The University of Tulsa's Petroleum Engineering Department

Dr.Robello Samuel has been a principal technical advisor (Drilling Engineering) in the Drilling, Evaluation division of Halliburton since 1998. He has over 20 years of experience in domestic and international oil/gas drilling and completion operations, management, consulting, research and teaching. His skills include well planning, design, cost estimates, supervision of drilling and completion operations, personnel and technical review, project management, and creative establishment of project relationships through partnering and innovation. Presently, he is a technical and engineering lead for well planning application suite for drilling, completions, and well services operations. He has been an educator in USA, Venezuela, Mexico and India. Also he is an adjunct professor for the past six years in the Petroleum program of Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology departments at the University of Houston; teaching advanced drilling, downhole tools and technologies and complex well architecture courses.

Dr. Samuel has written or co-written more than 55 journal articles, conference papers and technical articles. He has given several graduate seminars at various Universities. Dr.Samuel has been the recipient of numerous awards including the “CEO for A Day (Halliburton)”award. He is presently serving as a review chairman on the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Drilling and Completions Editorial Review Committee, Journal of Energy Resources Technology, reviewer of projects of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, editorial board member of Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering and co-chairman of SPE Multilateral Technical Interest Group. He has also worked at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, India from 1983 to 1992 as a drilling engineer.

Dr. Samuel holds B.S. and M.S. (mechanical engineering) degrees from University of Madurai (Madurai) and College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University (Chennai), M.S. and Ph.D. (petroleum engineering) degrees from Tulsa University. He is a member of ASME, SoR, and SPE. He is also the author of “Downhole Drilling Tools-Theory and Practice for Students and Engineers” (Gulf Publishing Company, 2007) and coauthor of “Drilling Engineering” (Pennwell Publishers, 2007)books. Dr. Samuel can be reached via e-mail at robellos@hotmail.com.

How did you choose TU?

I met Dr.Azar when he visited India for a lecture at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation where I was working as an Executive Drilling Engineer. He convinced me to enroll for the Petroleum Engineering program at TU. Rest is the story.

Did TU prepare you well for your career?

I follow a simple LEAP-square rule:

* Learn or Leave
* Evaluate or Eliminate
* Accomplish or Adios
* Publish or Perish

Components in LEAP2 rule are self-explanatory; and the rule implies that to achieve quantum leaps in life and make great accomplishments, it is necessary to sustain success at all levels. TU was a springboard in my life to square the left side of the above equation easily.

Any fond memories you would like to share?

The work at the north campus, the class at the main campus and late night programming assignments in addition to the DOE funded research work were the bright spots. Inspiration by the professors specially Dr. Miska and Dr.Azar are worth mentioning.