Experience

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  Finder Energy

  • Perth, Western Australia, Australia

  • Non Executive Director

    • Apr 2022 - Present
    • Perth, Western Australia, Australia

• 

  Wehr Advisory Pty Ltd

  • Perth, Australia

  • Director

    • Mar 2019 - Present
    • Perth, Australia

    Small - and part-time - advisory business set up for a few select clients.

• 

  Quadrant Energy

  • Former Group Executive - Subsurface

    • Nov 2018 - Dec 2018

    As of end 2018 I accepted a redundancy offer, following the completion of the Quadrant sale to Santos in late November. We had quite a year at Quadrant in 2018 - with the Dorado discovery followed very shortly by the Santos purchase – and it was an ideal time for me to step back and take a break. Apache and Quadrant have had a tremendously talented exploration group with a long track record of success, and it has been a privilege working with them.

  • Group Executive - Subsurface

    • Jan 2018 - Nov 2018

    Responsible for all subsurface geoscience and reservoir engineering work at Quadrant Energy, including oversight of the Dorado discovery in the Bedout sub-basin. Dorado was the culmination of a 5-year sustained exploration effort through two changes in ownership and a collapse in oil prices in early 2015. Strategic leadership and management of a ~40 person team and ~ $100 MM annual budget aimed at organic growth through successful exploration and appraisal drilling. Served as director of 18 affiliated companies including fiduciary responsibility. Took key role in sales process of Quadrant starting in March 2018.

  • Director - Exploration

    • Jun 2015 - Jan 2018

    Director of Exploration for privately-held upstream oil and gas producer in Western Australia with similar responsibilities as Apache role (below). The key difference was working with a private-equity board of directors with no subsurface experience - required a very different style of communication and ability to justify subsurface expenditure in a challenging environment.

• 

  Apache Corporation

  • United States
  • Oil and Gas
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Director - Exploration and Development

    • Jan 2010 - Jun 2015

    Director - exploration and development for Apache’s Australian assets, focused on the northwest shelf. The role of this position was to lead and manage all geoscience activity for Apache in Australia, ensuring that the region has a strong inventory of drilling opportunities. Extensive experience in acreage capture through farm ins and gazettals, relationship building with partners and regulators, and general administration of an active and successful exploration program.

  • Exploration Manager

    • Jun 2007 - Dec 2009

    Exploration general manager for Apache/Khalda joint venture company, responsible for managing active onshore exploration drilling and 3D seismic acquisition program. Ten significant wildcat discoveries made during this period, including three of the ten largest fields found by the Egypt region since 1999. Also focused on major rebuild of Khalda's prospect and lead inventory to sustain future exploration program.

  • Development Manager

    • Jun 2006 - Jun 2007

    Development general manager for Apache/Khalda joint venture company. Responsible for managing and strategic planning of 11-rig appraisal and development drilling program in high-activity, onshore operational environment (159 wells/$220M in 2007). Duties involved maintaining rig schedule and inventory, technical evaluation of infill and waterflood projects, supervision of 10-member geologic and reservoir engineering staff (including six expatriates), coordination with KPC national management, technical work as time allowed

  • Geologist - Reservoir Characterization

    • May 2001 - Jun 2006

    Lead geoscientist/team lead of integrated reservoir characterization team responsible for mature field studies focused on active infill drilling and waterflood optimization. Drilled over 80 infill wells that helped contribute to increase in concession production from 40,000 to over 80,000 BOPD. Initiated the use of Petrel geological modeling software in Apache Egypt, contributing to global adoption by Apache Corp.

• 

  ExxonMobil

  • Geologist

    • Sep 1983 - May 2001

    Various positions as geologist in research lab and operating affiliates over 17 year period, specializing in sequence stratigraphy and clastic sedimentology.