J. Muthu Kumar
Indian, Born on 4th May 1962 No 3, 10th Main Road, Vijay Nagar, Velachery, Chennai – 600042, India
Mobile GSM : +91 98400 40227 When in Dubai : +97 1 55 2720 723 jmuthukumar@ajapaipmc.com, jmk.kvp@gmail.com
Personal Website : www.jmuthukumar.com
Profile Summary
An oil and gas industry professional of +27 years of experience with in-‐depth knowledge in Well Construction (Drilling, Testing and Completion) and Project Management in all types of drilling environment (Onshore, Shallow offshore, Deepwater) and in Exploration, Appraisal, Development, HPHT, ERD and Horizontals, strategising the optimal well construction plan, risk assessment and management, well optimisation and improvements, modeling, budgeting and control of cost, trouble shooting, diagnosis and finding solutions for complex well problems, technical limit drilling, training on advanced well engineering practices, Health Safety and Environment practices, Environment Management especially on waste disposal, peer reviews, inspections and audits, well integrity design, analysis and development, new and innovative technologies.
Current Status :
Drilling Project Leader for 2 HPHT Appraisal wells (onshore), 4 Exploration wells (onshore) and for developing the best drilling practices to optimally drill 2 deep gas wells in India Chief Consultant to establish a “No Surprise Drilling” and “Well Reliability” Models working from Dubai.
Shuttles between Dubai and India.
Information on Profile:
Worked as Senior Drilling Engineer, Drilling Superintendent, Drilling Manager, Head of Well Construction, Drilling Project Leader, Well Construction Expert Consultant and Advisor
Worked on a dual role of Chief Operating Officer and Well Construction Chief Advisor in Nigeria (onshore)
Worked on a dual role as Asset Manager and Head of Well Construction in India (both onshore and offshore)
Worked in India, Bangladesh, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Nigeria and several short term projects on Company assignment in several countries
Multi-‐talented working experience in both onshore and offshore (both in shallow and deep
waters until 1,200 m water depth), in both engineering and operations.
Worked in India, Bangladesh, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Australia (short term), UK (short term), West Africa
Expert in reducing surprises while drilling by applying an unique model during engineering and design process (developed by self) and to drill the wells successfully with minimum risk, optimised cost and highest value.
Expert in developing well integrity models.
Develop effective concepts for treatment and disposal of drill cuttings and mud in various
environments
Establishing “petrosity.com” a first of its kind web portal for upstream oil and gas industry.
Published a Tech Diary 2010 with unique technical and operational concepts for trouble free
drilling – around 20,000 copies were distributed.
Writing a book called “Best Habits of Highly Effective Drilling Engineers” – to be published in July-‐August 2013.
Established “Ajapa Integrated Project Management Consultants Private Limited” in India in
2006 and managed projects for several oil and gas companies in India, Middle East and Africa
An experienced training faculty on advanced engineering practices:
Training on ERD wells – concepts, engineering challenges and best practices Training on Advanced Well Control “Beyond IWCF”
Training on Well Complications and Management Techniques
Qualifications
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
Master of Technology
Chemical Engineering with Petroleum as Specialisation
Annamalai University, India
Bachelor of Chemical Engineering
Key Competencies
In all aspects of Well Construction from concept to completion
Exploration, Appraisal and Development
Onshore, shallow offshore (jack-‐up), deep water offshore (up to 1,500 m WD)
Drilling, Testing and Completion – design, engineering, programme and execution
ERD, Horizontal, Multi-‐Lateral, HPHT, deep gas wells
Risk assessment, risk management, optimisation and technical limit drilling
Trouble shooting, diagnosing and finding solutions to complex well issues
Health, Safety and Environment
Environment Management Plan
Waste Management of Drill Cuttings and Spent Mud
Peer reviews, analysis, audit and inspections
Well control issues and risk management
Training on advanced engineering practices
ERD, Horizontal Wells, HPHT, Well Control etc
Executive Summary
A complete project management experience from subsurface, drilling, testing,
completion to setting up facilities in upstream oil and gas industry
As Chief Operating Officer, developed an entire exploration field from 3D survey, exploration wells, development and commercial production in onshore field Nigeria As Asset Manager, esablished the development of a weathered and fractured granite reservoir for gas production offshore South India using Managed Pressure Drilling technique Believes in achievement, likes challenging environment and fast track projects –
Practices 3 ‘R’s – right planning, right strategy and right people
Extensive experience in land rigs, off-‐shore jack-‐up rigs, deep water drilling with drillships
and semi-‐submersibles
Drilled 7 deep water wells (maximum 1,300 m water depth) as Head of Well Construction
Drilled several exploration and development wells in offshore including ERD, high pressure
gas wells as Senior Drilling Engineer, Drilling Superintendent and Drilling Manager
Excellent experience in fast track projects
Mobilisation, rig up and start up of a semi-‐submersible with all the related drilling services in
23 days (from Australia to the East Coast of India)
Commercial production of an exploration block in 48 months as Chief Operating Officer and Advisor for Well Construction in Delta State of Nigeria which included 3D Seismic and 10 wells (all deviated including 4 horizontals)
HPHT Wells and Casing design
Currently managing as Project Leader 2 HPHT gas wells in India HPHT gas well in offshore Bangladesh as Drilling Superintendent HPHT well in offshore East Coast of India as Drilling Superintendent
Turnkey, Integrated Management Contracts and Incentive Drilling Contracts
As SDE, 7 wells turnkey contract in South Oman (PDO – Client) As SDE, turnkey campaign in Qatar (QGPC – Client)
As SDE and DS, three incentive drilling contracts in Oman (PDO – Client)
As Project Leader, Integrated Management Contracts – for several Operators
Expert in drilling engineering and QHSE policies, procedures and manuals
Developed the policy and procedures for various companies -‐ examples are:
Þ Essar Oil Limited in Oman for ISO 9001 and to meet Shell (PDO) standards
Þ Gas Authority of India Limited -‐ when they entered as an Operator for the first time
Þ Prize Petroleum/JP Associated (India) -‐ when they entered as an Operator for the first
time
Þ Indian Oil Corporation -‐ when they entered as an Operator for the first time
Þ Cairn Energy PLC as part of the Well Construction Project Team
Þ Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited as part of the Asset Development Team
Þ Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited, Nigeria -‐ when they entered as an Operator for the
first time
Þ Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Limited, Nigeria -‐ when they entered as
an Operator for the first time
Developing Environment Management Plan especially on waste management of drill
cuttings and spent mud systems
Develops environment management policies and procedures for oil and gas companies Does research on optimised waste management techniques
Some examples are:
Þ Indian Oil Corporation -‐ when they entered as an Operator for the first time
Þ Cairn Energy PLC as part of the Well Construction Project Team
Þ Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited as part of the Asset Development Team
Þ Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited, Nigeria -‐ when they entered as an Operator for the
first time
Þ Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Limited, Nigeria -‐ when they entered as
an Operator for the first time
Budget, AFE and cost monitoring process – some examples are:
Developed the entire budget for developing a weathered/fractured granite gas field in
offshore South India – US$ 210 million
Developed the entire budget and successfully implemented the project to explore, appraise
and develop the onshore field in Delta State Nigeria > US$ 225 million
Developed the entire budget and successfully implemented the project to explore and
appraise obtain the development plan for an onshore field in Nigeria > US$ 43 million
Developed the entire budget to drill two appraisal HPHT wells in South India – US$ 19 million
Developed the entire budget to drill 4 exploration wells in West India (onshore Gujarat) – US$
21 million
Bench marking exercise and technical limit drilling aspects – some examples are:
Developed a bench mark for Sterling in Nigeria with various offset wells drilled across the entire region and optimised the model to drill a fastest well using bench marking and technical limit aspects
Real time monitoring and optimisation of performance and drilling cost
Well control operations/well control system design for rigs – some examples are:
Designed the entire well control system for an offshore rig Energy Explorer during dry dock
and upgradation work
Designed the entire well control system for 2 x 2,000 HP rigs for British Oil and Gas Exploration Limited, UAE/Nigeria
Managed a high pressure well kick operation in an offshore exploration well (up to 15.9 ppg)
in South India
Managed a high pressure well kick operation in an onshore exploration well (up to 15.5 ppg)
in Nigeria
Developed a training model called “Beyond IWCF” as an advanced well control training
Pragmatic approach to the application of new and innovative technology and methods to
improve drilling performance – some examples are:
Experience
Part of the OASIS drill bit optimisation team introduced by Baker for PDO in Oman to drill +/-‐
5,000 m deep tight gas reservoirs
Introduced premium drilling bits for the 1st time in India (1998) to improve drilling
performance
Introduced casing while drilling for 20” casing in Western Offshore India and drilled 6 wells from a platform in 2002-‐2003 (held the world record for deepest 20” casing while drilling until it was broken)
Introduced hammering of 30” conductor casing for the 1st time in India for onshore wells in
Rajasthan, India -‐ 2002
Introduced AutoTrak Rotary Steerable Assembly in India to drill an ERD offshore development
well -‐ 2003
Introduced Managed Pressure Drilling in India to drill horizontal section through a
fractured/weathered granite field in an offshore field in South India – 2006/2007
Applied the use of Anderdrift/Teledrift tools when the technology was introduced to measure inclination while drilling thus preventing the need for Totco through slickline in several projects
Introduced the use of BBL circulating subs in Oman and India in the projects worked
Developed effective waste management and disposal system of cuttings/spent mud for several projects by introducing natural evaporation method, impermeable liner systems, cost effective thermal units to dry the cuttings etc
Currently planning to introduce Dense Crete cement slurry for a high pressure gas well and a inclination/azimuth measuring system while drilling as a replacement for MWD in South India Currently planning to introduce a new innovative stabiliser design for highly unstable shale sections in a high pressure gas well where back reaming is ann issue
Positions Held : PRESENT (2010-‐2012)
Chief Project Management Consultant and Head of Well Construction of Ajapa – worked on several projects. Some are indicated below:
Drilling Project Leader for 2 onshore HPHT gas wells (ongoing –
the well is expected to be spudded in December 2012) – India
Drilling Project Leader and Well Construction Advisor for 4 (plus 2 optional wells) onshore Exploration wells through complex shale/Vulcanic Ash sections (ongoing – the 1st well is expected to be spudded in February 2013) – India
Chief Consultant and Well Construction Advisor for 3 Gas fields to
develop most optimum practices and engineering design (ongoing
– already phase 1 and 2 are completed and phase 3 is expected to
commence in January 2013) – India
Positions Held : 2006-‐2011
For Supreme Oil and Gas Consultancy FZC Dubai on a short term assignment as IPM Manager to establish the best drilling practices, diagnose ongoing well problems and develop the optimum well design and practices to drill the wells safely and successfully in +5,000 m deep ahs wells for Oman Oil/Abraj Drilling Services – Oman
July 2007-‐April 2011
Worked as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Well Construction for Sterling Oil Exploration and Production Company Limited in NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA – drilled 11 wells all highly deviated including 4 horizontal wells
July 2006-‐April 2009
Worked as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Well Construction for Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited in NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA – drilled 3 wells all highly deviated wells
2004-‐2007
Drilling Manager for OILEX, Australia in India
Head Well Construction for Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC) for two onshore and 2 offshore fields in India
One of the offshore field was a prestigious gas development
project from weathered/fractured granite
Asset Manager for HOEC for a prestigious gas development
project from weathered/fractured granite
1997-‐2004
DGM – Drilling Operations for Cairn Energy Plc. in India
Area Drilling Manager for Cairn Energy Plc. in India Drilling Superintendent for Cairn Energy Plc. in India Drilling Superintendent for Cairn Energy Plc. in Bangladesh
Senior Drilling Engineer for Cairn Energy in India and Bangladesh
1992-‐1997
Senior Drilling Engineer for PDO* (SHELL) in Oman
Well site Drilling Engineer for PDO* (SHELL) in Oman
Senior Drilling Engineer/Acting Rig Superintendent for Essar Oil in Oman and Qatar
Driller/NTP for Essar Oil in India
* -‐ Deputed by Essar Oil
1987-‐1992
Night Tool Pusher/Tool Pusher for Aban Lloyds Offshore Limited
in India
Driller for Aban Lloyds Offshore Limited in India
Assistant Driller for Aban Lloyds Offshore Limited in India
1985-‐1987
Drilling Engineer/Shift-‐In-‐Charge for Oil India Limited, India
Trainee in Oil India Limited
Professional Affiliations and Others
Member of SPE
Member of Word Futurist Energy Forum
Faculty in Tattva Technical Excellence Centre to provide training in advanced engineering
practices
Developing a web based oil and gas portal “Petrosity.com” – a one of its kind
Published a book on Drilling Formulas and a book on Well Control for beginners
Writing a book called “Habits of Highly Effective Drilling Engineers” – to be published in July
2013
Skills
Landmark well softwares including Stress Check and Compass
Basic Petrel to understand maps and sections
Interactive Petrophysics for pore pressure prediction and petrophysical analysis
Real time monitoring of abnormal pressure through various techniques
Proficiency in English
