Welcome to the ICoTA Europe Chapter

Richard Innes takes on the role of Senior Chair at ICoTA Europe

Richard Innes takes on the role of Senior Chair at ICoTA Europe 

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Richard Innes, Well Services and Completion Leader at TotalEnergies has been appointed the 2024/25 Senior Chair of ICoTA Europe. 

ICoTA is the leading well intervention association and aims to support, communicate and promote rapid technological advances in the energy industry.

 “It is a proud moment in my career to be selected as Senior Chair of ICoTA Europe which comes at an exciting time, being the organisations 30th Anniversary year. 

The past 12-18 months has seen quite significant changes behind the scenes. The structure now means that we can rely on the active committee and sub-committees to continue to deliver world class technical events and conferences that meet the needs of the industry. 

This year saw the development of a Scandinavian Sub-Chapter, with an inaugural Dinner and record attendance at the recent Well Intervention conference. Our aim is to continue to support the vision of the Scandinavian sub-chapter with a particular target of enhancing engagement with operators and supply chain based in Denmark.

We have had an active social calendar this year with a sell-out Golf Challenge series and Annual Dinner whilst raising a fantastic amount of money for local charity Cash for Kids. 

Looking ahead to November, we hope you will participate in the SPE ICoTA Well Intervention Conference. Over 30 exhibitor spaces have been already and it again promises to be a worthwhile networking and knowledge sharing opportunity. I also can’t wait to read the Innovation Award entries – it’s always amazing to hear about new innovative technologies and how they can make a positive impact in the industry. 

We always welcome new faces and ideas. As an organisation, ICOTA Europe encourages the different perspectives that diverse teams bring to promote creativity and innovation in the well intervention industry. If you’re not involved with ICoTA, I encourage you to either participate at Committee level as a volunteer or as a member, whether you are from a service company, an Operator or a Young Professional.”

Biography 

Richard started his career in the oil and gas industry in 1997 as a development engineer for Andergauge Drilling Systems. He went on to spend 8 years there working on various R&D projects, drilling and coiled tubing product developments and in operations support roles. In 2005 he moved to TotalEnergies E&P UK as a Completion Engineer working predominantly on the world’s most developed HPHT fields, Elgin and Franklin. In 2010 he became Completion Team Lead where he oversaw the completions of new field developments including Laggan-Tomore in the West of Shetland and West Franklin, then the world’s most extreme HPHT development. In 2015 he took his current role of Well Services and Completion Leader, looking after four teams covering Completions, Well Interventions, Well Integrity and Subsea/Surface XT/WHDs. He is also the Technical Authority for TEPUK’s Operational Wells.  

Richard graduated with a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aberdeen and followed up with a Masters based on his R&D work between the University of Aberdeen and Andergauge Drilling Systems. He has also completed the Cranfield University General Management Programme. In 2022 Richard achieved Fellow status with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 

He has been involved with the ICoTA Europe committee since 2016 and joined the board in 2023 as Junior Chair.