Nabila Lazreg

“I was drawn to a career that would allow me to make a difference.”

It’s a simple statement, one echoed by many in the oil and gas business. But for Nabila Lazreg, who grew up in Algeria and was one of only two women in her university class to study mechanical engineering, it is a mindset that reflects far more than a vocational choice; it is a radical departure from a cultural norm and a choice about how she wanted to live her life.

“Engineering and working in the oil field weren’t just jobs for me—they became a mission to pave the way for others, particularly those who were told ‘no’ or felt that their dreams were out of reach,” she said.

In her first job with Schlumberger, she spent significant time in the field, working in remote desert locations in Algeria. She became expert in all aspects of operations, from site and fleet management to making logistics and contract engineering operational calls. She was promoted quickly, taking responsibility for managing multibillion-dollar assets and teams of over 100 people. Her limited English at the time was more than balanced out by her can-do attitude.

It was her time in the field—the knowledge gained and the skills honed there—that would propel her career and enable her to make an impact, not just on individual well performance, but on how companies approach shale development.

After transferring to the Permian Basin, Lazreg became aware that the only way to unlock unconventional resources was multidisciplinary integration, innovation and rapid, “on the fly” decisions.

“This approach led to several breakthrough discoveries, the development of new technologies and the birth of the shale revolution,” she said.

The journey took her to multiple places in U.S. and Canada, where she worked with senior management of leading oil and gas companies, advising them on how to best unlock unconventional reservoirs. She then joined the E&P “operator side” in 2009, where she has since worked in the startup and development of most of today’s prolific shale plays—the Bakken, Permian, Eagle Ford, Marcellus, Uinta, Montney and Duvernay, among others. 

“Working with operators not only allows me to contribute at much bigger scale, it also allows me to challenge the status quo, break down barriers and influence strategic decisions,” Lazreg said. “It has allowed me to see and experience firsthand how the industry impacts the communities we operate within. Seeing the transformation and wealth the industry brings to, in some cases, stressed areas such as the Northeast U.S. in the early days of the Marcellus, or New Mexico before the Permian boom, and other areas in the world, and seeing their people, businesses and infrastructure transform was what drove my determination and persistence.”

But there was another challenge that she was eager to tackle: expanding unconventional resources outside North America. She moved to the United Arab Emirates, where her work on an unconventional natural gas reservoir project has helped that country transform from gas importer to exporter. She is now in Saudi Arabia, working to develop the liquids-rich Jafurah gas field. 

“I’m not satisfied when working on small-scale projects; I’m at my best when I’m part of a project that significantly impacts the country,” Lazreg said. “Being involved in transformative projects has made me bold—and perhaps even ruthless—in my pursuit of excellence. It has also strengthened my ability to make the best decisions in high-pressure situations.”

Being a force of nature may not be a requirement of having such a consequential career, but it is a useful trait. Lazreg admits that colleagues may find her “challenging, high-paced, persistent, bold, unapologetic and always 10 steps ahead.”

She believes in giving frequent feedback to her team, including those in leadership positions, and she is passionate about mentoring talent.

“Since moving to the Middle East, I’ve been very impressed by these young professionals’ determination and drive,” Lazreg said. “Mentoring is big part of my job here and building the next generation of shale disturber is the legacy want to leave.”

Check out the rest of Hart Energy's 2025 Women in Energy here.