Dr. Selim Shaker | Offshore and Deepwater Drilling | Best Offshore Exploration Award
Consultant at Geopressure Analysis Services | United States
Dr. Selim Shaker is a distinguished Prospect Generator and Analyst at Geopressure Analysis Services Inc. (G.A.S.), bringing over four decades of expertise in petroleum geology and geopressure evaluation to the global energy industry. He holds a B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Geology from ASU, Egypt, complemented by a postgraduate diploma in Hydrogeology from Prague University under UNESCO, establishing a strong academic foundation in subsurface sciences. His professional journey began in Egypt, where he worked as a well-site geologist, stratigrapher, and structural geologist, before expanding his career into the international petroleum sector. Throughout his tenure in the United States, Dr. Selim Shaker served as an Exploration Geologist, contributing to prospect generation and evaluation across diverse regions including the offshore Gulf of Mexico, onshore Texas and Louisiana, as well as Egypt, Northwest Australia, Algeria, Libya, the North Sea, and China. Following his retirement from Phillips Petroleum Company in 2000, he transitioned to consulting for Knowledge System Inc. (KSI), where he collaborated on the development of the DrillWork software platform, advancing industry practices in pore pressure analysis and wellbore safety. Building upon this expertise, Dr. Shaker established Geopressure Analysis Services Inc. to specialize in pore and fracture pressure prediction, risk assessment of exploration prospects, geopressure compartmentalization, seal integrity, and salt-sediment interaction studies, with a particular focus on the Gulf of Mexico and other complex basins worldwide. His prolific scholarly contributions include more than 50 published papers and articles that address critical challenges in petroleum exploration and drilling safety, with 37 citations by 32 documents and an h-index of 4, reinforcing his reputation as a thought leader in applied geoscience. A dedicated professional, he maintains active memberships in leading scientific and technical organizations such as the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG), American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE), Houston Geological Society (HGS), and Geophysical Society of Houston (GSH). Through his enduring commitment to advancing geoscientific knowledge, mentoring future professionals, and applying innovative methodologies to reduce exploration risk, Dr. Selim Shaker continues to make lasting contributions to the petroleum industry, demonstrating both scientific rigor and industry leadership.
Featured Publications
Shaker, S. S. (2024). Pore and fracture pressures prediction — A new geomechanic approach in deepwater salt overthrusts: Case histories from the Gulf of Mexico.
Shaker, S. S. (2020). Kicks and blowouts prediction before and during drilling in the over-pressured sediments.
Shaker, S. S. (2019). Pore pressure prediction before and during drilling applying the four zones method.