People
Energy analysts Douglas-Westwood Ltd. has appointed a new director,Andrew Reid. Reid has over a decade of experience in the energy sector, having worked in the oil service industry, investment banking, fundamentals research, and as a mergers and acquisitions advisor. Reid is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a member of the Corporate Finance Faculty.
Offshore engineering services provider Acteon has namedTom Fulton as president of its operating company, InterMoor. He replaces Chuck Minton who has stepped down for health reasons. Since joining the company in 1992, he has served in various management positions and previously was VP of engineering and projects. He will now manage InterMoor’s operations in Amelia and Fourchon, La., from InterMoor’s corporate headquarters in Houston. Fulton is a registered PE and has 19 years’ experience in project management, design and installation of mooring systems, as well as general marine operations.
Gary Young, BJ Services Co., has been promoted to area manager - Middle East for BJ Tubular Services in Dubai. He will oversee financial, operational, quality assessment matters, as well as managing the division’s bases in Dubai, Azerbaijan, India, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Prior to his promotion, he served two years as Brazil country manager, with a further two years as area operations manager - Latin America, at the division’s regional base in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Young reports to Kenny Watt, division manager of BJ Tubular Services, who is based at the division’s international headquarters in Aberdeen.
BJ Services also recently promotedJeff Smith to VP - finance and CFO. Joining the company in 1990, he previously served as treasurer and interim CFO. Bret Wells has been promoted to treasurer and chief tax officer. With the company since 2002, he previously served as director - tax.
Offshore Specialty Fabricators Inc. has namedGary Hebert as operations manager for its derrick barge division. Hebert has 38 years of experience in the offshore construction industry. He was employed by J. Ray McDermott for 32 years installing platforms, pipelines, and equipment in the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad, North Sea, and Mexico. Most recently he worked for Chet Morrison Contractors for six years as yard superintendent.
Santos has promotedTrevor Brown to VP - geoscience and new ventures. He succeeds Jacques Gouadain, who is retiring from the position after five years with Santos. Brown will be responsible for leading Santos’ domestic and international exploration and new ventures efforts. Joining the company in 2001 from Unocal, he most recently served as Santos’ manager - growth projects. Brown has over 20 years experience in the oil and gas industry in Australia and overseas, including 11 years in Indonesia managing both onshore and offshore exploration programs.
Performance Energy Services LLC, an onshore fabrication and hook-up contractor serving both the GoM and the international oilfield industry, has promotedJimmy Carlos to VP, and John Ray Crispino to operations manager at its main office located in Houma, Louisiana.
Grant Prideco has appointedLias “Jeff” Steen as VP of human resources for Grant Prideco. Steen previously served as VP for administration and legal for ReedHycalog. During the past 20 years, Steen has served an active role in the oil and gas industry. Most recently, Steen was responsible for the management of the legal department, human resources department, QHSE department, and employee training at ReedHycalog.
Ted Howell is the new president and CEO of the Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association. Howell, who takes over from Michele English, has over 25 years’ experience in financial and operations management positions. In his new position, he will be responsible for daily operations and strategic planning; management of staff, and advising the board on issues of concern to members; maintaining relations with government, license-holders and other stakeholders in the East Coast oil and gas industry; and representing the views and interests of NOIA members in various media and forums.
James Pappas, technology coordinator for Devon Energy Corp. in Houston, has been selected to chair the 2007 Houston Area Engineers Week Committee, an organization representing some 30,000 engineers residing and working in Houston. The committee is responsible for selecting and honoring the Engineer of the Year, as well as distributing awards and scholarships to outstanding engineering college juniors and seniors in the Houston area.
T. Jay Collins has succeeded John R. Huffas CEO of Oceaneering International, Inc. Huff’s retirement was planned as part of his service agreement entered into in November 2001, but he it is expected that he will stay on as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Collins came to Oceaneering in 1993 after various executive-level positions with Sonat and Teleco Oilfield Services. He was appointed President of Oceaneering in November 1998 and will retain this title in his new position as CEO.
Bobby Crockett has been named Gulf Coast Regional Sales Manager for Knight Well Services, responsible for serving the gulf coast market between Houston and New Orleans. Crockett brings over 27 years of marketing and sales experience to his new role. Most recently, he was a New Orleans-based sales representative for Superior Energy Services.
Energy data analyst firm Infield Systems Ltd. has placedOwen Williams in a new role as Analytical Services Manager. In this role, Williams will manage Infield’s team of analysts and researchers in carrying out bespoke client work, publishing marketing and technical reports, and developing new supply and demand models for the offshore oil and gas market. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Leeds University.
Intec Engineering has namedChris Tam, Ph.D. as its new chief strategy officer. In this newly created position, Tam’s responsibilities will include strategy development, planning and implementation, and a leadership role in pursuing new technologies and market niches. Tam has more than 20 years of experience in structural mechanics R&D, subsea pipeline analysis, and ultra-deepwater pipeline design and installation engineering.
Marty Martin has joined Steel Pipe and Tube Consultants, Corp. as Sales and Project Manager. Martin brings 30 years of AUT, Coating, NDT and deepwater related experience to the company and will be tasked with continuing to strengthen the firm’s role in 3rd party deepwater consulting. He will also assist in promoting End Measuring, SCR End Matching, and Material Traceability functions offered by Steel Pipe and Tube’s subsidiary, STARR Networks.
Oil States International, Inc. has announced several organization changes. The company announced the appointment ofCindy B. Tayloras president and COO. In her new role, she will continue to report to CEO Douglas E. Swanson. In addition, the company announced the promotions of Christopher E. Cragg to senior VP -- Operations, Robert W. Hampton to senior VP -- Accounting/Corporate Secretary and Bradley Dodson to VP -- Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. John Shoaff will assume the role of president of Sooner, Inc., the company’s tubular services business. All of these organizational changes are effective immediately.
Tommy Dreelan, managing director of Scotland’s offshore engineering services provider Qserv, received the 29th Grampian Industrialist of the Year award. The award is granted to the individual in Aberdeen and North East Scotland who is deemed to have made the most outstanding entrepreneurial contribution to business. Selection of the Grampian Industrialist winner takes into account the individual’s career history, company growth and success, and entrepreneurial skills. On accepting the award Tommy Dreelan said: “I am both delighted and surprised to have won the Grampian Industrialist of the Year Award. It is a tremendous honor not just for me, but for the company as a whole. This award is more of a reflection on the dedication and quality of the entire Qserv team.”
Companies
Schlumberger and BT have formed an alliance targeting the communication needs of the E&P industry. The companies have signed a five-year, $47-million contract for BT to provide global network services to Schlumberger. BT will assume responsibility for the management and operational delivery of Schlumberger’s core MPLS backbone network, spanning 18 countries. The Schlumberger network will be transitioned onto BT’s global MPLS infrastructure. BT will also cooperate with Schlumberger on joint development of network solutions.
A new player has joined the ranks of geophysical companies in Norway.Wavefield Geophysical AS, headquartered in Bergen, provides long offset 2D, high capacity 3D, and full service permanent 4D acquisition services. The company specializes in increasing exploration success and maximizing production from existing reservoirs.
Atkins, a multidisciplinary consultancy, has acquired MSL Engineering Ltd. for $12.5 million. MSL specializes in integrity management of offshore oil and gas installations, particularly in the GoM, which complements Atkins’ position in integrity management with contracts in Houston and the GoM.
Baker Hughes Inc. has completed the sale of its 30% minority interest in WesternGeco, a seismic venture created Nov. 30, 2000 with Schlumberger Ltd., to Schlumberger for $2.4 billion in cash.
A provider of workspace management IT services,Getronics, has secured over $10 million in contracts with Chevron Corp. over the next two years. Getronics will provide remote management of Chevron’s North American network infrastructure, delivery of onsite services in core US locations, and management and monitoring of SCADA, microwave, and other specialty tower devices for Chevron Pipe Line Co.
Halliburton’s Digital and Consulting Solutions (DCS) Division has opened the industry’s first completely integrated and fully digital Real Time Decision Center. This new state-of-the-art facility enables a new level of collaboration by breaking down the silos between traditional visualization and operation centers, and brings all the hardware, software, and people into one place for decision-making. Halliburton has collaborated with technology and service companies such as Intel, Silicon Graphics Inc., NetApp, Hewlett-Packard, and Cyviz to deliver customized, turnkey RTDC solutions to the industry.
Acteon subsidiary2H Offshore has been awarded a contract by BP to provide integrity services for all of the deepwater risers and flowlines on the company’s floating production facilities in the deepwater GoM. Initial work was in progress since July 2005 to develop integrity management plans and analytical models for the riser systems and flowlines. The project is being led out of 2H’s Houston office.
Wichita Clutch, a supplier of brakes and clutches for drilling and service rigs worldwide, has acquired additional disc brake technology with the purchase of U.K.-based Twiflex Ltd. by parent company Altra Industrial Motion. Twiflex is a 60-year-old company specializing in the design, manufacture and supply of advanced braking technology, including its industry-leading MR caliper brake.
SeaMobile, Inc., a leading global provider of advanced at-sea wireless voice, data, and Internet communications services, has acquired Maritime Telecommunications Network, Inc. (MTN), a provider of satellite-based broadband communications and networking services for the maritime industry. The acquisition has been approved by the US Federal Communications Commission. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
SKSWood Sdn Bhd, a joint venture led by a subsidiary of John Wood Group PLC, with Syarikat Kejuruteraan Sistematik (SKS) and Petrokon Utama Sdn Bhd has been awarded a new multi-million dollar contract, by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Snd Bhd to design, procure, construct and install marine water injection pipelines and umbilical cables in Brunei Darussalam. The three marine pipelines will be manufactured onshore at facilities at BSP’s Telisai facility and will be towed out and sunk into position to connect the Champion 7 Main complex and satellite jackets within the Champion field, located 17 mi from the Brunei coast. The contract is for 17 months and is expected to create more than 140 jobs. Work began at the end of March.
Murphy Oil Corporation has, together with partner Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd., signed a Heads of Agreement with Petronas for the sale of natural gas from Sarawak Blocks SK 309 and SK 311 at an initial rate of 250 to 300 MMcf/d for a period of up to 15 years. Initial gas deliveries are scheduled for 2008 into the existing PETRONAS LNG Complex at Bintulu.
“We have been very pleased with our success in finding important natural gas resources across multiple fields on our acreage offshore Sarawak,” said Claiborne P. Deming, Murphy Oil Corp.’s president and CEO. “The signing of this agreement marks a very important milestone and is a natural precursor to the conclusion of our Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) and Field Development Plans in the very near future.”
Meridian Systems, a provider of enterprise project management software for optimizing capital projects, programs and facilities, announced that J. Ray McDermott has selected Proliance software for global project management. J. Ray selected Proliance as part of its new cost management initiative to drive enhanced project execution, centralize project information, and to support standardization across multiple regions. Proliance software combines project and portfolio management functionality, facilities management, business process management and business analytics, on a scalable enterprise technology platform, providing one system of record for managing all capital projects, programs and facilities.
Proliance will serve as the cost management system for project controls staff, providing complete visibility into project financials and supporting global compliance requirements. Proliance will be rolled outglobally, with initial phases taking place in the Dubai and Singapore regions.
