drillers.com expert profile
Ali Blair
Engineering Manager at Merlin
Role
Ali is the Engineering Manager at Merlin with responsibility for engineering and operations service delivery globally. This includes delivery of engineering support, training, operations support and software. Ali has been instrumental in the development of Merlin’s torque, drag, hydraulics and casing wear software. He is also an experienced trainer in the areas of stuck pipe prevention and ERD engineering and operations.
Background
Ali joined the Merlin team in 2018 after gaining extensive drilling experience in the UK, Australia, and USA over the previous 23 years. Ali gained a solid grounding in drilling operations working offshore running MWD/LWD tools, directional drilling and in the early days at Merlin working offshore as an ERD advisor. Ali held senior operations management and technical leadership positions for a major oilfield services company prior to completing a Drilling and Well Engineering MSc and joining Merlin.
Expertise
Ali’s main areas of expertise are ERD well engineering and associated drilling modelling, drilling software development (torque, drag and hydraulics), training (ERD and stuck pipe prevention), drilling optimisation and drilling problem event investigations.
Interests
Ali spent many years engaged in battle on the rugby pitch from the front row of the scrum, however he now spends his free time running and mountain biking around the Perthshire hills, where he has become well known for his kamikaze downhill riding style.
Testimonial
Ron Ramage
Managing Director at Merlin
Ali is a ‘details guy’ and this, coupled with the breadth of knowledge and expertise. Ali has accumulated over many years spent in drilling operations and technical leadership roles is invaluable to Merlin, and to Merlin’s clients. Carefully considered expert advice and guidance, delivered professionally, and appropriately evidenced is what you get, whether you are seeking a complex problem review, or simply have a curveball question you are trying to address. Ali forms part of Merlin’s DNA.
Merlin – More Than Just A Team
The secret to Merlin’s success is their people, who are amongst the most accomplished engineers and operations personnel in the industry. Merlin’s personnel have worked around the world for independent, major and national oil companies in their offices, at their rig sites and delivering training courses.
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