Consultancy Services - ‘Spotlight On’: Graham Davis Executive Advisor - Petrophysics & Subsurface Graham’s career at a glance. 39+ Years of Experience A highly accomplished career working with major and independent oil companies in technical, management, and leadership roles. Graham has built and led petrophysical teams, driving integrated subsurface assurance globally. Petrophysical Expertise & Team Building Developed and supported petrophysical capabilities across multiple companies, including Canadian Natural Resources (CNR), Premier Oil, and Harbour Energy. Built and led teams that provided technical excellence and assurance to subsurface models and evaluations. Global Project Leadership Managed and reviewed complex projects and subsurface models across a wide array of geological settings and operational challenges. Graham has extensive experience working in diverse basins such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the Falkland Islands, UKCS, and Norway. Technical & Strategic Advisory Provided integrated subsurface project reviews and audits within global assurance groups, offering technical advice and strategic guidance to management and technical staff across Premier Oil and Harbour Energy. Professional Contributions & Mentorship Served two terms as SPWLA local chapter president and chaired the multidisciplinary DEVEX Subsurface Conference twice. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of subsurface professionals, supporting their technical and career development. Graham's career spans over 39 years, beginning in the mid-1980s with Enterprise Oil. Over the years, he has worked with both major and independent operating oil companies, including Shell (PDO), BP, and Canadian Natural Resources (CNR), where he first became Chief Petrophysicist and engaged in management and technical assurance roles. Can you provide an overview of your career in the energy sector? I have 39 years of experience, working with both Majors and Independent Operating Oil Companies. Starting out with Enterprise Oil in the mid 1980’s, I continued to work in predominantly technical roles through my time with Shell (PDO), BP and Canadian Natural Resources (CNR). It was whilst at CNR that I first became Chief Petrophysicist, and more formally engaged in management and technical assurance roles. I continued in senior technical management roles as part of the leadership teams of Premier Oil and latterly Harbour Energy. I have lived in a number of different locations, including London, Aberdeen, Dubai and Oman, and worked across a range of projects in basins such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Falkland Islands, UKCS and Norway. I have also been deeply engaged with my professional society (the SPWLA) where I served two terms as local chapter president, and I twice chaired the multi-disciplinary annual DEVEX Subsurface Conference held in Aberdeen. Mentoring the next generation of subsurface professionals has been an important, and enjoyable, part of my role. I have maintained a technical focus to my career, providing hands-on support in developing petrophysical capabilities for a number of corporate entities. I built and supported several petrophysical teams at CNR, Premier Oil and Harbour Energy and, for the last 18 years, have been heavily involved with integrated subsurface assurance. I have worked with technical and management staff across a number of business units around the world, as part of Premier Oil and Harbour Energy’s global assurance group. As technical Discipline Chiefs, we would conduct integrated project reviews, and audit, of all of our major subsurface models – providing technical advice, support and guidance to our technical teams and local management. SPOTLIGHT SERIES: GRAHAM DAVIS Typically, when reviewing and auditing sub-surface models, I’ve found that up to 70% of them have had some issue that would have put them outside of the usual +/- 10% volumetric uncertainty, that most would deem reasonable. I led an audit on a model on a Ninian terrace, 220 million barrels in place with 66 well penetrations. One might think that with that amount of well control the subsurface model would automatically be very well constrained, yet our audit revealed that the STOIIP should have been closer to 369 million barrels. This mismatch was not due to a single simple error, rather it was the result of a combination of interdisciplinary interactions and misunderstanding. Reservoir property modelling should be carried out, as an iterative process, between Geologist, Petrophysicist and Reservoir Engineer. By forensically evaluating the entire modelling chain, we were able to determine the technical issues that had led to the shortfall and we were subsequently able to proceed with a successful in-fill drilling campaign. Can you share an example of a project where your leadership significantly impacted the outcome? Petrophysics is often seen as a somewhat niche area, that is frequently out-sourced to third party specialists. However, as petrophysical results are the key input for the other sub-surface disciplines, resultant sub-surface models are often compromised if the dynamic history match process has not been fully iterated, and reconciled, with the petrophysical understanding. I have been involved in two major projects that failed to deliver, losing several hundred million dollars for the operating companies involved, and these painful yet valuable experiences have shaped the way I approach projects – it’s really important to get the rocks right! When considering whether models will deliver the resources promised, it’s important that realisations are based on a robust and integrated evaluation chain. We’re often quite good within our technical silos – but it is vital that we’re also just as good across the interfaces and in the summation of those silos. What unique value do you bring to companies in the energy sector, particularly in a consultancy role? SPOTLIGHT SERIES: GRAHAM DAVIS What is your vision for the future of the energy sector, and how do you plan to contribute to its evolution? Clearly there is a lot of Industry focus on the energy transition these days, and there is much viability and assurance work to do in and around new and existing carbon capture storage projects, however there will be continued need to evaluate, assure and develop the best conventional projects until our renewable energy future is secured. I hope to support these efforts through continued teaching and mentorship of sub-surface staff and helping management and asset teams review and assure their projects. I welcome the opportunity to be part of WeConnect Energy's Spotlight Series. If I can be of any assistance to your energy projects, please do reach out to myself or Peter Bottomley directly. Please reach out to Peter Bottomley to discuss your Consultancy & Advisory requirements across the energy sector. 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