Feras El Yaakobi, Conventional and Unconventional Water Manager

With over 25 years in the oil and gas industry, Feras El Yaakobi has built extensive expertise in chemistry across, water treatment, flow assurance, asset integrity, and corrosion management.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the American University of Beirut  Feras began his career in the Middle East in technical roles that spanned quality control, research and development, field technical support and operations management.

Raised in Abu Dhabi and exposed to people from over 200 nationalities, Feras credits his upbringing for shaping his global perspective. In 2013, he relocated to Canada, settling in the city of Estevan in south-east Saskatchewan. This experience strengthened his adaptability, social skills, and ability to approach challenges from different perspectives.

In his current role as Conventional and Unconventional Water Manager for SLB, Feras leads operational excellence in the Montney basin. He applies his extensive experience in production chemicals, as well as water treatment for seawater injection and produced water management.

He explained: “Unconventional producers in the Montney and Duvernay face complex water management challenges due to high volumes of co-produced water requiring reuse, recycling, or disposal under strict environmental and regulatory standards. Treatment must handle solids, scaling, microbes, hydrocarbons, and salinity using mechanical and chemical methods. We align closely with the producer’s water strategy to design tailored, data-driven solutions that integrate seamlessly with their operations and infrastructure.”

A team player, Feras thrives in collaborative environments, forging meaningful connections across diverse backgrounds and approaching challenges with persistence and strategic thinking.

“I am a people person who enjoys interacting and helping others. I believe we can achieve greater results together. I see myself as an attentive listener and a strong believer in continuous improvement, always looking beyond the status quo to explore how we can grow and improve,” he added.

With water being a scarce and valuable resource, Feras is driven by the connection between his daily work and the global impact of energy. He sees his role as both a professional duty and a personal mission, helping customers use it wisely, especially in applications like hydraulic fracking, while supporting the local community in Montney and Duvernay region where SLB operates. Looking ahead, he is eager to contribute to industry growth and to support the responsible management of vital resources.

Learn more about how ChampionX chemical solutions are driving operational excellence at SLB.