Dr. Randall S. Seright is a leading expert in enhanced oil recovery, known for his pioneering work on polymer flooding and gel treatments to improve reservoir sweep efficiency. As Associate Director of the Petroleum Recovery Research Center at New Mexico Tech, he has combined decades of industry and academic experience to advance practical EOR technologies. His research has shaped field applications worldwide, earning him the SPE/DOE IOR Pioneer Award and global recognition in the petroleum industry.

Dr. Lu Xiaoguang, Chief Reservoir Engineer at C&C Reservoirs, brings over 35 years of expertise in reservoir characterization and IOR/EOR for giant, multi-layered waterflooded fields. Beginning his career at the Daqing Research Institute, he led reservoir development and subsurface strategies at PetroChina, later authoring over 80 technical papers and two books. His award-winning work—including a silver medal from the Geological Society of China and multiple CNPC innovation prizes—couples deep field insight with research-backed innovation, making him a standout voice in advanced EOR practices

Dr. Jeffrey G. Southwick, Energy Consultant at JSouth Energy, brings over 40 years of expertise in chemical enhanced oil recovery, having developed key ASP (alkali–surfactant–polymer) flooding methods while at Shell alongside Dr. Richard C. Nelson. He earned the SPE Cedric Ferguson Medal in 1985 for pioneering studies on polymer stability and alkali interaction with reservoir geologies, and has since made significant advances in offshore chemical flooding and alternative-alkali formulations, highlighted by multiple “Best of Tulsa” technical awards.

Antoine Thomas is a seasoned expert in chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and polymer flooding, currently serving as CEO at eppok. With an M.Sc. in Petroleum Geosciences from ENSG Nancy, he has over a decade of global experience designing pilot and full-scale polymer and conformance treatments, notably authoring the Wiley‑published book Essentials of Polymer Flooding Technique. He combines hands-on field insight—spanning polymer/SP/ASP floods and AI‑enhanced monitoring—with thought leadership in advancing efficient EOR deployment worldwide

Flavien Gathier is the Engineering Director for EOR/O&G Applications at SNF, a global leader in polymer-based EOR solutions. He oversees major offshore and onshore polymer flood deployments worldwide and contributes to technical training, including SPE courses on EOR polymer flooding. His work emphasizes reducing carbon intensity and improving recovery efficiency—contributing to projects that “reduce water consumption by 80%" and CO₂ intensity by 66% per barrel.

Dr. Almas Aitkulov specializes in EOR, particularly in alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding and polymer flooding technologies. Dr. Aitkulov has extensive industry experience, having worked with Hilcorp Energy and ExxonMobil, where he led innovative EOR projects, including the first-ever polymer flood in Alaska. His work has significantly improved oil recovery in various fields, and his research is published in top industry journals. Dr. Aitkulov is also a recognized thought leader, having presented at multiple Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) conferences.

Dr. Marat Sagyndikov is a reservoir and EOR engineer with over 11 years of experience spanning industry, applied research, and academia. His core expertise lies in chemical EOR, with a particular focus on polymer and nanoparticle-assisted flooding. He has led multiple pilot and full-field implementation projects in Kazakhstan, significantly contributing to the deployment of polymer flooding technologies in mature fields. He holds degrees from the China University of Petroleum, Heriot-Watt University (UK), and earned his Ph.D. from Satbayev University.

In recognition of his technical leadership, he received the SPE Regional Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award in 2022.

Dr. Meshal Algharaib is the Director of the Enhanced Oil Recovery Center at Kuwait University. He has over 20 years of academic and research experience in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), specializing in olymer flooding, tracer studies, and core flooding experiments. Dr. Algharaib has led multiple industry- unded projects in collaboration with the Kuwait Oil Company, focusing on polymer injectivity, thermal stability, and field-scale implementation strategies. His work integrates advanced laboratory evaluation, CT imaging techniques, and rheological characterization to optimize EOR processes in high-salinity and high-temperature reservoirs. He has authored numerous technical papers and served on technical committees for SPE conferences and workshops. Dr. Algharaib is passionate about bridging the gap between academic research and field applications, fostering knowledge exchange between industry and academia to advance EOR technologies.

Dr. Madhar Sahib Azad is an assistant professor of Petroleum Engineering at KFUPM. His research interests include polymer flooding and rheology. He is the principal investigator for several internally and externally funded research grants. He teaches courses such as well testing, rheology of complex fluids, Thermal EOR, and reservoir engineering. He has published over 25 peer-reviewed journal publications in high-impact-factor top journals. He has also filed three patents related to polymer EOR.

He is the recipient of the 2025 SPE MENA Regional Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award. Currently, he serves as an Associate editor for the SPE Journal. He has received numerous Outstanding Technical Reviewer awards from the SPE Journal (2021, 2023, 2024). He holds a PhD, MS, and a B.Tech degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India.

Dr. Iskander Gussenov is a reservoir engineer with a PhD in Petroleum Engineering and over 12 years of experience in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) research, polymer technology development, and core flooding experiments. He has led multidisciplinary projects, including the Ministry-funded study on permeability damage mechanisms, and completed research fellowships in the U.S. (Texas Tech University, New Mexico Tech) and at the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Gussenov has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications (Scopus h-index 8), advancing the field of polymer gels, microfluidics, and ASP flooding technologies. He has trained KazMunayGas engineers, mentored young professionals, and actively contributes to bridging applied research with industry practice in Kazakhstan and abroad.

Dr. Hu Guo is a petroleum engineer specializing in capillary physics, CO₂ flooding, chemical EOR, and shale gas production. He earned his PhD in Oil and Gas Field Development Engineering from the China University of Petroleum–Beijing in 2018 and has held academic and research positions at Yan’an University and the University of Stuttgart (CSC-DAAD fellow). Dr. Guo has authored over 50 journal and conference papers, including in SPE Journal and SPE IOR, and serves as a technical reviewer for leading journals such as SPE Journal and Petroleum Science. He currently works at a state-owned oil company in China and serves as CTO of Beijing Future Petro Tech Company, focusing on the development of eco-friendly improved oil recovery technologies.

Prof. Wanli Kang, a Taishan Schoolar in China University of Petroleum（East China) and Ph.D. supervisor, is currently a faculty member and doctoral supervisor at the School of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU), and serves as Director of the China–Kazakhstan Joint Laboratory for Enhanced Oil Recovery. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the Chinese Chemical Society. Prof. Kang has been engaged in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) research for over 40 years, focusing on petroleum chemistry, colloid and interface chemistry, and EOR theory and technology. He has undertaken 6 national-level projects, more than 30 additional national and provincial programs including China’s 8th–12th Five-Year National Science and Technology Programs and NSFC Key Projects, as well as over 50 industry collaborations. His achievements have been recognized with 1 national awards (Second Prize), 5 provincial and ministerial awards, the KazEnergy Honor Medal of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Sun Yueqi Outstanding Young Scientist Award, the Heilongjiang Youth Science and Technology Award, and the Heilongjiang Distinguished Young Scholar Fund, and he has also been named an “Excellent Scholar.” Prof. Kang has published more than 350 papers (over 140 SCI-indexed), has been listed as one of Elsevier’s Highly Cited Chinese Researchers for four consecutive years (2021–2024), has authored 9 academic monographs including Principles of Tertiary Oil Recovery Chemistry and Petroleum Chemistry and Advances in EOR, and holds more than 20 national invention patents.

Tibor István Ördög holds an MSc in chartered chemist from the University of Szeged, Hungary and he had chromatographic engineering degree from Technical University of Budapest, Hungary. He joined MOL in 1994 as a Laboratory chemist, but later he was nominated to the Manager of Upstream Laboratories position, and following that position after various managerial positions, from 2006 he led the Upstream Research and Development department, in his role he was involved into the EOR surfactant development. From 2018 he is working as a technology transfer senior expert in MOL Group Oilfield Chemical Technology unit with the focus of EOR surfactant technical sales support. In parallel he is close to finish his Ph.D. studies in the topic of surfactant adsorption in University of Szeged, Hungary.

Dr. Sándor Puskás has been employed by MOL as a Petroleum Engineer, M.Sc., since 1985. He is a Petroleum Engineer and currently holds a Chief EOR Engineer position at the MOL Group Oilfield Chemical Technology department. He has 40 years of experience as a field production engineer, field production head, research and development engineer, and as an R&D project manager in crude oil production and in Chemical EOR related R&D. Dr. Puskás holds a Dipl. Eng. degree in petroleum engineering from Moscow State Gubkin Oil and Gas University and a Dr. Univ. degree in colloid chemistry from the Jozsef Attila University Szeged, Hungary. He holds a postgraduate degree in Research and Development Management and Human management from Budapest University of Economic Sciences and State Administration, Management Development Centre. Hi is the author and co-author of several technical papers of oil industry. He is member of the Gas and Oil Industry Section of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers, and the Hungarian Mining and Metallurgical Society, and the Energy Management Scientific Association.