Introducing Mike Bennett, the Oil Industry Expert who Champions Clean-Up Initiatives

Mike Bennett is a proud member of the Envorem team

Envorem’s Chief Operations Engineer, Mike Bennett, has worked for Shell, BP, and Total at different points in his long career in the Oil Industry. Today he offers these major corporations a ground-breaking solution to industrial waste that is inventive, proven and cost-effective.

Mike, who oversees our oil remediation projects across multiple sites, is a forward-thinking leader who believes the industry must clean up its legacy of waste. He could be described as a green tech innovator, however he modestly says, “I’m just an engineer doing my bit for the environment.”

Mike Bennett started his career by doing an apprenticeship with Shell Chemicals. He spent five years at the Shell Carrington plant in the UK training as a mechanical engineer. A long career in the Oil Industry followed with him working both in the UK and offshore on diverse projects as a subcontractor to Shell, BP and Total at different points.

Today, he is known for his engineering ingenuity and has been called upon to oversee many different special projects and one-off assignments. “Throughout my Petrochem experience, I’ve always found myself in a management role,” Mike says, “This has encompassed everything from Project Management to Risk Assessments; Cost Assessments; Securing Permits to Health & Safety etc.

“New projects often start with a site visit, leading a team to go out and see what is possible and then building a team on the ground who require ongoing coaching and supervision, that is what I do and I love to see projects through from start to finish.”

How did Mike’s develop concerns about the environment?

“With my oil production background, I am all too familiar with what the industry does with its waste. Offshore platforms dispose of sludge via ‘skip and ship’ where waste is transported to a central onshore processing facility, or where the guidelines allow, they flush the waste into the sea.

“Industrial waste is something I have been aware of all my life, not only in oil but also in the building services industry where heating tube systems also need to be flushed out. Plus, I’ve worked alongside water authorities to find solutions for the waste they generate. The bottom line is that we've all got to clean up our waste, no matter what industry we work in.”

Would he consider himself as a conservationist or a green tech guy?

“No, I’m just an engineer doing my bit for the environment,” he says.

That augurs well for Mike’s current position at Envorem which offers the World’s Largest Greentech system for treating oil production byproducts. 

“We are leading the field of oil waste clean-up and treatment, nobody else has our technology,” Mike observes. “Envorem is the only company doing what we do, the alternative is incineration which is horrible.”

Mike Bennett on the Envorerm stand on the British Pavilion at Oman Sustainability Week in March 2022

How did Mike Bennett come to Envorem?

Mike met our Managing Director Mark Batt-Rawden while they were both working at Cape Environmental, now known as Altrad. Mike was an Offshore Project Manager and Mark was Technical Director responsible for developing a solids and water remediation capabilities.

“As part of Cape’s R&D work we had developed a non-intrusive vessel cleaning technology but had no way of treating the wastes we extracted,” says Mike. “However, when Altrad took over Cape, they decided they wouldn’t continue with this area of research and development. Mark left to start his own business which is of course is what we now know as Envorem and I joined the company in November 2020.”

What does the role of Chief Operations Engineer, entail?

Having been involved in the R&D into oil remediation through natural cavitation, Mike has been part of the Envorem System from the outset.

“Mark Batt-Rowden designed it, it’s his baby and we are all pleased to play a role,” he explains. “I have helped to design our various plants both here in the UK and on location in Oman, collaborating with the design engineers, Ben, Dashe and Pawel and it is my job to manage deployment and operations.” 

Mike, who is from Manchester is now based at the company’s new UK headquarters in Stoke on Trent. “After working remotely over the past couple of years it’s great to have a place where customers can come and see what we are doing,” he says. “We have a lot of work in progress for the oil industry and, we are also developing a variant for the maritime sector.

“The technology we have is astounding and with the help of the University of Brighton, we can now see our cavitation clouds in simulations. Our solution is really high tech and I know in the background we are also considering how AI could further improve performance.”

Mike often travels to represent the company and commission new projects.  He was out in the Persian Gulf for the Oman Sustainability Week where Envorem exhibited on the British Pavilion in March 2022. (see photograph)

“Back then, there was a lot of interest in our technology, but the oil companies were not quite ready to get out their cheque books. A lot has changed since then and we are in discussions with various oil companies. Our vision remains to have a fleet of Clean-Up Plants operating across the Middle East, before expanding to address the massive pollution challenges in Canada and Africa.”

So, Mike’s role as Chief Operations Engineer is quite a challenging position. Imagine being responsible for plants thousands of miles away, in addition to managing the Envorem facility in the UK. “It’s a job where you are certainly pulled from pillar to post,” he says, “But with a good team behind you, a lot can be achieved, plus we have some great subcontractors working with us.”

Following the successful Envorem pilot project in Oman, Envorem has now completed a five tonne an hour unit and is currently developing the world’s largest sludge treatment system. Each unit consists of approximately eight containers made up of the different modules involved in the clean-up process, including pumping stations, feed process and manufacturing process.

What do Mike’s colleagues in the oil industry think of the green technology Envorem is developing?

“The oil companies all know they have got to go green but are concerned that green-tech innovation can ramp up their costs. Envorem, however, is highly cost-effective to the industry. Furthermore, we're constantly refining the process to minimise the amount of energy we use. This includes looking at solar to produce electricity to run the plant.

“While I was out in Oman, I saw first-hand the suffering of birds and animals trapped in the oil lagoons. I saw birds landing in the middle of a lagoon, thinking it was water, and getting covered in sludge and there was nothing we could do to scoop them out and clean them up. But there is a great deal that can be done, all it takes is for oil companies to grasp the opportunity to change their dirty practices and save money at the same time!”

This seems like a ‘no brainer’ for the Oil Industry to engage with?

“Yes”, says Mike, “Oil companies have a big mess out there but are reluctant to change practices despite the financial and environmental case. It needs a drive from the top. And it’s not as if we interfere with oil production, we can just clean up the new wastes preventing deposits from getting larger and larger.  Just let us come with a mobile plant to treat the waste at source instead of transporting it and dumping in to the environment.”

Finally, to end off on a personal note, Mike Bennett is married with two adult children. He has spent years supporting his son through his love of football and has been a mentor to many young people. He now loves to train up a new generation of engineers. “I’m proud to be part of such a great team at Envorem. I don’t spend the weekends thinking I have to go back to work on Monday. I’m already planning my week ahead on a Sunday afternoon!”