CEO15 Aug 2018 09:58
Extract (pre Montara acquisition) from 8 months ago re Jadestone CEO
Head-to-Head interview with Amanda Battersby, Upstream
www.upstreamonline.com
Blakeley on hunt for an elusive gem with Jadestone
Ambitious boss of independent builds on extensive experience he gained with Talisman Energy in Asia-Pacific region and North Sea.
Jadestone Energy chief executive Paul Blakeley is clear about his mission — spearheading the Singapore-headquartered independent to become the same regional success story he achieved with Talisman Energy in the Asia-Pacific region, and earlier in the North Sea too.
Jadestone’s existing portfolio includes the wholly-owned producing Stag oilfield off Australia, a half share in the producing Ogan Komering onshore block in South Sumatra, Indonesia, two gas fields set for development in Vietnam, and exploration assets in Vietnam and the Philippines.
He notes that many players, including industry heavyweights, have started to rationalise their portfolios, while some US independents have retreated from South-East Asian E&P for reasons such as balance sheet pressure, wanting to focus on unconventionals and, in some cases, even pressure from activist investors.
“That leaves the field wide open,” Blakeley says.
“What we really want to do — and it’s not rocket science, or clever or new — is to fill that space that I think is increasingly left open for a mid-size capability… A company with the ability to operate large fields developed by the majors but bringing additional skills in mature field asset management — entrepreneurial, lean on process, low-cost and efficient — and excited by the small add-on things that create a lot of incremental value,” Blakeley says.
“The opportunity to pursue these sorts of things is what brought the team at Jadestone together"
Talisman’s rise
Blakeley left Arco in December 1994 to join Talisman Energy as a senior vice president, accountable for the company’s North Sea business.
Under his leadership, Talisman — via asset enhancement as well as mergers and acquisitions — became the UK North Sea’s second-largest operator, with production of 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, generating more than US$1 billion in annual free cash flow.
About 12 years ago, Blakeley then came to Asia to run Talisman’s regional business and create the same value growth story.
In 2011, he moved to Singapore, which is also home to the youngest three of his five children, while the eldest two are at university in Australia.
Blakeley has been officially recognised for his services to the oil and gas industry. In 2002 he was conferred an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
http://www.jadestone-energy.com/blakeley-hunt-elusive-gem-jadestone/