Roland... couldn't really get a better fit for the role21 Jul 2022 12:42
Roland is a geology graduate from University College London and has over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Initially involved in the drilling services sector, he has undertaken managerial roles in most of the active oil and gas regions of the world including West Africa, the Middle East, the North Sea and North and South America.
Leaving his position as Eastern Hemisphere Manager at Teleco Oilfield Services in 1992, Roland founded Integrated Drilling Services in 1992 backed by 3i Group plc.
Roland sold Integrated Drilling Services in 1998 before founding Star Energy, a leading onshore UK oil and gas producer and developer and operator of gas storage facilities. Star Energy acquired and developed gas storage projects in the UK (Humbly Grove, commissioned 2005), Denmark, UK North Sea, Holland and Ireland (subsequently Kinsale Energy under Petronas ownership). Star Energy became the largest onshore UK oil and gas operator in terms of wells and fields (25) and second largest producer after BP with daily production of c. 3500 bopd. Star Energy was purchased by Petronas, the Malaysian state oil company in 2008 and Mr Wessel continued as CEO of Star Energy until late 2011.
Roland jointly managed an oil and gas technology fund and subsequently was EVP at APS Technology Inc. in Connecticut USA before returning to London to found Trans European Oil & Gas. Roland held a number of non-executive positions in the oil and gas sector, including Dominion Petroleum for four years until the sale to Ophir.
Roland has been involved in the development of several key oilfield technologies including the Schlumberger PowerDrive rotary steerable system, multi-lateral drilling systems, electromagnetic prospecting technology and wireline drilling systems. Mr Wessel has participated in several patents and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
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