Drilling Marine Shallow Hazards

Richard Weiland

Drilling Marine Shallow Hazards

Richard Weiland’s focus over the last 19 years has been in marine shallow hazards assessment and evaluation as they relate to safety, the environment, regulatory compliance, and the reduction of non-productive time in hydrocarbon exploration and production. He also has a broad range of industry experiences including operations and development geology, leadership roles, recruiting, mentoring, and teaching. He holds a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Texas, and thus has a strong research background. His career started at ARCO, then moved to Vastar, BP and most recently BHP. Richard’s strengths focus on providing input for well planning and facilities placement via appropriately detailed hazards assessments, and monitoring drilling operations for hazards.

Joss Russell

Drilling Engineer

Joseph Russell, began his oilfield career in 1976 with Schlumberger as a wireline logging field engineer, working multiple locations across the Arabian Gulf region. After completing a masters degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1981, Joseph joined German exploration and development company Deminex as a Drilling Engineer, completing exploration and development drilling assignments in Libya and Egypt. In 1983 Joseph joined the small independent UK based exploration and development company Carless Exploration as a Senior Drilling Engineer, predominantly working onshore exploration and development projects in the south of England and in 1986 he joined Eni/Agip in the same role with an initial assignment to a major oilfield development project located offshore Nigeria. Joseph remained in Nigeria after the development project was completed, providing technical and operational support to a number of offshore and onshore exploration and development drilling projects. In 1991 Joseph joined BHP Petroleum in their London office and developed his career across multiple office locations and worldwide oil and gas basins. By developing his technical capabilities across multiple basins and accepting roles with greater supervisory and management responsibility, in 2012 Joseph was promoted to the executive position of VP Conventional Drilling and Completion. Assigned to the Houston Petroleum HQ, Joseph remained with BHP until his retirement in October 2020. Joseph holds a BSc Hons degree in Metallurgy from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK and a MEng degree in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.