18/06/2026
Dear SPE Romanian Section Members,
Few moments make us prouder as a section than seeing our members recognized among the best in the region. We are delighted to celebrate several outstanding members of the SPE Romanian Section who have received prestigious 2026 SPE Regional Awards.
Their achievements reflect not only technical excellence and professional dedication, but also the leadership, commitment, and passion they bring to our community. Join us in recognizing and celebrating their remarkable accomplishments.
Regional Service Award
Laura Precupanu - TNO Netherlands
The Service Award recognizes individuals whose commitment to SPE and the profession extends well beyond their technical achievements. Through dedicated volunteer leadership, knowledge sharing, and active engagement, Laura has made significant contributions to strengthening the SPE community at both the national and international levels.
Recognized for more than a decade of outstanding volunteer leadership within SPE, serving in multiple Romanian Section including Young Professionals Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, and Awards & Recognition Chairperson, her contributions has also extended beyond the section level, as she served as SPE Europe Regional Director from 2020 to 2023, representing and supporting members across the region. Her unwavering dedication, leadership, and commitment to the Society have had a lasting impact on SPE and its members, making her a truly deserving recipient of this recognition.
Regional Young Professional Outstanding Service Award
Cosmin Trif - OPECS
The Young Professionals Service Award recognizes individuals who have shown exceptional dedication to supporting and developing the SPE Young Professionals community.
Since 2022, Cosmin Trif has demonstrated distinguished leadership, dedication, and service to the SPE. He is recognized for his dedication to the SPE Young Professionals community through initiatives that connect students and professionals, support career development, and strengthen SPE engagement in Romania.
Regional Formation Evaluation Award
Ana-Maria Andronache - Baker Hughes
Recognizing outstanding contributions to formation evaluation, this award highlights individuals whose technical excellence has advanced our understanding of the subsurface and improved the way we characterize and develop reservoirs.
Ana-Maria is recognized for advancing formation evaluation through innovative technologies and interpretation workflows that have improved reservoir characterization and influenced industry practices.
In collaboration with Weatherford and Eni E&P, she introduced five-detector array sondes incorporating lanthanum-bromide spectroscopy and fast neutron measurements, significantly enhancing gas detection and saturation quantification in complex reservoirs.
These innovations have influenced industry practices across major service companies, improved reservoir management decisions, and delivered measurable economic impact, reflecting technical leadership and excellence worthy of this recognition.
Regional Completions Optimization and Technology Award
Gabrijel Grubac - Mazama Energy
This award honors professionals who have demonstrated outstanding innovation and leadership in completion technologies and optimization. Through their commitment to technical advancement and operational excellence, they have made significant contributions to improving well performance and maximizing resource recovery across diverse applications.
Gabrijel Grubac is recognized for his outstanding contributions to completion and stimulation technologies, including pioneering work in geothermal energy applications. Currently a Senior Engineer at Mazama Energy, he has played a key role in implementing the world’s first propped Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) reservoir operating above 300°C. With previous leadership and technical roles at Seismos, OMV Petrom, and Halliburton, Gabrijel has built extensive international experience across conventional, unconventional, offshore, onshore, and geothermal projects across the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
Regional Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award
Ivan Makar - OMV Petrom
Presented to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to reservoir characterization and understanding, this award recognizes achievements that have significantly enhanced our ability to model, predict, and manage reservoir behavior.
Ivan is a petroleum engineering leader with more than 20 years of international experience delivering high-value field development, reservoir engineering, and integrated development projects across Continental Europe, the North Sea, the Middle East, and North Africa.
His expertise spans reservoir characterization, dynamic modeling, and field development planning, with a strong track record of supporting complex project decisions through high-quality reservoir engineering input. He has played a key role in advancing reservoir understanding for Romanian onshore and offshore projects, contributing to improved development strategies and long-term asset performance
Regional Management Award
Philipp Tippe – OMV Petroml
This award celebrates leaders who have successfully guided teams, organizations, and complex projects while fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation. Their vision, professionalism, and dedication serve as a benchmark for current and future industry leaders.
Philipp brings over 18 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry, with a career spanning Central Europe, the United States, and the North Sea. Since joining OMV in 2012, he has progressed through a range of technical and leadership roles within Production & Engineering, advancing from field-based responsibilities to senior leadership positions, including Head of Asset and Vice President.
In his current role, he leads OMV Petrom’s E&P operated assets in Romania (six assets and three joint ventures) as well as exploration activities in Bulgaria, overseeing a combined clean operating result exceeding €600 million per year. He is also leading the implementation of OMV Petrom’s Simplification of Operations strategy, focused on strengthening frontline safety ownership, driving cost discipline, advancing decarbonization of existing assets, and introducing new operating models across disciplines.
On behalf of the SPE Romanian Section, we extend our warmest congratulations and deepest appreciation to all award recipients. Thank you for your dedication, your leadership, and for being such outstanding ambassadors of both our section and the Romanian energy community.
The awards will be officially presented at the upcoming SPE Europe Regional Officers Meeting, held in Zagreb, Croatia, 9–11 October 2026.
