HAMED AL-HOOTI
Summary
Resilient Operations Specialist with expertise in centralized process monitoring, thermal EOR, and control room operations. Skilled in resolving complex process upsets, maintaining precise document control, and coaching team members. Proactive in adopting new technologies and PDO digital tools, with a strong commitment to punctuality, a professional work ethic, and achieving operational integrity goals.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Thermal Production System Controller
PDO, IOC (Integrated Operation Centre)
Bait Al-Haitham-Muscat, Oman
2025.11 - Current
- Amal Thermal EOR Process Management: Expertly operate and stabilize the complex thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) process cycle at the Amal Cluster. This encompasses the end-to-end loops of heavy crude hydrocarbon production, Aquifer Pump-Off (APO) water treatment demineralization for boiler feed water, and high-pressure steam generation/distribution for reservoir cyclic steam soak and steam drive mechanisms, ensuring maximum plant reliability, strict pressure-temperature operating envelope containment, and optimal thermal response.
- Process Risk Mitigation: Leveraged an advanced Distributed Control System (DCS) for effective real-time monitoring and control to safely operate the Amal Cluster remotely; detecting early process deviations and executing prompt corrective actions to prevent major upsets and downtime.
- Facility Change Proposals (FCPs): Continuously raising Facility Change Proposals (FCPs) to enhance process performance, safety, and operational efficiency — collaborating with Engineering and Operations to validate technical feasibility, assess risk impact, and ensure alignment with PDO’s internal SPs/GUs and HSE standards. Most submitted FCPs were approved — reflecting strong technical justification, risk awareness, and alignment with PDO’s operational excellence goals.
- Root Cause Analysis & Systemic Improvement: Actively participated in critical and repetitive process upset discussion platforms, leading troubleshooting by analysing process parameters, alarms, sequence of events, and historical trends to identify root causes. Collaborated with multidisciplinary team members to prepare and submit 5CRQs and Abnormal Situation Reports, successfully driving systemic upgrades to prevent recurrence.
- Operational Reporting & Data Integrity: Document daily operational activities and update production data effectively to deliver accurate reports, keeping all shift logs and equipment status/failure reports consistently up to date. Prepare detailed, effective handover reports to ensure smooth information transfer during crew changeovers, while providing the management team with timely system status briefings to support informed decision-making.
- Team Mentorship & Collaboration: Championed a culture of knowledge sharing and mentorship across both the IOC and Amal Cluster site teams. Coached team members on specialized PDO processes and tools, improving safety and compliance. I readily support my colleagues whenever needed and seek support from peers to ensure safe, flawless field operations.
- Operational & HSE Communication: Actively participate in team meetings — sharing feedback, discussing operational issues, and escalating support needs. Collaborate on HSE incident reviews and lessons learned. Proactively explore training opportunities to elevate team competency and safety awareness.
- Digital Tools & Operational Visibility— PDO Systems: Skilled in using PDO’s core monitoring, reporting, and management tools—including Nibras, ForeSite, SAP, e-Log, PI (Plant Information), EMOC, Asset Pulse, EPAD, and Baseera—to support real-time operational visibility, compliance tracking, and risk-informed decision-making across PDO clusters.
- Emergency Response & Crisis Management: Respond promptly and effectively to site emergencies and critical process upsets across the cluster. Execute emergency procedures to guarantee the absolute safety of personnel, safeguard plant assets, and mitigate environmental risks, thereby protecting the company's operational integrity and corporate reputation
- continuous Professional Development: Proactively pursue continuous learning — attending vendor courses, maintaining 100% compliance with mandatory HSE & PSM training, and participating in Design Review and HAZOP forums whenever opportunities arise— Attended WTP Phase-2A HAZOP Graphics Review (April 2025, Bahrain), to enhance technical, leadership, and safety capabilities.
Amal Central Control Room Operator
PDO
South IOC (Integrated Operation Centre)/ Marmul, Oman
2023.01 - 2025.10
- DCS System Verification: Conducted DCS system verification at South IOC prior to transition to Muscat IOC — identified, documented, and reported all operational anomalies and configuration gaps to IOC Management to ensure seamless handover and uninterrupted system performance throughout the relocation phase.
- Remote Compliance Milestone: Successfully achieved 100% compliance in remotely operating the Amal Cluster from the South IOC within a one-month timeframe. Collaborated effectively with team members to seamlessly align workflows, validate critical control systems, and achieve all key operational, production, asset integrity, and safety objectives during the transition phase.
- Adapted quickly to changing work conditions, demonstrating flexibility under pressure.
- Emergency Response: Responding promptly to emergency situations, ensuring safety of personnel, Assets and Environment.
- Assisted in training new operators, improving overall team performance.
- Maintained communication with field staff, coordinating efficient operations.
- Process Monitoring & Control Leadership: Demonstrating strong process monitoring and control capabilities — proactively identifying and mitigating potential upsets to ensure stable, safe, and uninterrupted operations across hydrocarbon, water, and steam systems— by ensuring all equipment operates strictly within defined operating envelopes, preventing overpressure, overheating and mechanical failures.
Thermal Production Control Room Operator
PDO
Amal Steam Project, Oman
2013.01 - 2022.12
- Established as a Production Operator in Amal Steam Project in 2013-progressed from Field Operator to Station Operator, and then to Control Room operator by 2015, demonstrating increasing technical responsibility and operational maturity within PDO Operations.
- High Contributor to Amal Steam Project from trial phase to main project commissioning- actively involved in the commissioning of the 1st cold producer well in Amal East Field.
- Actively support the commissioning team by monitoring, operating, and stabilizing hydrocarbon, water, and steam networks at the Amal Steam Project. Identify and report operational issues for swift resolution while ensuring strict adherence to safety, asset integrity, and production readiness .
- Skilled in the safe operation and real-time monitoring of diverse well types, including producers (beam pumps, ESPs, Rota-flex, PCPs), steam injectors, free-flow, APO, and water disposal wells. Utilizing the systematic Look, Listen, Feel (LLF) inspection technique, I execute prompt corrective actions to ensure operational integrity, strict safety compliance, and uninterrupted production.
- Skilled in safe equipment operation within defined operating envelopes, real-time monitoring, and conducting FLM across hydrocarbon, water, and steam systems — ensuring compliance with safety, integrity, and production standards.
- Key contributor to major shutdowns and critical activities executions across the Amal Cluster — involved in planning, PTW authorization& validation/ procedures preparation, PEFS marking, manpower coordination, safe handover to maintenance, and safe execution and start-up — delivered on time with 100% HSE & integrity compliance.
- OI & Documentation Management. Served as OI (Operations Integrity) Registers Focal Point for Amal Cluster — responsible for maintaining accuracy and compliance across critical OI registers including Temporary Repairs, Passing Valves, Process Leak Management, LO/LC, Spectacle Blinds, and Temporary Hoses — ensuring all records were consistently up-to-date and in a state of audit-readiness. Optimized the format of key OI registers by improving data clarity and adding precise equipment descriptions that significantly reduced troubleshooting time. Additionally, led the PEFS review and Red-line mark up process to ensure accurate as-built master drawings.
- Audit& Compliance Management: Actively involved in internal and external audits across the Amal Cluster, including Operations Integrity (OI), Permit to Work (PTW), Environmental Compliance, and AI-PSM. Championed site audit readiness and executed swift corrective action plans to resolve findings, maintaining 100% compliance with PDO’s technical and operating procedures.
- Amal Lean FLM Project Leadership: Appointed by the Production Coordinator as First Line Maintenance (FLM) Project Focal Point in November 2015 — responsible for end-to-end delivery of the Amal Lean FLM initiative. Maintained direct communication with the Production Coordinator on all project aspects, actively incorporating team feedback to ensure practicality, safety, and field relevance. Led the development of 32 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), assigned strategic site locations for 32 FLM boards, designed Visual Management Boards (VMBs), and drove full field implementation. The project was successfully audited, approved, and officially closed out by the Oil South Director (OSD) in April 2016, demonstrating 100% compliance with PDO requirements
Production Operator Trainee
PDO
Muscat& Bahja Field , Oman
2010.12 - 2012.12
- Joined PDO in December 2010 as a Production Operator through selective TOP-18 Batch- a program designed to equip employees with foundational operational, safety, and technical skills for effective performance in field roles across PDO's assets.
- Six Months Class-room Training at PDO PLD Centre in Muscat, enhancing English Proficiency and gaining foundational knowledge of PDO's internal oil& gas operations- with focus on field-specific processes and terminology to support operational readiness at interior field locations across PDO's assets.
- Following Six Months Training at PLD Centre, deployed to Bahja Field for hands-on field orientations- gaining hands-on knowledge and operational experience through training and field exposure with operators across multiple Bahja Field Stations.
Education
Bachelor of Engineering - Process Operation and Maintenance
College of Engineering, National University
Muscat, Oman 2019.09 - 2022.02
Diploma of Higher Education - Oil and Gas Engineering
Nizwa College of Technology
Nizwa, Oman 2009.09 - 2010.07
Certificate Course - In Engineering
Al-Musana College of Technology
Al-Musana, Oman /2008 - /2009
Foundation Course - English Language and IT
Al-Musana College of Technology.
Al-Musana, oman /2007 - /2008
General secondary (high school) Certificate - Science Section
Sahban Bin Wael Secondary School
Barka, Oman /2005 - /2006
Skills
- Good Communication & Document Control Skills
- Thermal EOR Process Management
- Operational Resilience & Process-Driven Availability: Able to perform effectively in high-pressure and adverse work environments Readily available to work extended hours beyond normal schedules whenever operational business needs arise
- Process Monitoring, Operating, Controlling and Process Upset Troubleshooting Skills
- Professional Work Ethic: Demonstrate high commitment, strict punctuality, and a strong self-motivated approach to executing critical operational tasks and achieving team goals
- Team Coaching & Continuous Learning/Adaptability: Skilled in mentoring team members and sharing knowledge, with a strong proactive willingness to learn new technologies and processes
- PDO Digital Tools Proficiency
- Good Skill in Microsoft Word and Excel
Languages
English
Advanced
Arabic
Fluent
Accomplishments
- Crisis Management & Production Safeguarding (April 2026): Recognized by management for outstanding performance in successfully restoring station operations following a major trip during adverse weather conditions. This rapid, decisive intervention prevented 800 \(m^{3}\) of potential oil deferment within a critical 6-hour window.
- Shutdown & Start-up Success: Actively involved in the safe preparation, execution, and start-up of multiple major shutdowns across the Amal Cluster, consistently achieving zero safety incidents and flawless operational recovery.
- Active involvement in the successful execution and transition of the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) project, ensuring seamless migration of control systems and achieving 100% remote operational readiness within the targeted schedule.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Thermal Production System Controller
PDO, IOC (Integrated Operation Centre)
2025.11 - Current
Amal Central Control Room Operator
PDO
2023.01 - 2025.10
Bachelor of Engineering - Process Operation and Maintenance
College of Engineering, National University
2019.09 - 2022.02
Thermal Production Control Room Operator
PDO
2013.01 - 2022.12
Production Operator Trainee
PDO
2010.12 - 2012.12
Diploma of Higher Education - Oil and Gas Engineering
Nizwa College of Technology
2009.09 - 2010.07
Certificate Course - In Engineering
Al-Musana College of Technology
/2008 - /2009
Foundation Course - English Language and IT
Al-Musana College of Technology.
/2007 - /2008
General secondary (high school) Certificate - Science Section
Sahban Bin Wael Secondary School
/2005 - /2006