Shaikha Al Ballam

Dr. Shaikha Al-Ballam is a Senior Petroleum Engineer at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and a recognized leader in digital transformation, asset optimization, and data governance in the upstream energy sector. With more than a decade of experience, she has led high-impact initiatives that bridge advanced technologies with operational excellence to drive sustainable performance and innovation.

She holds a Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, as well as M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees from Kuwait University. Her research has focused on applying artificial intelligence (AI) in upstream diagnostics—particularly in detecting electrical submersible pump (ESP) failures and improving inflow performance in fractured reservoirs through innovative recovery methods.

Dr. Al-Ballam is recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) within KOC’s Upstream Center of Excellence and a prolific contributor to technical publications and industry conferences. As a champion of digital transformation excellence, she played a pivotal role in shaping KOC’s digital roadmap, most notably through her authorship of the West Kuwait Digital Transformation Scope of Work—a strategic blueprint for deploying AI-powered analytics, cybersecurity protocols, and real-time operational monitoring across high-value assets.

She also led the development of the North Kuwait Heavy Oil Digital Strategy and the Strategic Digital Transformation Assessment, delivering scalable, data-centric solutions to enhance operational performance. In addition, she pioneered the Heavy Oil Data Transfer Protocol and initiated the Data Consistency & Standardization (DSC) Project, ensuring access to reliable, high-quality operational data to support accurate, data-driven decision-making across the upstream value chain.

Dr. Al-Ballam’s blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and dedication to innovation continues to shape impactful, forward-looking solutions that advance the future of upstream oil and gas.