News Cuttings

IADC Chair highlights association initiatives at Houston Chapter virtual meeting

While the drilling industry is facing difficult challenges due to the global pandemic and market downturn, 2020 IADC Chair Julie Robertson urged the industry to remain resilient – as it has through multiple prior periods of hardship. Ms Robertson, who serves as Executive Chairman of Noble Corp, addressed the IADC Houston Chapter during a virtual meeting on 5 August.

“Contributing to the effectiveness of your bottom line and how you can cut costs and maximize efficiencies is where we all need to be,” Ms Robertson said. “It will be a rough couple of years coming up, but I think after that, there will be prosperity again.”

Ms Robertson also reminded viewers that the world needs the energy we produce – this industry is not going anywhere anytime soon. “We’re still going to be here, and we’re going to be here for a long time,” she said. “I firmly believe that the future great-grandchildren of the youngest person on this call will still be living off of oil and gas throughout their lifetime.”

Ms Robertson also provided an overview of key COVID-19 response actions that IADC has taken this year:

• Highlighting the critical role the industry plays in providing energy to the world, including seeking support from governments in the form of aid packages and essential worker designations;
• Transitioning IADC conferences to online platforms;
• Providing opportunities for members to share best practices and support one another through virtual events;
• Continuing to deliver content through Drilling Contractor magazine, which has hosted three virtual panel discussions since June on topics such as the evolving value of automation in the low-price environment and how to keep rig crews safe and healthy; and
• Introducing WellSharp Live, a new distance learning option for WellSharp drilling and well servicing well control courses.

“Like its member companies, IADC has been forced to wade through unfamiliar circumstances,” Ms Robertson said. “Since March, IADC’s focus has been to keep staff safe and productive while ensuring that work IADC does remains relevant to its members.”

New IADC Latin America Chapter celebrates virtual launch

To service current and prospective members in the Latin America region, IADC launched a new Latin America Chapter on 19 August. The group’s mission is to promote and share best practices for achieving high standards in operational efficiency, environmental protection and safety in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands and continental South America (except Brazil).

Officers for the new chapter are:

• Carlos Ortiz Reguer, Chairman, Transocean;
• Alejandro Calderón, Vice President & Vice Chair Offshore, Seadrill;
• Ana Rosique, Vice Chair Onshore, Parker Drilling;
• Soraya Carvalho, Vice Chair Associates, National Oilwell Varco;
• DJ Husted, Secretary, Pacific Drilling;
• Francisco Soriano, Treasurer, Felco;
• Luis Labardini, Chapter Representative, Marcos & Asociados; and
• Pablo Christlieb, Chapter Representative, Marcos & Asociados.

The IADC Latin America Chapter is planning to host two open meetings in 2020, on 24 September and 29 October, as well as its annual general meeting on 10 December. All meetings this year are planned to be online only.

Students take part in IADC onshore conference

About 50 students from schools around the world got the chance to participate in the 2020 IADC Drilling Onshore Conference, held virtually on 19 August. Participating students represented the Maharashtra Institute of Technology in Pune, India; Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India; the University of Wyoming; and Bossier Parish Community College.

“IADC is pleased to offer this virtual conference opportunity to our student chapters,” Mike DuBose, Vice President of International Development for IADC, said. “Although, the industry is going through a difficult period, the students remain keen to gain insights from our industry leaders.”

DC hosts VPD centered on US land drilling safety

To identify best practices addressing health and safety concerns during the pandemic, Drilling Contractor hosted a virtual panel discussion on 15 July featuring representatives from several major US drilling contractors. From top left are Mike Garvin, Patterson-UTI Energy; Kenny Baker, Cactus Drilling Company; Scott Gordon (moderator); Micah Backlund, Helmerich & Payne IDC; and Cody Ashley, Latshaw Drilling Company. Visit DrillingContractor.org to access on-demand playback of this webcast.