ERC Equipoise Ltd was created in 2010, when ERC Energy Resource Consultants Ltd (ERC) and Equipoise Solutions Ltd (Equipoise) merged. ERC and Equipoise had a long history of technical cooperation and partnership. Their association dates to the re-launch of ERC in 2003, and even further back to the 1980s when David Wilson and Simon McDonald of the original ERC worked with Don Scott of Scott Pickford Group on the privatisations of BritOil, Enterprise Oil and British Gas.
After years of working together, the Directors of ERC and Equipoise felt that an integrated model would strengthen the technical team and offer opportunities to build upon the combined company’s strengths. Below are brief histories of the two companies, prior to their merger.
ERC Energy Resource Consultants
ERC Energy Resource Consultants Limited (ERC) was re-launched in 2003 by the founding Directors, David Wilson and Simon McDonald. Through the experience of its employees, ERC had a proven track record of petroleum consulting excellence developed over 33 years.
David and Simon’s roles in the petroleum consulting industry predates the 2003 incarnation of ERC by several decades. In 1977, David was a founding shareholder of the original ERC Energy Resource Consultants Limited and was joined by Simon in 1985. They were key contributors to ERC becoming, during the 1980s, the UK’s premier company for the delivery of independent reports on oil and gas assets. Activities at the time included:
- Reserves Reports for Stock Exchange purposes:
- Privatisation, including Britoil, Enterprise Oil and British Gas
- Flotations on the UK, USA, Canadian, Japanese, South African and other Stock Markets
- Defence Documents, including Britoil, Ultramar and Clyde Petroleum
- Company and asset acquisition
- Reserves Reports for bank financing purposes in the North Sea and internationally.
- Independent Expert reports for:
- Dispute resolution including expert witness appearances under both British and international jurisdictions
- Field equity determination
The company was also developed to provide advice and reports on field development planning and operations. Its expertise was anchored in the North Sea, but extended to all the major petroleum provinces in the world.
In 1994, the original ERC was taken over by Petroleum GeoServices AS (PGS) and the brand name was retired. In 1996, under the ownership of PGS, David set up an oil and gas company called Atlantis Holding Norway AS. Simon joined Atlantis shortly thereafter. The company had operations in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and offshore Tunisia. Both left the employment of PGS/Atlantis after the sale of Atlantis in early 2003.
In late 2003, David and Simon re-launched ERC Energy Resource Consultants Limited, and provided reservoir evaluation services to the international petroleum industry under that name until the merger with Equipoise in 2010.
Equipoise Solutions
Equipoise was formed in 1998, by the founding Directors, Don Scott, Charles Wood and Mark Holliday. Through the experience of its staff Equipoise had a long history in the UK Oil and Gas sector, dating back over 33 years.
In 1977, Don Scott was a founding member, Technical Director and Chairman of Scott Pickford and Associates, where he and many of the current ERC Equipoise staff provided specialist Geology and Geophysical services. In 1998 Don, Charles and Mark left to form Equipoise. In 2003 they were joined by Adam Law.
Equipoise was formed to take advantage of the rapid movement to desktop based G&G software. Equipoise quickly established themselves as recognised experts in areas such as depth modelling and uncertainty, seismic processing and modelling, and field and prospect evaluation and ranking. A close relationship was formed with SMT Seismic Micro-Technology, the makers of the Kingdom Suite. In 2005, Equipoise created a software development group called Equipoise Software Ltd. that specialised in creating special applications such as VelPAK for the Kingdom suite. In addition they developed proprietary software, such as EVA and DELVE for depth modelling and uncertainty.
As the company expanded, Equipoise added services and capabilities for its clients. By 2010, Equipoise’s activities included:
- Exploration and Appraisal Studies
- Field Development and Management
- Depth Modelling and Uncertainty
- Seismic Processing and Modelling
- Valuation and Equity studies
- Data Services
Through to its merger with ERC in 2010, Equipoise was well known for its G&G expertise and played important roles in advisory work for licensing rounds, Competent Person’s Reporting, A&D activities and field studies.
