SM

Shouxiang Ma

Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, China University of Petroleum, East China

ORCID iD 0000-0003-3140-1010
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About

S. Mark Ma is a Senior Petrophysics Consultant who worked at the Reservoir Description Division of Saudi Aramco from 2000 to 2026. During his tenure, he was responsible for log-based formation evaluation, well placement, reservoir surveillance, R&D, and integrated studies. Before joining Aramco in 2000, he worked as a core analyst at Exxon Production Research Company, Wyoming Western Research Institute, and the New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center, and as a teacher at Jianghan Petroleum Institute. Ma received his bachelor's degree from China Petroleum University (East China), and his Master's degree and PhD from New Mexico Tech, all in petroleum engineering.

In addition to his operational assignments at Aramco, Mark had a special interest in professional development. He was a founding member of the Upstream Professional Development Center (UPDC), where he was responsible for designing, developing, and delivering the Petrophysics Job Family training curricula and courses from 2008 to 2012. As a member of the Petroleum Engineering Special Core Analysis Council from 2016 to 2026, he co-authored the "Test Procedures & Data Interpretation for Core Analysis PE 39.2025" (a guideline for service laboratories) and "A Best Practice Core Analysis Manual for Acquiring Accurate and Representative SCAL Data" for Aramco professionals. Mark also served as a mentor for the Petroleum Engineering Technologist Development Program from 2005 to 2026 and as a member of the Technical Review Committee from 2009 to 2026, likely the longest tenure in TDP history.

With over 170+ technical papers and 90+ patents to his name, Mark's technical specialties covered mainly core analysis and reservoir surveillance, but also logging, geo-steering, and integrated studies. He contributed to the field as the Chief Editor of the SPWLA Petrophysics Journal from 2024 to 2026 and as an Editor of the SPE Journal of Petroleum Technology from 2015 to 2020. Mark also served as VP for technical events for the SPWLA Saudi Chapter from 2016 to 2026 organized 16 topical workshops and 50+ seminars, as International Regional Director from 2018 to 2020, and as VP Publications from 2024 to 2026. Additionally, he chaired the SPE Formation Evaluation Award Committee in 2013, the SPE ATCE Formation Evaluation Committee in 2018, and co-chaired the IPTC Education Week Committee in 2019. In recognition of his accomplishments and services, he was awarded the 2010 SPE KSA Technical Contribution award, the 2019 SPE Formation Evaluation award (MENA region), the 2020 SPE Distinguished Membership award, the 2021 SPWLA Distinguished Service award, the 2022 SPWLA Distinguished Technical Achievement award, and the 2024 SPE International Formation Evaluation award.

Employment

  • Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia) Sr. Petrophysics Consultant
    2000 - Present

Education

  • New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology PhD
    1989 - 1992
  • New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology MSc
    1986 - 1989
  • China University of Petroleum, East China BS
    1978 - 1982

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (131)