About us

Well known and much liked across the international exploration front, Bruce was an inspirational mentor to numerous colleagues and students, in Scotland, Malaysia and beyond

James Bruce Blanche (QVRM, AE*, BSc, MSc, DIC, FRGS, FGS), known to most as Bruce, was born in Gainsborough. He graduated from Sir John Cass College, University of London with a BSc Hons Geology/Geography and Imperial College with an MSc in Petroleum Geology and a Diploma of Imperial College.

Malaysia

Bruce’s first job was as a geologist with the British Coal Board, Oil and Gas Division (which later became Britoil). In 1977, the division moved headquarters from central London to Glasgow, and Bruce and his family gladly settled in Dunblane.  In 1979, Bruce was seconded to the fledgling PETRONAS Carigali and worked as part of a technical team assisting with the training of Malaysian geoscientists and senior management in their endeavour to evaluate and explore open acreage in the Malay Basin.  The team made a major gas discovery, which acted as a catalyst for the development of natural gas in the Malay Basin.

Many of Bruce’s Malaysian colleagues, who he helped train and mentor, subsequently became senior managers.  These good relationships were rekindled many times during his visits to Malaysia as a consultant.  Over the years, Bruce continued to promote the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Malaysian basins.

Scotland and beyond

In 1981, Bruce returned to Britoil’s Glasgow offices where he was responsible for assessment of international acquisitions in Northwest Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Following redundancy in 1986, Bruce and his geologist wife Jean started their own hydrocarbon exploration consultancy, based in Dunblane, focussing mainly on North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle and Far East. 

From 1998, Bruce held a long-term advisory role with Melrose Resources plc. Melrose was seeking to target basins that had a good G&G data set, recent exploration, by-passed hydrocarbon discoveries that may be appropriate for fast-track development and in countries where the fiscal and legal regimes were moderate and open to negotiation.

Based upon these criteria, the Bulgarian Black Sea was identified as an area of interest.  An undeveloped dry gas discovery was identified and Melrose purchased the asset, resulting in the development and production of the Galata gas field and its satellite discoveries, and providing significant cash flow for Melrose. Bruce was instrumental in identifying and evaluating potential several new ventures for Melrose plc and, over later years, he occupied the posts of Exploration and New Ventures Adviser, as well as County Manager, Egypt and Chairman of the Melrose Companies of Egypt.

Active member

In 2014, Bruce was appointed Honorary Professor in the Institute of Petroleum Engineering
School of Energy, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh where he undertook lecturing of post-graduate students, mentoring and tutorials.
 

Bruce served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. He reached the rank of Squadron Leader and served during the First Gulf War.  He was also a military historian.

Bruce died peacefully on 7 November 2018 after a short illness. He leaves a wife, two daughters, a son and three grandchildren.  He will be remembered for his extensive knowledge, kindness, humorous stories and ready wit.

By Rob Wallace, and a number of Bruce’s former colleagues and his family

(This obituary has been edited for brevity. The full, original piece appears below. Editor.)

James Bruce Blanche, QVRM (Queen’s Volunteer Reserve Medal), AE*, BSc, MSc, DIC, FRGS, FGS
22 February 1946 – 7 November 2018

James Bruce Blanche, known to most as Bruce, was born in Gainsborough.  At the age of at 18 months, Bruce’s Canadian father and Scottish mother took him and his elder brother Edwin to Borneo, where his father was employed by Shell as a driller in Seria, Brunei.  Bruce’s early schooldays were in a rattan-roofed English-speaking company school in Panaga, where he spent much of his time gazing out of the window at the Shell Aviation aircraft servicing the oilfields.  A lively child prone to memorable antics, his carefree life came to earth with a bump when, aged 8, he was sent to Scotland to continue his schooling.  He absconded from his private school in Edinburgh and, with no money, managed to get driven by bus to Coldstream where his granny and great aunt took him in and warmed him and his spirit in their fond embrace.

Bruce graduated from Sir John Cass College, University of London with a BSc Hons Geology/Geography and Imperial College with an MSc in Petroleum Geology and a Diploma of Imperial College (DIC).

Bruce’s first job was as a geologist with the British Coal Board (Oil and Gas Division). In 1977, the Coal Board (Oil and Gas Division), now rebranded as the British National Oil Corporation (BNOC), moved headquarters from central London to Glasgow and Bruce and family gladly settled in Dunblane.  In 1979, with BNOC now Britoil, Bruce was seconded to the fledgling PETRONAS Carigali.  Bruce worked as part of a technical team to assist in the implementation and training of Malaysian geoscientists and Senior Management to evaluate and explore open acreage in the Malay Basin, which contained an undeveloped gas condensate field (Sotong) and a large untested gas field (Duyong).  The team recommended to the PETRONAS Board that the Duyong gas structure be drilled and developed first, with the Sotong gas field developed at a later date.  The Duyong gas prospect was drilled and a major gas discovery made, which acted as a catalyst for the development of natural gas in the Malay Basin and the construction of a gas project infrastructure at Terengganu, with the development of a gas market.

Many of Bruce’s Malaysian colleagues who he helped train and mentor subsequently became senior managers.  These good relationships were rekindled many times during his visits to Malaysia as a consultant.  Over the years, Bruce continued to promote the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Malaysian basins.

In 1981, Bruce returned to Britoil’s Glasgow offices where he was responsible for assessment of international acquisitions in Northwest Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Following redundancy in 1986, Bruce and his geologist wife (Jean) started their own hydrocarbon exploration consultancy, based in Dunblane, but focussing mainly on North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle and Far East.  (In terms of fieldwork, jungle and desert were the very best environments to be revisited time and time again.) The consultancy covered a wide range of functions including exploration, new ventures/business development, acquisitions, assessments, evaluation, project management, competitor intelligence analysis and geopolitical overviews and risk assessment.

From 1998, Bruce held a long-term advisory role with Melrose Resources plc (latterly PetroCeltic International plc) making a significant contribution to establishing Melrose’s acreage portfolio and he continued to contribute to Melrose’s growth as an independent exploration and production company. Melrose was seeking to target basins that had a good G&G data set, recent exploration, by-passed hydrocarbon discoveries that may be appropriate for fast-track development and in countries where the fiscal and legal regimes were moderate and open to negotiation.

Based upon these criteria, the Bulgarian Black Sea was identified as an area of interest as it had, following the demise of the Soviet Bloc, been opened to exploration by western companies in the mid- to late 1980s, resulting in a good geophysical and well data set.  An undeveloped dry gas discovery had been identified (the Galata gas field).  The data set for this area was reviewed and evaluated and it was recommended that Melrose purchase the asset and proceed to evaluate the discovery and implement a development plan.  This resulted in the development and production of the Galata gas field and its satellite discoveries. The field provided significant cash flow for Melrose.

In addition, the hydrocarbon potential of onshore Egypt was regarded as a possible area of involvement, but it was recognised that Melrose could not compete financially in the international license bidding rounds in Egypt.  It was decided to undertake a study to target small non-operator companies involved in partnerships in Egypt that may be vulnerable to corporate acquisition.  During late 1998/early 99, a Calgary-based target company was identified and its Egyptian onshore Nile Delta and Western Desert assets evaluated.  It was recommended that Melrose purchase these assets in order to give it a substantial non-operated equity (50%) in 3 blocks, one of which had a by-passed wet gas discovery (Qantara field) which was identified as a possible fast-track development to provide further cash flow.  Melrose concluded the purchase and began its partnership with Merlon Petroleum to develop the Qantara and other fields.  During the period 1999 – mid 2006, Melrose was an active technical participant in these Egyptian licenses and influenced the operators.  In July 2006, Melrose purchased the remaining assets from Merlon Petroleum, thus becoming the operator with resultant dry gas, gas and condensate, and oil producing discoveries.

Bruce was also instrumental in identifying and evaluating potential new ventures offshore France (Rhone Delta), in South-east Turkey and Upper Egypt (Mesaha Block 6) which were subsequently acquired by Melrose Resources plc.  He also participated in the training and motivation of both UK-based and Egyptian technical teams.

Over later years, Bruce occupied the post of Exploration and New Ventures Adviser, reporting to the Board of Melrose Resources plc, and assisted in the recruiting of geoscientists. From September 2006 to May 2007, Bruce was Country Manager, Egypt and was Chairman of the Melrose Companies of Egypt.  He maintained his connections with the Egyptian Government authorities responsible for license awards and with other operators in the country.

With the merger with PetroCeltic, Bruce continued to provide technical and managerial advice to senior management.

From 2001 to 2017 Bruce was Chairman / Treasurer – Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa Scout Group (MMEA), a Group of international oil companies meeting in London six times a year to exchange and discuss competitor activity in the upstream sector, identify potential new venture areas and opportunities and generally network. In addition to being Chairman, Bruce represented member companies of the Group and regularly compiled tailored reports of the meetings, with a particular emphasis on G&G activity and identifying new venture opportunities, either via farmin or purchase.

Bruce was also a Member of the London Oil Asia Scout Group and the Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union Scout Group, who meet in London six times annually to coincide with the MMEA Group meetings.   Membership of these scout groups enabled Bruce to make many friends and contacts in senior management and within national oil companies.

In 2014, Bruce was appointed Honorary Professor in the Institute of Petroleum Engineering
School of Energy, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh where he undertook lecturing of post-graduate students, mentoring and tutorials.

In addition, Bruce was engaged in mentoring young petroleum geoscientists, guiding them with their projects.  He also mentored company management at board level on international strategies, new ventures and strategic issues.  He was retained as exploration and new business development advisor to several new start and medium-sized international companies. 

Bruce was an Active Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and a Member of the Geological Society of Malaysia, the South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain.  He was also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Geological Society of London.

In addition he was also served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force reaching the rank of Squadron Leader and served during the First Gulf War.  He was also a military historian – but these are stories for another day.

Bruce died peacefully in hospital on 7 November 2018 after a short illness. He leaves a wife, two daughters, a son and three grandchildren.  He will be remembered for his extensive knowledge, kindness, humorous stories and ready wit.

By Rob Wallace, and a number of Bruce’s former colleagues and his family