Alastair Craven

Head of Upstream Operations at RAKGAS

United Arab Emirates

About

Head of Upstream Operations based in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Director of and Technical Authority for all RAK Gas and Energy Authority upstream activities conducted in UAE and East Africa, along with partner operated JV projects. Responsible for the development and execution of exploration and development plans, along with oversight and management of drilling, completion, well intervention and abandonment/decommissioning activities. Role also covers ownership of company technical, QHSE, and operational workflows, policies and standards to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with current industry standards and best practices. Also responsible for Upstream regulatory oversight and assurance for the Ras Al Khaimah Energy Authority.

Experience

  • RAKGAS (7 yrs 4 mos)
    • Head of Upstream Operations
      Apr 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    • Senior Manager - Upstream Operations
      Sep 2025 - Present · 11 mos

    • Principal Drilling Engineer
      Apr 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 4 mos

      Primary responsibility for oversight and coordination of RAK Gas LLC operated and non-operated well operations in Ras Al Khaimah and East Africa

  • LR Senergy - now Lloyd's Register (10 yrs 8 mos)
    • Wells Project Manager
      Jan 2016 - Apr 2019 · 3 yrs 4 mos

      Developing and growing the LR Senergy Well Engineering, Operations and Consultancy business lines in the Middle East, working in partnership with small independent Operators and Large NOC's. Responsibility includes BD as well as technical engineering work and mentoring of Junior Engineers. Scope includes Project Management of Engineering consultancy business, management of LR and client operational Drilling and Well Service Operations, Well Integrity evaluation and remediation studies and execution of operational scope, provision of ADT training and SME support for Operators.

    • Senior Drilling Engineer
      Sep 2008 - Jan 2016 · 7 yrs 5 mos

      Joined Senergy through their acquisition of LEA. Senior Drilling Engineer specialising in the field of Advanced Drilling Techniques (Coiled Tubing Drilling, TTRD, Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Drilling). Roles included: - MPD design, planning and operational support for well Offshore Morocco Underbalanced Drilling for client in UAE Project Manager for Front End Engineering, Design and execution for a campaign of offshore Coiled Tubing Drilling wells on the Norwegian Shelf TTRD/slimhole SNS infill drilling campaign Formation damage and Underbalanced drilling study for Underground Gas Storage, Onshore Spain Critical Sour Underbalanced Drilling study - onshore field, Middle East Study on drilling depleted SNS Gas fields for DECC Drilling technical support for Salt Cavern Gas Storage Project, UK Well Engineering and Operational execution for multiple semi sub and jack up appraisal/exploration drilling projects in Northern and Central North Sea

  • ADT Engineer at LEAding Edge Advantage
    Sep 2007 - Sep 2008 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Consultant Drilling Engineer specialising in the field of Advanced Drilling Techniques (Coiled Tubing Drilling, TTRD, Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Drilling

  • Drilling Engineer at BP
    Jul 2005 - Sep 2007 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    Drilling Engineer working on semi sub operations for BP's deepwater assets West of Shetland. (Foinaven, Schiehallion, Alligin and Clair Phase 2 appraisal project). Role included offshore supervision, upfront well planning and preparation of Basis of Design documentation, writing drilling programmes, onshore operational support and field development planning.

  • Design Engineer at GE Energy
    Apr 2005 - Sep 2005 · 6 mos

    Working in the Capital Drilling Equipment design department of Vetco Gray