Stephen Begg

Research Interests

Decision Making Decision Support and Group Support Systems Decision Theory Economics

Stephen Begg

Office of Engineering and Information Technology

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Stephen (Steve) Begg is former Head of School and Professor of Petroleum Engineering & Management. His research and teaching focus is on decision-making under uncertainty, asset and portfolio economic evaluations, and psychological & judgmental factors that impact these, particulary eliciting expert opinion and uncertainty assessment. Before joining the University in 2002, Steve spent 19 years in the oil and gas industry, most recently as Director of Decision Science & Strategic Planning for Landmark Graphics Corporation. Prior to that, Steve worked for BP: 6 years with BP Exploration in Alaska, in senior geo-science and engineering operational assignments which spanned a range of production forecasting, economic evaluation, petroleum engineering and reservoir characterization roles, and 7 years as a reservoir characterization researcher and manager for BP Research. Steve is very active in the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), is a member of the Institute For Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS), Decision Analysis Society (DAS), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and is on the Board of the Society of Decision Professionals (SDP). He is frequently invited to speak at Industry conferences and give workshops and short courses. In 2003 he was an SPE Distinguished Lecturer on the topic "I would rather be vaguely right than precisely wrong: a new approach to evaluating investment decisions" and was selected again in 2010 on the topic "Reliability of Expert Judgements and Uncertainty Assessments". Steve has Chaired several SPE Forums (research conferences) and Advanced Technology Workshops related to his areas of expertise and has also contributed numerous invited papers/presentations to such meetings. Along with co-author Prof Reidar Bratvold he was commissioned by SPE to write a book on Decision Analysis - Making Good Decisions.Steve has a B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of Reading, England and has taken executive education training at MIT and the University of Texas, Austin.

Research Interests

My research interests all fall under the umbrella of Decision-making Under Uncertainty

  • Integration of decision-making with economic evaluation - "real Options thinking": Value of Information and Value of Flexibility or Control
  • Decision Analysis and Decision Quality
  • Psychological (cognitive science) aspects of judgment and decision-making. Elicitation of un-biased (accurate) expert opinion, particularly probability assessments, for input to decisions
  • Development of tools and processes to remediate biasses and investigation of the effectiveness and durability of such training
  • Matching appropriate decision tools and processes to decision types
  • Overcoming barriers-to-adoption - implications for, and development of new, reward/penalty mechanisms
  • Portfolio analysis and decision-making

 

Date Position Institution name
2010 - 2016 Head, Australian School of Petroleum University of Adelaide
2002 - ongoing Professor University of Adelaide
1997 - 2005 Director, Decision Science & Portfolio Management Landmark (a Halliburton company)
1990 - 1997 Staff Geoscientist & Staff Engineer BP (Bristish Petroleum)
1983 - 1990 Research Petroleum Engineer BP (British Petroleum)

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2018 Achievement Distinguished Achievement Award for Petroleum Engineering Faculty Society of Petroleum Engineers United States -
2016 Award SPE International 2016 Management and Information Technical Award Society of Petroleuem Engineers - -
2013 Award Asia-Pacific Management & Information Award Society of Petroleum Engineeers United States -

Date Institution name Country Title
1997 - 1980 University of Reading United Kingdom BSc in Geological Geophysics
1980 - 1983 University of Reading United Kingdom PhD in Earthquake Seismology

Year Citation
2022 Arouri, Y., Sayyafzadeh, M., & Begg, S. (2022). Adaptive Rank-Based Selection of Geological Realizations for Optimum Field Development Planning. SPE Journal, 27(4), 1-18.
DOI Scopus6 WoS1
2020 Newman, D., Begg, S., & Welsh, M. (2020). Can 1 h of training lead to better project decision-making?. EURO Journal on Decision Processes, 8(1-2), 89-124.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2019 Salmachi, A., Dunlop, E., Rajabi, M., Yarmohammadtooski, Z., & Begg, S. (2019). Investigation of permeability change in ultradeep coal seams using time-lapse pressure transient analysis: a pilot project in the Cooper Basin, Australia. AAPG Bulletin, 103(1), 91-107.
DOI Scopus28 WoS25
2018 Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2018). More-or-less elicitation (MOLE): reducing bias in range estimation and forecasting. Euro Journal on Decision Processes, 6(1-2), 171-212.
DOI Scopus6 WoS4
2018 Newman, D., Begg, S., & Welsh, M. B. (2018). Why are decisions for oil and gas projects not always made the way they 'should' be?. APPEA Journal, 58(1), 130-158.
DOI
2017 Willigers, B. J. A., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. B. (2017). Hot spot hunting: Optimising the staged development of shale plays. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 149, 553-563.
DOI Scopus8 WoS5
2016 Newman, D., Begg, S., & Welsh, M. (2016). Front end loading: misunderstood or misapplied?. Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Journal, 56(1), 247-258.
2016 Willigers, B., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2016). Appraising unconventional resources: how many wells to drill and where to place them?. SPE Reservoir Evaluation and Engineering, 19(2), 340-349.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2
2016 Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2016). What have we learnt? Insights from a decade of bias research.. Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Journal, 56(1), 435-450.
2015 Zeinijahromi, A., Al-Jassasi, H., Begg, S., & Bedrikovetski, P. (2015). Improving sweep efficiency of edge-water drive reservoirs using induced formation damage. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 130, 123-129.
DOI Scopus39 WoS29
2014 Willigers, B., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2014). Combining geostatistics with Bayesian updating to continually optimize drilling strategy in shale-gas plays. SPE Reservoir Evaluation and Engineering, 17(4), 507-519.
DOI Scopus18 WoS12
2014 Welsh, M., Delfabbro, P., Burns, N., & Begg, S. (2014). Individual differences in anchoring: traits and experience. Learning and Individual Differences, 29, 131-140.
DOI Scopus22 WoS16
2014 Willigers, B. J. A., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. B. (2014). Combined geostatistics and Bayesian updating optimize drilling in shale-gas plays. Jpt Journal of Petroleum Technology, 66(10), 179-184.
Scopus1
2012 Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2012). Personal ruin versus corporate profit: Why individual risk attitudes lessen economic outcomes. APPEA Journal, 2012, 1-10.
2011 Welsh, M., Al Hakim, A., Ball, F., Dunstan, J., & Begg, S. (2011). Do personality traits affect decision-making ability: can MBTI type predict biases?. APPEA Journal, 51(1), 359-368.
2011 Willigers, B., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2011). Valuation of swing contracts by least-squares Monte Carlo simulation. SPE Economics & Management, 2011(4), 215-225.
DOI Scopus10
2010 Welsh, M., Rees, N., Ringwood, H., & Begg, S. (2010). The planning fallacy in oil and gas decision-making. APPEA Journal, 2010, 1-12.
2008 Mackie, S., Begg, S., Smith, C., & Welsh, M. (2008). "Real World" decision-making in the upstream oil and gas industry - prescriptions for improvement. APPEA Journal, 2008, 329-344.
2008 Cunningham, P., & Begg, S. (2008). Using the value of information to determine optimal well order in a sequential drilling program. AAPG Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 92(10), 1393-1402.
DOI Scopus23 WoS14
2008 Bratvold, R., & Begg, S. (2008). I would rather be vaguely right than precisely wrong: A new approach to decision making in the petroleum exploration and production industry. AAPG Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 92(10), 1373-1392.
DOI Scopus27 WoS15
2008 Smalley, P., Begg, S., Naylor, M., Johnsen, S., & Godi, A. (2008). Handling risk and uncertainty in petroleum exploration and asset management: An overview. AAPG Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 92(9-10), 1251-1261.
DOI Scopus33 WoS19
2007 Al-Harthy, M., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2007). Copulas: A new technique to model dependence in petroleum decision making. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 57(1-2), 195-208.
DOI Scopus28 WoS22
2007 Mackie, S., Begg, S., Smith, C., & Welsh, M. (2007). Decision type - a key to realising the potential of decision making under uncertainty. APPEA Journal, 22(1), 307-317.
2006 Al-Harthy, M., Khurana, A., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2006). Sequential and systems approaches for evaluating investment decisions - influence of functional dependencies and interactions. APPEA Journal, 46(1), 511-523.
2004 Begg, S. H., & bratvold, R. (2004). the value of flexibility. southern china oil & gas journal, 17(4), 59.
1996 Begg, S. H., Kay, A., Gustason, E. R., & Angert, P. F. (1996). Characterization of a Complex Fluvial-Deltaic Reservoir for Simulation. SPE Formation Evaluation, 11(3), 10.
DOI WoS1
1996 Begg, S. H., Kay, A., Gustason, E. R., & Angert, P. F. (1996). Characterization of a complex fluvial-deltaic reservoir for simulation. SPE Formation Evaluation, 11(3), 147-153.
DOI Scopus7
1989 Begg, S. H., Carter, R. R., & Dranfield, P. (1989). Assigning effective values to simulator gridblock parameters for heterogeneous reservoirs. SPE Reservoir Engineering Society of Petroleum Engineers, 4(4), 455-463 16754.
DOI Scopus116
1987 Dranfield, P., Begg, S. H., & Carter, R. R. (1987). Wytch Farm oilfield: reservoir characterization of the Triassic Sherwood sandstone for input to reservoir simulation studies.. Petroleum Geology of North West Europe Proc 3rd Conference London 1986 Vol 1, 149-160.
Scopus20

Year Citation
2020 Newman, D., Begg, S., & Welsh, M. (2020). Simplified front end loading: A route to better project outcomes. In Proceedings of the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (APOGCE, 2020). online: OnePetro.
DOI Scopus4
2019 Babadimas, C., Boras, C., Rendoulis, N., Welsh, M. B., & Begg, S. (2019). Transferability of calibration training between knowledge domains. In A. K. Goel, C. M. Seifert, & C. Freska (Eds.), Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (COGSCI, 2019) Vol. 41 (pp. 1362-1367). Montreal, QB: Cognitive Science Society.
2018 Newman, D., Begg, S., & Welsh, M. (2018). Improving outcomes for oil and gas projects through better use of Front End Loading and decision analysis. In Proceedings of the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (APOGCE 2018) (pp. 1-21). Brisbane, Australia: OnePetro.
DOI Scopus4
2017 Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2017). The Cognitive Reflection Test: familiarity and predictive power in professionals. In G. Gunzelmann, A. Howes, T. Tenbrink, & E. Davelaar (Eds.), CogSci 2017: Proceedings of the 39th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Computational Foundations of Cognition (pp. 3497-3502). London, UK: Cognitive Science Society.
Scopus3
2016 Begg, S. (2016). Decisions, decisions : uncertainty, variability, modelling and psychology. In Proceedings of the AusIMM Seventh International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining (pp. 9-18). Sydney, NSW: AusIMM.
2016 Welsh, M., Steacy, S., Begg, S., & Navarro, D. (2016). A tale of two disasters: biases in risk communication. In A. Papafragou, D. Grodner, D. Mirman, & J. Trueswell (Eds.), Proceedings of the 38th Annual Cognitive Science Society Meeting (pp. 544-549). Online: CSS.
2015 Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2015). Reducing overconfidence in forecasting with repeated judgement elicitation. In D. In Noelle, R. Dale, A. Warlaumont, J. Yoshimi, T. Matlock, C. Jennings, & P. Maglio (Eds.), Proceedings of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 2637-2642). Austin, Texas: Cognitive Science Society.
Scopus1
2014 Zeinijahromi, A., Al-Jassasi, H., Zhang, Y., Begg, S., & Bedrikovetsky, P. (2014). Edge-water drive recovery enhancement by induced fines migration. In Society of Petroleum Engineers SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition Apogce 2014 Changing the Game Opportunities Challenges and Solutions Vol. 2 (pp. 895-909). SPE.
DOI
2014 Begg, S. H., Bratvold, R. B., & Welsh, M. B. (2014). Uncertainty vs. variability: what's the difference and why is it important?. In Proceedings of SPE Hydrocarbon Economics and Evaluation Symposium (pp. 273-293). Houston, Texas: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus42
2013 Willigers, B., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2013). Combining geostatistics with Bayesian updating to continually optimize drilling strategy in shale gas plays. In 75th EAGE Annual Conference and Exhibition incorporating SPE Europec (pp. 1-23). Australia: SPE- Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus4
2013 Begg, S. (2013). Some Reflections on Uncertainty, Decisions, Models and People. In The second AUSimm international geometallurgy conference (pp. 1-3). Australia.
2011 Sykes, M., Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2011). Don't drop the anchor: Recognizing and mitigating human factors when making assessment judgments under uncertainty. In Proceedings of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition 2011 Vol. 2 (pp. 1256-1270). USA: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Scopus6
2011 Bruza, B., Welsh, M., Navarro, D., & Begg, S. (2011). Does anchoring cause overconfidence only in experts?. In Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society 2011 (pp. 1947-1952). online: Cognitive Science Society.
Scopus5
2011 Welsh, M., Navarro, D., & Begg, S. (2011). Number preference, precision and implicity confidence. In Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society 2011 (pp. 1521-1526). online: Cognitive Science Society.
Scopus16
2011 Welsh, M., Delfabbro, P., Burns, N., & Begg, S. (2011). Individual differences in anchoring: Numerical ability, education and experience. In Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society 2011 (pp. 3193-3198). online: Cognitive Science Society.
2010 Bruza, B., Welsh, M., Navarro, D., & Begg, S. (2010). In what sense is P(A/B) P(B) = P(A,B)? The relationship between distributional format and subjective probability estimates. In Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1792-1797). www: Cognitive Science Society.
2010 Mackie, S. I., Begg, S. H., Smith, C., & Welsh, M. B. (2010). Human decision-making in the oil and gas industry. In SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2010, APOGCE 2010 Vol. 1 (pp. 117-124). Brisbane, Queensland: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus7
2010 Willigers, B. J. A., Begg, S. H., & Bratvold, R. B. (2010). Valuation of swing contracts by least-squares Monte Carlo simulation. In Society of Petroleum Engineers SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2010 Apogce 2010 Vol. 1 (pp. 645-667).
2010 Bratvold, R. B., Begg, S. H., & Rasheva, S. (2010). A new approach to uncertainty quantification for decision making. In SPE Hydrocarbon Economics and Evaluation Symposium (pp. 155-165). Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus4
2010 Welsh, M. B., & Begg, S. H. (2010). Don't let it weigh you down: how to benefit from anchoring. In SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 19-22 September 2010, Florence, Italy Vol. 7 (pp. 5239-5246). Florence, Italy: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus6
2009 Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2009). Repeated judgment elicitation: tapping the wisdom of crowds in individuals. In Proceedings of the 2009 SPE Annual Technical Conference Vol. 7 (pp. 1-10). USA: SPE International.
DOI
2009 Welsh, M., Lee, M., & Begg, S. (2009). Repeated judgements in elicitation tasks: Efficacy of the MOLE method. In Proceedings of COGSI 2009 Vol. 2009 (pp. 1529-1534). Netherlands: Cognitive Science Society.
2008 Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2008). Modeling the economic impact of individual and corporate risk attitude. In Proceedings of ATCE 2008 Vol. 6 (pp. 1-10). CD: SPE.
DOI Scopus8
2008 Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2008). Systematic Prediction errors in O&G project and portfolio selection. In Proceedings of ATCE 2008 Vol. 6 (pp. 1-12). CD: SPE.
Scopus12
2008 Heywood-Smith, A., Welsh, M., & Begg, S. (2008). Cognitive Errors in Estimation: Does Anchoring Cause Overconfidence?. In Proceedings of ATCE 2008 Vol. 6 (pp. 1-10). CD: SPE.
DOI Scopus9
2008 Welsh, M., Lee, M., & Begg, S. (2008). More-or-less elicitation (MOLE): Testing a heuristic elicitation method. In Proceedings from CogSci 2008 - 30th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Socieity (pp. 1-6). USA: Cognitive Science Society.
2008 Welsh, M., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2008). Modeling the economic effect of cognitive biases on oil and gas decisions. In Journal of Petroleum Technology Vol. 60 (pp. 59-61). Anaheim: Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).
DOI
2007 Welsh, M., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2007). Modeling the Economic Impact of Cognitive Biases on Oil and Gas Decisions. In Proceedings of the 83rd Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. 11¿14 November, 2007: SPE 110765. Vol. 6 (pp. 3688-3694). Richardson, Texas: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus22
2007 Begg, S., & Smit, N. (2007). Sensitivity of project economics to uncertainty in type and parameters of oil price models. In Proceedings - SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 6, Vol. 6 (pp. 3814-3823). USA: SPE.
Scopus13
2007 Welsh, M., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2007). Efficacy of bias awareness in debiasing oil and gas judgments. In D. McNamara, & J. Trafton (Eds.), Proceedings of the 29th Annual Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1647-1652). USA: Cognitive Science Society.
2006 Bratvold, R., & Begg, S. (2006). Education for the Real World: Equipping Petroleum Engineers to Manage Uncertainty. In http://www.spe.org/atce/2006/technical/wednesday_am.html (103339) Vol. 7 (pp. 4817-4821). San Antonio, Texas: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus9
2006 Welsh, M., Begg, S., & Bratvold, R. (2006). Correcting common errors in probabilistic evaluations: efficacy of debiasing. In http://www.spe.org/atce/2006/technical/wednesday_am.html, (SPE 102188) Vol. 2 (pp. 1262-1268). San Antonio, Texas, USA: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus12
2006 Mackie, S., Begg, S., Smith, C., & Welsh, M. (2006). Realizing the potential of decision-making under uncertainty. In Proceedings of 2006 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition. Perth, Western Australia: AAPG/Datapages.
2006 Yao, Y. H., Begg, S., Van Der Hoek, J., Behrenbruch, P., & Bratvold, R. B. (2006). A case study for comparison of different real option approaches in petroleum investments. In Proceedings SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2006 Thriving on Volatility Vol. 1 (pp. 445-451).
Scopus1
2006 Yao, Y., Begg, S. H., ven der Hoek, J., Behrenbruch, P., & Bratvold, R. B. (2006). A Case Study for Comparison of Different Real Option Approaches. In SPE-101031-MS. Society of Petroleum Engineers.
2005 Bratvold, R. B., Laughton, D., Enloe, T., Borison, A., & Begg, S. (2005). A critical comparison of real option valuation methods: Assumptions, applicability, mechanics, and recommendations. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (pp. 3933-3942).
Scopus3
2005 Welsh, M., Bratvold, R., & Begg, S. (2005). Cognitive biases in the petroleum industry: Impact and remediation. In Proceedings - SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 9-12 October, 2005, SPE 96423. (pp. 2839-2848). Texas: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus26
2004 Welsh, M., Begg, S., Bratvold, R., & Lee, M. (2004). Problems with the elicitation of uncertainty. In Proceedings of the Society of Petroleum Engineers 80th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition 26¿29 September, 2004. SPE 90338 (pp. 2277-2287). Houston, Texas, USA: SPE.
DOI Scopus18
2004 Laughton, D., Bratvold, R., Begg, S., & Campbell, J. (2004). Development as the Continuation of Appraisal by Other Means. In 2004 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas (pp. 4751-4761). Houston, Texas: SPEATCE.
2004 Begg, S. H., Bratvold, R. B., & Campbell, J. M. (2004). Abandonment decisions and the value of flexibility. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (pp. 4775-4781). SPE.
DOI Scopus8
2003 Begg, S. H., Bratvold, R. B., & Campbell, J. M. (2003). Shrinks or Quants: Who Will Improve Decision-Making. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (pp. 1625-1638). SPE.
DOI Scopus23
2003 Bratvold, R. B., Begg, S. H., & Campbell, J. M. (2003). Even Optimists Should Optimize. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (pp. 2419-2426). Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus1
2003 Campbell, J., Bratvold, R., & Begg, S. (2003). Portfolio Optimization: Living Up to Expectations. In SPE Hydrocarbon Economics and Evaluation Symposium paper no 82005 in proc SPEATCE (pp. 45-54). Dallas, Texas: SPE.
DOI Scopus13
2003 Laughton, D., Begg, S., Bratvold, R., Campbell, J., & Deutsch, C. (2003). The joint management of appraisal development and production in a two-block offshore oil field: a real options analysis. In SPE 82035 at the 2003 SPE Hydrocarbon Economics and Evlauation Symposium. Dallas, Texas.
2002 Bratvold, R., Begg, S., & Campbell, J. (2002). Would you know a good decision if you saw one?. In Proceedings of the 2002 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhilbition (pp. 1-11). Richardson, Texas: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus29
2002 Begg, S., Bratvold, R., & Campbell, J. (2002). The Value of Flexibility in Managing Uncertainty in Oil and Gas Investments. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (pp. 2165-2174). Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus34
2001 Begg, S., Bratvold, R., & Campbell, J. (2001). Improving Investment Decisions Using a Stochastic Integrated Asset Model. In SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (pp. 813-828). New Orleans, Luisiana: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus28
1994 Begg, S. H., Kay, A., Gustason, E. R., & Angert, P. F. (1994). Characterization of a complex fluvial-deltaic reservoir or simulation. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Vol. Omega (pp. 375-384).
Scopus4
1993 Angert, P. F., Begg, S. H., & Sallak, N. H. (1993). Modeling the effect of imbibition capillary pressure in heterogeneous porous media: waterflood recoveries of the Romeo interval, Prudhoe bay field. In 1993 Western Regional Meeting (pp. 521-535). Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus3
1993 Haajizadeh, M., & Begg, S. H. (1993). Sensitivity of oil recovery to grid size and reservoir description in fluvially dominated deltaic facies. In 1993 Western Regional Meeting (pp. 505-520). SPE.
DOI Scopus4
1992 Newley, T. M. J., & Begg, S. H. (1992). Characterizing the effects of heterogeneity on oil recovery by dry gas injection. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Vol. Sigma (pp. 659-673). SPE.
DOI Scopus5
1992 Begg, S. H., Gustason, E. R., & Deacon, M. W. (1992). Characterization of a fluvial-dominated delta: Zone 1 of the Prudhoe Bay field. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Vol. Omega (pp. 351-364). Society of Petroleum Engineers.
DOI Scopus7
1987 Begg, S. H., Carter, R. R., & Dranfield, P. (1987). ASSIGNING EFFECTIVE VALUES TO SIMULATOR GRID-BLOCK PARAMETERS HETEROGENEOUS RESERVOIRS.. In Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME Paper SPE Vol. Omega (pp. 133-143).
1987 Begg, S. H., Carter, R. R., & Dranfield, P. (1987). ASSIGNING EFFECTIVE VALUES TO SIMULATOR GRID-BLOCK PARAMETERS HETEROGENEOUS RESERVOIRS.. In Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME Paper SPE Vol. Sigma (pp. 601-611).
Scopus8
1985 Begg, S. H., & King, P. R. (1985). MODELLING THE EFFECTS OF SHALES ON RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE: CALCULATION OF EFFECTIVE VERTICAL PERMEABILITY.. In Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME Paper SPE (pp. 331-344). SPE.
DOI Scopus47
1985 Begg, S. H., Chang, D. M., & Haldorsen, H. H. (1985). A simple statistical method for calculating the effective vertical permeability of a reservoir containing discontinuous shales. In Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Vol. 1985-September.
Scopus39

Year Citation
2015 Willigers, B., Begg, S. H., Bratvold, R. B., Julier, R., & Bickel, E. (2015). Appraising unconventional reservoirs. Poster session presented at the meeting of Petrophysical Uncertainty: Why it matters and what to do about it. London: London Petrophysical SOciety.
1984 BEGG, S. (1984). SEISMICITY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE - 30-DEGREES-N-50-DEGREES-N, 1917-1978. Poster session presented at the meeting of GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. BLACKWELL SCIENCE LTD.

University

Prof. Begg teaches mainly in Level 3 and Level 4 of our undergraduate programs and in Masters by Coursework programs.

  • Decision-making, uncertainty assessment and risk analysis (decision processes and tools such as Decision Trees, Influence Diagrams, Probability and Statistics, Monte Carlo simulation and the psychological and judgemental aspects of uncertainty and risk assessment)
  • Economic Evaluation at Asset and Portfolio Levels ("Real Options", Value of Information, Value of Flexibility, Portfolio analysis and selection)

  • Reservoir Characterization (data analysis, 3D modelling with geostatistics and up-scaling)

Industry Workshops and Short Courses

Prof. Begg provides workshops and short-courses (half-day to one week) on topics such as

  • Business & Economic Evaluation
  • Making Good Decisions
  • Value of Information & Flexibility
  • Monte Carlo Simulation
  • Eliciting Expert Opinions and Probability Assessments
  • Portfolio Analysis & Selection

for companies including Exxon-Mobil, BP, BHP-Billiton, Maersk, Dong, Woodside, Santos, BG Group and Stuart Petroleum

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Computationally efficient techniques for well control and placement optimization under geological uncertainty Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Yazan Arouri
2014 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Decision Making for Oil and Gas Projects: Using Front End Loading and Decision Analysis More Effectively Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr David Newman
2004 - 2006 Principal Supervisor Real Options Valuation for Petroleum Investments Master of Engineering Science Master Full Time Ms Yanhua Yao
2004 - 2007 Principal Supervisor Human Decision-Making Under Uncertainty in the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time APrf Steven Mackie
2003 - 2008 Principal Supervisor Multi-Objective Portfolio Optimisation of Upstream Petroleum Projects Master of Engineering Science Master Full Time Mr Otto Aristeguieta Alfonzo

Date Role Board name Institution name Country
2015 - ongoing Chair Academic Board University College London, Adelaide Australia
2014 - ongoing Member Society of Decision Professionals - United States

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