Simon Toole

This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

Simon Toole is a retired senior UK civil servant. His last role after a 33-year career working in government was as head of exploration, licensing and development at the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).

Biography

At the OGA Toole was:

responsible for oil and gas licensing, exploration and development, and methane and CO2 storage. He previously had responsibility for the department’s regulation of the UK’s offshore oil and gas environmental regime and initiated the developments made to that regime in the late 1990s. Simon has worked in the Government energy departments since 1983 having worked first as a wireline engineer in the UK and Middle East. He holds a BSc in Geophysical Science and an MSc in Petroleum Engineering. During this time he has been seconded to Amoco (Operations) and Shell (Gas) and has worked on all aspects of regulation of the oil and gas industry.

He was previously head of Oil & Gas Licensing, Exploration & Development at DECC.

Attended government fracking dinner

In his previous role at DECC Toole attended a dinner on 9 May 2013 hosted by senior civil servants Jeremy Heywood and Stephen Lovegrove, permanent secretary of DECC, which was organised by the Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil, DECC.

The purpose was 'to discuss the issues relating to the development of unconventional gas and oil in Lancashire and nationally'. The dinner was held at the Dickson Room, Preston Marriott, Broughton. Other confirmed attendees included:

• Ken Cronin – Chief Executive, UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG)
• Francis Egan – CEO, Cuadrilla Resources
• Duarte Figueira – Head, Office of Unconventional Gas & Oil, DECC
• Peter Forsyth – Director, Strategy & Investment, Carillion
• Tony Grayling – Head of Environment Policy, Environment Agency
• Phil Halsall – CEO, Lancashire County Council
• Calum MacLean – Chairman, Ineos O&P Europe

Secondments

• Shell (Gas)
• Amoco (Operations)