EAGE’s Alfred Wegener award and is currently member of the EAGE board, chairing the Oil & Gas Circle.

Eric Delamaide is reservoir engineer and EOR expert, currently General Manager of IFP Technologies (Canada) Inc. in Calgary. Eric has a degree in chemical engineering from the School of Mines in Saint Etienne, and a Master in Petroleum Engineering from IFP School, both in France. Eric has been involved in various capacities in close to 100 EOR projects including over 40 polymer floods. He has published over 90 papers on reservoir engineering and EOR and has served on multiple conference technical committees and workshops. He is the former chair of the SPE Distinguished Lecturers Committee and has received numerous awards including SPE Canada Service Award in 2018, the SPE Distinguished Member Award in 2019 and the “a Peer Apart” award from SPE in 2020. 

 Nourdine Boubekeur is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Slb North Africa Geo Unit in Algiers. He started his career as a wireline field engineer in 1998 before holding various positions as Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, Account Manager, Global Sales Tainer and Business Transformation manager for the old wells division at the wireline HQ. His postings included Algeria, Caspian Region, Italy and SE Asia. He actively participated in deploying new technologies and attended the Cased hole Log Analyst Training in Pau. Nourdine holds an Engineering degree in Instrumentation from the Algerian Petroleum Institute, an MBA from Erasmus University, Holland. 

Warren Murdoch currently serves as the President & General Manager for Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) in Algeria, a role he has held since 2020. In this capacity, Warren oversees Oxy’s operations and strategic partnerships in Algeria, ensuring alignment with the company's global goals and local commitments. His leadership continues to strengthen Oxy’s position as a major player in Algeria’s oil and gas industry.Initially based in Houston for this role, Warren moved to Algiers in 2024. 

Panel 2: Production Enhancement in Tight Sand Reservoirs

Date: 12 May 2026 | Time: 3:50 PM - 5:35 PM UTC+1

Panelists:

Graduated in chemistry and IFP, Alain Syndique began his career in 1990 in Lacq (Sour gas field), in production operations, specialized in petroleum analysis and ISO procedures. He moved into reservoir engineering before being expatriated to several countries.

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Mr. Madjid Rabiah is the Reservoir Engineering and Development Director atALNAFT, Algeria’s National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources, under the Ministry of Energy. With over 17 years of experience in the energy sector, including more than 14 years at ALNAFT, he specializes in reservoir engineering, hydrocarbon field development, and resource management. He has extensive expertise in evaluating and monitoring development plans and has completed numerous international technical trainings in reservoir engineering, gas management, and unconventional resources.

Panelists:

Mohamed Samy is the Consulting Services Manager for SLB in North Africa, with over 20 years of experience as a geoscientist specializing in petroleum exploration and integrated reservoir studies. He has led multidisciplinary teams delivering exploration and development projects across the North Sea, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. His expertise spans advanced reservoir characterization and modeling in clastic and carbonate reservoirs, enhanced by digital technologies and machine-learning solutions that improve subsurface understanding, predictive workflows, and data driven decision making for international operators in complex geological settings, while driving project delivery and operational excellence globally.

Panel 3: Enhancing Recovery Factors in Carbonate Reservoirs: Novel Techniques, Technologies, and Sustainable Development

Date: 13 May 2026 | Time: 1:40 PM - 2:40 PM UTC+1

Moderator:

Christophe Cottin holds a PhD from the University of Bordeaux (France), where his research focused on the impact of wetting conditions on drainage in porous media. He subsequently joined the University of Texas at Austin, working within Professor Gary Pope’s team on several chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) applications. He joined TotalEnergies in 2012 and has since held various positions in France, the UAE, and Algeria. He is currently Geosciences and Reservoir Manager for TotalEnergies EP Algeria.

Panelist:

Fahad Al Rusheidi is Senior Manager at Petrogas E&P Corporate , leading technical assurance of Petrogas subsidiaries and managing new business development across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the North Sea.  He is a strategic, results-oriented oil and gas professional with strong expertise across both the technical and commercial dimensions of upstream new ventures.  Fahad brings solid offshore experience from the UK/Europe North Sea, having managed and supported Petrogas’ operated and non-operated portfolio through subsurface evaluation, well planning, and close engagement with partners.  He is recognised for identifying value-driven opportunities, managing uncertainty and risk, and delivering clear recommendations that support growth and sound investment decisions.

Panelist:

Area Technical Lead for Qatar, Turkey, and North Africa at Baker Hughes, within the GaffneyCline energy advisory consulting division, focused on Upstream O&G and CCUS. Previously held roles at IHS Markit (S&P Global) in Dubai, delivering upstream consulting, benchmarking, market intelligence, and energy transition projects. Extensive experience in subsurface consulting, seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization, geosteering workflows, and project delivery for major operators across the USA, Middle East, and Venezuela.

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Tahri Brahim holds a master’s degree in Applied Geophysics and has more than 12 years of experience in the hydrocarbon sector, combining expertise in geophysics, petroleum data management, and digital solutions. He currently manages a Software Support Department responsible for handling, organizing, and supporting oilfield data through advanced digital platforms. Passionate about innovation, he contributes to the development of data-driven workflows, dashboards, and AI-integrated solutions for National Data Repositories. Tahri is also interested in collaboration and continuously seeks to expand his expertise through technology, research, and digital transformation within the energy industry.

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