Evaluation & Advice

Independent expert review and sense checking

An impressive seismic image or a high prediction score does not, by itself, establish a reliable interpretation. I review the data, assumptions and methods behind a result to assess what it can support, where uncertainty remains and what needs testing before it informs a decision.

This includes seismic processing and conditioning, well ties, rock-physics assumptions, inversion, reservoir prediction and AI-assisted workflows. For machine-learning studies, I examine the quality and positioning of the training data, class imbalance, validation design, repeatability and whether the result adds useful information beyond a simpler interpretation.

The aim is practical: a clear account of what is defensible, what is conditional and which additional work would make a meaningful difference.

Geophysical contracting and ongoing technical support

I provide hands-on geophysical support for teams that need additional capacity, specialist expertise or continuity across a programme of work. Engagements can cover a defined study or a sustained contribution alongside the client’s geoscientists.

Work can include assembling and checking seismic and well databases, well ties, interpretation, AVO analysis, inversion, reservoir characterisation and depth conversion. I also help teams assess new processing products, resolve inconsistencies between datasets and keep interpretations aligned with the available evidence.

Preparing and overseeing outsourced geophysical work

A useful tender starts with a clear technical question and an honest assessment of the data available to answer it. I help clients bring those two things together before commissioning processing, inversion or reservoir-characterisation work.

I review the seismic and well database, identify missing or inconsistent inputs, and help define a practical scope, deliverables and acceptance criteria. Where feasibility is uncertain, a limited pilot or blind test can establish what is achievable before a larger commitment is made.

Support can extend to technical comparison of proposals, discussions with contractors, review of interim results and quality control of final deliverables. The objective is to commission work that addresses the client’s decision and can be checked against agreed evidence.

Discuss your project or explore recent project experience.

Independent geophysical evaluation and advice

I review subsurface evidence for asset acquisitions, farm-ins, divestments and exploration decisions. My work includes data room evaluation, assessment of seismic interpretations, and technical oversight of specialist studies.

I also advise government ministries and national oil companies, help define study scopes, and provide geophysics training and mentoring. Experience on both the operator and consultancy sides informs the questions I ask and the uncertainties I highlight.

Discuss an evaluation or technical review. For formal asset reporting, see geophysical input to competent person reports.

Selected advisory experience

In my time at RPS, they held the contract to be the technical advisors to the Equatorial Guinean Ministry. In that capacity I would make technical evaluations of the geophysical work conducted by all licence operators on behalf of the government.

Over that same period I:

• presented to the Cuban national oil company (CUPET) on the exploration potential of selected blocks
• assisted the Suriname national oil company (Staatsolie) in writing work scopes for potential licence bidders
• performed data room evaluations on behalf of clients for licences in the Falklands (Desire), offshore Brazil (Statoil), offshore Gabon (CNOOC), offshore Egypt (BG), Algeria (EON)
• provided geophysics training to EG government staff
• performed QC/oversight of inversion projects on behalf of Nigerian and Iranian operators