CONF-CDS 2025

Application of Machine Learning in Engineering


Date

August 19th, 2025 (UTC +5)

Organizer

School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University

Symposium Chair

Dr. Mian Umer Shafiq
Assistant Professor in Nazarbayev University

Personal Bio
Engr. Ts. Dr. Mian Umer Shafiq is a PhD holder in Petroleum engineering from Curtin University, Australia, and currently works as an Assistant Professor in the School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. He earned the title of International Professional Engineer from the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and the Professional Technologist Title from the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT). He also worked previously at UCSI University Malaysia as an Assistant Professor, where he served as research and MS program coordinator of the department. He also worked at NFCIET Pakistan as an Assistant Professor. During his tenure at NFC IET Multan, he was assigned the role of Head of Department. He is an active researcher and has published more than 25 research publications, including various journal papers and book chapters. His research interests include production optimization, Machine Learning, Carbon Capture and Storage, Hydrogen Storage, Stimulation, and Enhanced Oil Recovery. He also won a few internal funding and is currently supervising 2 PhD students and 1 MS student.

Committee Members

Dr. Mian Umer, Shafiq, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan; Mian.shafiq@nu.edu.kz

Mr. Qaiser Khan, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan; Qaiser.khan@nu.edu.kz

Miss. Aisulu. Zhubaniyazova, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan; aisulu.zhubaniyazova@nu.edu.kz

Call for Papers

Background

The petroleum industry is undergoing a technological transformation, driven by the need for efficiency, safety, and sustainability in exploration, production, and reservoir management. Machine Learning (ML), a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has emerged as a powerful tool to address complex, data-intensive challenges in petroleum engineering. From predictive maintenance of equipment and real-time drilling optimization to reservoir characterization and enhanced oil recovery, ML techniques are enabling engineers to make data-driven decisions with unprecedented accuracy and speed.

The integration of ML into petroleum engineering workflows offers opportunities to reduce operational costs, improve hydrocarbon recovery, and minimize environmental risks. Despite its growing adoption, there is still a knowledge gap among professionals and researchers regarding the practical implementation of ML techniques and tools specific to petroleum engineering applications.

Goal/Rationale

The petroleum industry faces increasing challenges due to the complexity of extracting hydrocarbons from mature and unconventional reservoirs, the volatility of energy markets, and the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability. Traditional methods of operation, which often rely on manual processes and reactive decision-making, are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of modern petroleum engineering. The primary objectives of this workshop are:

  • To introduce the fundamentals of machine learning and its relevance to the petroleum industry.
  • To showcase real-world applications of ML in various domains of petroleum engineering.
  • To provide hands-on experience with ML tools and workflows using real or synthetic petroleum datasets.
  • To encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between data scientists and petroleum engineers.
  • To discuss challenges, limitations, and ethical considerations in the use of AI/ML in the energy sector.

Scope and Information for Participants

This workshop will explore the integration of machine learning (ML) techniques in various domains of petroleum engineering. Participants are invited to contribute research, case studies, or practical applications addressing the use of ML in drilling optimization, reservoir characterization, production forecasting, and enhanced oil recovery. The scope also includes data preprocessing, feature selection, model validation, and the use of real-time analytics for decision-making. Contributions may highlight supervised and unsupervised learning methods, deep learning architectures, and hybrid modeling approaches. We encourage submissions that demonstrate innovation in applying ML to field data, interpretability of models, and integration with existing petroleum engineering workflows. This workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and bridge the gap between data science and petroleum engineering practice.

Submission

Prospective authors are kindly invited to submit full papers that include title, abstract, keywords, introduction, conclusion, and references. It is unnecessary to submit an abstract in advance. The deadline for general submission is August 12, 2025.

Each paper should be no less than 4 pages. One regular registration can cover a paper of 6 pages, and additional pages will be charged. Please format your paper well according to the conference template before submission.

Please prepare your manuscript using Microsoft Word and submit both the .docx and the .pdf files via email to sympo_astana@confcds.org.

Topics

This symposium welcomes submissions with the following topics

Machine Learning

  • Artificial Intelligence Tools & Applications
  • Hybrid Intelligent Systems
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Computer Vision
  • Image Processing
  • Heuristic and AI Planning Strategies and Tools
  • Computational Theories of Learning
  • Neural Networks
  • Intelligent System Architectures
  • Neural Networks and Applications
  • Pervasive Computing and Ambient Intelligence
  • Reasoning and Evolution
  • Semantic Web Techniques and Technologies
  • Web Intelligence Applications and Search

Meanwhile, submissions aligned with the overall conference scope are also welcomed.

Data Science

  • Data Mining
  • Big Data
  • Databases
  • Data Management
  • Data Analytics
  • Social Network Analysis
  • Time Series Analysis
  • Forecasting
  • Data Security

Computing

  • Scientific Computing
  • Computer Modeling
  • Cloud Computing
  • Parallel Computing
  • Mobile Computing
  • Simulation
  • Computational Optimization
  • Distributed Computing
  • High Performance Computing
  • Soft Computing Theory and Applications

Submission & Payment

Type Regular Submission
Paper Submission August 12, 2025
Review Process 2 weeks
Revise & Acceptance 2 weeks
Registration & Payment 2 weeks

Fees

Items Amount (VAT Included)
Registration and Publishing Fee (6 pages included) $500
Additional Page $40/extra page

Publication

Accepted papers of this symposium will be published in Applied and Computational Engineering (Print ISSN: 2755-2721), and will be submitted to Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI), Crossref, Portico, Inspec, Google Scholar, CNKI, and other databases for indexing. The situation may be affected by factors among databases like processing time, workflow, policy, etc.

The papers will be exported to production and publication on a regular basis. Early-registered papers are expected to be published online earlier.

This symposium is organized by CONF-CDS 2025 and will independently proceed the submission and publication process.

Highlights:

The symposium “Application of Machine Learning in Engineering” was held on August 19, 2025, at the School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University. By providing data-driven solutions to complex problems in engineering, especially focusing on branches of petroleum engineering like exploration, drilling, production, and energy transition, machine learning (ML) is quickly revolutionizing the industry. ML focuses on algorithms that learn from data to gradually increase performance. It has established itself as an essential tool for improving safety, reducing costs, and enhancing operational efficiency due to its ability to process large datasets, uncover hidden patterns, and generate predictive insights. Applications of machine learning in petroleum engineering include predicting reservoir properties like porosity and permeability, optimizing drilling by predictive modeling of parameters like stress and penetration rate, and accelerating reservoir simulation and history matching. By forecasting critical characteristics like viscosity in H₂–cushion gas mixtures, which is crucial for assessing injectivity and storage capacity, machine learning (ML) supports hydrogen geological storage in the context of energy transition. For example, gradient boosting regression models have demonstrated great accuracy in viscosity prediction, saving time and money in comparison to laboratory testing. AI and ML have potential for future developments in real-time analytics, autonomous operations, and sustainability objectives. The oil and gas sector may become more innovative, resilient, and efficient by combining physical models with intelligent algorithms.

Access to Symposium: CONF-CDS 2025 Symposium -- Astana - YouTube

Venue

Qabanbay Batyr Ave 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan

VISA


Visa-migration portal of the Republic of Kazakhstan

In order to ensure the information is correct and up to date, there may be changes which we are not aware of. And different countries have different rules for the visa application. It is always a good idea to check the latest regulations in your country. This page just gives some general information of the visa application.

Who provides the service

Foreign Offices of the Republic of Kazakhstan / Territorial divisions of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Who can receive the service?

Foreign citizen

Period of service provision

5 (five) working days
If the coordinating body does not provide a response within the specified period, the state service shall be provided within 1 working day after receipt of the approval.

Service cost

State fee for tourist visa - $60, for business - $80, for treatment - $80

The following types of visas are available for E-Visa:

  • single-entry business visa;
  • single-entry tourist visa;
  • single-entry treatment visa;
  • single-entry investor visa.

Single entry visas entitle the visa recipient to a single entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan, travel through its territory, stay in it and leave the Republic of Kazakhstan for a time, for the purposes and under the conditions established by the visa.

Visas are issued after payment of consular fees and state duties in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Attend in person

If you want to attend the symposium on-site, please email the Conference Committee: sympo_astana@confcds.org.

NOTICE

Should your application be denied, the organizing committee cannot change the decision of visa officer, nor will CONF-CDS engage in discussion or correspondence with the visa application center on behalf of the applicant. The registration fee CANNOT be refunded when the VISA application of individual being denied.