Ciaran has successfully evaluated, secured and matured a wide variety of opportunities across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The interactive experience map below illustrates the location of 263 opportunities that he has been involved in to date.

Petroceltic

Geoscience Manager / Chief Geophysicist

London (2011 – 2016)

Managed a team of five Geoscientists in two offices, overseeing 14 Mboepd production from 12 fields in Egypt and 2 in Bulgaria,  near-field exploration and the development of the 2.1 Tcf Ain Tsila gas field in Algeria. The latest three Algerian development wells all met their geological objective, were drilled ahead of time and under budget. Managed the successful divestment of the North Thekah and North Port Fouad deepwater exploration concessions in Egypt to Edison.

 

Africa/Middle East – lead member of a small team that screened over 190 Africa/Middle East opportunities (see experience map for further details), developed a broad understanding of the key technical and commercial drivers in most basins / play types in the region. Instrumental in the award, maturation and drilling of the high impact Shakrok and Shireen concessions in Iraqi Kurdistan as well as the progression of the North Thekah and North Port Fouad deepwater concessions in Egypt (adjacent to the Zohr Discovery).  Convinced the Board not to pursue a number of ‘amplitude supported’ opportunities along the West Africa Transform Margin that have subsequently been drilled and were dry.

Serica Energy

Staff Geophysicist

London (2006 – 2011)

Corporate – Team Lead on a number of highly successful acquisitions and farm-downs; UK SNS – Farm-out to Centrica (2 for 1) and drilling of the Oak Gas Discovery, UK SNS – Farm-out to Hansa (1.6 for 1) and successful appraisal of the Chablis Discovery, Ireland (Slyne) – Licence application, farm-out to RWE (2 for 1) and drilling of the Bandon Oil Discovery, UK East Irish Sea – Farm-out of high impact Conan Prospect to Agora (2 for 1), Ireland (Rockall) – Application and successful award of a deepwater Licence to the north of the Dooish Gas Condensate Discovery

 

Namibia – Instrumental in delivering the high impact, Luderitz Basin License for Serica Energy. The $45M 3D was subsequently farmed-out to BP at zero cost

 

UK/Norway – screened over 40 opportunities (see experience map for further details)

Hunt Oil

Senior Geophysicist

Woking (2004 – 2006)

Africa/Middle East – Senior member of global basin ranking team, screened over 30 high impact/low cost West Africa, and Middle East opportunities. Awarded the Luderitz Concession in Namibia and three concessions in Oman

 

Oman – project coordinator for operated offshore Block 50. Successfully persuaded Hunt Management not to relinquish but to farm-out. Delivered; farmed-out with a full carry and zero cost to Hunt. Block 50 contains the recent oil discovery made by Masirah Oil

Shell

Senior Geophysicist

Stavanger (2002 – 2004)

Norway APA 2004 – Project Coordinator for Awards in Pre-Defined Areas (APA) Licensing Round, reporting directly to Atlantic Margin New Opportunities Manager. Responsible for all activities including block ranking, sub-surface-evaluation, and application document. Resulted in successful award of sole block applied for (6407/5: Shell 70% and Dong 30%).

 

Norway 18th Licensing Round – Senior seismic interpreter responsible for identifying, maturing and driving forward the top (Shell) ranked block in this recent deepwater evaluation. Responsible for interpretation, geophysical modeling, depth conversion, risking, volumes and co-ordination of application write-up. Significant personal contribution to the evaluation was rewarded with the highest level cash bonus within the team.

 

Ireland Near Field Exploration – Recognised for ability to transfer to another office/team at very short notice. Seconded to the Dublin office to help identify prospects adjacent to the 1Tcf Corrib Gas Field West of Ireland (Triassic sub-salt and sub-basalt play). Identified and matured the Sugarloaf prospect within the agreed 5 month time-frame. Identified key requirements for further prospect maturation.

 

Peer Review – UK 22nd Licensing Round Led ‘rapid-response’ peer review team of key deepwater prospect. Early decision helped peers focus on other opportunities sooner rather than later.

Enterprise Oil

Geophysicist

London, Dublin and Stavanger  (1996 – 2002)

Deepwater Operated Licenses  – had the lead G&G role on two operated deepwater Licenses West of Ireland: 6/97 (partners ExxonMobil, Arco and Murphy) and 2/94 (partners Agip and OMV). Responsibilities included coordinating seismic data acquisition and processing, 3D interpretation, depth conversion, calculation of prospect risks and reserves as well as co-leading License field trips (S.Africa –Karoo Basin). Evaluation culminated in two wells, and the Dooish Gas Discovery in 2002.

 

Deepwater Drilling – had a lead G&G role within an integrated sub-surface / drilling team that was responsible for the drilling of the Errigal Prospect (Ireland’s first ultra-deepwater well (1620m water depth) drilled in 2001).

 

1996/97 Irish Rockall Licensing Round – project coordinator of Enterprise operated evaluation of the deepwater frontier basins West Of Ireland covering some 220,00 km2.

 

Farm-in / outs – participated in successful farm-out of License 2/94 to OMV. Part of an integrated team evaluating Arco’s interests offshore Ireland.

 

Seven Heads Gas Discovery – evaluation of multiple thin (<3m) gas sands within the Seven Heads structure in the Celtic Sea. Identified poor reservoir communication and compartmentalisation as a key risk and recommendation was not to apply.

ExxonMobil

Geophysicist

Leatherhead and London (1991 1996)

Production Geophysicist, Southern North Sea – Southern North Sea well planning, mapping, depth conversion and GIIP updates for Barque, Galleon, Clipper, Ketch & Schooner for Esso UK. Well planning of UK’s first multilateral well (PL01) on Barque Field. Study on the importance of fractures on deliverability in the Sole Pit fields

 

Specialist Geophysics Group – Modelling, inversion and rock physics evaluation of the Tarbert Sands in the N.Viking Graben and the Jacqui sands of the Central North Sea. Multi-layer v0k depth conversion of the Shearwater, Elgin & Franklin during appraisal stage for well planning, reserves estimates and equity determinations.

 

Phyllis stranded gas discovery – 3D interpretation, depth conversion and reserves update of small (0.25Tcf) gas discovery in Block 23/16 Central North Sea

 

Play & Regional Evaluations –updating of Upper Jurassic & Lower Cretaceous play maps for the Outer Moray Firth area CNS

 

14th Licensing Round – 2D interpretation of the Quad 20 and 21 areas of CNS

 

Trainee Operations Geologist – Skibbereen well, Celtic Sea, 1993

 

Trainee well-site Geologist – Clair Field appraisal well, 1992

 

Trainee seismic interpreter – 3D interpretation of block 14/25 (next to Scott Field)