Profile
I am a geomatics and petroleum geologist specialist with an eclectic and transferable skill set that is also based on environmental geoscience and spatial data.
My background was originally geodesy and land surveying for military mapping and positioning.
After my military career I retrained in environmental geology, and I originally joined the oil and gas as industry as a hydrogeologist. However, by working in small integrated subsurface departments I naturally migrated to petroleum geology while still undertaking management of geomatic and environmental type projects.
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The union and visualisation of geo-spatial information mitigates risk, and allows managers to make better, and informed decisions...
Dr Andrew Gray
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Spatial Data Geoscience:
Geomatics and Petroleum Geology
Email:
Address:
Dubai
SKILLS & TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
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​​Technical and project management of geomatics, petroleum geology, hydrogeology, and environmental projects in the oil and gas sector.
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Contract and budget management, tender preparation, technical specifications, QA/QC, and reporting.
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Geodetic survey, land survey, least squares adjustment, and coordinate reference systems, including grids, datums, and transformations.
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GIS, spatial data management, mapping, cartography, and spatial analysis using ArcGIS and QGIS.
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Remote sensing, satellite imagery, and terrain data integration for oil and gas, infrastructure, and environmental applications.
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Petroleum geology support including wellsite operations, well log interpretation, well correlation, structural modelling, PETREL geomodelling, and prospect evaluation.
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Geological, hydrogeological, and contaminated land assessment, including groundwater and environmental studies.
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Integration of spatial data with petroleum operations, including well planning, routing, land allocation, geotechnical support, and asset management.
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Supporting technologies including UAVs, underground utility survey, laser scanning, gravity, CORS, and geological software such as Surfer, Strater, and Didger.
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Technical mentoring, presentation, and reporting, with strong HSE awareness and promotion of safe working practices
EXPERIENCE
SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
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40+ years of international experience in geomatics, geodesy, GIS, remote sensing, hydrogeology, petroleum geology, and geotechnical integration with proven technical instructional capabilities.
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Technically recognised within multiple organisations and repeatedly seconded to support high-value proposals, specialist technical reviews, and multidisciplinary projects and client presentations.
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Led geomatics and spatial data support for major oil and gas developments in Iraq, including survey control, ERW mapping, and operational GIS systems.
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Managed major geodetic control, benchmark, and CRS-related projects, strengthening survey quality and technical assurance across field developments and national primary networks.
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Delivered multidisciplinary technical leadership spanning well planning, site characterisation, environmental flood and water studies, QA/QC, mentoring, and project improvement.
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Petroleum geology experience in Northern Iraq covering wellsite geology, PETREL modelling, reservoir characterisation, volumetric reassessment, well planning, and development support for heavy oil fields.
Geomatics Manager 2022 - present
KBR, (Majnoon, Iraq)
Oil and gas industry EPCM service company:
Leading geomatics support for the Majnoon field development, with responsibility for survey management, geotechnical integration, ERW spatial data, technical scope development, departmental improvement, and advice to senior management on integrated spatial systems and digital geospatial communication tools.
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Supported the Iraq Mega City Programme as part of a Government Solutions secondment.
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Provided specialist advice on arid-region water harvesting, managed aquifer recharge, conceptual flood modelling, and geospatial support. Planned pilot studies for subsurface, aquifer, hydraulic, and geotechnical characterisation.
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Delivered targeted education and mentoring on geotechnical understanding, coordinate reference systems, and projections relevant to field development.
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Additional experiences and key activities available upon request.
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Senior Petroleum Geologist
& Geomatics Lead 2018-2022
Sonangol Iraq, Dubai
Responsibilities:
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Prepared technical scopes of work for survey and wellsite activities.
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Provided contractor liaison for benchmark installation, well pad positioning, and other spatially dependent activities.
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Designed and managed departmental geology and well data spatial database (MS Access) systems and company GIS outputs.
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Supported well positioning, flowline routing, and field development planning.
Selected achievements:
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Managed establishment of a robust GNSS-based survey control network incorporating new and legacy benchmarks into a correct ITRF realisation.
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Designed and managed a zero-cost visual spatial database based on Google Earth with links to company data resources.
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Managed acquisition and integration of high-resolution imagery and DEM data for planning and reconnaissance.
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Supported ground control identification and pre-marking for orthorectification and future imagery programmes.
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Used spatial analysis to support design of a security surveillance network and produced bespoke operational map products for wells, ERW, benchmarks, and infrastructure.
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Supported planning for 23 new production wells through mapping, spatial screening, and geological data gap identification.
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Constructed and maintained departmental geological models reliant on correct spatial control.
Project scale / context: Team size: 4 | Additional petroleum geology experience during this period included wellsite geology, PETREL modelling, reservoir characterisation, and volumetric reassessment.
Survey Technical Project Manager 2016-2018
Fugro-Iraq, Dubai
Responsibilities:
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Managed technical aspects of geomatics and environmental projects across the project lifecycle.
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Oversaw survey planning, quality control, reporting, and client-facing technical delivery.
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Supported multidisciplinary bids and technical proposals.
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Mentored junior staff in technical methods and modern survey technologies.
Selected achievements:
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Identified poor survey practices in field and computational workflows and introduced remedial improvements.
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Introduced STARNET and least squares adjustment approaches to improve survey design and quality checking.
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Managed geodetic expansion and readjustment of the Rumaila Operating Organisation primary survey control network and a similar geodetic control project for Shell at Majnoon.
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Identified previously unrecognised surface solution cavities during a ground investigation survey, with implications for ground stability; this issue was subsequently encountered in Majnoon oilfield settlement studies.
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Contributed to major regional proposals including Abu Dhabi Municipality ($9M), SK Engineering ($3M), ADNOC ($4.7M), WOOD Kuwait ($1.7M), and other multidisciplinary projects.
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Supported hydrogeological input to major projects in Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.
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Completed remote sensing and GIS-based pre-FEED studies for pipeline routing.
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Promoted and mentored development of drone survey, land photogrammetry, modelling capability, CRS harmonisation initiatives, ERW survey capability, and mobile mapping support.
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Integrated laser scanning, underground utility data, and FEED information in GIS for conflict detection and construction support.
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Wrote internal and external procedures and proposals for geomatics, utility, and environmental survey services.
Project scale / context: Bid and proposal support across multiple multimillion-dollar regional projects.
Consultant 2015-2016
Albian-Geo
Geo-spatial data and Remote Sensing consultancy:
Re-modelling small oilfield in Chad for in place hydrocarbon volumes and assessment of onshore blocks in Congo.
Pipeline right of way desk study, identification of geo-hazards and obstacles. Low cost visual database design for survey benchmarks.
Hydrogeologist - Petroleum Geologist 2012-2015
ADC-International, Dubai
Responsibilities: Provided hydrogeological and spatial support to field development activities.
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Reviewed third-party FEED scopes for geotechnical and topographic services.
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Managed spatial data workflows, GIS implementation, and technical appraisal support.
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Prepared spatial and geological products for project teams and investment review.
Selected achievements:
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Undertook coordinate transformation of well positions from native grid to operational datum during project start-up.
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Introduced ArcGIS into the company for spatial data management and analysis, including acquisition and incorporation of high-resolution imagery and DEM data.
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Carried out surface geological and hydrogeological mapping for water and shallow reservoir analysis.
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Wrote geomatics and geoscience procedures supporting ISO 9001 accreditation.
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Managed subsurface input to the field development water management plan. Presented to Client.
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Designed and managed tender for shallow groundwater and contaminated land baseline investigation.
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Identified potential environmental liabilities in prospective acquisitions through remote sensing assessment.
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Georeferenced historic geological maps and digitised legacy geological information for GIS and modelling use.
Project scale / context: Project context: Najmah and Qaiyarah oilfields, Northern Iraq | Approximate recoverable resource: ~2 billion barrels.
Early Career 1982-2012
UK Military, PhD Research & Consultant
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Freelance spatial data consultant and university lecturer: remote sensing, GIS, flood and hazard studies, agricultural monitoring, thematic mapping, and sessional lecturer at Cardiff, Reading, and Glamorgan Universities.
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UK Military Survey Staff Sergeant (1982–2004): 22 years in military survey, geodesy, mapping, navigation, GPS method development, and national geodetic surveys in UK, Romania, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, and Zimbabwe. Managed and appraised up to 60 military personnel.
EDUCATION
2006-2009
Ph.D
Cardiff University
Contaminant Hydrogeology:
Agricultural flux of phosphates into groundwater and their contribution to freshwater eutrophication.
2005-2006
Masters (Distinction)
Cardiff University
Environmental Hydrogeology:
Contaminated land and groundwater investigation and remediation.
Dissertation sponsored by British Geological Survey, project undertaken in Eden Valley, UK.
2003-2005
Bachelor's (1st Class, Hons)
Reading University
Environmental Geology:
Geology and the environment with emphasis on water related issues.
Mapping project done in the Abberley Geo-park, UK.
1998-2003
Diploma
Open University
Earth Sciences:
Studied during fulltime employment and whilst deployed overseas on military duties.
