The Ikon GeoPressure Team
We have an international team with a wide range of skills, experience and languages. Find out more about some of our key people:
Prof Richard Swarbrick
Steve Jenkins
Stephen O'Connor
David Darby
Dr Phillip Clegg
Dr Richard Lahann
Prof Richard Swarbrick, Global Director Geopressure
Before founding GeoPressure Technology, Richard Swarbrick completed a PhD in sedimentology/tectonics at Cambridge University, and subsequently worked as a geologist for Mobil for ten years from 1979. During that time he worked in exploration and production assignments in both the UK and USA. In 1989 he began teaching petroleum geology and related courses at the University of Durham where he continues to be involved in research and teaching. Between 1994 and 2001, Richard was also the principal investigator of GeoPOP (GEOsciences Project into OverPressure), a multi-disciplinary research group funded by 16 oil/gas companies.
GeoPressure Technology became part of the Ikon Science business in 2006 and Richard continued in the role of its managing director which he had held since its incorporation. He was appointed to the full board of Ikon Science in November 2010.
In 2008 Richard was awarded an Honorary Professor of Durham University and is currently involved with research interests in laterally drained reservoirs and LUSI mud volcano in East Java. Richard has taught courses in many of oil centres around the world, either as open courses or in-house training companies. He consults widely and continues to present conference papers and publish articles relating to sub-surface pressures.
Stephen Jenkins, General Manager
Steve commenced his career as a geologist with a brief spell in the oil industry with Core Laboratories in both the North Sea and on shore in Hampshire. Following this he obtained a Masters Degree in Rock Mechanics and Excavation Engineering at the University of Newcastle. Steve is also a Fellow of the Geological Society and a Chartered Geologist. Steve than followed a career in the Drilling industry spending the next 20 years firstly with Keller Colcrete, then with Exploration Associates and finally with Drilcorp. He was Contracts Manager at Exploration Associates and Drilcorp responsible for all commercial aspects of drilling covering a wide field of geotechnical work. He developed a particular expertise and knowledge in waterwell drilling both for water supply and ground source heating and cooling. Most recently he was involved in Coal Mine Methane drilling producing gas for small power generators. Steve obtained a IWCF Surface BOP Drilling Supervisor Certificate prior to carrying out this work and to ensure safe working practices were introduced to the drilling programme. Some of these wells are now being used for power generation.
In August 2008, Steve joined Ikon GeoPressure. His responsibilities are split with an emphasis on the commercial management of Ikon GeoPressure while providing an input in project based work.
Stephen A O'Connor, Technical Manager/Senior Geologist
Stephen is a petroleum geologist has worked with many types of oilfield data, particularly in the areas of reservoir quality, structural geology, fault seal and pore pressure. He started his career working on exploration assignments for Unocal and BP/Amoco before returning to university to undertake M.Sc. in Sedimentology at Reading University, studying the Clair Field, West of Shetland.
After working as a sedimentologist for consultancies he more recently has specialized in fault seal working for Rock Deformation Research in such areas as building structural models using Petrel, petrophysical log interpretation, analysis of fault zone properties and fluid flow on a macro to micro-scale.
His current role is of Technical Manager at Ikon GeoPressure supervising all technical aspects of world-wide project work that include producing pore and fracture pressure profiles using direct pressure measurements, petrophysical logs and seismic velocity data and incorporating results into well plans and field-scale and regional studies. He has published papers in areas such as lateral drainage/hydrodynamics and seal breach.
Dr David Darby, Adviser on Geopressure, providing technical oversight of Ikon’s global geopressure projects.
Since gaining a PhD looking at Central North Sea overpressure from the University of Glasgow in 1995, David has worked on basin modelling, seismic processing and overpressure worldwide. His background includes roles as a postdoc at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute working on Gulf of Mexico pressures, and a basin modeller at BG. He has held management positions with GNS Science, including leading the Claritas seismic processing software business. David’s areas of expertise include quantitative modelling and the application of seismic velocities to pressure prediction.
Dr Phillip Clegg, Training Manager and Senior Geologist
Phillip completed his BSc. (Hons) in geology at Durham University in 1998 which was followed by a PhD in structural geology. During his PhD studies he held a temporary post as a technical assistant with the GeoPOP (GEOsciences Project into OverPressure) research team.
Following his PhD he was appointed as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate within the Reactivation Research Group (RRG) at Durham University where he was involved with the development and application of digital mapping, laser scanning & use of GIS & 3D visualization methodologies in structural geology, which ultimately led to the creation of the GAVA (Geospatial Acquisition, Visualization & Analysis) workflow.
Since joining GeoPressure Technology/Ikon Science in 2006, Phillip has been closely involved with several major pressure projects working in areas such as the North Sea, Mid Norway, Barents Sea, Black Sea, Gulf of Mexico, SE Asia, Eastern Canada and NW Australia as well as many smaller projects worldwide. In addition to his technical role as senior geologist within GPT he is also the training manager for all of their pressure and pressure software courses and has taught courses worldwide. Phillip is also an instructor for the Geoscience Training Alliance (GTA) and the European Association of Geoscientist and Engineers (EAGE).
Dr Richard Lahann, Geologist Associate (USA)
Dr Richard Lahann is an independent consultant with a long-term relationship with Ikon GeoPressure. After completing a Ph.D. in low-temperature geochemistry at the University of Illinois in 1975, Rick joined the Department of Geology faculty at SUNY-Binghamton (Binghamton, New York). In 1980, he joined the Exploration Research Division of Conoco.
In September of 2003, Rick left ConocoPhillips after 23 years of service. His contributions during that time included technology development and application in clastic diagenesis/reservoir properties and fluid/fracture pressure causes, prediction and interpretation. From 1996 to 2003, Rick was responsible for fluid and fracture pressure prediction and drilling support for many international wildcat wells. His experiences range from well-site activities to theoretical shale petrology issues.
Rick has maintained an active publishing record in clay mineralogy and clastic diagenesis and has been an officer of the Clay Minerals Society. He continues to publish on the relationships between shale petrologic changes and fluid pressure generation. He is currently a Research Affiliate in the Indiana Geological Survey.