Robert MacAndrew

Eur Ing Robert MacAndrew - Managing Director

Robert attained a B.Sc. in Naval Architecture from the University of Strathclyde in 1972 then spent his formative years involved with ship-building on Clydeside. This proved a useful slipway into his subsequent O&G career with him initially attaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Offshore Engineering at RGIT (winning the Esso prize for best student) before joining Chevron in 1977 where he spent his first year offshore Louisiana - supervising drilling and workover operations. Back to the UKCS - working on the Ninian Central, supervising drilling operations for the first wells on this new two-rig platform.

1980 saw Robert move to Khartoum, Sudan as Lead Drilling Engineer, covering requirements for drilling engineering and support for a remote four-rig exploration drilling operation (a 1200+km supply route with only partially metalled roads!). He had responsibilities for supervising local trainees, purchasing, budgeting, technical/economic studies, drilling programme development and implementation in addition to G&A, and corporate reporting functions.

By the mid-1980’s Marathon was highly active developing the massive UKCS Brae field and Robert was invited by his previous manager (and mentor) to join the team. In 1985 he initially worked as Drilling Supervisor on the Bideford Dolphin, drilling exploration and delineation wells in the Brae area. Then to the Brae-A platform before being seconded to the Davy Offshore Modules yard in Middlesborough for part of the construction phase of the Brae-B drilling modules. Returned to Brae-A in 1987 as Senior Drilling Supervisor, running the 2-rig platform. Robert was later given a “roving commission” by being appointed Offshore Drilling Superintendent.

Having experienced managerial and operational responsibilities for large corporations at senior level, by 1990, Robert was ready to “plough his own furrow”, establishing his own limited-company consultancy. It was Ranger Oil that offered the opportunity by contracting him to work in their HPHT programme as a senior drilling engineer (planning and managing). He represented Ranger at UKOOA Drilling Practices Committee and at Elgin/Franklin technical meetings. Later, provided support for Ranger's activities in SW Africa concerning the preparation of an environmental impact study for drilling operations offshore Namibia. His HPHT experience then led to a year’s work in Indonesia, initially as offshore drilling supervisor then onshore superintendent for a deepwater (1400ft) HPHT exploration well north of Bali. Through the mid / late ‘90’s Robert’s consultancy saw him as Well Intervention Manager for Oryx and Drilling Superintendent for Talisman. He then worked as an independent consultant subsequently forming Aberdeen Drilling Management in the new millennium.

Robert’s acknowledged credentials led to him being asked to serve as an Independent Expert Witness in a case held at the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague, and later in a separate case for the High Court in London. He is now regularly called upon in such matters. He is also the Journal of Petroleum Technology’s (JPT) HPHT Editor, and is a European Chartered Engineer.