About Us
Independent Drilling Engineering AssociateS
Started in 1996 in the U.K. as Independent Drilling Engineering Ltd, the company was primarily involved in the Oil & Gas industry as Well Examiners and Reviewers. The work carried out was mainly in response to the UK Government’s (HSE Executive) Issuance of the Well Design and Construction Regulations established in 1996. This was following the release of the Public Inquiry Report, under Lord Cullen, into the Piper Alpha Disaster in the UK North Sea. This disaster unfortunately witnessed the tragic loss of 167 lives on 6 July 1988.
In 1999, the company incorporated as a Scottish Company – Independent Drilling Engineering AssociateS Ltd to allow for more experts to both be involved in the business and expand the company’s areas of expertise. Whilst Well Examination remained the core business, work areas also expanded into Technical Advice, Difficult Well Designs, the writing of SPE and World Oil papers for BP and Risk Analysis / Mitigation both in the U.K. and overseas.
In response to demand in Asia, IDEAS set-up an office in Singapore to serve firstly the Singapore clients in 2006. Hence, clients from Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia (including Sarawak, East Malaysia) and Vietnam are served out of the office in Singapore. Countries from Africa, Europe, the U.S.A., Russia and the Middle East continue to be served out of Scotland.
The financial crisis of 2008 / 2009 and the subsequent crash in the oil price to $33 resulted in IDEAS diversifying into a wider range of products and services, with a wider profile of companies (typically smaller) being served.
During the lull oil price period of 2014 / 2015, IDEAS took the opportunity to re-think, re-strategise and re-invent our products and services being offered to the industry. Despite the mid the oil price crashing to $42 from earlier highs of above $100, IDEAS continues to work closely with its clients to help them to both survive and thrive.
Today, IDEAS specialises in a wide range of Training and Consultancy services for the Oil and Gas industry worldwide. We love what we do! This is why we do it!
IDEAS Mission
Create solutions through applying:
• Creative thought, ingenuity, experience and integrative life-cycle considerations
• Fully focused dedication and commitment to problem-solving
IDEAS Vision
Provide the most professional, solution-oriented, cost-effective drilling engineering and related services anywhere around the globe – At Any Time – Objectively – Independently – Quickly.
Our Team
Dr Michael Gibson has over 35 years’ international oilfield experience working in a wide variety of disciplines ranging from reservoir interface engineering through to drilling, testing, completion, production, intervention and well workover in both the office and at the rig-site on land rigs, jack-ups, platforms, tender-assist rigs, semi-submersibles and deepwater drillships. A champion of lateral thinking, new technology, risk analysis and inter-disciplinary teamwork, Dr Gibson studied at The Robert Gordon Institute of Technology in Aberdeen, Scotland, Department of Mechanical and Offshore Engineering, under the expert tutelage of the esteemed late Professor Blythe McNaughton.
He holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Post Graduate Diploma with Distinction in Offshore Engineering (with Shell-Esso Prize Award), Master’s Degrees in Offshore Engineering (with Britoil Prize Award) and Engineering Technology (with Commendation) and an 8-volume PhD thesis (gained over 8 years whilst working offshore) in Blowouts, Relief Well Planning, Wellbore Positional Uncertainty, and High Pressure High Temperature Drilling and Field Development.
Dr Gibson has written many technical papers over the years, focusing upon drilling efficiency, well integrity, risk analysis and safety. He is passionate about well control, has written several manuals on the subject (including HPHT and Deepwater) and is IADC WellCap Plus Certified.
Through IDEAS, he currently advises and teaches a wide range of clients worldwide on issues ranging from drilling through to production. Mike is both a Master Scuba Diver and a Dive Master. In his spare time, he dives whenever and wherever he can – in places ranging from Scapa Flow in Scotland to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. When neither diving nor working, he is involved in charity work, particularly in Africa, Cambodia and India.
Expert Consultant - Risk Analysis
Marek is IDEAS’ lead expert consultant in Quantitative Risk Analysis. He developed the proprietary Risk Impact™ methodology for IDEAS and built the proprietary software used for IDEAS’ risk analysis oilfield work of the same title – Risk Impact™.
This software has been used to carry out risk analysis and significantly reduced drilling costs for our clients with outstanding results in the following areas to name but a few :- (1) HPHT Field Development (North Sea), (2) Mature Field Re-development (Oman), (3) Drilling Fluids for ERD Wells (North Sea); (4) Cost-Effective Drilling (Worldwide), and (5) Multi-Lateral Wells (North Sea). Marek, together with Mike and all our Expert Consultants are an extremely powerful team to help maximise safety, maximise efficiency, maximise performance and maximise profitability. During his time in the North Sea oil industry, Marek was noted for his computational expertise in determining the structural failure of the “Alexander Kielland” which capsized, following the failure of the rig’s bracing during a storm offshore to Norway with 123 lives lost.
An expert in statistical analysis and software engineering, Marek has more than 20 years’ experience working in the high technology industry. He has worked in various technology areas including computerised speech recognition, signal processing, computer vision, security research and quantitative risk analysis. Marek is the named inventor on 9 technology patents and has several years’ experience in numerical analysis and core algorithm development for high-tech engineering. He holds post graduate degrees in Theoretical Physics, Software Engineering and Offshore Engineering. In his spare time, he enjoys sailing with his family and also has a keen interest in automated stock market trading on the US markets.
Expert Consultant, Drilling Rigs & Operations
Tom began his oilfield career in the USA working for the excellent drilling contractor, Sedco and his magnanimous personality and hard-working nature quickly yielded promotion and a thorough knowledge of rigs. His knowledge and positive attitude took him around the world, and eventually led him to form Survey Spec, with whom we are proud to work with.
Tom was responsible for customising offshore and onshore inspection services to the point where he was able to advise clients very quickly as to status of equipment as opposed to first filling out reams of paper for example. Tom is passionate about all manner of rig-related programmes and has built an excellent team of supportive personnel.
Tom carries out major areas of work (and highly specialised areas of work) in the areas of Rig Acceptance, Rig Commissioning and Rig Audit. He and his team also have expertise in the area of Well Control.
He has offices in both Singapore and Texas, USA and can be found on a land rig in Oman just as easily as on a rig in the shipyard in Singapore or offshore. Overall he has worked in excess of over 30 companies around the world, ranging from Operators through to Drilling Contractors, Service Companies and Rig Builders.
With a highly personable smile and warm personality, Tom welcomes anyone who wants to stop-by his office for a coffee and a chat!
Expert Consultant, Drilling Rigs & Operations
Dr Graham Jones has over 40 years’ international oilfield experience working in a wide variety of disciplines ranging from reservoir interface engineering through to completion design, testing, completion, production, intervention and well workover in both the office and at the rig-site on land rigs, jack-ups, platforms, tender-assist rigs, semi-submersibles and deep-water drill-ships.
A champion of lateral thinking, new technology, risk analysis and inter-disciplinary teamwork, Dr Jones was an expert with Shell for the vast bulk of his career and worked with and for Shell Operating Companies worldwide ranging from the U.K. (Scotland) through to Gabon, Africa, Oman in the Middle East and also Shell Companies in the Far East. Both Shell and the Oilfield Drilling Industry consider Graham as an expert in Well Completion Design, Well Workover , Well Intervention and Production. Of note is his highly talented skills and knowledge in High Pressure High Temperature Field Developments and "Challenging Reservoir Developments" across the world.
Graham holds a list of Qualifications as long as your arm, and now loves to teach. His passion is to pass his knowledge, skills and expertise onto the "younger generation" and he is a "Master" in the "Classroom". He is passionate about well control, particularly with regard to Well Intervention & Well Workover, and has written several texts on the subject.
Through IDEAS, he currently advises and teaches a wide range of clients worldwide on issues ranging from Well Completion Design through to Well Intervention and Well Workover. Graham is an excellent Classroom Teacher, Consultant and Expert - and never fails to do his absolute best when it comes to difficult wells and problem-solving.
He is truly dedicated to his work - and one of the World's true professionals. IDEAS is truly proud to have Graham as a member of "The Team".
Our Consultants
Our consultants support our experts, in all areas of consultancy and training on an adhoc basis (as this is their preferred way of working). A highly focused and very specialised group of people, they are all experts in their own fields – ranging from reservoir through to drilling, testing, completion, production, intervention, workover and rig work (including shipyard work in Singapore and Korea).
They have up-to-date qualifications, excellent references and first class track records. Many are authors of fine manuals, technical texts, and long listings of SPE / IADC papers. They are also passionate about helping the people with whom they work with and are always keen to pass on as much of their knowledge and planning / field experience as possible.
All have in excess of minimum 25 years of experience – both office and offshore based – and all have the excellent technical and inter-personal skills needed to ensure project success in today’s often difficult, demanding and inter-cultural market place.
Once our consultants are placed, they remain committed until you deem the work to be totally complete and to your absolute satisfaction. Throughout their projects, they have the support of the whole IDEAS team to ensure complete satisfaction and total quality.
Our Clients
Testimonials
