Ken McKenzie | Well Engineering Specialist | AI & Data Science Portfolio

About Me

From Offshore Platforms to AI-Driven Solutions

Kenneth McKenzie - Well Engineering Specialist

It's been over 30 years since I started my offshore well engineering career across the North Sea, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and West Africa. I witnessed the end of telex machines and the arrival of computers on the rig floor—and I believe AI represents the next fundamental transformation in how we work. Through decades of P&A campaigns, integrity challenges on aging wells, and debugging intervention plans at 3 AM when everything rode on the next decision, I've learned that the tools we use shape the decisions we make.

In 2020, I made a deliberate pivot—away from the rig floor and into AI, data science, and digital well engineering. I immersed myself in Python, machine learning, and modern web development, building tools that solve the problems I used to face: disconnected data, opaque decision-making, and the constant friction between field operations and desk-based planning.

Today, I'm focused on remote roles in well engineering, data analysis, and decommissioning planning—positions where I can bring offshore context to digital tools, turn messy datasets into actionable insights, and help teams make better decisions faster. I'm comfortable working across time zones, leading technical projects independently, and translating complex engineering problems into scalable solutions.

This portfolio showcases the technical projects I've built to demonstrate those skills—not as products for sale, but as proof that I can architect, code, and ship real tools that address real problems in our industry.

Core Competencies

Skills & Expertise

A unique blend of deep offshore experience and modern technical capabilities

🛢️

Well Engineering & Operations

• P&A Campaign Planning & Execution
• Well Integrity Management
• Intervention Design & Risk Assessment
• Decommissioning Strategy
• Offshore Supervisory Experience
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership

📊

Data Science & AI

• Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn)
• Machine Learning & Predictive Modeling
• Data Visualization (Matplotlib, Plotly)
• Statistical Analysis & Pattern Recognition
• LLM Integration & Prompt Engineering
• API Development (FastAPI, Flask)

💻

Digital Technologies

• Full-Stack Web Development (HTML/CSS/JS)
• Database Design (PostgreSQL, SQLite)
• Blockchain & Smart Contracts (Web3)
• Cloud Architecture & Deployment
• Git Version Control & CI/CD
• Agile Project Management
• Technical Documentation & Training

Technical Projects

Portfolio

Technical demonstrations showcasing full-stack development, AI integration, and domain expertise

🛢️

The Brahan Engine

AI-Powered Well Intervention Planner

Full-stack web application demonstrating how AI and structured data can improve well intervention planning. Built to solve real problems I encountered during 25+ years offshore: disconnected workflows, manual data wrangling, and opaque risk assessment.

Technical Stack:

Python PostgreSQL LLM APIs HTML/CSS/JS Chart.js

Key Features:

• Automated clash detection & safety barrier validation
• 11 Pillars framework for unified well data architecture
• Real-time risk scoring and conflict visualization
• Equipment database with 900+ intervention tools
• AI-assisted SOP generation and planning optimization

Note: Built with synthetic well data for demonstration purposes. Showcases technical architecture, problem-solving approach, and domain expertise.

Explore Technical Demo →

🎓

Well-Tegra Academy

AI-Assisted Content Generation Experiment

Experimental project exploring AI capabilities in generating technical training content. Built as a sandbox to test how effectively LLMs could structure complex well engineering concepts into interactive learning modules and procedural documentation.

Technologies Used:

LLM APIs HTML5 Tailwind CSS JavaScript Chart.js

Experimental Modules Built:

• P&A Operations: Section milling, cement placement, barrier verification
• Micro-Annulus Course: Diagnostic decision trees and risk assessment
• Crisis Command: Real-time CRM simulation with cognitive filters
• SOP Library: Searchable database of well intervention procedures

Transparency: This was an exploratory sandbox to test AI's capability in generating technical content, not production training delivered to end users.

Demonstrates: AI/LLM integration skills, ability to architect content structures, interactive UI development, and exploration of emerging AI applications in technical domains.

View Training Modules →

⛓️

Blockchain for Well Engineering

Web3 & Smart Contracts Analysis

Technical analysis exploring blockchain applications in drilling operations. Examines automated smart contracts for performance-based payments, immutable well integrity records, JV cost reconciliation, and supply chain transparency.

Technologies Explored:

Blockchain Smart Contracts Web3 IoT Integration

Key Use Cases:

• Automated performance-based payments via smart contracts
• Immutable well construction history ("Digital Passport")
• Real-time JV cost reconciliation and transparency
• Supply chain tracking for critical drilling equipment
• Case study: Equinor & Data Gumbo implementation

Demonstrates: Strategic thinking about emerging technologies, ability to identify industry applications for Web3, and technical communication skills for complex concepts.

Read Full Analysis →

🏔️

3D Wellbore & Toolstring Suite

Interactive 3D Graphics Engine

Integrated 3D visualization suite for well intervention planning. Combines wellbore architecture visualization with toolstring assembly rendering to provide engineers with complete visual understanding of downhole operations before deployment.

Technologies Used:

Three.js WebGL JavaScript Canvas API

Two Integrated Components:

3D Wellbore Visualizer:
Renders complete wellbore architecture including casing strings, annular spaces, and completion geometry
3D Toolstring Builder:
Interactive assembly of intervention tools with real-time clash detection and dimension validation

Demonstrates: Advanced 3D graphics programming, systems-level thinking by integrating complementary visualization tools, and ability to design complete technical solutions addressing real engineering workflows.

Wellbore Repo Toolstring Repo

🏗️

Well Design Architecture

Original design intent, casing programs, as-built vs as-designed.

Comprehensive analysis of wellbore geometry, casing specifications, and deviation from original plans.

🔧

Completion State

Current downhole configuration, equipment inventory, modifications.

Real-time tracking of all installed equipment, their specifications, and historical modifications.

III

🛡️

Barrier Diagnostics

Primary and secondary barrier status, SCSSV depth, integrity verification.

Safety gateway that blocks operations until critical barrier data is verified and validated.

📊

Production History

Historical flow rates, pressure trends, decline analysis.

Pattern recognition across production data to identify anomalies and predict future behavior.

📋

Intervention Records

Previous workover history, fishing operations, lessons learned.

Searchable database of all previous interventions with outcomes and recommendations.

📡

Real-time Vital Signs

Live monitoring of pressures, temperatures, flow parameters.

AI-powered anomaly detection that flags deviations from expected behavior in real-time.

VII

👥

Human Factors

Personnel competency, fatigue management, crew rotation impact.

Tracking crew certifications, time on rotation, and fatigue risk factors.

VIII

📄

Unstructured Data

NLP analysis of daily reports, emails, handover notes.

AI extracts insights from free-text documents that traditional systems miss.

⚠️

Risk Mitigation

HFE constraints, safety protocol validation, barrier verification.

Systematic risk assessment against 30+ years of operational failure modes.

💰

Commercial Context

NPT cost analysis, AFE tracking, ROI optimization.

Real-time financial tracking with variance analysis and cost forecasting.

✅

Feasibility Matrix

Go/No-Go decision support synthesizing all pillars.

Final checkpoint that combines all pillars into actionable recommendations.

⚠️ Problem Analysis

The Problem That Inspired the Solution

A routine $1.5M bridge plug retrieval became a $75M catastrophe. Multiple failure modes combined into the perfect storm—stuck tools, barrier failures, and escalating fishing operations.

This case study drove the core architecture decisions. It revealed that disconnected data sources, manual clash checking, and opaque risk assessment created systemic blind spots. The challenge became: how do you build a system that unifies well data and automates conflict detection?

$75M

Total Loss

127

Days NPT

Failure Modes

Read Full Analysis →

Technical Challenge

Manual Process

Disconnected

→

Automated System

Unified

Designed automated clash detection and barrier validation to prevent similar failures.

Experimental Prototype

Brahan Vertex Vision

AI-powered computer vision prototype exploring automated verification of rig floor operations. Demonstrates integration of Google Vertex Vision AI for real-time visual analysis and quality assurance.

🎥

Visual Analysis AI reads torque gauges and validates pressure tests from video feeds

🤿

Object Detection Automated analysis of valve positions and equipment condition

📦

OCR Integration Text extraction and manifest verification capabilities

View Prototype Demo →

BRAHAN VERTEX

Bridging Offshore Operations with AI & Advanced Analytics

From Offshore Platforms to AI-Driven Solutions

Skills & Expertise

Well Engineering & Operations

Data Science & AI

Digital Technologies

Portfolio

The Brahan Engine

Technical Stack:

Key Features:

Well-Tegra Academy

Technologies Used:

Experimental Modules Built:

Blockchain for Well Engineering

Technologies Explored:

Key Use Cases:

3D Wellbore & Toolstring Suite

Technologies Used:

Two Integrated Components:

Well Design Architecture

Completion State

Barrier Diagnostics

Production History

Intervention Records

Real-time Vital Signs

Human Factors

Unstructured Data

Risk Mitigation

Commercial Context

Feasibility Matrix

The Problem That Inspired the Solution

Technical Challenge

Brahan Vertex Vision

Open to Remote Opportunities