Meet Ray Thareiz Hakim Zailani, Senior Field Surface Facilities Site in Charge & Petroleum Engineer in Charge

Read how Ray Thareiz Hakim Zailan drives critical decisions with stakeholders and government entities. All whilst studying a part-time doctorate.

Background and Career Path

Can you tell us about your educational background and how you got into engineering?

I grew up in a family of engineers, which most likely led to one of the factors of why I studied engineering for my undergraduate degree. I completed my engineering degree in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA and as for my graduate study, I did my Master of Laws in Oil and Gas Law with Professional Skills from the University of Aberdeen, UK. Currently, I am doing a part-time Global Doctorate in Business Administration with Durham University, UK and the Em Lyon Business School, France.

The diversified education is due to my specific interest in the subject.  For example, I started in engineering due to my passion and love for engineering subjects, and I studied Petroleum Engineering because of the vast knowledge that I can learn. I took law for my graduate study, partly on my curiosity to understand more about how the legal and contractual work well in balancing the engineering aspect with work execution. The doctorate program offers a part-time option, enabling me to study and work efficiently without affecting my current profession.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

It is more complex than just regular motivation to pursue an engineering career. Apart from the influence of a family member who is an engineer, it all began when I was a child. I was always fascinated with technology invention and as a result, I read many books related to science, including fictional science. Through my reading, my curiosity led me to try some of the experiments ranging from electrical experiments such as making simple circuits to the chemical mixing reaction via electrolysis, making a homemade fertilizer for plants, and a simple engine using electromagnetic principle.

Finally, I found my passion in creating something from scratch like a miniature model engine, and miniature scale models such as trains, cars, spacecraft, etc. From passion for creating things, finally influenced my career aspiration to join the engineering field.

Can you outline your career journey?

My career begins with an entry-level position in the drilling and workover operation, and then I become a part-time drilling and workover consultant. From the oil and gas upstream drilling and workover, I switched my career to field surface facilities job, which is currently my role, focusing more on surface facilities work involving oil field facilities such as well site and field processing facilities. The current role focuses more on field improvement work, new well construction, maintenance and operation work, well reinstatement projects, and contractual legal monitoring for engineering projects.

What are some key milestones or achievements in your career?

My career has some significant milestones, however I will focus more on my recent 6 years of achievement. In 2018, me and my team had managed to optimise the oil production under my organisation up to 55k BOPD from 0 BOPD within a year, after a prolonged 5 years of shutdown due to crisis. 

All of the works are conducted in a safe manner to minimise both the environmental effects of oil activities and avoid any injuries. In 2024, my team and I further increased the production promptly from the new drilling well program, stabilising current production.

In terms of strategic operation, I have conducted research with other professional bodies in relation to strategic leadership and collective strategy for my organisation. Other than the Chartered Environmentalist status I recently achieved professional registration with the Society of Operation Engineers (SOE), I have also been awarded the Chartered Manager status from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), to showcase my commitment to comply with the environment under SOE ethics and managed accordingly with accordance of code of conducts from CMI.

Current Role and Responsibilities

What is your current role, and what are your primary responsibilities? Can you describe a typical day at work for you?

Currently, my role in my organisation is as Senior Field Surface Facilities Site in Charge & Petroleum Engineer in Charge. As for my roles, I am often involved in high decision-making with the stakeholders and government under my department. This decision-making involves the approval of the projects, including technical and commercial aspects of the projects. My role also involves formulating and planning on work execution tasks with departments such as Production Engineering, Development, Production & Operation on well downhole optimisation and field production facilities operation.

I also oversee budgeting and expenses under my department, to ensure that project planning and execution are managed efficiently especially related to finance. Moreover, I also provide advice and solutions to the management on contractual and legality matters pertaining to work contracts, and service orders, including the contractual work governance.

To describe a typical day in my current position, as my role is hybrid my role frequently requires me to be in the field and main HQ. I occasionally visit worksites to monitor the work execution, and from the site activities, any support and contractual dispute resolution required will be highlighted and presented, including finding the way forward for the issues or problems faced at the site.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your current position?

As my role frequently involves with working with key stakeholders and government representatives, I often need to balance the work execution with their needs. I believe all issues have the most amicable way to solve, which can be favourable for all parties. The issues or concerns can be mitigated using a strategic approach of contrasting the pros and cons of the concerns including highlighting my ethical point of view on the concerns. From that approach, I will present on the recommendations, enabling and aiding the decision-making process for the high management with the stakeholders and government representatives.

Other than the challenge with stakeholders and government, work balance with part-time study is another challenge I currently undergo as I am also doing a part-time dual doctorate program. This is considered a minor challenge for me as it taught me how to balance my time well, between working, studying, spending my time with family, and enjoying my past time hobbies.

Projects and Innovations

Can you tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you are particularly proud of?

At that moment, I had just recently been posted in the current role, and reinstating the damaged field processing facilities and well surface facilities was deemed challenging, as it is something different from what I had experienced before. Most of the field equipment was damaged due to a past crisis, and restoring it back to working condition with minimum resources was challenging, yet doable. The main issues at that time were on how to restore the oil facilities to working conditions although there are no major engineering documents for reference. Despite the challenge of executing the work due to minimum resources, strict budgets, and limited documentation, me and my team managed to execute the work as environmentally safe as possible without any issues.

How do you approach problem-solving and innovation in your projects?

In my role, I have embraced a continuous improvement mindset by developing and refining our work practices through a standardised process. This involves designing new approaches, including applying them in daily scenarios, monitoring their performance, and then readjusting them based on the results. 

For example, when my organisation is adopting a new energy-efficient technology, I led a pilot program to evaluate its impact. We carefully monitored energy consumption and operational efficiency, gathering data that informed necessary adjustments. This iterative process allowed us to optimise the technology’s performance and maximise its benefits, ensuring that we stayed ahead of best practices and continually enhanced our environmental outcomes. I have implemented mentoring programs to help team members see how their daily actions contribute to larger sustainability goals. 

Additionally, I also actively advocated for environmental issues through a series of discussions at the management level including the government. These efforts have not only raised awareness but also inspired others to take an active role in environmental protection. 

By fostering a culture of sustainability and encouraging others to contribute, I have aimed to build a collective commitment to making a meaningful and lasting impact on the environment. This holistic approach to leadership and advocacy has been crucial in driving significant environmental improvements and fostering a proactive stance on sustainability within my organisation.

Skills and Expertise

What key skills do you think are essential for success in your field?

Like other engineering discipline, technical skills are essential. The technical skills enable the right decision-making, which is in accordance with the technical specification and code of standards like API, ASME, ASTM, IEC, etc. I also believe that soft skills such as communication skills, adaptation to organisational needs, and thinking out-of-box are crucial for self-benefits and, at the same time for the organisation itself in the long run. With the rapid advance in technology, it is also vital to develop IT intelligence, especially in managing and handling Artificial Intelligence (AI).

What made you join the SOE? How has the SOE helped your career?

I want to be professionally recognised in the engineering field through joining SOE and from SOE, I have further enhanced my knowledge of engineering application, especially towards sustainability in environmental practice. Furthermore, joining SOE has enabled me to gain access to a robust network of experts in various disciplines of engineering.
SOE offers a special opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the latest technology, and at the same time, knowledge of real case studies has broadened my perspective in operation, engineering, and professional ethics.

Personal Insights and Advice

What advice would you give to aspiring engineers or those early in their careers?

Never give up on your dream. Try to learn everything new every day and always focus on improving yourself and one day you will be rewarded for your hard efforts. It is always challenging to begin doing something, but with tenacity, you will achieve your goal.

Someone very senior in engineering field had once told me this, “Work the best as you can, as honest as you will, as ethical as you may, and as dedicated as you can; and one day your hard efforts will be fruitful”. 

Can you share any memorable experiences or lessons learned during your career?

Never afraid to try something different that you know. My career transition from drilling to asset management taught me how to adapt the work according to the situation. To be familiarised with the things beyond your level, you need to constantly absorb as much knowledge as you can like a blackhole. 

Absorb knowledge like a blackhole might sound extreme, but to compete in the rapidly changing world today might be critical to be the best in the field. Let your curiosity fuel your desire to try something new, as long it is good and healthy.

Future Goals and Vision

What are your professional goals for the future?

My journey is still far from my current path. As part of climbing up the career paths and post-graduate education plans, my professional goal involves the sustainability option of oil and gas technology which can be more friendly towards the environment. In addition, I am also would like to participate in a global energy talk on how to be sustainable and minimise the impact of fossil fuels towards the environment. 

Other than that, I plan to further enhance my knowledge in technological advancement related to green energy as green energy provides a promising future to the current global energy need.

How do you see the field of engineering evolving in the next decade?

With the rapid advancement in technology, the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in daily work including in the engineering field has huge potential to minimise human error through precise computational algorithms. The usage of AI can vastly change how human thinks and thus will be a new technological marvel in the closest future.

 I have seen the usage of AI in the current engineering field has reduced the risk of accidents at the workplace and with the right usage of this technology, humans will vastly improve.

Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re excited about?

I am excited about the new green technology utilising hydrogen as a source of energy. This technology, which derives simply through the hydrolysis process is basically the separation of water molecules to hydrogen and oxygen. This green technology is the new change in green energy advancement and with many potentials and opportunities.

Other than the new green technology, rapid AI technology like machine learning, natural language processing, autonomous systems and many more are promising near-future technologies to make human life better. It is near-future technology as it has improved rapidly in recent years which can be a novel breakthrough in engineering, education, medicine, and every aspect of daily work activities.

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