Meet Paul Davies, isol8 Operations Manager

Paul Davies has been Operations Manager at isol8 since November 2019 – and he was the company’s very first employee!

How did you come to work at isol8?

I became aware that Andrew Louden, isol8 CEO, was moving into the field of alternative barrier technology for sealing off oil and gas wells permanently. The company’s vision of creating zero emission bonded alloy barriers seemed like a great fit with my skill set and an opportunity for me to help make a real difference in the world. Playing my part in the global net zero journey means I can tell my kids with a clear conscience that I am helping ensure climate change targets can legitimately be met – we are leaving the world in their hands, so my career choice was affected by that knowledge.

Describe a typical day at work…

Variety, variety, variety! No two days are the same. My role spans client facing, personnel management, and supplier interaction activities, so I could be testing our tools and driving a forklift in the workshop one day, then presenting at a conference the next.

What would you say has been your high point while working at isol8?

A real highlight for me was pushing the button at surface to initiate isol8’s bonded alloy barrier technology downhole for the very first time. This involved deploying our pioneering tool at 10,000ft in a real offshore well environment for a major North Sea oil and gas operator and witnessing the subsequent pressure test taking place which proved that we’d achieved our objective.

What other jobs have you done previously?

I joined isol8 in 2018 from Nexen where I worked as a Completions and Interventions Engineer for five years. I have more than 20 years of oilfield experience under my belt, having worked for both service companies as well as operators in the UK and Europe. I started out as an onshore technician responsible for drilling tools and casing/tubing handling equipment, then moved to an offshore technician role working on electric line well intervention. After that, I was a Base Manager in Holland supporting drilling and completion equipment, then I moved into operations management for tractor and mechanical services. Prior to my oil and gas career, I served as a soldier in the British Armed Forces.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

As well as enjoying time with my family, I also go to the gym and am involved in martial arts.

Quick Fire Questions

Favourite food? Fresh paella

Last movie you watched? Matrix Resurrections

Most used emoji? 😘

Hidden talent? Roller skating

Best place you’ve travelled to? Thailand – I did a Thai boxing camp for two weeks

Celebrity crush? Jodie Foster

What did you want to be when you were young? Archaeological Anthropologist

Best subject at school? Biology

Favourite animal? Honeybees – I’m a Beekeeper!

Interested in finding out about the rest of the isol8 team? Visit our People page to see who’s who.