TechnicalLeadersInterview

David White, President,

Schlumberger Water & Carbon Services
David White has been President of Schlumberger Water & Carbon Services since April 2006 and is based in Paris.
He is responsible for the strategic development of two new startup businesses involving water resource management
and the geological storage of carbon dioxide for climate-change mitigation, drawing upon the broad technology
base of Schlumberger Oilfield Services. David joined Schlumberger as a research scientist in 1983 at its drilling
and pumping research facility in Cambridge, UK, and later worked in drilling engineering management, business
development, marketing, and product development in France, the UK, and the US. Before taking his current post, he
was Marketing Director, Schlumberger Research, where he was responsible for joint research and development with
clients and new technology adaptation and innovation across the company. David holds a BS degree in physics from
the University of Bristol, UK, and a PhD degree in geophysics from Cambridge, where he also was a post-doctoral
research fellow.
What was your first job in the industry, and what
was your impression when you first joined? How
has your view of the industry changed?
I joined the industry in 1983 as a research scientist in Schlumbergers
brand new Cambridge research center, working on multiphase flow
measurement and bit hydraulics. The center was set up with several
research departments comprising one or two old hands, while the
rest were new to the industry. It meant that we got to challenge the
status quo, but there were some mentors who could perform the
occasional sanity check. It was an amazing time; there were so
many interesting problems to solve and a real prize for doing so.
Having come from academic research, where there were only 10
people in the world interested in my work, to joining an industry
where our results mattered to thousands, was invigorating.
My view of the industry has not changed. The challenges are as
big, if not bigger, than in the past. We need the very best scientists
and engineers to work on the new problems, using the very latest
technologies to keep up with the E&P problems we face.
What have been your proudest career
achievements?
I have enjoyed taking technologies developed in research through
to the field and seeing them in action. We installed computerized
drilling monitoring systems on offshore rigs in the early 90s. We
were ahead of our time, but these systems are commonplace today.
I have worked for small companies in Schlumberger and helped
to grow them significantly through technology development and
implementation. It is really good to see something through from
beginning to end, to produce results that can be seen and measured. Successful risk taking is always good. I vividly recall our
drilling technology team developing an idea for a 4-in. rotarysteerable tool, seizing the opportunity, breaking some of the rules,
and beating the competition to market. It was a great tactical and
commercial success.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The variety of challenges day to day and over the years. I have
only worked for one company in one industry, but I have done

many jobs. There is always something new, and there are opportunities to seize as your interests change. You never stand still. I
moved from being a scientist to an engineer to a technologist and
a managerall very different, but all very rewarding.
Looking back, do you think it was a good
decision to work in the oil industry and for
Schlumberger in particular?
I have never regretted joining Schlumberger and the oil industry;
it was everything and more than I hoped for. The technical challenges are fascinating. Ive visited the most interesting places, but
above all, I have worked with incredible peopleinside the company and outside in the industry. I have made lifelong friends and
had the chance to work with the industrys best through organizations such as SPE.
What have you learned from your failures?
Fear of failure is worse than failure itself. To do new things, you need
to take risks. If we fear failure, we dont stretch ourselves far enough.
If you dont trip over occasionally, you are not trying hard enough.
Who has helped you the most in your career, and
what lessons did you learn from your mentors?
I worked for some very talented people, from whom I have learnt
a lot. Communication is very important. When your boss really
involves you, letting you know all that is going on, you can see the
big picture and know what needs to be done. Then having the freedom to just go and do it produces a great working environment.
Ive kept in touch with these people over the years, even after they
left the industry. You can always get good advice from people you
have learned you can trust.
From what you have said, you have found some
inspiring people in our industry. What do you
think makes them inspiring?
The people who have inspired me are those who have vision for
where we should be going, have the drive to take us there, and
give support to those who are helping. They fight to overcome

The Way Ahead Technical Leader Interview invites senior figures who have become pioneers of innovation and technical excellence within the E&P industry to comment. For this interview,
we traveled to Paris for a discussion with David White, President, Schlumberger Water & Carbon Services.
Anthony Onukwu, Jos Condor-Tarco, Marie Van Steene, and Maximiliano Medina, Editors, Technical Leaders

SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS

obstacles and naysayers. I remember a senior manager in Varco,

who had a clear vision for rig automation and was systematically
setting up his company to follow it.
How can a young professional (YP) best benefit
from his mentor?
Develop a personal relationship, and then dont be afraid to ask questions. That does not mean asking anything and everythingpeople
are busybut do ask about those things that you dont understand
or concerns that worry you. Ask for advice on important choices, be
prepared to discuss and argue your position. That way you can learn
how they approach problems and use that for the future.
What are the best ways to transfer ones
knowledge to young colleagues?
By partaking in the above. Getting to know them and being available
on the phone to discuss issues and offer suggestions with a followup on how things went. Taking chances to meet up socially from
time to time to see how things are really going.
What advice would you give to professionals in
the early stages of their E&P careers, who are
seeking a technical career track?
Be open-minded about what you do and where you will go. There
are more choices out there than you appreciate; try to sample them
to see what you really like or are good at. Be prepared to change
and take on something completely different that is outside of your
comfort zone. Dont put limits on what you are prepared to try.
Where you are today should only be the starting point for where
you are going, not an anchor that will hold you back.
It seems that many young professionals,
almost two-thirds, are hoping for a career in
management. Would your advice change for
these young professionals?
No, I think the principles are the same. There are very interesting
things to do in management, but if you find you dont like it, dont
be ashamed, and be prepared to go back to a technical career. You
can even move between the two. In Schlumberger, we have parallel
career ladders for technology and management that allow people
to swap between the two career paths.
What are the qualities of a technical leader?
What are the skills you value the most as a
technical expert?
A technical leader needs to be a recognized expert in ones particular field, outward looking, and prepared to communicate and
share. A technical leader should be pushing the boundaries of
where to take ones field of specialty, actively seeking to bring in
knowledge from outside industries and academia.
What are the best ways to develop your
knowledge?
Being actively involved in projects or with people that require it.
Taking an active part in outside technological organizations, such
as the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers, or equivalent organizations. Join the
special interest groups that are sponsored by SPE. Read books; a
thirst for knowledge is essential.

THEWAYAHEAD

What would you like YPs in technical discipline

in general to focus on to become technical
leaders?
Try leadership in what you are doing now; start right away. If you
have an idea for how to do something better, talk to your boss and
suggest things. If you feel strongly, arguebut this is where you
need to develop your communication and persuasion skills! Set up
interest groups with your peers, organize lunch-and-learns on topics that interest you around your specialty. Help others. If you are
successful, they will come back to you. You can always tell who the
leaders are by looking to see if anybody is following them.
With the right education and technology, can we
explore frontiers in the industry that today look
impossible?
I may be sounding old now, but when I started, PDC bits were just
coming in, horizontal drilling was in its infancy, and extended-reach
drilling was unheard of. Deep water meant a few hundred feet.
Thanks to fantastic innovations in Brazil, we now have drilled in
around 2000 m of water and are planning for 3000 m. I am absolutely confident that the next generation of technologists and engineers will meet all the challenges thrown at them. It will require the
best brains at the masters and PhD level and very practical, talented
individuals to make it work in the field.
We have a challenge to attract people to the oil and gas business
in the first place; it does not have the best public image. If you think
about it, on TV, the medical profession has shows such as House,
Greys Anatomy, and ER. All we had was Dallas!
Do you think the Industry is investing enough
resources in R&D to overcome the technical
challenges ahead and fulfill future technology
requirements?
I worry about this. In my own company we have a good track record
for investment, in good times and bad. As an industry this is not so
true. We need more R&D than we have ever done before, but we also
need the vision on where to spend it. I am concerned that in a downturn we will see cutbacks that set us back when we cannot afford
delays, if we are to meet the future production challenges. I also worry
that good students will be put off from joining the industry.
How did you get involved in SPE? What has your
SPE membership meant to you?
SPE has been important in my career. I joined at the very beginning
and started by presenting papers at annual conferences, and so getting to know my peers in the industry. I attended SPE forums, a marvelous environment in which to explore important technical issues.
I now help organize these activities for the new members.
Do you believe the industry recognizes the value
of involvement in SPE activities? Do different
segments of the industry value it more?
Some companies value these events more than others, so it is up to
all of us to make sure that management does recognize the value.
I have a research/drilling background and have found that this
segment is very active.

Continued on page 24

What'sAhead Continued from page 3

the contributors. Actually, you even could find yourself among
them. The Forum team has prepared a thought-provoking analysis
of YP responses to our oil price survey, and some of you, no doubt,
responded to that survey. So, please dont stop here. Go ahead,
browse, and enjoy your magazine!
As you do, you will see TWA evolving. Change is in the air for
our magazine as we continuously implement all the very useful
feedback we receive from our friends and readers, and as new players come onboard or take on different responsibilities. In this issue,
for example, you will witness how our former Student Link section
has become our new Academia.EDU@TWA section. Starting with
this issue, I will have the pleasure of working with you as the new
Editor-in-Chief of TWA. This is a great honor and responsibility
because this magazine is a unique, ground-breaking publication
hosted by a unique Society. To the best of my knowledge, no other
professional society embraced the concept of a magazine fully dedi-

cated to its young members and that is designed and completely run
by them. As we enter of 5th year, my hat goes off to our SPE and to
our visionary YP predecessors, who have made the way for us to be
what we are today.
We also have a completely new TWA Editorial Boarda family of
more than 25 people working from all corners of the worldand
you can meet them on our TWA Editorial Board page. More than
half of the new board members are first-timers, and they already
are bringing tremendous new energy and great ideas to TWA. If you
want to be part of it, dont wait and dont miss out. Go ahead and
please contact us!
Great times are ahead for TWA. Keep tuned and enjoy the ride!
The Way Ahead is always eager to hear from its readers. If you have
any comments, questions, or suggestions, contact me by email at
ayala@psu.edu. We would be happy to hear from you.
TWA

Call for Editors

The Way Ahead is inviting applications for positions on its editorial board. The role involves teamwork within the editorial committee to identify
interesting themes for each issue, contacting potential authors and soliciting contributions from them, editing the articles of their respective
section, and making sure the work is carried out according to a deadline schedule.
Individuals who are creative, have a very good command of the English language, and who can handle the pressures of juggling their daily
jobs and an exciting editorial experience are what TWA needs to further serve the oil and gas industrys young professional community.
Potential editors are required to commit to the job for at least a year. So if you are interested in being part of this dynamic and challenging
editorial team that is helping shape the thoughts and ideas of the future professionals in the energy industry please send a one-page resume,
including your SPE-related and other extracurricular activities that you think would add value to the team, and state the main reasons for your
willingness to take on the role.
Please send your application and any questions about serving on the TWA Editorial Board to EditorTWA@spemail.org. We look forward to
hearing from you.

THEWAYAHEADInterview Continued from page 5

What parts of the world do you see emerging
as greater leaders because of the geographic
shift in oil production and reserves?
Increasingly, of course, if you look where the oil and gas resources
are, conventional resources are in the Middle East and the former
Soviet Union. However, unconventional reserves are found in North
and South Americafor example, shale oil in the US, oil sands in
Canada, and the Faja [heavy oil] in Venezuela. So the issue is not so
much resources as it is the technology that will allow us to produce
those resources economically over time. This is the great opportunity for the future.

For young students, how do you see careers

in the oil and gas industry developing and why
should anyone pursue them?
For the same reason I joined! Energy will always be a very essential
component of our economy, for decades, independent of our cyclic
economic recessions.
If you want to be part of a technology-intensive industry at the
intersection of economics and geopolitics, you couldnt ask for
a more exiting opportunity. It may be 100 years old, but todays
industry is completely differentthe way we do things, the opportunities created by technology. It is completely different than it was
when I came to work.
TWA

TechnicalLeadersInterview Continued from page 7

Finally, if you had to give a brief speech to
young E&P professionals about the attractions
of the industry, and specifically the technical
challenges, what would you say?
Very few people realize that we develop and operate such complex
equipment to find and produce oil and gas. Imagine sitting in an
aircraft cruising at 30,000 ft and thinking that on the ground, far
below, we are steering a drilling bit, on the end of a 4-in. drillpipe,

24

along a road and measuring the rock around us with the latest brainscanning magnetic-resonance technology. Except that we cannot see
the ground and we had to work out where the road was through
thousands of feet of solid rock.
In the future, we have to find and develop smaller and smaller
reservoirs; we have to mobilize oil and gas that is locked in tight
formations; and we are working to create oil by cooking oil shales.
There is something exciting to interest everybody.
TWA

SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS