About us

A world-class discovery with huge potential.

Founded in 2018, Coastline Exploration has been established to help develop the hydrocarbon industry within East Africa. Following the discovery of commercial quantities of oil in Kenya and Uganda, coupled with world-class offshore gas reserves in Tanzania and Mozambique, Coastline Exploration believes there is huge potential for further significant oil and gas discoveries across the region, and in particular offshore Somalia.

1,000s of wells previously drilled by the Coastline team

Billions of barrels of hydrocarbon potential

At 3,000 km in length, Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa, completely unexplored

A partnership built on 150 years experience​.

Coastline is led by a senior management team who have previously discovered and developed oil and gas resources both onshore and offshore in Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Eurasia.

We plan to work in partnership with local governments by entering into production sharing agreements, which will generate revenues for the duration of the development stage, demonstrating Coastline Exploration’s commitment as a long-term East African participant within the industry.

We will work to create sustainable relationships within East Africa, benefiting the communities in which we operate by developing and building vital infrastructure, training and employing local people as well as creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to set up businesses that will support the oil and gas industry.

Collaboration is key.

Collaboration is key to developing sustainable relationships, ensuring that our operations benefit both local and national communities and addressing their differing needs. Establishing two-way dialogues with all our partners is a priority for our business.

We also firmly believe that, as a natural resources company, it is vital that we minimize our environmental impact by following the best practices developed by industry leaders with great efficacy in other areas of the world. Environmental stewardship is a core value for each and every one of us.

Jacob Shields Ulrich

Chairman

Mr Ulrich is also Chairman elect of Discovery Exploration and advises several energy transition companies. He served as Chairman, then Chief Executive Officer, then Chairman of Sterling Resources Ltd from June 2013 until early 2017. Prior to that he was an independent advisor, serving on the Boards of Mediterranean Oil and Gas, Astrakhan Oil Co., Mitra and Vostok.  Mr Ulrich was Senior Energy Advisor for Och-Ziff Capital Management Group during 2008 – 2011. He was Managing Director and later Executive Director for Centrica from 1997 – 2008. He was Managing Director of Accord Energy, a JV between BG and NGC during 1994 – 1997.  Jake was a founding partner and SVP of NGC (Dynegy) in Houston, from 1987 – 1994.  Mr. Ulrich holds B.S. Engineering from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Chicago. 

William R. Anderson

CEO

Mr Anderson has been the CEO of Coastline Exploration since it was founded in 2018. Previously, Mr. Anderson was a member of the Board of Directors of Eurasia Drilling Company Limited (LSE)(“EDC”) from July 2008 until July 2019. He was Chief Financial Officer of EDC from July 2008 to March 2015.

He is currently a non-executive director of Alussa Energy (NYSE).  Mr Anderson served as the Chairman of the Board of Vanguard Natural Resources LLC (NASDAQ) from its founding in 2007 until August 2018.  Mr. Anderson was a non-executive Director of Gulf Marine Services Plc (LSE) from February 2014 until April 2019.  Mr. Anderson was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Prime Natural Resources, Inc. from May 2002 to March 2007. Also served as a Director of Transocean Ltd. (NYSE) from September 2007 to June 2011 and served as a Director of Boots and Coots, Inc. (NASDAQ) from April 1998 to September 2010.  Mr. Anderson is a certified public accountant and holds a B.S., magna cum laude, in business from the University of Colorado and a Master’s degree in taxation from the University of Denver.  He is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. 

Simon Ayat

non-executive director

Mr Ayat was the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Schlumberger Limited until January 2020. Prior to assuming that role, Mr Ayat served as the company’s vice president Treasurer, and previously held the position of vice president Controller and Business Processes.

Mr Ayat’s career with Schlumberger, which began in 1982, spanned a variety of management positions from Paris, Houston and Dallas to the Middle East and Far East regions. His assignments included serving as Oilfield Services group controller; vice president finance for non-oilfield activities; GeoMarket Manager for Indonesia; Sedco Forex regional vice president, Asia; group controller for Wireline; and region controller for Wireline in the Far East and for Sedco Forex in North and South America. He began his career as controller for the Forex Neptune drilling division. Mr Ayat graduated from the University of San Francisco where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and accounting.

R. Kirk Sherr

non-executive director

Mr. Sherr is President of Clearview Strategy Group LLC, an international energy strategy and project development consultancy.

Mr. Sherr is currently developing path-breaking PV solar and hydrogen/ammonia projects in North America and Africa.  Mr. Sherr has global project development experience in major energy markets including C-suite positions for companies developing LNG-to-Power, natural gas pipelines, distribution systems and power plants.  Mr. Sherr was a founding member of the Brazilian Independent Power Association, developed the first grid-scale natural gas power plant in Brazil and a private natural gas pipeline in Mexico.  Early in his career, Mr. Sherr worked as a Foreign Service officer, serving in Asia, Latin America and Washington, D.C.  Mr. Sherr received his AB in economics, government and Spanish from Franklin and Marshall College; he obtained his JD from the Univ. of Denver and is a Colorado Bar Association member.  Mr. Sherr is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.