Career experiences
  Competency
HPHT Drilling for Shell at Corrib, at Deep Banff for CNR, and in the J-Block at Jade for ConocoPhililps. Near-HPHT (>130°C) on Bacchus using VersaTherm OBM. Utilising RCD (Rotary Control Device) with BG Group for their uHPHT Jackdaw/Mandarin East campaigns (up to 376F/191°C and 17,250psi), utilising Magma-Teq OBM with weights up to 19ppg (2.28sg).
Overpressure Overpressured stringers/rafts or abnormal pressure ramps/seals - especially in Cretaceous marls and Zechstein salts - with Apache, Shell, NAM, and on various wells in the Central Graben. QA/QC of pressure logs produced by loggers and Pore Pressure Analysts, requiring an eye for pore pressure analysis.
Coring Coring in Norway with BG Group on Mandarin, Fenja with Neptune Energy and Ringhorne North with Vår Energi. Coring ops in the UK with BG Group at Jackdaw and Ithaca Energy at Fotla. Alert to risks during coring e.g. false jamming from calcitic horizons, potential for highly unconsolidated sands in injectites i.e. Fenja, requiring resin injection, wax dipping; pore pressure when cutting. Cutting and boxing cores, examining and hotshotting core chips. Compiling a photographic comparison report of HC fluorescence over the cored interval to identify fluid contacts.
Instability Close monitoring of cuttings for signs of instablity. Reporting any cavings, their morphology and likely origin and sending scale referenced pictures to the onshore team to inform geomechanical modelling. Frequent experience drilling in potentially unstable formations such as the Lark and Horda, including step outs and extended open hole periods across such formations (ie. with Ithaca).
Evaporites Various types and attendant risks with E.ON Ruhrgas (SNS), BP (CNS), NAM (Netherlands), CCED (Oman). Fractured diapir flank drilling for BP, ConocoPhillips and Shell in the CNS. Squeezing salt risks in Southern Permian Basin.
Deep Water Water depths of 401m (1,315ft) at Corrib on the Atlantic margin west of Ireland. Water depths of up to 322m (1055ft) at Fenja on the Haltenbanken, Mid-Norway.
Drilling Extended reach (up to 3.7km step out), horizontal drilling (up to 2400m heel-to-toe), highly deviated wells. Drilling through potentially unstable coals (Linnhe/Pentland formation), fractured limestones/diapir flanks (Tor), unconsolidated sands (injectites), heavily compartmentalised / depleted / heterolithic reservoirs, sub-seismic faults and drilling along complex fault terraces in the Beryl Embayment.
Geosteering Experience with: Schlumberger (PeriScope and GeoSphere/GeoSphere HD) with CCED, Neptune, Apache, Ithaca (on Captain) and Harbour (on Talbot); Baker Hughes (AziTrak/VisiTrak/MagTrak) with Apache; Halliburton (ADR/ALD) with Apache and Endeavour. Maximising stand offs in conditions as varied as: injectites (Fotla, Gamma); undrilled fault blocks (Callater); near-HPHT (Bacchus); unswept attic (Beryl); Neoproterozoic carbonates (Saiwan East). Identifying MCWD inversions to better track beds and avoid premature exits or losing required relative dip to formation. Azimuthal GR/NMR/density logs to track bedding. Biosteering to identify need to drop inclination when targeting injectite prospects with Apache. XRD and XRF to identify casing points on Callater.
H 2 S Particularly high H 2 S risk reservoirs e.g. for Shell at Bardolino, Nexen at the Buzzard field, onshore Oman for CCED and in the Netherlands for NAM; requiring use of personal monitors and attendance of H 2 S awareness courses. Studying and reporting H 2 S coupons following formation presssure testing/sampling.
Reservoirs Varied types/structures: injectites, carbonates, turbidites, alluvial fans, tidal bars, draped debritic structures, estuarine and lacustrine. Stratigraphic/onlap pinch outs, highly complex faulted terrace blocks, tight-gas, braided. Ranging from Neoproterozoic to Eocene in age.
Fracking A well for NAM outside Den Velde that required hydraulic fracturing of Carboniferous fluvial sands to stimulate gas flow. Providing cuttings samples for local residents to inspect on a rigsite open day.
Wireline Wireline experience with Schlumberger, Baker Hughes and Weatherford. Often working with specialists from Gaia Earth Services. Vast array of tools worked with including SWC (XL-Rock), OBM Imaging, Sonic (MSIP), pressure and fluid sampling (XPT/MDT & Quicksilver/Saturn), spectral GR, deep resistivity. Extensive wireline programmes of five or more runs with clients such as Ithaca and Vår. Deviated wellbores requiring wireline cable stand offs or Petromac. TLC/pipe conveyed logging in high angle or high tortuosity wells. Also, gyro-surveying and wireline (overshot) fishing operations.
FEWD Extensive experience with triple-combo configurations, occasionally with a mix of service providers in one BHA, typically standalone sonic tools but also magnetic resonance tools (see Well History for more information). Sourceless Density tools (NeoScope) with Neptune and Ithaca. Use of Sonic and Spectral GR in realtime, such as with Ithaca and Apache, to provide well tie-in and depth characterisation.
FPWD Pressure testing with GeoTap, TesTrak/FasTrak and StethoScope tools, frequently directing extensive testing programmes, often in highly heterolithic reservoirs, across large TVD ranges and highly deviated wells (including horizontal). Calculating gradients and comparing to prognosed reservoir models.
Stratigraphic Fingerprinting Advanced gas analysis (chromatography and mass spectrometry), alkane ratios for reservoir characterisation and pore pressure analysis, alkene indicators of bit burn. Use of XRD and XRF to accurately call casing points.
Biostratigraphy Working with palynographers, nano and micro-biostratigraphers at the wellsite, and coordinating priority hotshots. Biosteering of wells: following facies, identifying fault throws and reworked formations.
Software Highly computer literate. Proficient with GEO (versions 4 to 8 & X-Section) and WinLog (3.1 to Edge) to produce all manner of daily, weekly and end of well log formats. Wider Gravitas software suite experience including Repgen for DGRs and EZ Correlate. Using Kabal to track drilling equipment loadouts. Experience monitoring remote viewing platforms such as: Petrolink Petrovue/PetroVault/Coral; InterAct and PDSView; Kongsberg/SiteCom; Visean. Use of Webex and Teams for ops group chats. Good working familiarity with mudlogging software packages from Halliburton, Geolog, Geoservices and Baker Hughes. QA/QC of LAS and ASCII based data.
Health & Safety Steadfast participation in HSE systems; ensuring service providers also partake and making sure they adhere to safe working practices. Encouraging participation from service hands and winning card of the week awards.
Environment Regular checking of COSSH and MSDS certifications whether they're up to date and in line with NSTA PON requirements (i.e. safe storage of LWD radionuclides). Partaking in installation environmental schemes and policies; winning card of the week.
Supervision Supervising and mentoring service providers, maximising their performance. Cooperating closely with people of different backgrounds, nationalities and specialisations. Combining supervision with QA/QC providers. Mentoring trainees, graduates and Operator new starts at the rigsite.
Remote Working Providing 24-hour cover for clients such as CNR, Endeavour, Ithaca and NAM; experience with limited connectivity to Operator HQ, such as at CCED; and leading/forming teams that can take decisions in isolation and continue to operate independently when communcations are down.
CPD Committing to CPD, professional competency and ethical and professional conduct in line with chartered status, as audited by the Geological Society of London. Attending conferences, lectures and field trips etc.
Reporting Twice-daily reporting, weekly and end of well reports with an eye for detail. Use of RepGen for DGRs. KPI reports on service providers. Prompt delivery via email and FTP server. Realtime communication with G&G team onshore via Teams, Yammer, WhatsApp, Webex, etc. A strong desire to be able to take pride in logs and reports submitted, and a keen understanding of the need for clarity and accuracy to control AFE costs.
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