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Azerbaijan & the Caspian – Digitalisation and AI Driving the Next Energy Era
From Legacy to Smart Fields: How AI is Transforming the Caspian Energy Landscape
Over 500 delegates from more than 30 countries gathered in Baku for the 2025 SPE Annual Caspian Technical Conference (CTC), reflecting the region’s enduring importance in global energy. Under the theme “Learning from the Past, Rejuvenating Today, Inspiring Tomorrow,” the conference highlighted how digitalisation, AI, and innovation are reshaping exploration, production, and workforce development across the Caspian.
About SPE
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is a not-for-profit professional association with 132,000 members in 146 countries engaged in the exploration and production of oil and gas and related energy resources. SPE delivers solutions and empowers people to drive the energy industry forward. Members gain access to premier programs, content, and events designed to accelerate professional growth and career development, while fostering a strong network and sense of community. SPE maintains offices in Calgary, Dallas, Dubai, Houston and Kuala Lumpur.
Bridging Legacy with Innovation
Opening the conference, Babak Huseynov, Executive Committee Chair and SOCAR VP, emphasised that understanding the region’s energy heritage is critical to planning for the future. The executive plenary, “Unlocking Tougher Resources in the Caspian Region,” brought together Huseynov, Giovanni Cristofoli (bp), and Shannon Slocum (Halliburton), moderated by Vladimir Rogov (BCG Azerbaijan). They discussed strategies for extending field life, developing residual barrels, small pools, unconventional reservoirs, and complex gas prospects, stressing that innovation, targeted investment, and regional collaboration are key to maintaining the Caspian’s global energy role.
AI and Digital Transformation
Digitalisation emerged as a major theme throughout CTC 2025. Delegates explored how AI and advanced analytics are improving upstream operations and operational transparency. Anton Aristov (BCG) highlighted the integration of AI agents with industry-standard software to optimise workflows, while Ulvi Zamanbayov (SOCAR) presented the company’s unified, standards-compliant data platform, enabling more efficient operations and reducing silos across fields.
These tools are not just improving productivity, they also support decarbonisation, helping operators reduce emissions and optimise energy efficiency in line with global trends. Analysts attending the conference noted that early adoption of AI could provide the Caspian region a competitive advantage as mature fields require smarter management.
Knowledge Sharing and Workforce Development
The conference hosted 23 technical paper sessions and multiple ePoster presentations. Highlights included:
- Diagnosis and remediation treatment evaluation of annuli pressures using distributed fiber optics.
- Pilot-hole well design approaches for fields with complex pressure regimes.
- Continuous improvement of the Kashagan reservoir model and well management logic for production and recovery optimisation.
These examples reinforced that the Caspian is embracing a knowledge-driven approach, combining operational experience with cutting-edge technology.
CTC 2025 also emphasised the importance of global knowledge exchange. Jennifer Miskimins, 2026 SPE President and Professor at the Colorado School of Mines, reiterated SPE’s mission: “SPE is here to provide solutions, connect people and support the world’s energy needs.” She encouraged delegates to engage with SPE’s 24 technical sections and broader learning opportunities, highlighting the role of shared expertise in advancing operational excellence and technological adoption.
The Student Development Summit complemented this mission, connecting top university students with industry leaders through workshops, leadership training, and hands-on projects. Speakers stressed that cultivating skills in AI, data science, and automation is essential to implementing digital technologies effectively and driving the next phase of energy innovation across the Caspian.
Strategic Outlook
CTC 2025 demonstrated that the Caspian region is not merely preserving its legacy, it is actively reinventing it. By leveraging AI, digital platforms, and workforce development, operators can extend field life, optimise production, and reduce emissions. The conference reinforced that the Caspian’s future lies in innovation, collaboration, and technology-driven operational excellence.
Hosts and Partners
The conference was hosted by SOCAR, with sponsorship from bp (Platinum); SLB (Gold); TotalEnergies (Silver); Baker Hughes, Chevron, TCA (Bronze); NOV (Coffee Breaks); Proxima, Caspian Geo (Associate); KAZENERGY (Supporting Organisation).