Medley becomes Meni boss

Norwegian Petroleum Museum

Jay E Medley became the first chief executive of Mobil Exploration Norway Inc (Meni) in Stavanger, and took office on 1 September 1973.

— Mobilsjef E. J. Medley på besøk på Statfjord A i 1979. Foto: Odd Noreger/Norsk Oljemuseum

He grew up in Texas and was educated as a geophysicist and electrical engineer. Before coming to Norway, he was head of planning for Mobil’s exploration and production activities in North America.

Medley headed the build-up of Mobil’s Norwegian organisation, was involved in exploration drilling in PL 037 and the Statfjord discovery, and then led the first phase of the field development – installation of the A platform. Three days after that facility came on stream, a farewell party was held for him before he returned to Texas and Houston. He spent another five years with Mobil before retiring.

In 1984, he was made a knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav for his contribution to the build-up of Norway’s oil industry.

Sources
Stavanger Aftenblad 25. november 2004. Gründer for oljegigant.
Lerøen, B. nr. 1. 2005. Kjærlighet på dypt vann. Statoil magasin.
Lerøen, B., & Norge Oljedirektoratet. (1997). 1001 brønn. Stavanger: Oljedirektoratet: 86.
Mobil Explorer jubileumsutgave 10 år i Norge. Stavanger 1983:16.