Strategic Advisory
Angel Da Silva
I advise international companies and investors exploring oil & gas, power generation and mining opportunities in Venezuela, including investment funds, banks, family offices and corporations.
Workshops
Full-day, in-person sessions at your office, anywhere in the world. They cover operators, fields, regulation, infrastructure and production.
Decisions it helps with
- Whether Venezuela fits your mandate and where to look first.
- What your team needs to understand before its first meeting with a counterparty.
- Which questions to put to operators, partners and advisors.
Strategic Advisory
Opportunity review, due diligence support and decision support.
Decisions it helps with
- Whether an opportunity meets your criteria.
- What to examine in due diligence, and where the main risks sit.
- Whether to proceed, renegotiate or step back.
Opportunity Origination
Identifying and screening projects that fit the investor’s thesis.
Decisions it helps with
- Which projects deserve a closer look.
- How the options rank against your thesis and constraints.
Transaction Execution
Structuring and negotiation through to close.
Decisions it helps with
- How to structure the investment.
- Which terms to hold and which to concede.
- How to move from agreed principles to a closed transaction.
How an engagement starts
Initial conversation
We discuss your thesis, your timeline and the decision you face.
Scoping
We agree what is in scope, who is involved and what you will receive.
Proposal
I send a written proposal. If it fits, we begin.
About
An advisor who has built and operated an oil & gas company.
I am a petroleum engineer, finance professional, and entrepreneur with over 22 years of experience in oil & gas, project finance, and business development. I co-founded and served as CEO of Wayra Energy and have worked on dozens of projects worldwide, advising companies and investors.
The book
From Scratch
How I Built an Oil Company Against All Odds
The story of how I built Wayra Energy, an oil operator, from nothing: the contracts we won, the capital we raised, the team we built and the mistakes along the way.
Experience
2022–Present
Founder & Principal Advisor
ADS Advisors
Independent strategic advisory to companies and investors across energy, mining and infrastructure, covering investment evaluation, project development, financial structuring and strategic transactions in more than 10 countries.
2017–2020
Co-founder & CEO
Wayra Energy, Ecuador
Co-founded and built an oil & gas operator from scratch, securing three operating contracts, raising over US$50 million in equity and leading a US$250 million investment program. Scaled production to over 4,000 BOPD, generating US$3 million in monthly revenue with a team of 70+ professionals.
2014–2016
Technical Lead, Integrated Asset Management
Halliburton, Mexico & Latin America
Led multidisciplinary teams evaluating upstream investment opportunities exceeding US$1 billion, integrating technical assessments, development plans, financial analysis and investment recommendations for senior management and investment committees.
2010–2014
Reservoir Simulation Consultant
Halliburton, Ecuador
Developed reservoir simulation models, reserves assessments and field development plans for major oil-producing assets, supporting production optimization, investment decisions and long-term development strategies.
2008–2020
Founder & Director
La Comunidad Petrolera
Founded and scaled one of the leading Spanish-language oil & gas professional platforms, reaching over 50,000 registered users and 1 million monthly visits. Built an extensive industry network connecting professionals, companies and technical experts across Latin America.
2006–2007
Reservoir Simulation Engineer
Schlumberger, Venezuela
Supported the implementation of Petrel and Eclipse reservoir simulation software and delivered technical training to reservoir engineering teams.
2004–2011
Professor & Researcher
Universidad Central de Venezuela
Taught petroleum engineering to more than 500 students, supervised applied research and developed technical training programs for oil & gas professionals.