Cliff Kirby

Head of Technical

Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates

About

As the Vice President of Integrated Drilling Services at ADNOC Group, I lead a division of senior drilling engineers and wellsite drilling engineers that provide operational and engineering support for planning and execution of well delivery operations for both conventional and unconventional resources. With over 30 years of experience in the oil industry, I have a strong background in operations management, project management, and drilling services. I joined ADNOC in 2019 as part of the successful Baker Hughes deal team to create an oil field services company within ADNOC Drilling. Since then, I have helped to deliver year-on-year well delivery improvements, achieving an average of 23% faster well delivery than the previous years' benchmarks. I have also managed the financial planning and accountability, stakeholder management, and third-party contracts for multiple integrated service projects in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. My mission is to ensure the success of the provision of integrated drilling services and to enhance the collaboration and performance of the teams and partners involved.

Experience

  • Head of Technical at Turnwell
    Jun 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

  • Vice President Unconventional Resources at ADNOC Drilling
    Mar 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 5 mos

  • Vice President Integrated Drilling Services at ADNOC Group
    Jan 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 7 mos

    As part of the successful Baker Hughes deal team to create an Oil Field Services (OFS) company within ADNOC Drilling I joined ADNOC in order to help ensure the success of the provision of Integrated Drilling Services (IDS). After the deal was signed with Baker Hughes, ADNOC Drilling spud it's first IDS well within 3 months and this first well was delivered 26% faster than the previous well. In the first year of operations we were able to deliver our wells on average 23% faster than the previous years benchmarks. Since that first well we have continued to deliver year on year well delivery improvements. At the heart of these achievements is the effective collaboration between IDS, ADNOC Drilling rig operations team & our customers operations teams. Currently we are providing Integrated Drilling Services on 40 rigs in Abu Dhabi

  • Baker Hughes, a GE company (27 yrs 10 mos)
    • Senior Project Manager - SARB Island
      Feb 2015 - Jan 2019 · 4 yrs

      Project manager executing a 5 year Integrated Service contract to drill 45 wells. Contracted to provide all services on an artificial island drilling project in Abu Dhabi. Services included are Directional drilling, drilling fluids, drill bits, wireline, wellbore intervention, fishing, tubular running services, well testing, wellbore clean up, coring, mudlogging, cementing & coiled tubing. Duties include financial planning and accountability, management of internal & external stakeholders, management of third party contracts.

    • Project Manager
      Feb 2013 - Jan 2015 · 2 yrs

      Project manager for lump sum turn key project. Providing all drilling and completion services to Saudi Aramco. Currently contracted to operate 4 rigs over a 5 year period. Duties include financial planning and accountability, management of internal & external stakeholders, management of third party contracts

    • Drilling & Evaluation Engineering Manager
      Nov 2010 - Feb 2013 · 2 yrs 4 mos

      Manager of a group of 20 application engineers who provide cross-disciplined engineering support for Baker Hughes, which includes HCC (bits), INTEQ (Drilling & Evaluation systems), and BHDF (Fluids). My team provides support for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia & Bahrain. Operational support is paramount with the pre-tender engineering ongoing also.