This curriculum vitae outlines Vaughan Bonnell's extensive career in the oil and gas industry spanning over 36 years, holding positions such as Drilling Superintendent, Rig Superintendent, Drilling Manager, and Drilling Engineer. He has international experience working in locations like Qatar, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Gabon, Guatemala, and others. The document details his responsibilities and accomplishments in each role.
1. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 1 of 10 8-Mar-15
Date of birth:18th
September 1954
Nationality: British
Marital status: Married
Contact details: vonbonnell@yahoo.co.uk
vonbonnell@me.com
+974 66705970 (mob)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A highly skilled Drilling Superintendent with over 36 years of international assignments in the
oilfield. Experience in both offshore and onshore operations, from land rigs, tender assisted, to
jack-ups, in the South China Seas; to Jack-up units in the Dutch North Sea; from land operations in
jungle environments of Central Africa, in extreme environmentally sensitive areas in Guatemala, to
arid desert conditions of North Africa, to the unforgiving steppe of Kazakhstan (+40°C to -40°C).
Possesses an excellent engineering background with hands-on experience in rig related operations.
Sound well engineering development and maganergial skills via a structured career path within a
large multinational E&P company. Extensive involvement in HSE and rig management, team
building, leadership, and communications skills.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Summary of Positions Held
8 years Drilling Superintendent Maersk Oil Qatar AS Qatar
1½ years Rig Superintendent Brunei Shell Brunei
3 years Consultant Well Engineer Brunei Shell Brunei
1 year Drilling Manager Maersk Oil Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
1 year Project Leader within Shell Deepwater Services Houston, USA
2 years Drilling Superintendent – Resident Manager Kazakhstan
10 months Rig Superintendent Egypt
1¾ years Senior Drilling (Operations) Engineer (Rig Superintendent) Gabon
2 years as Head of Technical & Commercial Support Gabon
8 months as Drilling Superintendent in a Single String Venture Guatemala
1 year Contracts Engineer Holland
2 years as Drilling Engineer Holland
10 months as Senior Equipment Engineer Holland
5 years as Toolpusher (DSV) Thailand/Holland
6 months as “acting” Toolpusher Brunei
2 years as Driller Brunei
2 years as Assistant Driller Brunei
1 year as Trainee Driller Holland
2 years as a Works Engineer UK
1 year as a Junior Plant Engineer (mining and tunnelling) UK
1 year in as a Junior Design Engineering UK
2 years as an apprentice Plant Fitter UK
1 year full-time education in an EITB craft course UK
2. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 2 of 10 8-Mar-15
Detailed Overview of Positions and Experience
Mar 2007 – Present: Drilling Superintendent, Maersk Oil Qatar AS (MOQ).
Qatar
Responsible for various types of jack-up rig(s) drilling World-Class
horizontal wells as part of a significant Filed Development plan
involving 6 rigs drilling up to 169 wells, in mostly thin carbobonate
reservoirs. The wells in question were indeed world class in terms of
reach and TVD. In May 2008 MOQ drilled the world’s longest well
with a TD of 40,320 ft, of which 35,440 ft was horizontal, and at a
TVD of only 3485 ft. I was instrumental in introducing K&M ERD
technology that contributed to the success of such wells. Successfully
drilled 4 Level-2 multi-lateral wells. Most recent wells involved
horizontal multi-zone completions with 7” liners run to 30,000 ft
(3400ft TVD), and inner completions to 19,000 ft.
Heavily involved with Incident Free training and instrumental in
developing a step-change in safety culture onboard multi national rigs.
Apr 2006 – Feb 2007: Rig Superintendent HPHT, Brunei Shell (BSP)
Brunei
Preparing for a HPHT campaign onshore Brunei. Invloved overall
planning, from rig specifications/contracting, well design, preparation
for HPHT training, HAZIDs, EIA, blow-out contingency and
emergency response planning, waste management, and compilation of a
HPHT Drilling & Well Control Procedures.
Oct 2005 – Apr 2006: Rig Superintendent, Brunei Shell (BSP)
Brunei
Responsible for drilling operations of a 1500HP jack-up offshore
Brunei. Supervising an office-based team of 2 Asset Engineers, 2
Operations engineers and 1 Completions Engineer.
Drilled 3 explorations wells.
Sep 2002 – Oct 2005: Operations Engineer, Brunei Shell (BSP)
Brunei
Consultant Well (Operations) Engineer within BSP Drilling Department
and Leave Relief Rig Superintendent.
First 2½ years experience/responsibilities included the programming
and supervision of a light land rig employed in demanding and
challenging development campaigns. Most of the wells target highly
depleted reservoirs, at high inclinations (some up to 110°) with torturous
well paths, but limited TVD. Marginal reserves and severe budget
constraints playied a significant role in both the well design and
construction. The costs of Rotary Steerable Systems, OBM were
prohibitive in such environments. Numerous innovative applications
were implemented to reduce well costs and improve performance.
3. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 3 of 10 8-Mar-15
Examples being: the use of “AG-itator” tools above mud motors,
simultaneous under-reaming using near-bit reamers (for subsequent
gravel packing), single-csg design for shallow annulus-producing wells
(surface knock-out of sand), introduction of cable-less Electric Gas-Lift
Valves, and Extension Frac Pacs of multiple zone completions.
Also engineered the planning and execution of a challenging offshore
exploration well using a ‘Multipurpose Service Vessel’, a light 4-legged
jack-up in shallow waters. The well was challenging both in terms of
design and rig capability. Novel techniques being implemented that
include Drilling With Casing (DwC), use of string reamers to
simultaneously enlarge the 6” pilot hole while drilling in order to provide
sufficient kick-tolerance, cutting bed impellers (CBI’s), Early Kick
Detection Systems (EKD), and CTU open-hole logging.
As of January 2005, joined an offshore well engineering team
responsible for drilling operations of 1500HP jack-up. Individual
responsibilities entailed the well engineering, planning/programming
and execution of several ERD production wells using splitter-wellheads,
sidetracks, plus two shallow explorations wells. During this period also
provide leave relief for the team’s Rig Superintendent.
Sep 2001 – August 2002: Drilling Manager, Maersk Oil Kazakhstan GmbH
Almaty – Kazakhstan
Responsible as Drilling Manager for a 5 well development campaign
from a single cluter location. Typical well profiles included the running
of 7” liners to 3900m and 60deg. The completions involved concentric
tubing strings with ESPs, SSSVs and Hot Oil Injection capability.
Simultaneously planned for, and tendered, the necessary services for a 4
well exploration campaign, plus a 4 well pilot project that involved
drilling 2 injectors and 2 horizontal wells. The latter involve drilling
horizontal sections of up to 4000m in length at a TVD of 1800m.
Aug 2000 – Aug 2001: Project Leader – Shell Deepwater Services
Houston – USA
Within the well delivery team of Shell Deepwater Services, appointed
Project Leader for a deepwater exploration well, to be drilled in 700m of
water, on behalf of Shell Gabon in 2001. The task involved evaluating
the client’s requirements and objectives, which essentially transpired to
be a turnkey operation. Based on the aforementioned, prepared a
corresponding and agreed Project Plan, Cost Time-Resources schedule,
budget, and Performance Agreement. The scope of work included the
procurement of a suitable rig and contract, integrated services contract,
well design and timely material procurement, HSE Case compilation, ER
Plans, Drill The Limit™ workshops, and project management up to
execution.
At this juncture I decide to end my career with Shell.
4. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 4 of 10 8-Mar-15
Aug 1998 – Aug 2000: Drilling Superintendent – Resident Manager
Shell Temir – Kazakhstan
The tasks of the RM were to act as company representative on all
communication and dealings with the local and regional authorities,
including duties as office manager, financial authority/control, and
public relations issues.
As DS I was initially responsible for ensuring the timely acquisition of
drilling related materials in preparation for a 5 well drilling campaign.
Securing local contracts and implementation of water-well drilling and
site construction, liasing with local and regional authorities/land owners
in order to obtain the necessary permits and approvals to commence
site construction and drilling operations (some 19 permit in total).
The ensuing roles and responsibilities continued with well
programming, co-ordination of the rig’s arrival via Europe, its rigging-
up, and final acceptance audit. Timely mobilisation of service
contractors and their equipment and materials. Introduction of a HSE
Case for the rig. Compilation of ER and Medevac plans.
Implementation of high HSE standards, Contractors meetings,
introduction of STOP Tours, and day-to-day drilling operations.
During the suspension of drilling activities in 1999, I was seconded into
a Shell Deepwater Team that were in the stages of mobilising a semi-
submersible rig from Singapore to Shell Trinidad. During my month’s
assignment in The Hague, I was delegated with the tasks of mapping the
Well Construction Process and providing an audit trail. Generating Job
Descriptions and Roles & Responsibilities for the well construction
team.
Nov 1997 – Aug 1998: Drilling Superintendent
BAPETCO – Shell Egypt
Assumed responsibilities, within the Well Engineering department of
Bapetco, and focal point, for the Obaiyed Gas Project in the North of
Egypt’s Western Desert. Responsible of all drilling related activity
associated with a $600 million project to deliver 300 MMSCF/day by
1/5/99; namely the well design, budgeting, programming and drilling of
18 producers and the workover of 4 existing wells. The task involved
the start-up of two new/refurbished rigs from the Egyptian Drilling
Company (EDC) that commenced 3-year contracts with Bapetco.
The wells planned in Obaiyed were completed with 5” Super 13%Cr
completion from a 7” liner at a depth of ca 4200m, the wells were
subsequently fracced (rig-less) prior to subsequent suspension whilst
awaiting final hook-up.
Due to the remoteness of the area, I was responsible for co-ordinating
the timely drilling of water wells and the construction of access roads. I
was also instrumental in arranging for a staging area for well-related
materials/supplies in Obaiyed, along with a mud farm for the efficient
use, and reuse, of OBM.
5. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 5 of 10 8-Mar-15
Jan 1996 – Oct 1997: Senior Drilling Engineer
Shell Gabon
Supervision of operations appertaining to the two rigs employed in the
Rabi development drilling campaign in which all wells were horizontal.
The record set during my period was 2km horizontal within a 4m
vertical corridor with a TVD of just over 1000m.
Introduced the first multi-lateral well for Shell Gabon and set the
strategy for future development/application of such technology within
the field. Departmental focal point for HSE issues/training.
Responsible for generating and monitoring the department’s annual
HSE plan with the contractors, co-ordination of quarterly HSE
meetings with all the contractors and various process improvement
initiatives . Instrumental in introducing Daily Stop Tours on the rig
using the DuPont STOP system. Responsible for generating and co-
ordinating the Short Term Drilling Sequence, annual budgeting, and for
the acceptance of all surface locations for Rabi wells, taking into
consideration civil engineering costs, concurrent operations, oil
deferment and ENV impact. Acted as leave relief for Head of Drilling
and two Drilling Engineers. Compiled annual budgets for the
department.
Dec 1993 – Jan 1996: Senior Drilling Engineer, Technical & Commercial Support
Shell Gabon
My immediate task was to develop a Commercial & Technical support
section within the drilling department. Another significant task was to
improve contractual relationships with the long-term drilling contractor.
My period in the section culminated in the development and award of a
5-year incentivised Integrated Services contract for a Rabi (jungle
environment) specific rig incorporating state-of-the-art mechanisation
and again integrated services.
Acted as leave relief for head of drilling. Compiled annual budgets for
the department. Presented paper on integrated/incentive contracts at
the Shell E&P Drilling Conference in 1994.
Dec 1992 – Nov 1993: Drilling Superintendent
Shell Guatemala
My tasks included the tendering and award of a drilling contract with
one of two pre-selected Slim Hole drilling contractors on a modified
Turnkey basis. Prepared the well design, programme and provided
overall supervision of drilling a single exploration Slim-Hole well in a
country with little-to-no oilfield infrastructure, on a limited budget, and
in an extremely environmentally sensitive area.
6. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 6 of 10 8-Mar-15
Nov 1991 – Nov 1992: Senior Contracts Engineer
NAM (Shell-Esso, Holland)
My immediate task was to conduct a tender exercise and award a
contract for a jack-up unit within a 5-month period. The contract was
successfully concluded with an appropriate rig being contracted for 1+2
year period at a competitive market rate. The actual evaluation and rig
selection was made from a total of 9 contractors and 12 rigs, which were
on offer.
My next task involved introducing the first incentive type agreement
between the NAM and a drilling contractor, which was based on a per-
hole section initiative.
Jan 1990 – Nov 1991: Drilling Engineer
NAM (Shell-Esso, Holland)
With the Shell Group embarking on Drilling-In-The-Nineties, I became
one the first “drilling” parented Drilling Engineers to work under a
Senior Drilling Engineer who was Petroleum parented (who was actually
an excellent tutor in Petroleum Engineering).
I was responsible for the programming, execution and cost monitoring
of the wells drilled offshore by one of the contracted jack-ups. I was
also involved in the programming and execution of a HPHT re-entry
with a 15k jack-up, which was specifically contracted-in for the well in
question.
Mar 1989 – Jan 1990: Senior Equipment Engineer
NAM (Shell-Esso, Holland)
Managed a team of 6 engineers that offered a varied selection of drilling
support functions. Such tasks involved being the focal point for Top
Drive systems and ensuring their compliance with company’s stringent
manufacturing specifications. I was also instrumental in the successful
suspension of an extremely successful, but planned as an expendable
well, using an innovative approach of converting to a mud-line
suspension (1st
time ever undertaken).
Mar 1988 – Mar 1989: Senior Toolpusher
NAM (Shell-Esso, Holland)
Worked offshore on a jack-up as Drilling Supervisor predominantly
drilling appraisal/development gas wells, both over platforms and using
MLS systems, several of the wells were fractured prior to production
testing. Co-ordinated rigsite activities for fracc operations on several of
such wells.
Feb 1984 – Feb 1988: Toolpusher
Thai Shell
Responsible for managing the drilling process on a land exploration
campaign. Involved in development drilling in the company’s oil
production field. During my period on land operations, significant cost
savings were made due to improved drilling performance, and the
introduction of dual completions. Subsequently involved in the
planning and execution of Thai Shell’s first offshore exploration activity,
from rig selection, to drilling the first of four exploration wells, to the
7. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 7 of 10 8-Mar-15
completion of the first development well (Nang Nuan- 2) from a jack-
up in the Gulf of Thailand.
Sep 1983 – Feb 1984: Acting Toolpusher
Brunei Shell
Responsible for the overall drilling process associated with delivering
both oil and gas producers. These invariably included dual completions
and multiple gravel pack completions.
The said work was executed predominantly from tender assisted
platforms, jack-ups, and light land-rigs.
Apr 1981 – Sep 1983: Driller
Brunei Shell
Responsible for executing the relevant aspects of drilling, workover, and
completion programmes on a 12hr tour. Organised roughneck and
roustabout crews as to optimise the operational efficiency. Worked
predominantly on tender-assisted platform operations with some 4
months on a light land rig.
May 1979 – Apr 1981: Assistant Driller
Brunei Shell
Responsible for the co-ordination of roustabout crews, Driller relief,
maintenance & readiness of all drilling related equipment, from casing
running to coring, materials associated with batch drilling, workover and
sidetrack operations, wellhead installation and testing.
Jun 1978 – May 1979: Trainee Driller
NAM (Shell-Esso, Holland)
Basic hands-on training on land-based heavy (3000HP) rigs, working as
Roustabout/Roughneck and derrickman.
Jun 1976 – Jun 1978: Works Engineer
Thyssen (GB) Ltd.
Responsible for the PMS in an anthracite solid fuel briquetting and filter
media production plant. This entailed ensuring continuous 24hr
operation of various processing equipment in a somewhat demanding
and harsh environment and with severe budget constraints.
Sep 1975 – Jun 1976: Junior Plant Engineer
Thyssen (GB) Ltd.
Involved in various commissioning works, both in mining and
tunnelling projects in the UK.
Jun 1974 – Sep 1975: Junior Design Engineer
Thyssen (GB) Ltd.
Worked in a large design office predominantly involved in projects
associated with the design, fabrication and modification of mining and
tunnelling equipment.
Sep 1971 – Jun 1974: Apprentice Plant Fitter
Thyssen (GB) Ltd.
During the first year, attended full time EITB engineering craft
programme. Served apprenticeship as a field plant fitter working on
light-to-heavy civil engineering equipment, mostly in the field.
8. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 8 of 10 8-Mar-15
COURSES AND ATTAINMENTS
2009 Process Safety Training, 1 day (Qatar)
2008 Internal Auditing Course, 3 days (Qatar).
2008 Kelvin TOPSET Accident Investigation, 3 days (Qatar).
2007 K&M ERD Drilling (Qatar)
2005 BOSIET Offshore Safety & Survival Training & Certification (Brunei)
2005 K&M Extended Reach Drilling course, 5 days (BSP Brunei)
2004 Advanced Well Control – Aberdeen Petroleum Training International (held in
Brunei)
2003 Level III Competency in Expandable Pipe Applications
2002 Managing HSE in Contracts (BSP Brunei)
2002 Team Building Workshop facilitated by Peter Rushmore & Associates
2002 PTW Level II & III (signatory level) (Brunei)
2000 Basic First Aid – Refresher (Kz)
1997 V2FA Managing HSE in the Business (NL)
1996 EPO1 Developing EP Business Skills (NL)
1996 Job Hazard Analysis (Shell Gabon)
1995 Communications Workshop (Shell Gabon)
1995 Procurement Workshop (Shell Gabon)
1992 SMS Workshop Safety Case (Singapore)
1992 D3SA Advanced Negotiating Skills (London)
1991 HPHT Drilling - Aberdeen Drilling School (NL)
1991 P212 Petrophysical Engineering (NL)
1989 SD2.2 Integrated Business Skills (London)
1988 Advanced Well Control (NL)
1987 PD.03 Stripping-in, Simwell (NL)
1986 P213/214 Advanced Drilling Techniques (NL)
1986 Regional Business Communications Skill (Singapore)
1985 Finance & Decision Making (London)
1982 Round II exam (NL)
1980 Round I exam (NL)
1978 Basic Drilling Practices, Mud & Cement (NL)
1974 Llanelli Technical College student of the year award.
1973 The Development Corporation for Wales annual award to Welsh technical
students for work done.
1973 Thyssen (GB) Ltd., Apprentice of the year award.
1972 1st year training certificate of the 'EITB' full-time integrated craft course with
"Best Student" prize.
QUALIFICATIONS
9. CURRICULUM VITAE
Vaughan Bonnell
Page 9 of 10 8-Mar-15
1971 O-levels
Sat and passed all 7 O-levels: English language, Welsh, Mathematics,
Arithmetic (grade 1 at CSE level), Engineering, Science, Metalwork,
Geometrical & Engineering Drawing.
1973 Ordinary National Certificate
Mechanical Engineering with Distinction in two subjects and credits
in the other two. (Note: at the time decided not to pursue an university course
due to personal reasons/commitments).
1975 Higher National Certificate
Mechanical Engineering, with Distinction.
1976 Supplementary Certificate
Engineering Design, with Distinction.
IT LITERACY
Conversant with Apple Leopard, the full MS Office, Windows XP/Vista portfolio consisting of:
Word
Excel
Power Point
MS Project
NON-PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Golf
Fishing
Photography/Art
Rugby (retired player!)
Classic Cars/Motoring
