Lead the PetroSkills(tm) consortium with BP, Shell, Saudi Aramco and Halliburton -

PetroSkills(tm) was formed in 2001 by BP, Shell and OGCI to meet the petroleum industry's worldwide professional training needs. BP, Shell, and OGCI combined their post graduate petroleum engineering and geosciences training programs into one organization to offer a single "Best of the Best" program. The program is open to the entire industry, and in 2002 over 60
different Companies used its services. Aramco and Halliburton joined PetroSkills in December 2001. Unocal, and Oxy joined in 2002. Other members are expected.

As members of the PetroSkills, these organizations work together to create and continually improve a common competency based development program that spans the upstream petroleum industry. The alliance provides the highest quality, business relevant programs that span E&P technical processes and
ensures management they have the most skilled professionals required to maximize asset value. One of the most unique aspects of PetroSkills(tm) is that operators, not service companies, lead it through participation on an industry board.

 

Conducted comprehensive organizational effectiveness studies for Major, NOC, and Independent oil companies

Mr. Brett is one of the World's leading authorities on petroleum project and process management. He has conducted major studies for organizations worldwide assessing organizational effectiveness, diagnosing bottlenecks to performance, and working with the organizations to improve performance by removing the bottlenecks.

These studies have been conducted for petroleum organizations of all sizes - from some of the largest major, National companies, and several independents. Techniques to remove bottlenecks depend on the specific situation and range from: Improving process management, Modifying organizational structure, Implementing knowledge management tools/approaches, and building a more productive organizational culture.

 

Conducted the US Department of Energy Sponsored 'Vibration Enhanced Recovery' investigation

In 2002 and 2003 a downhole vibration tool as a means of oil production stimulation in Osage
County, OK was built and tested. Supported by a grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) and an in-kind contribution from Phillips Petroleum Company, along with field support by Calumet Oil Company, Seismic Recovery LLC will tested this intriguing technology for enhanced oil recovery in the Burbank formation, which is a Pennsylvanian age sandstone.

A new well has been drilled and cored within the designated pilot area, in the central portion of the North Burbank Unit. The field is a mature waterflood that is currently producing at approximately 1% oil cut. The recovered core has been subjected to sonic core-testing by Phillips Petroleum personnel to measure the effect of vibration on the flow of oil and water in cores.

Several papers describe the work "Enhanced Oil Recovery with Downhole Vibration Stimulation" (SPE 67303) is a good introduction.

 

Author of "The 24 Keys to Success"

This book outlines a practical approach to build organizations that capture, share, use, and improve valuable experience.

A white paper 'Leverage Success: Profit from Mistakes"(NOTE: Link to white paper attached) provides an introduction to the book, and provides a practical approach for organizations to:
1) Value their knowledge management efforts (the very thing only 4% of organizations surveyed think they do well), and
2) Transfer knowledge within the organization (which only 13% of
organizations think they do well).

Anyone serious about starting a knowledge management effort should read these appendices, and consider reading the book for a fuller perspective.

 

Chaired SPE's electronic publishing committee during development of it's electronic library

The Society of Petroleum Engineer's electronic library (www.spe.org) has over 75,000 technical papers available for searching and downloading. Mr. Brett chaired the committee that designed and implemented the launch of the electronic library.

 

Principle Investigator responsible for Low Friction Drill Bit Development

While at Amoco's research center in the 1980's, Mr. Brett lead a project to improve the drilling performance. Along with Tommy M. Warren, Allen Sinor, Sue Behr and others, Mr. Brett identified the phenomena of 'bit whirl' and created approaches that prevented bit whirl and significantly extended bit life. Identification of bit whirl was identified by the Oil and Gas Journal in 2000 as one of the 100 most important milestones last 100 years in the
petroleum industry. Several published papers describe the work, 'Bit Whirl A New Theory of PDC Bit Failure' (SPE 19571) won the Society of Petroleum Engineer's Journal of Drilling and Completion Technology award for the best paper in 1987. The work resulted in several patents including US Patents: 5042596, 5010789, 4982802, 4948925, and 4932484.

 

Successful Practice Studies

A series of studies funded by the Gas Research Institute tested the
following hypothesis: "Broad-based benefit can be created when drilling organizations systematically cooperate to identify and share successful practices". To this end, eleven separate "Successful Drilling Practices" studies were commissioned with the following goals: (1) Identify the most successful drilling practices for each of the study areas; (2) Document these practices in enough detail (in the form of a complete drilling operations plan) to ensure practical application; (3) Disseminate the successful practices; and (4) Measure the benefit derived from using the successful drilling
operations plans. The study showed that broad-based benefit can be created when drilling organizations systematically cooperate to identify and share successful practices, and that the benefit ranges from 3% to 20% of total drilling costs with an average benefit on the order of 10%.

Several published papers describe the work 'Successful Drilling Practices: An Experiment in Cooperation' (SPE 65677) is a good summary.

 

Engineered the construction and Managed operation of Amoco's 'Catoosa drilling facility'

Amoco's Catoosa Drilling Facility (now operated by the Gas Technology Institute) was a unique facility that provided field testing of drilling equipment and techniques under controlled conditions. The rig specially build for the facility was completely computer controlled. 'Field Experiences With Computer-Controlled Drilling' (SPE 20107) summarizes the effort.

 

Coordinated Planning of the logistic support system for Bering Sea drilling operations

In 1986 Amoco Production Company drilled a series of 5 exploration wells in the Bering Sea. The wells were drilled over 350 miles from the shore base at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. To provide logisitics support.

 

Petroleum Project Management Course

Mr. Brett's Petroleum Project Management course is delivered in Houston, London, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur every year. The course provides participant with those project skills particularly relevant to managing petroleum exploration and production projects. One distinguishing characteristic of petroleum projects is the inherent uncertainty associated with an unknowable geology. This means that
project risk management, incorporating new knowledge quickly, and maintaining flexibility are particularly important in petroleum projects.