About GEMS Consulting
Our Mission
GEMS Consulting aim to provide deep experience to enable clients to successfully deliver development projects at any scale.
We leverage a network of highly experienced and trusted associates who have practical, hands on experience across a wide range of project types, from multiple companies, and across a diverse range of operating locations,
We tailor pick our teams to meet the requirements of our clients, and scale our solutions to the risk profile and complexity of each project.
This means that all companies, large and small, can benefit from the collective experience built up over decades by GEMS consultants.
Our experience has been gained in the oil and gas industry but our toolkit is transferable to many sectors.
Our Approach
FRAME
Quality framing sets your project on track for success.
GEMS facilitate quality project framing including Identification of the key decisions, risks, uncertainties and stakeholders.
GEMS work with clients to generate a structured decision based roadmap and the associated Governance and Assurance frameworks.
Make sure your project is cooking with the key ingredients to ensure effective project delivery, underpinned by quality decision taking.
INTEGRATE
Cross discipline integration is key to avoiding project recycle.
GEMS provide guidance on integrated project delivery workflows, uncertainty management, technical and non-technical risk management.
GEMS facilitate the application of decision quality for integrated projects and generation of clear decision ready options for board level approval.
GEMS can also provide integrated project leaders who can be embedded to drive deliver of your project.
ASSURE
ASSURE
Cognitive biases are often the root cause of unrealistic predictions leading to poor project outcomes.
GEMS provide objective and independent reviewers across subsurface and development disciplines to assure quality of components, whilst also driving cross discipline integration in support of project decisions.
GEMS can also facilitate the creation of competence frameworks scaled to the size and complexity of each company, and perform subsequent assessments to identify gaps and determine competence development plans using the IBIS - Competency Assessment Platform
Our Services
Project Types
Enabling Workflows
Enabling Workflows
GEMS have experience working across a wide range of project types including;
- Prospect Maturation,
- Field Development Planning,
- Project execution (Wells and full integrated projects),
- Well-Reservoir-Field Management,
- Decommissioning
- Carbon Capture & Underground Storage/Sequestration.
Enabling Workflows
Enabling Workflows
Enabling Workflows
We have subject matter expertise across a number of enabling workflows including;
- Integrated Reservoir Modelling,
- Subsurface Uncertainty Management
- Waterflood, IOR and EOR
- Integrated Risk Management,
- IBIS Competency Assessment
- Zero Based Development
Due Diligence
Enabling Workflows
Due Diligence
GEMS can also provide objective due diligence support for;
- Reserves Reporting,
- Acquisition and Divestments,
- Expert witness support for Unitisation and Legal proceedings.
Our Consultants
Greg Stone
Keith Minton
Keith Minton
Greg brings 30+ years of global experience in the oil and gas industry spanning Functional Leadership, Project Delivery and Asset Management roles.
Greg has extensive experience in development and subsurface technical leadership and assurance, plus staff competence assessment and development. He is a recognised subject matter expertise in
Greg brings 30+ years of global experience in the oil and gas industry spanning Functional Leadership, Project Delivery and Asset Management roles.
Greg has extensive experience in development and subsurface technical leadership and assurance, plus staff competence assessment and development. He is a recognised subject matter expertise in Integrated Reservoir Modelling.
Additionally, through Business Opportunity Management and Front End Development Leadership roles Greg is recognised as a pragmatic project integrator, with strengths in the areas of safety leadership, risk and uncertainty management, decision quality, and managing complex technical, commercial, legal, and regulatory workstreams.
He has lived and worked in the UK, Netherlands, Oman, Malaysia and New Zealand, and has also supported projects globally including in the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and North America.
Keith Minton
Keith Minton
Keith Minton
Keith is a seasoned Petroleum Engineering and Development professional with a proven track record of driving business success across multiple Upstream Companies.
His specific strengths are in (digital) project delivery, hydrocarbon maturation, field development planning, data management and Well-Reservoir-Facility Management.
He has a pro
Keith is a seasoned Petroleum Engineering and Development professional with a proven track record of driving business success across multiple Upstream Companies.
His specific strengths are in (digital) project delivery, hydrocarbon maturation, field development planning, data management and Well-Reservoir-Facility Management.
He has a proven track record of delivering high quality business outcomes (projects, production, wells) across a wide range of development types.
He has lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa and has supported project teams across the world. During his 34 years working for Shell, Keith had the opportunity to work for joint ventures, National Oil Companies and Shell Operated ventures.
He holds a strong belief in the power of integration and collaborative problem-solving and many of his most significant business outcomes have resulted from bringing people with varied expertise together.
Liam Hare
Keith Minton
Andy Irvin
Liam is a seasoned development professional with over 25 years of experience leading and delivering integrated projects across the full well lifecycle from planning to production. He brings deep technical expertise and proven leadership across wells, subsurface, projects, and production operations.
Known for his holistic approach to projec
Liam is a seasoned development professional with over 25 years of experience leading and delivering integrated projects across the full well lifecycle from planning to production. He brings deep technical expertise and proven leadership across wells, subsurface, projects, and production operations.
Known for his holistic approach to project delivery, Liam excels at aligning cross-functional teams, streamlining complex workflows, and fostering strong collaboration between technical and operational stakeholders. His focus on safety, efficiency, and value creation has consistently led to successful outcomes in high-stakes environments.
Liam applies innovative methods and industry best practices to optimize processes, manage risk, and deliver projects on time and within budget. Passionate about continuous improvement and operational excellence, he is committed to driving both project success and broader strategic goals.
Andy Irvin
Andrew Parker
Andy Irvin
Andy has 30 Years in the oil and gas industry, running assets and delivering projects across all phases of the lifecycle and most lines of business including:
- Downstream Refining – all phases from initiation to abandonment,
- Upstream (Deepwater, Conventional Oil and Gas, Onshore, Offshore and Unconventionals),
- Upstream/Midstream to LNG,
- Bro
Andy has 30 Years in the oil and gas industry, running assets and delivering projects across all phases of the lifecycle and most lines of business including:
- Downstream Refining – all phases from initiation to abandonment,
- Upstream (Deepwater, Conventional Oil and Gas, Onshore, Offshore and Unconventionals),
- Upstream/Midstream to LNG,
- Brownfield & Greenfield developments.
He has a BEng in Chemical Engineering and is a Chartered Chemical Engineer (MIChemE, CEng).
Andy was a Subject Matter Expert in Front End Development Management in Shell and brings deep expertise in facilitating the Zero Based Development method which GEMS offers.
Penny Ward
Andrew Parker
Andrew Parker
Penny is a senior capital programme leader with 19 years’ (Shell) experience delivering and governing complex, safety-critical infrastructure across the UK and Norway energy sector. Penny’s experience spans refinery operations, onshore gas processing, front-end development, large-scale offshore decommissioning and non-operated ventures.
Penny is a senior capital programme leader with 19 years’ (Shell) experience delivering and governing complex, safety-critical infrastructure across the UK and Norway energy sector. Penny’s experience spans refinery operations, onshore gas processing, front-end development, large-scale offshore decommissioning and non-operated ventures. Proven track record across the full asset lifecycle, from front-end definition and investment framing through execution and operations in complex, high-hazard environments.
Penny led large, multi-disciplinary teams to deliver some of the most complex infrastructure programmes in the UKCS, including industry first approaches. Recognised for disciplined risk governance, independent judgement, and calm decision-making under uncertainty, underpinned by 14 consecutive years of accountable delivery without lost-time injury, and OEUK Decommissioning Safety Award (2025) for Brent Charlie delivery.
Penny is a Chartered Engineer (IMechE), Chartered Project Professional (APM ChPP), and an INSEAD Global Executive MBA candidate.
Andrew Parker
Andrew Parker
Andrew Parker
Andrew has more than 35 years industry experience. He brings deep technical expertise in IOR and EOR projects, formally having been Subject Matter Expert within Shell Global for Waterflooding and Chemical EOR (providing technical reviews, advice, training and consultation), and project manager for the Champion Waterflood in Brunei.
Andre
Andrew has more than 35 years industry experience. He brings deep technical expertise in IOR and EOR projects, formally having been Subject Matter Expert within Shell Global for Waterflooding and Chemical EOR (providing technical reviews, advice, training and consultation), and project manager for the Champion Waterflood in Brunei.
Andrew also brings technical (Petroleum Engineering) and functional leadership experience, with previous roles including;
- Petroleum Engineering Manager of the Offshore East Asset for Brunei Shell Petroleum,
- Development and Subsurface Capability Manager for Shell Malaysia (driving technical capability and assurance).
- Deputy Chief Reservoir Engineer in BaPetCo, Egypt.
Blake Stephenson
Blake Stephenson
Blake Stephenson
Blake is a well engineering specialist with over 35 years of upstream oil and gas experience, spanning exploration, development and operations across Australia, the Middle East, Russia, Europe and the Americas.
He has held General Manager and Discipline Head roles leading large multidisciplinary teams — including 126 staff and 800 contr
Blake is a well engineering specialist with over 35 years of upstream oil and gas experience, spanning exploration, development and operations across Australia, the Middle East, Russia, Europe and the Americas.
He has held General Manager and Discipline Head roles leading large multidisciplinary teams — including 126 staff and 800 contractors at Salym Petroleum — with deep technical expertise in complex wells, process safety and well integrity.
Blake brings direct experience in technical assurance having served as Regional Discipline Advisor for Shell across the Middle East, North Africa and Russia/Caspian regions, a role centred on Wells Assurance, HPHT subject matter expertise and complex project delivery across JV and operated assets, and as Technical Lead for integrated CCUS projects/assurance in the UK JV/NOV portfolio.
His commitment to capability development is demonstrated by his chairmanship of the SPE International Global Training Committee, development and delivery of HPHT and well control curricula at Shell's Learning Centre, and leadership of People Development Plans across multiple international ventures.
Tailored Solutions Delivered to our clients
Front End Project Delivery Process Design
Working with a client in Malaysia to consolidate Front End Project Delivery process ideas from across an expanding team. Delivered an updated process to underpin delivery of an exciting portfolio of new projects. Process was scaled to the risk profile of the portfolio and tailored to the size of the company, whilst incorporating Industry Wide insights and Best Practices.
The enhanced Project Delivery Process (with associated controls) was designed to be scaleable to all of the clients project types. The enhanced process also emphasised the importance of transparency of risk and uncertainties to decision makers to facilitate quality decisions.
Competence Assessment
Performed technical competence assessment for an Operator in Malaysia with the objective to identify both strengths to leverage and competency gaps to close. The assessment was conducted using the IBIS Competency Platform which enabled Self Assessment by staff, followed by independent formal assessment conducted by GEMS Associates across a range of technical disciplines. The IBIS Gap Analysis toolkit provided important insights and facilitated the delivery of both individual and team development plans.
The assessment also used GEMS proprietary Integration Competence library to assess the cross discipline integration skillsets required to be effective in delivery of integrated business processes (i.e. Field Development Planning, Well Design and Delivery, Resource Reporting etc)
Zero Based Development Workshop
Zero Based Development Workshop
Successful delivery of a Zero Based Development workshop for a client in Malaysia to identify development options for a green field development. The facilitate process enabled early, first pass assessment of economic viability of each step on the concept staircase, whilst making associated risks transparent. Helped team build confidence in taking first step of a phased development to realise value and constrain uncertainty, whilst continuing to refine assessment of full development.
Subsurface Uncertainty Workshop
Subsurface Uncertainty Workshop
Zero Based Development Workshop
Delivery of an interactive, facilitated workshop to guide a subsurface team through GEMS' 3 step Uncertainty Process;
STEP 1 (Analyse): Integrated Description of Reservoir Scenarios
- Perform Integrated Data Analysis to identify key uncertainties prior to starting to model.
- Integrated team capture uncertainties related to Integrated Subsurface Elements - a structured way of integrating discipline data rather than being discipline centric.
STEP 2 (Identify): Define scenarios for each Uncertainty Element
- Team focussed on consequences of an uncertainty element on development decisions (in addition to impact on volumetric range).
STEP 3: (Frame); Decision Based Toolkit Framing
- Team were challenged to select the simplest tool/model possible to evaluate impact of key uncertainties on each decision.
- Aligned on resolution and scale of each model type plus key features to capture in each model
- Aligned on uncertainty parameter ranges/inputs
Due Diligence
Subsurface Uncertainty Workshop
Due Diligence
Due Diligence assessment of an international portfolio on behalf of an investor.