AADE Houston FMG Meeting

Presenting – “The Modern Mud Engineer: How Technology, Data, and Expectations Are Changing the Profession”

What does the career path of a mud engineer look like today, and where is it headed next? In this presentation, Paul Sands of AES Drilling Fluids shares his journey from trainee to mud engineer, technical support, and account management while exploring how the profession continues to evolve. Drawing from field experience and current industry practices, Paul will discuss the fundamentals that remain unchanged, the technologies shaping modern drilling-fluid operations, and the growing importance of data analysis, technical communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The session will provide practical insights for students, early-career professionals, and experienced engineers looking to understand the future of drilling fluids.

 

Paul Sands is a Technical Drilling Fluids Engineer at AES Drilling Fluids with eight years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Originally from Calgary, Canada, Paul earned his degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Wyoming. Throughout his career, Paul has gained experience across multiple areas of the drilling fluids industry, beginning as a trainee fluids engineer before progressing into field engineering, technical support, and account management. His diverse background has provided him with a well-rounded understanding of drilling operations, technical challenges, and the evolving demands of the industry.Today, Paul combines his technical expertise and field experience with a customer-focused approach to delivering effective drilling fluid solutions. His career reflects the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and the ability to bridge technical knowledge with practical business needs.

 

Presenting – “The Evolution of Completions Fluids”

 

The completions industry has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Completions have evolved from relatively simple, single-zone systems focused primarily on reservoir access to sophisticated engineered solutions that maximize reservoir contact, enhance permeability, increase stimulated rock volume, and provide continuous performance monitoring. Alongside this evolution has been a shift toward intelligent completions, supported by digital technologies, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

As fields mature and well architectures become more complex, completion fluid design has faced many of the same challenges seen in drilling fluids. The introduction of intelligent completion hardware has expanded compatibility requirements and raised the expectations placed on completion fluid systems. Industry designs have progressed from straightforward brine formulations to advanced mixed-brine systems engineered to support smart completions, minimize formation damage, improve environmental stewardship, and maintain stability under increasingly extreme temperatures and conditions.

 

This presentation will review the past and present state of completion fluids while exploring the technologies and trends that will define their future.

 

Chau Nguyen serves as the Domain Head for Reservoir Drill-In and Completion Fluids at SLB. During her 23-year career with MI SWACO/SLB, she has held both technical and operational positions, supporting projects and leading teams across multiple regions, including South America and West Africa. Her experience spans fluid technology development, field operations, and strategic business leadership within the drilling and completions sector.

 

Chau earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Warwick.

 

Presenting – “Beyond the Equipment: Building a Technical Career in Solids Control”

Solids control occupies a critical position between drilling-fluid performance and the transportation and disposal of generated waste. Yet the service is delivered through widely different models, ranging from integrated technical systems to direct equipment rental supported by either service-company personnel or operator-provided contractors. These models create different expectations for equipment reliability, personnel competency, data ownership, operating accountability, and career development.

 

In this presentation, Jarod McBride, President of Stage 3 Separation, will discuss how the solids-control profession is progressing from experience-based equipment operation toward integrated process management supported by instrumentation, digital visibility, and objective performance data. The presentation will examine the gap between the increasingly digital drilling rig and portions of the solids-control fleet that remain disconnected, antiquated, or difficult to integrate with modern data environments.

 

The presentation will explore how purchasing decisions can support workforce development by recognizing the broader value solids-control services create across drilling fluids, solids separation, fluid recovery, waste transportation, and disposal. This perspective highlights both technical expertise and career pathways—from process specialists and digital operators to technical mentors, operational leaders, and industry contributors.

 

Jarod McBride is President of Stage 3 Separation, where he leads operations, strategy, and the continued development of advanced solids and fluids management solutions. He has more than 20 years of oilfield-services experience. After beginning his career with BJ Services in 2005, he moved into solids control and later joined Stage 3 Separation in 2010. Before becoming President in 2020, Jarod spent more than a decade leading Stage 3’s field operations, personnel development, equipment deployment, and service execution. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.