Alumnus of the Month - October 2008
Dato’ Mohamad Idris Mansor
Dato’ Mohamad Idris Mansor is an adviser on the international exploration and development business for the PTT E&P Public Company of Thailand. He is also an independent nonexecutive chairperson of KNM Group and an independent nonexecutive director of Alam Maritim Resources.
Mansor joined Petronas in February 1976 as a petroleum engineer, served as production manager during 1977 – 1980, and then worked at Petronas Carigali in various role during 1980 – 2000. Mansor was appointed senior vice president and board member of Petronas from 1993 until his retirement in 2002. He served as an adviser to the E & P business for another year.
Mansor has been a champion of SPE in Malaysia and Southeast Asia at both the local and international level and has been active as a chairperson and speaker at SPE conferences. Mansor was chairperson of the SPE Asia Pacific board during 1995 – 2004, and continue to serve as a board member. Mansor was recognized as an SPE Century Club Member in 2005, Asia Pacific Regional Service Award recipient in 1996, and Distinguished Member Award Recipient in 2001.
Mansor received an honorary DSc degree from the University of Exeter, England in 1998. He earned a degree in mining from Camborne School of Mines, MSc degree in Mining Geology and Exploration from the University of Leicester (1970), and degree MS degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa (Dec 1976).
Mansor in his own words:
How did you choose TU?
When I was offered a scholarship to follow graduate petroleum engineering course by the Government of Malaysia, I received offers from four universities in the USA, to enroll in their graduate degree programs. I selected TU as advised by my many senior colleagues on the basis that TU would provide well rounded program for conversion of mining engineers who were interested to go into petroleum engineering professions. That turned out to be true, when I was appointed as the first Petroleum Engineer in Petronas in early 1976 where I had to be involved in negotiating a new production contract with multinational companies operating in Malaysia.
How did TU prepare you for your career?
The academic and practical experience came very useful again when I was appointed in early 1980 as Technical General Manager in charge of field development program of operating subsidiary company of Petronas, Petronas Carigali (Petronas exploration and production company).The knowledge I acquired from drilling, process engineering, reservoir engineering and fluid flow process in TU was useful for managing drilling and development program. This knowledge was the basis of my career development from a mere petroleum engineer to the senior vice president and board member of Petronas.
Any fond memories?
I always have fond memories of my adviser Dr. Kermit E. Brown. Being a caring person, he continuously counsel me not only on my academic progress but also on our family’s well being in Tulsa. I had my wife and a daughter with me then. I always remember his kindness for inviting us to Thanksgiving dinner for the two years when we were in Tulsa. We were also invited regularly to his "American barbecue party”. His caring and kindness made our two year plus stay in Tulsa the most memorable and socially rewarding. We cherished these happy memories to this day.