Expertise

Experience and approach

James Wanstall is an independent geophysical consultant with over 30 years of experience across operator, consultancy and seismic service-company roles. His work combines hands-on quantitative interpretation with technical review and subsurface team leadership.

He helps clients assess what their seismic data can support, understand uncertainty and integrate geophysical results with geological and reservoir models. His experience spans exploration and development, asset evaluation, reserves and resources assessment, and equity redetermination.

Since establishing James Wanstall Ltd in 2022, his work has included well ties, seismic inversion, technical advisory assignments and forward modelling for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects.

Explore his quantitative interpretation work and evaluation and advisory services, or discuss your project.

Career history

James Wanstall Ltd, 2022 – present, Independent Geophysical Consultant

Glencore UK Ltd, 2013 – 2021, Subsurface Team Leader and Chief Geophysicist

RPS Energy, 2005-2013, Principal Geophysicist

Fugro-Jason (UK) Ltd, 2002-2005, Senior Project Geoscientist

WesternGeco, 1996-2002, Senior Geophysicist

  • London Data Processing Centre, Depth Imaging Department December 1999 – January 2002
  • Port Harcourt (Nigeria) Data Processing Centre October 1998 – October 1999
  • Abu Dhabi (UAE) Data Processing Centre April 1998 – September 1998
  • London Data Processing Centre, Land Processing Department July 1996 – April 1998

Petroleum Information Ltd, 1994-1996, Synthetics Supervisor

Education and professional development

  • BSc (Hons) Exploration Geophysics, University College London.

Technical Courses

  • Migration and Velocity Model Building, Ian Jones, 2018
  • Introduction to Petrel Modelling, Aberdeen, 2016
  • Petrophysics and Formation Evaluation, Nautilus, March 2013
  • Play Fairway Analysis and Exploration Prospecting, Nautilus, 2012.
  • Petroleum Economics and Risk Analysis, Nautilus, 2010
  • Petroleum Geoengineering: Integration of Static and Dynamic Models, EAGE DISC, 2009
  • STRATA, AVO, EMERGE training, Hampson-Russell, 2005, 2006, 2007.

Publications

Wanstall, J.A. and Sandanayake, C. 2017. Well tie challenges in Southern Chad.  Conference Proceedings, 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2017

Wilson, P.G., Wanstall, J., Jameson, M.P., Nuzzo, M., Nguema, P. & Tamfu, S. 2016. Integrating Geophysical and Geological Models for De-risking Hydrocarbon Exploration – a Rio del Rey Basin Case Study (Oral presentation). 78th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, 2016

Wilson, P.G., Mythen, B-A., Ujetz, B. & Wanstall, J. 2013. The Zidane seismic flatspot – On target or an own goal? A case study from the Zidane area in the Norwegian Sea (Oral presentation). FORCE Seminar: From Seismic Fantasy to Geological Fact, 2013

Wilson, P.G., Pringle, T., Wanstall, J. & Wang, G.M. 2008. Interactive QC to Optimize AVO and Seismic Inversion Products for Exploration, East China Sea (Poster). PESGB Geophysical Seminar, 2008

Affiliations

  • European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers
  • Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain