Tom Koløy has built his career around understanding what customers need and where technology can add value. As Wellstarter’s new Chief Commercial Officer, he will help operators use HIPlog’s real-time insight to understand how their wells are performing, optimise production from existing assets and inform future development plans.
Originally from Stavanger, Tom grew up curious about the oil and gas industry, where both his parents worked. After earning a degree in International Business, he began his career at a local start-up, Easy Well, quickly finding his calling in technical sales.
Following Easy Well’s acquisition by Halliburton, Tom moved into product management and regional leadership roles across several markets, including four years working in the Middle East. After returning to Norway, he spent 13 years at i-Tech, another growing start-up, continuing with the business after its acquisition by NOV.
Working across different markets showed him how much customer needs can vary from one region and project to another.
“I’ve been working with a lot of different customers in different areas of the world. So, I’ve seen that there can be very specific value drivers for projects that may not apply from one region to the next.”
Why Wellstarter
Tom met Wellstarter at ONS in 2024 and saw potential for HIPlog to complement NOV’s existing technology solutions.
“Wellstarter’s innovative downhole technology really spoke to me in terms of the value it can bring to operators, understanding how their wells are performing over time.”
“There’s no intervention, no sampling of fluids,” he says. “You can just rely on HIPlog doing its job and the data comes in real time from the permanent downhole gauge as surveying happens during well production.”
Tom wants to help customers turn that information into useful decisions. “They want answers, clear answers – and as quickly as possible to allow them to react.”
From first conversation to ongoing insight
As CCO, Tom will lead Wellstarter’s commercial team and the commercialisation process. That starts with conversations with potential customers: presenting the technology and understanding whether it fits their needs and projects.
“For me, it’s all about meeting with clients, really trying to understand the drivers for a particular project and helping them with a solution that can provide understanding of well performance over time to ultimately increase reservoir performance .”
Once a customer places an order, Wellstarter’s operational team prepares and installs the equipment. The commercial team then stays involved, providing analysis and interpretation of the data throughout the life of the well in close dialogue with the customer.
Focused growth
In the short to medium term, Tom sees the North Sea as an important market for Wellstarter, building on the relationships already established. He also sees opportunities in selected offshore regions internationally.
“We are going to be focusing on offshore clusters around the world where cost of intervention and alternative methods of getting information from the wells are high. I would also like to see meaningful interactions with deepwater customers in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Areas where NOV has presence will drive our focus as well.”
He recognises that commercial growth for a small team means being realistic and deliberate.
“We need to balance what we go after with where our biggest chances of success are. Instead of trying to be everywhere at once, we really need to be targeted about where we meet clients and where we can deliver the most value.”
A local base, closer to customers
Tom will be based in Wellstarter’s Stavanger office, due to open in November. The new location will make it easier to meet customers in person.
“We’re expanding our presence in Norway with new premises in Stavanger, as well as our head office in Trondheim. It allows us to be right on your doorstep and makes face-to-face meetings easier”.
That focus on customers also shapes Tom’s leadership style. He favours an open, collaborative approach, with clear priorities and regular follow-up. He also values the expertise of his colleagues.
“I am not a reservoir engineer or a production engineer, but we have some really good ones on the team. Where I can contribute is with my experience and network: meeting clients, making sure we ask the right questions and understand their project needs and drivers.”
Outside work, Tom enjoys running, skiing, disc golf and spending time at the cabin. He still enjoys a competitive challenge and hopes to motivate the Wellstarter team to join Energistafetten 2027.