Fidelis Othuke Onyeke, a seasoned Instruments, Controls, and Automation (IC&A) Engineer, has been an influential figure in the oil and gas industry for over 15 years. Specializing in the design, implementation, and maintenance of integrated control and safety systems, his career spans upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. His expertise encompasses Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), and SCADA systems, with significant contributions to operational safety and efficiency.
Currently serving as the Senior Technical Support Specialist at Aradel Holdings Plc, Onyeke has consistently demonstrated his leadership in technical support, troubleshooting, and optimization of critical systems. His efforts have led to a remarkable system uptime of 99.5%, coupled with a 15% reduction in Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) annually. His focus on predictive and preventive maintenance strategies has also resulted in a 30% decrease in unplanned maintenance incidents year-over-year.
Onyeke’s tenure at Shell Petroleum Development Company from 2013 to 2023 highlighted his impact on commissioning and startup operations. He led projects that contributed to a 1.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bscfd) increase in Nigeria’s domestic and export gas production. A standout achievement was the optimization of process alarm systems across multiple Shell assets, which boosted process uptime by 35% and generated over $300 million in additional revenue in 2015 alone.
His career is further distinguished by his contributions to enhancing process safety, with an emphasis on reducing operational risks through effective alarm management and system reliability. In 2014 and 2015, Onyeke was recognized for his excellence in alarm management to EEMUA 191 and ANSI/ISA-18.2 standards, an achievement that significantly improved operator efficiency and minimized alarm flooding.
A recognized thought leader in his field, he has also made significant contributions to academia, with several published research papers focusing on innovations in process safety, functional safety in burner management systems, and advancements in control systems integration. His expertise in data analytics has played a crucial role in driving process optimization, making him a key player in transforming oil and gas production operations.
Onyeke’s influence extends beyond the technical realm, as he actively mentors younger engineers and fosters continuous improvement within teams. His leadership and commitment to operational excellence have made him an indispensable asset to every organization he has been a part of.
In an industry marked by complexity and high stakes, Fidelis Onyeke’s 15-year track record of delivering results—whether in increasing system reliability, reducing operational costs, or spearheading large-scale projects—sets him apart as a true industry leader. His relentless pursuit of excellence continues to drive innovation and enhance the performance of oil and gas operations across Nigeria and beyond.
