News Cuttings
IADC awarded for outstanding international safety leadership
The International Regulators Forum (IRF) has named IADC a recipient of the 2007 Carolita Kallaur Award for Outstanding International Safety Leadership. The award recognizes IADC’s latest contribution to improving safety in drilling operations — the IADC Health, Safety and Environmental Case Guideline.
The HSE Case Guideline, introduced in October 2006, provides a framework with which companies can develop integrated health, safety and environmental management systems to help reduce risk in drilling operations.
According to the award certificate: “This excellent achievement has great potential for enhancing the safety of offshore drilling operations worldwide, and member countries of the International Regulators Forum greatly appreciate the work the International Association of Drilling Contractors has performed in developing this document.”
The award was bestowed on 3 December in Miami, Fla., at the International Regulators Offshore Safety Forum 2007.
Dr Lee Hunt, IADC president, remarked, “We are honored to be recognized by IRF with this prestigious safety award. IADC is committed to developing health, safety and environmental programs that will not only safeguard the people who work offshore but also foster the long-term goal of HSE collaboration for the drilling industry.”
Use of the IADC HSE Case Guideline allows drilling contractors to align their business activities with a variety of international standards and regulatory requirements. The HSE Case represents a voluntary set of core principles applicable to any mobile offshore drilling unit, regardless of geographic location.
South Central Asia Chapter holds technology meeting
About 500 delegates from the drilling industry attended the 19th IADC Technology Meet, held 6 December 2007 in Mumbai, India.
In welcoming remarks by IADC South Central Asia (SCA) Chapter chairman U.N. Bose of ONGC, he praised IADC for providing a platform for oil companies and service providers to exchange their views.Ken Fischer, IADC regional vice president – Middle East & Asia, then presented a plaque to R.S. Sharma, ONGC’s newly appointed chairman and managing director, in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of technology, safety and operational effectiveness in drilling operations. International Paints and Blade Energy also made technical presentations.
The technology meet was followed by the 2nd IADC SCA Chapter Golf Tournament on 8 December, held under the theme of “Bridging the Gulf with Golf.”
Service Awards recognize distinguished IADC members
Kevin Lacy, head of discipline-drilling and completions for BP, and Gary Casswell, vice president eastern hemisphere operations for Pride International, each received an IADC Exemplary Service Award during the 2007 IADC Annual Meeting. The awards were given out during the keynote breakfast on the event’s opening day.
Mr Lacy is a longtime stalwart of IADC whose contributions include development of industry best practices and enhancements in drilling safety. He began his career in the drilling industry in 1980 after earning his BS degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2002 he was named to the University of Tulsa Engineering Hall of Fame.
As chairman of the former IADC subsidiary Drilling Contractor Publications Inc (DCPI), Mr Casswell oversaw the transformation of IADC’s official magazine into a world-class publication. He directed the dissolution of the DCPI organization and strengthened IADC’s control and management of the magazine. He served on the Advisory Committee for the 2006 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and is a director of IADC. Mr Casswell has served in his current position since May 1999 and has worked in the contract-drilling industry since 1974. He graduated from the University of California at Long Beach with a degree in business management.
IADC Career Connection holds job fair at Fort Hood
IADC Career Connection (ICC) kicked off its Returning Military Campaign with the first exclusive returning military job fair at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, on 9 January 2008. Nearly 200 soldiers attended, said ICC manager Linda Silinsky-Kephart, and response from the 17 recruiting companies was overwhelmingly positive. Several employment offers were made on-site, with applications being filled out in a makeshift lunch room.
The event was “well worth the effort, and we are looking forward to the next IADC-sponsored military recruiting event,” said Jim Ayers, Noble Corp recruiter.
Other participating companies were: Bandera Drilling, ENSCO International, Grey Wolf Drilling, Nabors International, Norton Energy Drilling, Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, Pinnergy Ltd, Premium Drilling, Pride International, Rig Boss, Rowan Companies, Sandia Drilling Company, Scorpion Offshore, Transocean, Union Drilling and Unit Drilling.
The job fair was held in partnership with the Army Career Alumni Program (ACAP), which provides job assistance to returning military as they transition to civilian life.