Petrenel is an international energy consultancy that is owned by its employees. The Company has a governing Board of Directors, an experienced Management Team, and a team of Partners, Staff, and Consultants.
Board of Directors & Management
Stewart Whiteley – Managing Director
Stewart Whiteley has over 40 years of experience in the upstream oil and gas industry. He is an engineering geologist by education and has extensive international experience as a reservoir engineer, asset manager, and senior manager with Shell International and Petrenel. Stewart has a BSc in Geology from Newcastle University and an MSc from Imperial College London. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society, a Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, a Member of the Energy Institute, and a Chartered Engineer. He is authorised to act as an Independent Reserves Auditor and Competent Person for the London, New York, and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Stewart has extensive experience managing operational health and safety, asset integrity and process safety for major operating companies. He has undertaken ESHS audits in Chad, Nigeria, Azores, Albania, and Azerbaijan and CCUS studies in the USA, UK, China, and Indonesia.
Alena Stranska – Operations Director
is Operations Director at Petrenel with 19 years of reservoir engineering, geoscience, commercial and project management experience in the upstream oil and gas industry. Alena is a geologist by education with a BSI in (First-Class Honours) in Earth Sciences from the University of London, Royal Holloway College. She has worked as a reservoir engineer, petroleum geoscientist, petroleum economist and petroleum reserves/resource auditor and has hands-on experience in most of the world’s prolific hydrocarbon-producing regions. Alena has worked on numerous large-scale upstream acquisition projects working closely with clients and providing technical, commercial and ESG-related support coupled with project management, subsequent reserves auditing or competent person reporting. Alena has undertaken CCUS studies in the USA as well as ESHS/ESG audits in Nigeria, Gabon, the Azores, Albania, and the UK North Sea, with a particular focus on GHG emissions accounting and reporting, occupational health & safety, oil spills and asset integrity.
Anna Smith – Environmental, Social, Health & Safety Director
Anna Smith is Environmental, Social, Health & Safety (ESHS) Director and Finance Manager at Petrenel with 17 years of experience in environmental management in the upstream oil and gas industry. Anna manages Petrenel’s ESHS and Sustainability consultancy. She is an environmental scientist by education and practice. Anna has a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of Greenwich, where she was awarded the University prize for best dissertation (1st class). As part of her professional development, Anna has completed training in: Lead EMS Auditing, Environmental Management and Auditing, and Occupational Health and Safety (Nebosh). Anna is a member of the IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment). She has extensive experience in ESHS/ESG auditing, undertaking numerous Due Diligence audits associated with Project and Acquisition finance, including site visits in Chad, Gabon, Nigeria, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Anna also has undertaken various environmental projects including shale gas, CCUS and renewable energy feasibility studies.
Phil Beck – Chairman & Commercial Director
Phil Beck is a senior energy industry business consultant with over 30 years of commercial, engineering and project management experience in the upstream oil and gas industry. Phil trained as a geologist and petroleum engineer, he spent his early career with British Gas and Unocal Corporation. As a management consultant for the last 16 years, he has provided significant value growth to many energy businesses. Phil has worked extensively on an international scale and has familiarity with all sectors of the upstream industry throughout the world. Phil has also been engaged as an advisor to Lazard investment bank for energy-related transactions. He is currently a director of a number of energy companies and is an advisor to a Canadian investment fund investing in oil and gas technology. Phil became an Executive Director of Petrenel in 2010 and brings a wealth of upstream E&P commercial and technical experience to our Company.
Janet Whiteley – Company Secretary
Janet Whiteley is a Director and Company Secretary of Petrenel in addition to managing an equestrian centre. She brings a wealth of international experience to the Company having lived in Brunei, Syria and Gabon.
Technical Team and Consultants
- Andrew Whiteley – GIS & Petroleum Engineering
- David Lochman – Geology & Geophysics
- Francis Whiteley – GIS & Reservoir Modelling
- Andy Allington – Petroleum Economics
- Derek Thomas – Petrophysics & Production Engineering
- Dr Edo Veenstra – Geology & Geophysics
- Mike Beaumont – Production Technology
- Mike Mason – Environmental Management