Smith worked in Dublin and Geneva from 1976 to 1980 developing petroleum information systems for Petroconsultants SA.
At its peak in the 1980s, Petroconsultants had some 200 major clients and offices in Dublin, Cambridge, London, Houston, Singapore and Sydney.
Petroconsultants SA assessed client interest at a meeting in Geneva on 20–21 August 1981 with attendees from Amoco, BP, Cities Service, Deminex, Elf Acquitaine, Exxon, Gulf and Shell.