In this exclusive interview, we are honoured to speak with Mr. Mohammed Abufour, a distinguished figure in the Nondestructive Testing (NDT) field with over 38 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
As a Lifetime Member of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) and the current Head of the Advanced NDT Services Unit at Saudi Aramco, Mr. Abufour has made significant contributions to NDT, particularly in pioneering advanced inspection techniques. His journey, which began serendipitously, has seen him evolve from a trainee to a leader, mentor, and innovator in the field.
Join us as Mr. Abufour shares his insights on his career, the evolution of NDT, and his thoughts on the future of the industry.
Hello, Mr. Mohammed Abufour. Hope you’re having a wonderful day. Although you need no introduction, could you please introduce yourself to our amazing audience?
Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m Mohammed Abufour, a Lifetime Member of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) with over 38 years of experience in Nondestructive Testing (NDT) gained during working at Oil and Gas industry. My journey in NDT has taken me through various roles, including NDT Inspector, Supervisor, Consultant, and Engineering Specialist. Currently, I lead the Advanced MDT Services Unit at Saudi Aramco and serve as the ASNT Region Director for Area 19, which covers Saudi Arabia, India, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Iraq. I am also the current Chairman of the ASNT Saudi Arabian Section.
… can you share with us the journey that led you to a career in Nondestructive Testing (NDT) and your initial experiences in the oil and gas industry?
My journey in NDT began by accident when I was informed by the department division head to join a new unit named NDT Services Unit, which mainly provided radiographic testing to operating facilities to ensure the integrity of mainly new welds and safety of critical infrastructure without causing damage. Starting as a trainee and then an NDT Inspector, I quickly realized the profound impact of this field on the oil and gas industry. Therefore, in 1990, I decided to travel to the USA, specifically to Hellier NDT Institute in Niantic, Connecticut in the United States, to obtain two important NDT certificates Level II in Ultrasonic Testing and Radiographic Film Interpretation, which were highly needed at that time. This trip helped me meet my role model in NDT, Mr. Chuck Hellier, and his talented NDT instructors, and it established my knowledge, started my networking with international global expertise, and in general created strong foundation for my career in NDT.
… can you tell us more about your educational journey, especially your experience at the University of Northampton and how it prepared you for your career in NDT?
My education at the University of Northampton was pivotal. The curriculum was enriched with advanced NDT technologies like Phased Array, TOFD, Infrared Thermography Testing, corrosion, vibration testing etc. followed by numerous assignments which improved my knowledge and experience in nondestructive testing. The experience also instilled in me a commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
… how has your role evolved over the past 35 years, from being a field technician to your current position as the Head of the Advanced NDT Services Unit at Saudi Aramco?
Over the years, my role has evolved significantly. Starting as a field technician, I gained extensive hands-on experience through working with many expertise from different nationalities, providing on-call NDT services to support operating facilities company/kingdom-wide. This allowed me to travel to most operating facilities and face numerous challenges, which helped me understand the practical aspects of NDT. Additionally, I was the only young NDT technician who regularly attended ASNT/Arab Peninsula Section meetings during the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, and later became one of the founder and a member of the first board of the ASNT/Saudi Arabian Section when it was founded in 2000. Moreover, I was also an active ASNT member of ASNT/Chicago Section during my studies in the Moraine Valley Community College, IL, USA, which allowed me to attend many technical meetings and interact with many NDT experts and talent students from USA. All of these experiences have contributed to my career development. In addition, attending regional and international forums and conferences helped me stay in contact with the majority of NDT manufacturers and developers around the globe. This exposure to the international NDT industry allowed me to learn more about NDT technologies, present numerous technical presentations highlighting new techniques, case studies, and success stories, and scout for new NDT technologies. Therefore, gaining knowledge from interactions with international NDT experts and developers helped me develop many techniques and resolve numerous inspection challenges. As I progressed to supervisory and consulting roles, I focused on improving NDT techniques and introducing new NDT technologies and processes. Currently, as the head of the Advanced NDT services Unit, we provide cutting-edge inspection services to operating facilities and projects, ensuring compliance with industry standards and driving innovation.
… could you elaborate on some of the NDT techniques you have developed over the years? How have these innovations impacted the industry?
I've developed many NDT techniques, particularly in Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) and Advanced Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AAUT). These innovations have enhanced the accuracy, reliability, efficiency of inspections and resolve inspection challenges. For instance, the PAUT and AUT techniques we've implemented allow for more precise defect detection and provide valuable information on the location, geometric features, and growth indications, especially for critical defects like environmental corrosion cracking. This significantly helps engineers conduct evaluations and assessments to ensure safe operation, reduce downtime, improving plant integrity, supporting fitness-for-service studies, and planning for repairs and replacements.
… can you explain some of the advanced NDT services your team provides at upstream and downstream facilities? What are the key challenges and innovations in this area?
Our advanced NDT services include sophisticated techniques like Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), TOFD, IRIS,MFL, EC, NF, RFT for Tubular inspection, Infrared Thermography, etc. These services are crucial for both upstream and downstream operations, ensuring the integrity of pipelines, storage tanks, and other critical infrastructure. Key challenges include staying ahead of technological advancements and maintaining high accuracy under varying operational conditions. Innovations like real-time data analysis and automated inspection systems are addressing these challenges effectively.
As one of the founders of ASNT's Saudi Arabian Section and currently serving as its Chairman, how has your involvement with ASNT shaped your career and the NDT industry in the region?
My involvement with ASNT has been instrumental in my career. It has provided a platform for continuous learning, networking, and contributing to the development of NDT standards and practices. By fostering collaboration among regional sections, enhanced the quality and recognition of NDT in the Arabian Gulf and beyond, promoting a culture of excellence and innovation and link ASNT local members with ASNT board of directors though transfer their comments and concerns.
… you’ve been actively involved with local industrial colleges and institutes. What motivates you to promote careers in the NDT industry, and what advice would you give to aspiring NDT professionals?
I'm motivated by a desire to give back to the community and ensure the next generation of NDT professionals is well-equipped with knowledge and passion to support the kingdom 2030 vision. My advice to aspiring NDT professionals is establish a strong foundation in conventional NDT which will help a lot to master Advanced NDT Technologies through embrace continuous learning, attending local and region forum/conference, internship with either NDT services provider or in any of Oil & Gas companies and always adhere to the highest standards of safety and integrity.
… what leadership qualities do you believe are essential for successfully leading inspection teams and NDT services? Can you share an example of a leadership challenge you faced and how you overcame it?
Essential leadership qualities include integrity, effective communication, empowered the NDT technicians/ leaders in many aspects and a commitment to continuous improvement though consistently providing high level of training on all the NDT technologies while staying focused and updated. These preparations helped work as teamwork in healthy environment and ready to achieve company goals. A leadership challenge I faced was during a critical inspection of large number of new weld having different configurations and required to be completed in a very short time to avoid delay in the plant startup. By fostering a collaborative team environment to work with different recommended technologies according to the approved standard, ensuring clear communication, and leading by example. Alhamdulillah, we successfully completed the inspection on time and to the highest standards which allowed the assigned engineer developed the required action in timely manner without any further delay.
… you’ve received several prestigious awards, including the 2006 ASNT Technician of The Year and the 2022 Charles N. Sherlock Meritorious Service Award. How have these recognitions influenced your career, and what do they mean to you personally?
These recognitions have been humbling and motivating, and they provide an opportunity for me to introduce myself in many technical occasions. They reaffirm the impact of myself and inspire me to continue striving for excellence. Personally, they are a testament to the support of my family, my higher management, and the local/international NDT community. Furthermore, these achievements opened door to share my journey with the younger generation whenever I have a chance and encourage them to work hard and strive at least to obtain local awards in their specialty.
In 2018, you received a Mentoring Award. Can you share some insights into your mentoring philosophy and the impact you’ve seen from mentoring others in the NDT field?
In 2018, I was honored to receive a Mentoring Award from The American Society of Nondestructive Testing in USA. My mentoring philosophy is built on the principles of empathy, encouragement, and practical guidance. I believe in providing support and showing evidence of success to help my mentees thrive in the NDT and other inspection field. Receiving this award has created an excellent environment with my mentees, as it serves as a testament to my dedication and expertise. It has become a key factor in achieving mentoring assignment goals and fostering a strong mentor-mentee relationship. One of the highlights of mentoring for me is witnessing the growth of my mentees. I place great emphasis on their knowledge and educational background, helping them develop into confident and skilled professionals. Seeing them succeed and excel in their chosen field is incredibly rewarding.
… what are your thoughts on the future of NDT, particularly in the oil and gas industry? Are there any emerging technologies or trends that you are particularly excited about?
The future of NDT especially Advanced NDT is very promising, with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, UAVs, and advanced robotics poised to revolutionize the field. Moreover, online monitoring for corrosion, environmental corrosion cracking, vibration, etc., adds great value in ensuring the integrity and safety of plant equipment and piping. All these innovations will enhance inspection accuracy, efficiency, and safety, particularly in the oil and gas industry.
… what advice would you give to the next generation of NDT professionals who aspire to reach leadership positions like yours?
My advice to the next generation of NDT professionals is to be patient, stay committed to learning, embrace innovation, and uphold the highest ethical standards. Obstacles are always present, and it may take a long time and feel very hard to achieve your goals. Therefore, keep working hard, maintain self-confidence, and always strive to support and uplift your team and the industry to reach the highest goals. Furthermore, sharing knowledge by participating in local or international events will develop talents and enhance networking, bringing many opportunities. Lastly, stay in touch with developments in the NDT industry and strive to learn about the latest advancements in NDT technologies
Mr. Mohammed, how do you unwind yourself? How do you like to spend your me-time?
I enjoy spending time with my family and visiting friends and relatives. Once a week, I spend quality time and have dinner with friends. This has been a good habit for more than twenty years, and I hope it continues forever. Also, I go to the gym to exercise and stay healthy. Moreover, I try my best to have dinner outside the home at least once a week with my family. I like that all these activities help me stay active and recharge, keeping me balanced and focused all the time.
Finally, what are your thoughts on OnestopNDT? Do you think our efforts to provide real, authentic, and accurate content are helping the industry? Also, do you think our platform helps the community connect with like-minded people?
OnestopNDT is doing an excellent job in providing valuable, accurate content and fostering connections within the NDT community. Keep up the momentum through linking the professionals in the region with the NDT international societies and communities. Your efforts are significantly contributing to the industry's growth and helping professionals stay informed and connected. I see a promising future for OnestopNDT. Keep up the great work!
