Tim Needham

Background

About Tim Needham

I am a structural geologist with wide experience in hydrocarbon exploration, appraisal and production. My experience ranges from basin-wide evaluations, through field scale interpretations and analysis, to fractured core studies. I run my own structural geology consultancy, Needham Geoscience. In addition to the North Sea I have worked in many regions including north, west and east Africa, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, South America and the Gulf of Mexico. Before forming my own company I was a Senior Project Manager with Rock Deformation Research Limited, then a structural geology consultancy based at Leeds University. I was previously with BP Exploration in their central technology group and act as an internal consultant to the company’s business units (including Algeria, Iran, Kuwait, Venezuela and the North Sea). My particular fields of expertise are fault analysis, fault seal studies, structural restoration, natural fracture systems and regional structural studies. I have also been involved in training other geoscientists, delivering training courses in structural geology, fault seal analysis and fractured reservoir description in the UK and overseas. Prior to BP, I was employed by Badley Earth Sciences and Robertson Research, performing structural studies, including fieldwork, in a wide range of tectonic settings. I have also taught structural geology at the University of London and carried out research into deformation at active plate margins, part of which was for my PhD at the University of Leeds. I am also a Visiting Senior Lecturer in Applied Structural Geology at the University of Leeds. Specialties: Structural geology, fault seal analysis, fractured reservoirs, structural restoration, regional geology, training. Key points are: 1. Structural restoration in extensional, contractional, strike-slip & salt regimes. Areas include North Sea, Zagros, Morocco, Pakistan, Niger Delta, Trinidad, Rockies & Andes. 34 projects to date. Fault seal analysis in areas including the North Sea, Niger Delta, SE Asia, Venezuela, Trinidad, India, Gabon, Oman & Gulf of Suez. 33 projects to date. Structural description and analysis of cores from over 300 wells in clastics, carbonates and basement. Input to reservoir models and seal analysis. 17 projects to date. Seismic structural interpretation in areas including North Sea, Trinidad, Pakistan & Gulf of Suez. 13 projects to date. Regional studies including NW Europe, western Canada, Zagros & east Africa, 6 projects to date. Some projects have multiple components, e.g fault seal & restoration.