The USI team has extensive experience working in harsh environments in the offshore oil and gas industry as well as other heavy industries. The three principals, Gerry Brennan, Darrell Upshall, and Tim O’Leary have more than 60 years combined experience working on offshore oil and gas and heavy industry projects and operations.

Doug Youden, Vice President, Operations, and Leslie Woodford, Office / Accounting Administrator, manage USI’s day-to-day operations.

Because of our working knowledge of both the pre-production and operations phases of projects, we are particularly well suited to anticipate and meet Client requirements—everything from identifying staff with the required skill sets and expertise, to providing complete project management support and solutions.

Members of the USI Leadership Team

Gerry Brennan, P.Eng. (Naval Architectural Engineering)

Gerry has 23 years experience in the upstream oil and gas industry. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1986. His current role is Lead Project Engineer for the Hibernia Southern Extension subsea tieback. Gerry’s experience includes:

• Facilities Engineer for Mobil Oil Canada
• Site engineering, construction, commissioning, and start-up for the Hibernia Platform
• Maintenance engineering in the North Sea
• Operational project management for the Hibernia and Terra Nova Platforms
• Turret and Interface Manager for the White Rose FPSO project.

Tim O’Leary, P.Eng. (Mechanical Engineering)

Tim has 20 years experience in progressively responsible engineering roles, including 14 years in the oil and gas industry. He received a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Marine Institute in 1983 and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1991. Tim’s roles have included:

• Project Operations Manager
• Project Manager
• Engineering Manager
• Construction Site Manager
• Project Engineer
• Piping Engineer

Tim is currently the Project Operations Manager for Production Services Network (PSN), St. John’s office, responsible for EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) for the Terra Nova FPSO and the Hibernia Platform.

Darrell Upshall, P.Eng. (Mechanical Engineering)

Darrell is a Facilities Engineering Consultant with 20 years industry experience, 16 years of which have been spent in the offshore oil and gas sector. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1989. The roles he has served include:

• Lead piping engineer, mechanical engineer for Hibernia project construction
• Piping / structural offshore hook-up supervisor for Hibernia start-up
• Offshore modifications and maintenance supervisor during Hibernia steady-state operations
• Onshore surveillance engineer with Hibernia Production team
• Hook-up manager for Husky Energy’s White Rose FPSO during the offshore start-up
• Turnaround Lead for Petro-Canada’s Terra Nova FPSO facility
• Construction engineer on Hibernia South Expansion PMT

Darrell’s current role is Facilities Engineer Consultant for Hibernia Gas Lift Project.

Doug Youden, MBA, BComm, CRSP

Born and raised in St. John’s, Doug obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1986 and an MBA in 1991. In 2005 he obtained the accredited designation of CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional) and has held senior management positions in various industries in Operations, Health/Safety/Environment/Quality (HSEQ), and Human Resources. Doug worked for eight years in the oil and gas industry with ASCO Canada until November 2008, when he joined Upstream Solutions Inc. as VP Operations. He is responsible for business development, human resources, safety, and operations.

Leslie Woodford

Originally from a small community in Burin, Newfoundland, Leslie moved to St. John’s to attend College of the North Atlantic where she obtained a Diploma in Business Management – Accounting in 2003. Leslie has more than five years’ experience working in the oil and gas industry. She was an Accounts Payable Analyst at Hibernia Management & Development Company Ltd. before joining the USI Team in September 2005 as Office / Accounting Administrator.