Life@wood blog
Meet Andy
Chet Nelson is a respected project leader within Wood’s offshore team in Houston, Texas. With almost 30 years of solving challenges around the world with Wood, his deep technical expertise makes him a cornerstone of the team, providing immense value to both our clients and emerging talent alike. Discover more as he shares highlights of Wood’s global offshore business, what keeps him motivated and what it’s like working alongside the best offshore engineers in the world.
My career has spanned nearly three decades and taken me around the globe. It all began when I graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Facing a tough job market in the mid-80s, I moved to Texas and started in construction, gaining hands-on experience in refineries and chemical plants. A major shift came when I joined a new company that led to international assignments in Germany and Saudi Arabia, where I transitioned into offshore construction management—an invaluable five-year learning experience.
Later, what began as a short-term role with Mustang in Houston evolved into a long-term career with Wood, following its acquisition of Mustang. I spent eight years in West Africa on a major floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) project, then helped establish operations in Australia before returning to Houston to lead Asia Pacific expansion. My work took me to Malaysia, China, and Angola, where I embraced diverse challenges and led digital transformation efforts in engineering through information management and data tools—key to modern project success.
In recent years, I've returned to project execution work, which I find immensely satisfying. I was involved with the Cenovus’ West White Rose offshore platform in Eastern Canada and bp’s SouthPass 89E project with Kiewit in the US Gulf. Currently, I'm deeply engaged in the Trion project for Woodside Energy, which will be the first deepwater floating facility in the Mexican waters of the US Gulf. This project has been particularly rewarding, allowing me to mentor young engineers and share my many years of experience.
The Trion project is nearing completion as we collaborate with Korean fabricator HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to hand over the engineering deliverables. The topsides design is modularised and developed as three modules, built separately, assembled in the fabrication yard and then the entire facility transported on a heavy transport vessel across the ocean before being installed at the final location.
The project is particularly remarkable to me as Wood has been involved since inception, undertaking early conception-phase work and winning the front-end engineering design (FEED) competition in 2020. Winning a FEED competition requires the best design, extensive experience, the right team and robust systems.
What has kept me here for so long? It's the people. The offshore business attracts some of the best talent, and I've had the pleasure of working with many dedicated and knowledgeable individuals. Our team's expertise and commitment make us leaders in the field.
Our global offshore team has extensive experience across the world, working with established clients and overcoming unique challenges that have never been done before. Our track record in the US Gulf, especially in deep water floating, speaks for itself, designing more than 50% of the topsides in the last decade. An international company, we have expertise in regions spanning West Africa, Asia, Eastern Canada, the Middle East, and the North Sea.
You know you are building something best in class when you are alongside top industry professionals and clients who are also pushing the boundaries, driving innovation and pioneering the industry.
The development and retention of talented individuals is key to our success. Mentoring and providing opportunities for younger team members to grow is something I am particularly passionate about. I enjoy having the opportunity to pass on my knowledge to the next generation of offshore engineers. Everyone will have a different career path, but we encourage career development and growth opportunities for our people to ensure we strengthen our team for decades to come.
Outside of work, I enjoy surfing, gardening, and spending time on our small farm. Travel remains a passion, and my wife and I love exploring new places. As I look back on my career, I'm grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have shaped my journey. The offshore industry is challenging but incredibly rewarding, and I feel fortunate to be part of it.
