Thomas Watts is currently Managing Director of Pearl Petroleum, a consortium set up by Crescent – that includes its affiliate Dana Gas, together with three European companies: MOL,OMV and RWE – to hold the petroleum assets in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Thomas spearheaded the rapid development of those KRI assets in 2007, including gas processing facilities and a 180 km pipeline, resulting in gas deliveries commencing 16 months after signing contract with host government. Thomas continues to be responsible for overseeing partner relationships and providing guidance on further expansion and monetisation of Pearl’s assets.
Thomas has more than four decades of international experience in oil and gas project development, including major projects in Europe, Scandinavia and Middle East. He joined Crescent Petroleum in 1990 to assist with the monetisation of a sour gas reservoir in Mubarek Field, playing a key management role in structuring the gas-chain agreements with transporters, processors and gas off-takers; and overseeing the installation of an offshore gas platform together with a dedicated 96km inter-Emirate pipeline for that gas field development in 1992. Since then, Thomas has been involved in a plethora of Crescent’s projects in the MENA region, including a pivotal role in securing multi-Tcf gas supply contracts from neighbouring countries to satisfy burgeoning markets in the UAE. He assisted in structuring gas-chain arrangements, utilising spare capacity in existing gas processors and building the inter-connector facilities: offshore receiving platform, offshore/onshore pipelines, gas sweetening plant, sulphur recovery and handling facilities.
In summary, all the necessary infrastructure for the gas-chain to fulfil those contractual volumes, thereby creating the underlying contractual framework for Dana Gas to successfully launch its IPO in late 2005.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK).