Andrew Billings

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Hornet Geoconsulting Ltd

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

1974-1975: MSc in Applied Geophysics at Birmingham University   1975-1982: Geophysicist for Hunting Geology and Geophysics Ltd;   Acquisition and interpreting of airborne radiometric and magnetic geophysical data in parts of South America, Caribbean, Europe and Africa in the exploration for uranium, base metals and hydrocarbons. Including some logistically &/or topographically challenging areas such as Sierra de Perija in Venezuela, Peruvian Andes near Lake Titicaca, Italian Alps and the Sudd in Sudan.  1982-1992: Senior Geophysicist in BP;   Interpreting seismic and other geophysical data in the exploration for oil and gas in Denmark (on and off-shore) & Ireland (Celtic Sea and Porcupine Basins) . Exploration, Appraisal & Development of oil & gas fields in Netherlands (Q8/A gas field, P15 Rijn oil field) and Papua New Guinea (Kutubu area & Elevala oil fields, Hides and Angore gas fields).    1992-1995: Senior Geophysicist in Pict Petroleum Plc;  Interpreting seismic and other geophysical data and integrating with geological data in the exploration, appraisal and development of UK North Sea oil and gas fields (Scott, Donan, Blenheim & Kyle oil fields and York & Galahad gas fields). Also for oil & gas exploration in Tunisia, Pakistan and Euphrates Basin.  1995-1998: UK & NW Europe Exploration Manager for Premier Oil Plc;   Managing the Operated and Non-Operated exploration portfolio in UK, Germany and Denmark. Including all aspects of the work-programme and budget planning and delivery through relationships with management, JV partners and Authorities. Including successfully drilling the UK 11/24-1 discovery well in a highly sensitive environmental area, on-time and within budget.  Implementing appropriate Geological & Geophysical activities in a cost conscious environment to: deliver the exploration programme; rationalise the portfolio by correct acquisition & disposal decisions (e.g. increased equity in well which discovered Flora field in UK); support the producing fields (e.g. appraise Kyle field, in-field drilling on Scott & Fife Fields).  Participating in the corporate peer review process for all exploration assets worldwide. Including Indonesia, Pakistan, Albania and Australia.  1998-2004: The Geophysicist for Intrepid Energy;  Intrepid’s technical team leader for the discovery of Buzzard Field in UK North Sea, the field appraisal and the preparation of the Field Development Plan. Buzzard is the biggest UK North Sea oil discovery in the last 40 years.  Integrating and interpreting geological and geophysical data for new-ventures in UK, Netherlands and Germany and for exploration & appraisal drilling and preparation of Field Development Programmes e.g. Howe & Rochelle oil fields in UKCS.   Evaluating multidisciplinary data (including impedance/attribute and 4D seismic) and Operators’ recommendations for in-field drilling in mid and late-life fields; e.g. Nelson, Claymore, Piper, resulting in adding incremental reserves and increased production rates.  Participating actively within the small, multi-disciplinary, corporate technical team to formulate and then deliver value-adding objectives by influencing joint-venture plans.       Managing outsourced projects in Operated acreage.  Writing the technical geological and geophysical sections of the Information Memorandum which enabled to company to be sold for a sum in excess of 1 Billion US$  2004-2024: Director & Exploration Geophysicist, Hornet Geoconsulting Ltd;  Consulting for various clients in their exploration for oil & gas from small ‘start-up’ oil-companies to large multi-nationals and also collaborating with other consultants on a variety of projects worldwide. Including most UK offshore and onshore basins, East & West Africa, Mediterranean, Middle East, India, Latin America.  Interpreting onshore seismic data as part of the evaluation of potash deposits in NE England & Ethiopia  & for geothermal energy in onshore UK  Now looking forward to retirement.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

Geological Society, naturally. I was a member of what then was called CinSoc, the Cinema Society, which showed a wide variety of films on Campus.  I was Central Block rep for Hetherington Hall so helped run the Duryard Halls bar, formal and informal balls. I fenced foil and sabre in the University fencing team and I was also in the University shooting team (both small-bore and full-bore). 

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

The variety of locations that we went to on field trips.  Biggest highlight – Graduating.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

A Campus university, with plenty of facilities in a great location. I was able to stay 2 years in Hetherington followed by a year in Lafrowda so I was able to postpone the realities of landlords and utility bills and focus on studying and socialising!!

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Within geology/geophysics I am not a specialist in any of the sub-disciplines; being a generalist, as such, has enabled me to explore successfully because I know enough across a broad knowledge base to be able to pull the strands of the data together and interpret them meaningfully.  When interpreting data, I never told the boss what I thought the boss wanted to hear, I only told the boss what I thought the data was telling me.

What are your plans for the future?

 A long and happy retirement – I will be 71 very soon.