Ukadike Nwaobi

Thesis title: Economic Appraisal of Unconventional Gas Development in the UK

Supervisor: Dr. Gabrial Anandarajah

Starting date: September 2013
Projected completion date: September 2016

The research aims to evaluate the economic value from proposed unconventional gas development in the United Kingdom. A model is developed to estimate reservoir parameters and applied to a pressure transient model to forecast gas production.  Cost implications and drivers regarding shale gas development remain uncertain as such a cost survey of historical data and UK specific factors are employed in developing a specific cost estimation relationship.  The impact of policies and regulatory measures on the development would be appraised; uncertainties in the reservoir, gas prices and cost structure operations would be analysed. The overall objective of the research would be achieved by integrating the reservoir production model and cost estimation model. The results could aid energy resource options, feasibility analyses as well as fiscal and environmental policy formulation regarding unconventional gas development in the United Kingdom.

Biography

Ukadike is a PhD Candidate in Energy Resource Economics at University College London as well as an economist at an advisory firm. Previously he was a manager energy markets and senior energy analyst at several investment banks leading energy and infrastructure focused investment appraisal. Prior to this, he was a process engineer, assistant project planner and business development executive for an engineering firm on major energy Projects.
He specializes in economic, financial, sustainability and policy appraisal related to oil, gas, power and infrastructure developments. Ukadike has worked as an energy engineer, energy market economist, and energy project financier for over 10years.  He holds a B.Eng from the University of Benin, MBA (Distinction) from Lincoln University as well as MSc in Natural Resource Economics (Distinction) from Cranfield University.