Wadii El Karkouri on How TGS is Transforming Energy with AI

As demand for energy rises and the industry faces increasing pressure to operate more efficiently, companies are turning to AI and cloud technologies to transform their operations.

At the forefront of this transformation is TGS, the world’s largest energy data company. The company has built its business on acquiring, processing and selling subsurface data to help oil and gas companies make informed investment decisions. Under the leadership of Wadii El Karkouri, Executive Vice President of Imaging & Technology, TGS is evolving from a seismic company enabled by technology into something far more ambitious. 

“We’re turning it into a technology company enabled by seismic data,” Wadii explains.

Wadii joined the business in 2024 from AWS following a career predominantly at the intersection of energy and technology, with more than two decades at SLB preceded by a stint at TotalEnergies. His appointment represents a strategic bet on the convergence of energy expertise and digital innovation. 

To underpin this shift, TGS has acquired numerous competitors over the last four decades, creating what Wadii describes as “pieces of Lego” –  technology, people, knowledge and experience – that must be brought together.