* Mars Khasanov is a PhD, professor, an Honoured Academic of the Republic of Bashkortostan, and an Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, specialising in fluid mechanics (liquids and gases), applied mathematics, and oilfield development. He has authored more than 200 scientific papers and theses, and secured more than 60 industrial patents. He has developed a design methodology for the management and monitoring of oil and gas production processes, leading to a “strata — well — installation — external infrastructure” system within a single integrated model.

** The SPE has offices in Moscow, Dallas, Houston, London, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. Its membership totals more than 168,000 (including more than 68,000 students). The SPE’s knowledge base — includes more than 200,000 articles on various aspects of oil and gas exploration and production, many of which have been contributed by employees of Gazprom Neft.