People, Companies & Products

Newman to succeed Long as Transocean CEO

Transocean announced that Steven L Newman has been chosen to succeed Robert L Long as the company’s chief executive officer upon Mr Long’s retirement in Q1 2010.

Steven Newman

Mr Newman has served in his current position as president and chief operating officer since May 2008. He previously served in various senior management roles, including executive vice president of performance; executive vice president and chief operating officer; senior vice president of human resources, information process solutions, and treasury; and vice president of performance and technology. He also has served in international field and operations management positions, including project engineer, rig manager, division manager, region marketing manager, region operations manager and region manager.

“We thank Bob for his tremendous contributions to the company for over 30 years, including, as CEO, his role in creating a strong, world-class organization from the combination of Transocean and GlobalSantaFe,” said Robert E Rose, chairman of the Board of Directors.

Ihab Toma

Separately, Ihab Toma has been named senior vice president of marketing and planning for Transocean. Based in Geneva, Mr Toma will be responsible for marketing and planning for the company’s fleet of 133 mobile offshore drilling units worldwide. He will also oversee Transocean Solutions, offering packages for well construction and field development, and subsidiaries Applied Drilling Technology and Challenger Minerals. He previously served in different capacities at Schlumberger.

Further, David A Tonnel has been named Transocean’s senior vice president, Europe and Africa Unit (EAU). Mr Tonnel will be based in Paris and will succeed Ricardo H Rosa, who will become senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mr Tonnel currently serves as the company’s interim vice president of global supply chain, a position he has held since November 2008.

Pride International makes management changes

Pride International announced that Imran (Ron) Toufeeq, senior vice president, asset management and engineering, has been appointed to the role of senior vice president, operations, asset management and engineering. He will report to president and CEO Louis A Raspino. Mr Toufeeq joined Pride in 2004 as vice president, engineering. He has extensive experience in the design, procurement, construction and operation of ultra-deepwater drilling rigs. As senior vice president, international deepwater division for R&B Falcon Corp, he managed the construction of nine ultra-deepwater drillships.

W Gregory Looser, currently senior vice president, legal, information strategy and general counsel, has been appointed to the new role of senior vice president and chief administrative officer. He will be responsible for executive oversight of the global supply chain, QHSE, industry and governmental affairs, information technology and legal departments. He will continue to report to Mr Raspino.

Brady K Long, currently vice president, deputy general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary, has been appointed to the role of vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary, reporting to Mr Looser. Mr Long currently serves as chairman of the IADC Ethics & Corporate Compliance Committee.

Rodney W Eads, who served as executive vice president and chief operating officer, is no longer with the company.

Blair named Diamond senior VP contracts/marketing

Diamond Offshore Drilling has named Robert G Blair to the post of senior vice president, contracts and marketing. Most recently, Mr Blair served as vice president, contracts and marketing, the Americas. He has been with the company since 1979 and holds both BBA and MBA degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

Poldrack joins Basic Energy

Trampas Poldrack has joined Basic Energy Services as a corporate marketing representative in Houston. He will support and facilitate the development and implementation of the company’s business and marketing plans.Previously, he held the position of business development manager for Cudd Well Control. Mr Poldrack is an active member of IADC, SPE, AADE and IPAA, and has over 22 years of experience in the energy industry.

Saile retires from ENSCO

Ensco International senior vice president – operations Phillip (Jeff) Saile has retired after 22 years of service. Senior vice president Carey Lowe will assume responsibility for the company’s deepwater business unit. Executive vice president – chief operating officer Bill Chadwick will assume responsibility for the North and South America Business Unit.

Jacobsen, Hunt named as senior VPs at Noble Corp

D.E. “Don” Jacobsen has been named as Noble Corp’s senior vice president – operations while Roger B Hunt has been named as the company’s senior vice president – marketing and contracts. Immediately prior to joining Noble, Mr Jacobsen served as vice president, global drilling and completions with Hess Corp, where he was responsible for increasing organizational capability, promoting a culture of safety and health and ensuring operational excellence. Mr Hunt most recently served as senior vice president – marketing at GlobalSantaFe, a position he held from 1997 to 2007.

Weatherford acquires Secure Drilling

Weatherford International has completed its purchase of Secure Drilling, which offers the patented Micro-Flux technology. This follows the 1 January 2009 announcement that it had entered a joint venture agreement with Impact Solutions Group for a 50% interest in Secure Drilling.

New managers at Proserv Offshore

James Cox has joined Proserv Offshore as regional sales manager and Rene Bergeron joined as estimating proposal manager. Mr Cox will be responsible for leading and developing US sales and marketing strategy. Mr Bergeron will be responsible for estimating duration, equipment and techniques for abandonment services projects.

READ Group appoints new CEO

Fraser Louden has been appointed as the new CEO of READ Group. He previously served as the group’s vice president and replaces acting CEO Alexander Shaw, who resumes his role as READ Group CFO.

Alcoa moves ahead on aluminum risers through Noble, Cameron deals

Alcoa has reached an agreement to acquire Noble Corp’s intellectual property pertaining to welded aluminum risers used in offshore oil and gas exploration and development. Noble designs and deploys welded aluminum riser systems using Alcoa’s advanced extrusions and forgings. This acquisition enables Alcoa to partner with oil and gas manufacturers to develop lightweight welded aluminum risers for deepwater applications. Alcoa also has signed a development agreement with Cameron to commercialize aluminum drilling riser systems for offshore oil and gas exploration and development.

Baker completes new fluids plants

Baker Hughes Incorporated has expanded its clear brine fluids infrastructure with the completion of full-service completion fluids plants in Fourchon, La., and Galveston, Texas. With an operational capacity of over 89,000 barrels, these plants will service operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Both facilities include significant storage for clear brine fluids, brine recycling processes and equipment, field brine laboratory capabilities, and specialty product tanks to deliver pre-mixed additives.

PRODUCTS

GT-80 integrated into NOV CTES Cerberus

Global Tubing’s GT-80 (80,000-psi minimum specified yield strength) coiled-tubing products have been integrated into National Oilwell Varco CTES’ Cerberus 9.0 coiled-tubing modeling and management software program, which helps operators to monitor and model the fatigue life and consumption of individual coiled tubing strings. “Coiled tubing operators and their clients can now readily quantify some of the advantages of GT-80 products, such as longer fatigue life, over other products currently available,” said C Robert Bunch, Global Tubing chairman and CEO.

IPD offers parts for Detroit Diesel engines

IPD is introducing engine overhaul products for the Detroit Diesel 60 series engine with two-piece articulated steel crown/aluminum skirt pistons. This release utilizes the IPD-patented cylinder liner with a parabolic cooling groove. “We feel this liner design utilizing our patented groove allows for the cooling necessary while maintaining the flange integrity that is needed in today’s high-horsepower applications,” Bob Straw, IPD vice president of sales and marketing said.

Advanced elastomers for NORSOK M710 standards

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is launching its XploR range of explosive decompression-resistant materials. Fully compliant with NORSOK M710, the range includes Isolast XploR J9513, the first perfluoroelastomer on the market to meet the requirements of this stringent RGD test. This suite of advanced elastomers includes compounds in HNBR, FKM and Isolast Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM). In independent tests, materials within the XploR range were able to satisfy both the NORSOK M-710 sour service and Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD) test conditions.