A Memorial professor has been honoured with one of the highest awards presented by this province’s oil and gas industry.

Dr. Michael Enachescu is an associate professor and the Husky Energy Senior Fellow in Exploration Geophysics with the Department of Earth Sciences.

He has been with Memorial since 2003.

On Thursday, Feb. 1, he was presented with a special honour by the Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) at the group’s annual general meeting and award dinner in St. John’s.

Dr. Enachescu is the recipient of the association’s Outstanding Contribution Award for 2007. He was singled out for his years of activity in the oil and gas sector. According to NOIA, Dr. Enachescu has been a key player in the exploration and development of the offshore petroleum resources here on Canada’s East Coast.

He spent more than two decades extensively involved in offshore research and development. Dr. Enachescu was a lead player with Husky’s exploration team from 1984 to 2003 and was involved with regional geoscience studies and a number of strategic discoveries and development plan applications, including both White Rose and Terra Nova oil fields.

“I feel humbled. At the same time it feels great to know that all my past efforts as a geoscience professional and tutor helped made a difference in the quest for finding oil and gas offshore Newfoundland and Labrador and that those efforts were noticed by my peers and colleagues involved in the industry,” Dr. Enachescu said.

He noted the award is extra special for him – and his colleagues in the geoscience community – since, he said, they are rarely recognized outside their scientific and professional associations.

“Receiving this award demonstrate that the members of NOIA and of the Award Selection Committee, are well aware that behind every offshore oil and gas mega-project or giant mining development are dedicated geology and geophysics professionals,” he said.

“We work behind-the-scenes and may not be involved in the ribbon cutting ceremonies but we have a major contribution to the continuous health of the resource sector.”

NOIA's Outstanding Contribution Award was created in 2002 to recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to the development and success of Newfoundland and Labrador’s petroleum industry.