Dr. Victor Ekpenyong, Founder and CEO of Kenyon International West Africa, has urged young oil and gas professionals to embrace decarbonization and upgrade their digital skills, stressing that the industry is rapidly evolving and requires adaptability to keep pace with constantly changing operational dynamics.
He made this known while speaking during a panel session at the just concluded Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference in Lagos.
Ekpenyong warned that operators must innovate and remain flexible to stay competitive, insisting that volatility in the global oil market and tightening environmental standards are redefining industry survival strategies,
He stated, “The oil and gas sector is one industry where a single policy from the White House can destabilize the entire market… you cannot fully predict what will happen tomorrow, even when you can forecast industry trends.
“For instance, a national budget may project that Nigeria will sell crude oil at $70 per barrel, and suddenly the same crude trades below $40. To remain sustainable in this sector, you must be highly adaptable.”
Highlighting the role of innovation, he said, “This is why the oil and gas industry invests heavily in research and development — you must invent and innovate to stay afloat, otherwise you will be phased out of business.”
“If you visit modern seventh- or eighth-generation drillships now, you will see far fewer personnel onboard because rig floors are increasingly digitalized,” he said.
Ekpenyong emphasized the shift from manual to automated systems across all terrains, stating, “The industry is moving from manual drilling to fully digital operations — from land rigs to swamp rigs, shallow offshore, deepwater, and ultra-deepwater assets.
“I was in one of the MD’s offices when I informed him that from his headquarters dashboard, he could monitor wells across the field—tracking temperature, pressure, and performance metrics in real time.”
Speaking on the urgency of environmental compliance, Ekpenyong said, “Young engineers must also embrace decarbonization as another trend that anyone who wants to remain relevant must take seriously.
