My Professional Journey
I began my career in 1996 with Shell International Exploration and Production as a Production & Maintenance Engineer in hte Netherlands. Over the subsequent years, I progressed through a range of technical and leadership roles across multiple disciplines and countries, with a core focus on production optimisation. My work has spanned four different companies across four continents and nine countries, where I’ve led teams, improved operational performance, and delivered results in complex upstream oil and gas environments.
In addition to technical leadership, I’ve played key roles in the acquisition and divestment of oil and gas assets, as well as the execution of large-scale capital projects. This blend of engineering depth, commercial insight, and global experience has shaped a career defined by adaptability, strategic thinking, and a commitment to operational excellence.
I am currently working as Head of Department Subsurface for OMV New Zealand Limited in New Plymouth.
My Oil and Gas Expertise
Oil and Gas Acquisitions & Divestments
My career has included key roles in high-value oil and gas transactions and strategic portfolio integration. I was part of the core team behind the landmark $572 million acquisition of Shell’s New Zealand assets, and subsequently served as Transition Manager, leading the integration of both assets and personnel into OMV New Zealand. This involved aligning operations, technical and financial systems, and culture to ensure a seamless transition and long-term value creation.
I also served as Technical Lead for the divestment of the Ashtart field in Tunisia, overseeing the technical due diligence and asset sale process. Additionally, I contributed to the integration of the non-operated Gullfaks and Gudrun fields into OMV’s global portfolio, helping to align technical and commercial strategies across jurisdictions.
These experiences reflect my ability to navigate complex transactions, manage cross-functional teams, and deliver value through both acquisition and divestment strategies.
Large Projects
Over the course of my career, I’ve led and contributed to several technically complex and strategically significant oil and gas projects across New Zealand and internationally. Highlights include:
Maari Field Development & Commissioning (New Zealand):
Played a central role in bringing the Maari field online, overseeing the commissioning of offshore facilities and subsea infrastructure to enable safe and efficient production
FSO Replacement – Ifrikia II Disconnection (Tunisia):
Led the planning and execution of the disconnection of the Ifrikia II Floating Storage and Offloading vessel, ensuring operational continuity and safe transition during this critical infrastructure change.
Maui B IRFIII Development (New Zealand):
Contributed to the third phase of the Maui B Infill and Redevelopment Project, focused on maximizing recovery through targeted well interventions and infrastructure optimization.
Pohokura Infill Drilling (New Zealand):
Supported the planning and execution of infill drilling campaigns to enhance gas recovery and extend field life, working closely with subsurface, drilling, and production teams.
Production Optimisation
I bring deep, hands-on experience in production optimisation across diverse geographies and operating environments. My work has consistently delivered measurable gains in uptime, reliability, and hydrocarbon recovery.
- Global Leadership:
As Head of Production at OMV, I developed and implemented a corporate-wide Production Management Framework to drive performance across OMV’s global portfolio. This included setting standards, launching optimisation initiatives, and aligning teams across operated and non-operated assets. - Nigeria:
In challenging environments spanning land, swamp, and shallow offshore, I coordinated over 518 well interventions, unlocking an annual average of 109,000 barrels of oil per day. I also led 212 integrity-restoration interventions, boosting production potential by 19,000 bopd. - Germany:
Implemented Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) and turnkey contracts across 50 regional facilities, reducing maintenance costs by 2 million DM and increasing availability by 10%. - Thailand & Indonesia:
Delivered well and field optimisation programs, including waterflooding strategies, multi-disciplinary well reviews, and production surveillance. These efforts offset decline and increased output by 10% in Thailand and supported divestment readiness in Indonesia. - New Zealand:
Led the successful start-up and commissioning of the Maari FPSO development, optimised injector design, and managed offshore operations to enhance production reliability and efficiency. - Qatar:
Managed offshore liftboat operations with coiled tubing, wireline, and hydraulic workovers—raising operational efficiency from 70% to 93%.
This track record reflects a methodical, data-driven approach to unlocking latent potential in upstream operations—combining technical insight with operational leadership to drive sustainable performance improvements.
Well Integrity
I have developed, implemented, and optimised well integrity management systems across Nigeria, Thailand, and New Zealand—ensuring safe, compliant, and fit-for-purpose operations in diverse regulatory and technical environments.
Legacy Project (Nigeria):
As Technical Coordination Engineer for Well Interventions at Shell, I led a team managing an annual budget of $100 million USD to execute over 200 well interventions using rigs, coiled tubing, and wireline units. I developed and implemented a comprehensive Well Integrity Management System for all wells and spearheaded a special project to address legacy integrity issues in Ogoniland, successfully restoring containment in over 100 compromised wells.
Thailand:
As Production Technologist for Thai Shell, I served as Well Integrity focal point, overseeing integrity surveillance and intervention planning for a portfolio of ~180 wells. I also led HSE case development for field operations and mentored junior technologists.
New Zealand:
At OMV, I optimised the existing well integrity framework to align with evolving New Zealand legislation and global best practices, ensuring it remained robust, scalable, and fit for purpose across offshore assets
Feedback
”Andrew’s deep industry knowledge and genuine approach made working with him a rewarding experience.”