People, Companies & Products
Bedingfield is Apache’s VP worldwide exploration
Apache Corp recently announced changes in the leadership of its regional and worldwide organizations. John Bedingfield, Australia region vice president and managing director for Apache Energy, has been named vice president – worldwide exploration and new ventures. John Christmann, vice president – business development, was named vice president of Apache’s new Permian Region, based in Midland, Texas. Tom Maher, exploration manager for Apache Egypt Companies in Cairo, was appointed Australia region vice president and managing director, Apache Energy.
Bates to replace Reynolds as Hercules Offshore chairman
Hercules Offshore announced that chairman John T Reynolds has left to focus on other business interests and his role as co-founder and managing director of Lime Rock Management. Thomas R Bates Jr, who has been a director at Hercules since the company’s inception in 2004, will assume the chairman position. Mr Bates has previously served as president of the Discovery Group of Baker Hughes, president and CEO of Weatherford/Enterra and president of Anadrill at Schlumberger, among other positions. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.
Goober Drilling is now Keen Energy Services
Keen Energy Services is the new name of Goober Drilling, which the company believes will better reflect its total service offering, said president and CEO Ed Jacob. Keen Energy Services has 38 drilling rigs, as well as trucks, cranes, loaders, dozers and other construction equipment for rig transportation and rig site construction. Click below for a DC-exclusive video interview with Mr Jacob.
Paradigm signs deal for seismic interpretation suite
Paradigm has signed a multi-year agreement with CPC Corp of Taiwan to provide global access to the company’s seismic interpretation suite. The technology gives geoscientists multi-2D and -3D tools for creating seamless interpretation and analyzing seismic data within a 3D canvas. Paradigm recently announced a US$65 million cash investment from affiliates of Fox Paine & Co, which Paradigm hopes will allow it to accelerate the commercialization of its R&D technologies.
H&P’s Fears to retire; Tardio will be new VP, CFO
After nearly 24 years of service, Helmerich & Payne executive vice president and chief financial officer Douglas E Fears announced his plans to retire on 30 April 2010. Juan Pablo Tardio will be promoted to vice president and chief financial officer. Mr Fears joined H&P in 1986 as an internal auditor. He was elected VP and CFO in 1988 and promoted to executive VP in 2008. Mr Tardio joined H&P in 2001 and took responsibility for investor relations in 2005. He was promoted to director of investor relations in 2008.
TTS Sense to provide roughneck for Sakhalin rig
TTS Sense signed a contract with Parker Drilling for a JIM 20 multipurpose roughneck to be installed on a new ExxonMobil rig built for Sakhalin Island. The contract is in addition to previously announced agreements for the company to deliver drilling control systems and a mud equipment package to Parker. The roughneck is a four-in-one machine: regular roughneck, casing roughneck, mud bucket and dope robot. Delivery is expected in November 2010. Click below for a DC-exclusive video demonstrating the roughneck in operation.
[youtube kphqogKFbRs]Newman assumes COO duties for Transocean; Saltiel joins Atwood
Steve Newman, Transocean president, has temporarily assumed the duties of chief operating officer. Rob Saltiel, who previously served as the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, has joined Atwood Oceanics as president and CEO, replacing John R Irwin. Mr Irwin, who retired in December 2009, is a long-time supporter of IADC and a past IADC chairman. Transocean had previously announced that Mr Newman would become CEO of Transocean in early 2010 when Bob Long retires as CEO.
Omron, ALTA to partner on drawworks control
Omron Oilfield & Marine is partnering with ALTA Rig Systems to deliver automated control systems for ALTA’s electric drawworks product line. ALTA designs and manufactures gear-driven drawworks in the 600-hp to 3,000-hp range. The company says it has seen success in the Canadian land market recently as gear-driven drawworks gain popularity among rig builders. Gear-driven drawworks are safer, lighter and have a smaller footprint, the company says.
Nabors facility gets safety ‘star’ from OSHA
Nabors Well Services’ Elk City, Okla., facility has been approved by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) at Star level. This achievement required a rigorous audit of operations, practices, safety records and employee interviews. Nationwide, only 0.03% of businesses of any type are VPP-approved.
