The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, honored Mohannad Atef, a member of the Egypt Upstream Gateway (EUG) team, for receiving the Best AI Agent Award at the International Geomechanics Conference held in Saudi Arabia. The recognition is due to his achievement among 425 participants from around the world.
Atef explained that the EUG team to which he belongs developed an innovative model that relies on artificial intelligence techniques to extract and analyze geotechnical data with high precision, by designing an “intelligent agent” specialized in drilling data. This, according to Atef, is based on an advanced integration of AI methodologies and earth-science expertise to achieve the best results in well drilling.
He noted that the minister’s recognition confirms support for young staff in the ministry and its affiliated companies and encourages digital innovation.
This came after Badawi met with the EUG team, reviewing the platform’s ongoing operations and following up on recent developments in exploration and production activities, as well as the progress in digital transformation initiatives and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across companies affiliated to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR).
During the ceremony, Badawi commended the efforts of young professionals working with the EUG, highlighting their contribution to advancing digital transformation in the petroleum sector. He emphasized that Atef’s accomplishment reflects the capability of a young talent to employ modern technologies in exploration and production activities, aligning with the MoPMR’s strategy to enhance operational efficiency through innovation and artificial intelligence.
The Minister underscored the importance of further developing the award-winning project and transforming it into a practical model that can be implemented within production companies. He noted that the initiative represents a strong example of the sector’s ability to adopt and localize digital transformation and AI applications, turning them into effective operational tools that improve field management and maximize data utilization, thereby generating clear economic benefits.
Launched in 2021, EUG is a national digital platform established by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to centralize, manage, and promote Egypt’s subsurface data. It supports exploration and production activities by providing integrated geological, geophysical, and technical information, enabling investors to access data through a modern digital system. The gateway plays a key role in advancing digital transformation within the petroleum sector and enhancing the competitiveness of Egypt’s exploration landscape.
