By Yinka Coker

Ufuoma Akomuvie Akpomeyoma is a Senior Seismic Interpreter, Reservoir Geophysicist, and Geohazards Expert at Shell, with over 18 years of experience across Nigeria, the USA, and Oman. She is a passionate mentor, women’s empowerment advocate, and a dedicated wife and mother, proving daily that technical excellence and humanity can, and must, go hand in hand in the energy sector

In an industry historically dominated by men, Ufuoma Akomuvie Akpomeyoma stands out not just for her remarkable technical accomplishments but for the profound way she is redefining what it means to lead as a woman in energy. A seasoned Senior Seismic Interpreter and Reservoir Geophysicist with Shell, Ufuoma has built a stellar reputation across Nigeria, the United States, and Oman, proving that passion, precision, and people-centered leadership can coexist powerfully.

For nearly two decades, Ufuoma has been at the forefront of some of Shell’s most complex exploration and production projects. Her expertise spans seismic and quantitative interpretation, velocity modelling, geohazard assessment, and field development planning for onshore and offshore fields, skills honed through years of hands-on work in clastic and carbonate reservoirs in challenging terrains. Currently based in Muscat, Oman, she is a trusted custodian of subsurface safety for fields within the company.

Yet, what truly distinguishes Ufuoma is her holistic approach to energy solutions, one that blends world-class geoscience with an unwavering commitment to empowering others, especially women.

Building Safer Energy, One Well at a Time

In her current role at Oman Shell, Ufuoma has consistently delivered results that translate seismic lines into real-world value. She led the creation of robust structural depth maps, tested by over 40 drilled wells, each verifying the accuracy of her interpretations and saving the company millions in avoided drilling surprises. She has successfully built velocity models that refine depth predictions and reduce geological uncertainties, ensuring wells are drilled safely and efficiently.

As the onshore geohazards focal point for Oman Shell, she collaborates directly with Shell’s global geohazards experts to embed best practices that safeguard people and assets. Her leadership of an integrated geohazards workshop addressed the persistent challenge of mud losses during drilling. an effort that earned her a Shell recognition award in 2022 for delivering practical, high-impact solutions.

Her colleagues often describe her as a calm force: precise under pressure, tireless in pursuit of safe operations, and always generous with her expertise.

A Career Forged Across Continents

Long before Oman, Ufuoma’s career story was already one of breaking barriers and exceeding expectations. In Nigeria, she played a pivotal role in Shell’s shallow water and onshore fields, using seismic interpretation and reservoir characterization to mature hydrocarbon opportunities and guide optimal well placement. Her work directly prevented process safety incidents by identifying subsurface safety risks with the intent to safeguard people and infrastructure.

A year spent in Houston expanded her impact further. There, she contributed to deepwater projects in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Guyana, delivering high-stakes geohazard assessments that enabled the safe delivery of complex wells in riserless intervals-feats requiring not just technical brilliance but an unshakable commitment to operational excellence.

Beyond the Data: A Mentor and Advocate for Women

While Ufuoma’s technical résumé is impressive by any industry standard, her most enduring legacy may lie in her dedication to mentoring and advocating for women in STEM. As a married woman and mother herself, she understands firsthand the unique challenges women often face balancing family, demanding fieldwork, and career advancement in oil and gas.

She has coached and developed countless young professionals in Nigeria and Oman, often taking junior geoscientists under her wing to ensure they grow not just as technical experts but as confident, well-rounded leaders. She has facilitated training courses within Shell and for external audiences, helping to demystify seismic interpretation and promote practical geohazard management, especially for those just starting out.

“Empowering women in energy is not an option, it’s a necessity,” Ufuoma often says. “When we invest in women, we unlock innovation, safety, and sustainability at every level of the industry.”

Her passion extends to advocating for more inclusive policies and work cultures that allow women to thrive, from championing flexible working arrangements to promoting visible female role models in technical disciplines.

Recognised Excellence

Her contributions have not gone unnoticed. In addition to her 2022 award for tackling drilling challenges, she received a 2023 Shell recognition award for leading a fault characterization study that significantly improved well planning and hydraulic fracturing design in a field in Oman.

These recognitions reflect what colleagues and industry peers already know: that when Ufuoma is on a project, success is not a question of if but when.

Looking Ahead

With an MSc in Structural Geology with Geophysics from the University of Leeds and a BSc in Geology from Delta State University, Nigeria, Ufuoma continues to build on a foundation of excellence that bridges continents and cultures. Today, she remains deeply committed to advancing integrated subsurface workflows that make energy production safer and more efficient, while also nurturing the next generation of female geoscientists ready to follow in her footsteps.

For Shell and the broader industry, leaders like Ufuoma Akpomeyoma are vital to shaping an energy future that is technically sound, safer for all, and truly inclusive.