September 2018
How important is the China Energy Assembly as a meeting platform for the industry and what are you most looking forward to at this year’s edition?
The China Energy Assembly offers a great platform for all players in the China energy sector to gather and exchange ideas on the latest trend and issues concerning our industry. I personally look forward to meeting with my peers and colleagues in NOCs and IOCs to share our views on how we can help China meet its rising energy needs.
What would you say is the biggest game-changing discovery / project / technology that is currently making waves / predicated to shake things up in the sector?
ConocoPhillips believes the continuous technology innovation using Data Analytics and advanced unconventional resources development techniques will be two biggest drivers to boost our industry.
What differentiates your company from similar companies working in Asia-Pacific?
Our long-term commitment, proven record of success, mutually beneficial cooperation and trustworthy relationship with our local partners.
In your tenure at ConocoPhillips so far, what has been the greatest challenge you have faced?
I am proud to have been associated with progressing several major expansion projects in the Peng Lai Field in Bohai Bay over the past few years. These projects were especially difficult to sanction during the recent low oil price environment. But fortunately, both CNOOC and ConocoPhillips found ways to drive down the Cost of Supply that made these projects competitive in both of our global portfolios.
What do you, and your company, wish to achieve in 2019?
Continue to grow our business together with our local partner, and introduce fit for purpose technology that will further benefit our joint projects.
What are three things still left on your bucket list?
First, I want to work closely with our partners in China to find new ways to further extract more hydrocarbons from our fields, both safely and cost effectively. Secondly, I want to continue to build a close working relationship with our Chinese partners in all of our joint projects around the world. And thirdly, I would like to be able to improve my Chinese language ability so that my local friends and partners can better understand me when I speak Chinese.
About Mark Wheeler
Wheeler began his career as an exploration geologist in Houston, Texas in 1980. Between 1980 and 1994, he worked in the U.S. in a number of technical and supervisory positions, located in Midland, Texas, New Orleans, Lafayette, Louisiana and Houston, Texas.
Between 1989 and 1995, Wheeler headed up Conoco’s exploration program in the mid-continent region of the US, based out of Midland, Texas. In 1995, he moved to Jakarta to lead Conoco’s exploration effort in Indonesia. In 2000, he transferred to Stavanger, Norway where he held the position of Exploration Vice President for Conoco Norway. In 2002, Wheeler returned to Jakarta as Vice President of Exploration and Exploitation for ConocoPhillips Indonesia, and headed up the company’s exploration activities for the Asia Pacific region.
In 2005, Wheeler moved to Kuala Lumpur, as President of ConocoPhillips Malaysia where he oversaw the start up and growth of ConocoPhillips’ Malaysia business unit.
In February 2015, Wheeler transferred to Beijing, China where he is currently serving as President of ConocoPhillips China, overseeing the ongoing production, development and exploration work in and around our producing assets in Bohai Bay & South China Sea. He currently serves on the Board of Governors of AmCham China.
Wheeler received a master of science, with honors, in geology from Washington State University in 1980. For undergraduate studies, he attended University of California, Berkeley and St. Lawrence University in New York.
Mark will be speaking on the ‘Technology in the Oil & Gas Business in China' panel at the upcoming China Energy Assembly in Beijing,10-11 October 2018. Click on the button below to download the latest agenda with all confirmed speakers.