Graham Davis

Executive Advisor - Petrophysics & Subsurface

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, Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) and Premier Oil (now Harbour Energy).

He first became Chief Petrophysicist in 2006 and has been engaged in leadership, management and technical assurance roles ever since. However, Graham also continues to carry out, and enjoy, technical formation evaluation work.

I advise technical staff and management teams

I've built and supported several petrophysical teams at CNR, Premier 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 Discipline Chiefs we conducted integrated project reviews, and audited all of our major subsurface models – providing technical advice, support and guidance to our subsurface teams and local management.

Now, how can I help you?

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Recommendations

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Graham and I worked closely together while supporting development and operations activities for BP (Magnus field).

Graham was a joy to work with. During our time together, he provided an important and different perspective on the petrophysical properties of this important reservoir.

His contributions were critical to the team’s success which were significant.

Ron Day | Deputy Chief Geologist at Lukoil AIK
Having worked with Graham as both my client and my boss, I have been thoroughly impressed with the way he quickly gets down to the petrophysical issues which truly affect how a model behaves and linking it back to reality, in the static and dynamic domains.

Graham is knowledgeable, pragmatic and interacts well across all disciplines, able to sense check volumes and predict the likely rates from new development wells.

I would highly recommend Graham and would love to work with him again given the chance!

Ed Downer | Harbour Energy
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Graham was always approachable and constructive in his approach to petrophysical studies and assurance.

His enthusiasm for petrophysics goes beyond the office as evident in his work for the Aberdeen Formation Evaluation Society, DEVEX and software development.

Graham also specialises in NMR processing and is always keen to discuss.

Andrew Winter | Harbour Energy
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Graham is an exceptionally knowledgeable professional in the field of Petrophysics and the broader subsurface domain. His expertise in advising on the right solutions and reconciling the static and dynamic worlds is impressive.

His rare passion for Petrophysics, in-depth knowledge of the subject, and years of experience have earned him the respect of colleagues and senior management and his opinion was always welcomed.

Graham has worked on fields across the globe and has developed expertise in conventional and unconventional reservoirs, carbonates, thin beds and shaly sands analysis.

He is not only a skilled professional but also a great mentor and collaborator.

Dorota Beckett | Total Energies
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As a line manager, Graham always looked out for his line reports and was a massive support - both technically and organisationally. His personable character enables him to connect at a personal level with his colleagues and therefore get the best out of them.

As a discipline chief, I observed how Graham leveraged his vast subsurface experience to really drive excellence in petrophysical work. He has a real passion for integrating petrophysics with the broader subsurface teams, from reservoir modelling to data acquisition planning and field studies. Through this, he manages to put ‘Petrophysics at the decision table’, ultimately driving better subsurface decision-making.

Graham’s qualities make him comfortable delivering and engaging well across multiple organisational levels, whether discussing project risks with VP’s or how to derive a robust saturation-height function with junior staff. This is a unique quality of Graham’s that enables him to become a real organisational asset.

Remy de Winter | Equinor

Work Experience

2013-2024

Harbour Energy, Chief Petrophysicist

London & Aberdeen, UK

(née Premier Oil)

Highlights: Managing a team of seven petrophysicists in the UK and two overseas. The Team had come together from the three legacy companies that formed Harbour Energy (Chrysaor, CononcoPhillips & Premier Oil). I have good personnel management skills and constructed a high performing Team with a wide range of experience and expertise. Harbour are the largest oil producer in the North Sea, with projects from Green Field Development, Carbon Capture and Storage through to Late-Life mature asset management and COP operations.

2003-2013

CNR International, Chief Petrophysicist

Aberdeen, UK

Highlights: The first Staff Petrophysicist – implemented new systems and built small team (up to 3 staff) to support 10 subsurface teams and 6 drill strings in the North Sea and West Africa. Responsible for Ops Geology Function.

2001-2003

BP, Senior Petrophysicist (Network Leader)

Aberdeen, UK

Highlights: Working on miscible Gas Flood EOR on Magnus. Residual Oil determination. Quantitative error analysis and stochastic prospect reserves estimation. 3D Geological modelling (IRAP/RMS). Local Petrophysics Network Leader.

1998-2001

Shell (PDO), Consultant Petrophysicist

Muscat, Oman

Highlights: Introduction of a multi-depth investigation LWD resistivity for inversion modelling and invasion profiling. Introduced more rigorous geo-steering procedures and analysis to the Yibal Asset Team - to help them get "closer to the roof".

1997-1998

Enterprise Oil Plc, Senior Petrophysicist

Sharjah, UAE

Highlights: Developed new fracture fluid distribution model from cased-hole pulsed neutron logs Quantified the fracture porosity system of Mubarek Field for the first time.

1985-1997

Enterprise Oil Plc, Petrophysicist

London & Aberdeen, UK

Highlights: Team Leader of UK Operations Petrophysics section, responsible for Nelson Development. Wrote computer programs for the analysis of PLT/TDT cased-hole logs. Responsible for major contracting strategy review. Integrated study fractured carbonate reservoir onshore Italy. "Russian Log Analysis" study carried out for a major field offshore Vietnam. Facies-related petrophysical modelling. Equity studies.

Education

1985-1989

Birkbeck College, University of London

Bsc (Hons) Geology

1983-1985

South London College

BTEC HND Petroleum Exploration Geology

Professional skills

• Strong open-hole log interpretation skills with emphasis on integration of ALL available data throughout the 3D modelling chain. With particular skills in NMR Processing

• Thin Bed evaluation, facies recognition techniques, Permeability/PI prediction and saturation height modelling.

• Work-Scope and Bid Preparation, Tender Evaluation and Contract Management.

• Design, execution and analysis of fit for purpose data acquisition programmes.

• Experienced in Unitisation procedures and Equity negotiations. Preparation of Government Development approvals and Farm-out Documents.

Languages

English

Spanish (beginner)

Video Presentations

View YouTube Presentations

"Graham! I watched all your videos on petrophysics for dummies, and it serves as an important foundation block in my understanding in petrophysics!"

Aditya Arie Wijaya | Geoscientist

“Thank you, Graham. Your videos are very informative and very well explained.”

Steve DSouza | Internet Subscriber

"Graham…you were a damn good petrophysicist who knew that the best interpretations required a ‘chat’ with a geologist first ahead of publishing the final report!"

Richard Singleton | VP, ADNOC (Rtd)

"You’ve had a significant impact on my understanding of petrophysics, from our very first encounter at AFES during my time at Aberdeen Uni to the various projects we’ve worked on together."

Aruna Mannie | Director, Wood Mac

"Memory from AFES seminar Petrophysics for Dummies with you on the stage negotiating a path through an arrangement of chairs to illustrate tortuosity! A powerful message that made the point."

Craig Lindsay | CEO, CSS Ltd.

"It was great working with you over the last ten years and personally I wanted to thank you for being so generous in sharing your considerable knowledge and experience which for me was always an education."

Rob Newbould | Chief Geologist (Retired)

"Before we met, I remember reading one of your Enterprise-era logging programmes with detailed logging speeds and run instructions which finished with “have a cup of tea and slice of cake” - an example of technically expert delivery with a personable, human focus."

Richard Fairbairn | Project Manager, Oliasoft

"Thanks for taking me offshore and showing me how petrophysics was really done, especially at 4am after 50+ hours without sleep! You've had some career, but lots of fun and interesting things to do out there for you now!"

Jenny Garnham | Consultant Petrophysicist

Get in touch

Want to hear more about how I can help your project succeed. Send me an email and let's talk about your needs.

I’m Graham Davis

I’m Graham Davis

Graham Davis

Executive Advisor - Petrophysics & Subsurface

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, Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) and Premier Oil (now Harbour Energy).

He first became Chief Petrophysicist in 2006 and has been engaged in leadership, management and technical assurance roles ever since. However, Graham also continues to carry out, and enjoy, technical formation evaluation work.

I advise technical staff and management teams

Recommendations

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Work Experience

2013-2024

Harbour Energy, Chief Petrophysicist

London & Aberdeen, UK

(née Premier Oil)﻿

2003-2013

CNR International, Chief Petrophysicist

Aberdeen, UK

2001-2003

BP, Senior Petrophysicist (Network Leader)

Aberdeen, UK

1998-2001

Shell (PDO), Consultant Petrophysicist

Muscat, Oman

1997-1998

Enterprise Oil Plc, Senior Petrophysicist

Sharjah, UAE

1985-1997

Enterprise Oil Plc, Petrophysicist

London & Aberdeen, UK

Education

1985-1989

Birkbeck College, University of London

1983-1985

South London College

Professional skills

• Strong open-hole log interpretation skills with emphasis on integration of ALL available data throughout the 3D modelling chain. With particular skills in NMR Processing

• Thin Bed evaluation, facies recognition techniques, Permeability/PI prediction and saturation height modelling.

• Work-Scope and Bid Preparation, Tender Evaluation and Contract Management.

• Design, execution and analysis of fit for purpose data acquisition programmes.

• Experienced in Unitisation procedures and Equity negotiations. Preparation of Government Development approvals and Farm-out Documents.

Languages

English

Spanish (beginner)

Video Presentations

View YouTube Presentations

Get in touch

email: graham@gd-petrophysics.com

(née Premier Oil)