BUSINESS BRIEFS
People
North Sea emergency response and rescue services provider Viking Offshore Services has appointedGraeme Wood as their new operations director. He succeeds Peter Hingston, who retired in December 2005. Graeme started his career as a marine engineer and has held a series of project engineering and management roles. Most recently he worked as business unit manager with PSL before joining Technip in 2003, working as operations manager for the UK Regional Business Unit.
W&T Offshore, Inc. recently announced thatS. James Nelson Jr.has joined its board of directors. Nelson will serve as chairman of the company’s audit committee. Nelson retired in 2004 from Cal Dive International Inc., where he was a founding shareholder, CFO, vice chairman and a director.
Flow measurement technology provider McCrometer has expanded its reach in Asia-Pacific with the opening of a new regional office in Perth, Australia and the appointment ofDavid Splattas regional sales manager. Splatt will oversee McCrometer’s regional flow meter sales for both the oil and gas and process industries. Splatt began his career as an instrument technician with Fischer and Porter in the late 1970s. For the past eight years he has served as the Western Australian instrumentation product coordinator for Tyco Flow Control, McCrometer’s Australian representative.
Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. has announced thatVictoria A. Obenshainhas joined as director of strategic wireless, responsible for further developing and managing the company’s global wireless strategy for its line of Panasonic Toughbook semi-rugged and rugged notebook computers. Obenshain will also work with vertical market teams to optimize wireless sales and strengthen relationships with key carrier, modem and channel partners. She brings more than 26 years of wireless and financial services experience to Panasonic. Most recently, she was executive director of business channel marketing and sales, business development for Cingular Wireless.
Varel International has appointedRon Mayo the company’s new Gulf Coast regional manager, working out of Houston. Mayo will be responsible for building and managing the operations and sales team for Varel’s Gulf Coast Region. Mayo, a University of Texas graduate, has more than 30 years experience in the oil and gas industry, 20 of those working in the field in various operations management roles for Baker Hughes Inteq. He joins Varel following a decade of sales management appointments at Smith Bits.
Kevin Bradyhas been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing of Knowledge Systems, a software provider that also provides training and consulting services to E&P companies worldwide to help avoid drilling hazards and improve drilling success. Brady will lead sales and marketing efforts. Brady, who has more than 18 years of experience in sales and marketing, project management, research and engineering, and field operations, has spent the past year managing and directing Knowledge Systems marketing efforts. Brady holds a B.S. degree in professional geology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and an MBA in marketing from the University of Houston.
Bruce Cragerhas been named CEO of Houston-based Intec Engineering, as of Feb. 14.
Crager brings more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He was president of ABB Offshore Systems Inc. and previously senior VP of Oceaneering International Inc., with responsibilities for mobile offshore production systems.
Crager holds a B.S. degree in ocean engineering from Texas A&M University at College Station, and an MBA from the University of Houston.
Crager takes over from John Reed, who was appointed CEO of Intec’s sister company, Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC). After a handover-period to ensure a smooth transition, Reed will move to The Netherlands to continue his career with HMC.
Gary Prehoda joined Enventure Global Technology as its global director of sales. Prehoda will lead a business development team in sales of solid expandable tubular systems. He brings more than 33 years of oil and gas experience in service, sales, and engineering to his new position. Most recently with Schlumberger Oilfield Services, he previously headed Dowell’s Gulf Coast sales and marketing department.
Companies
Baker Hughes Inc. has acquired Nova Technology Corp. of Broussard, La., for approximately $70 million in cash and assumed debt. Nova is a supplier of permanent monitoring, chemical injection systems, and multi-line services for deepwater and subsea oil and gas well applications.
Belmet Marine (Pty) Ltd, a diversified steel fabrication company based in Cape Town, South Africa, has entered into a cooperation agreement with the specialized high-pressure steel pipe fabrication and supply company3CMetal of Pau, France. The agreement will include the exchange of technologies, design information, joint fabrication and project work, and the general supply of specialized products. The two companies currently concentrate on supplying steel fabricated products and services to the offshore and oilfield industries primarily in Europe, West Africa, and the Middle East. The synergies presented by these two companies will benefit their existing customers and also expand both companies’ footprint internationally.
Vetco International announced that its offshore drilling and subsea systems providerVetco Gray will celebrate its 100-year anniversary of service to the oil and gas industry in 2006. Vetco Gray has introduced innovations such as metal-to-metal sealing technology, development of marine riser systems, and deepwater wellhead technology, and has spread its operations to more than 60 locations in over 30 countries. In addition, the company boasts such firsts as being the forerunner manufacturer to utilize Six-Sigma quality machine tools and ‘art-to-part’ technology using 3D solid modeling.
Ferguson Modular has secured a £1-million contract to provide Transocean with nine offshore accommodation modules for the deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig the Sedco 709. The modules will be manufactured and commissioned at Ferguson’s Inverurie facility with delivery scheduled for April 2006. The complex will comprise of a total of nine units including six 10.3 m accommodation modules, two office modules, and a locker module to form a facility capable of sleeping up to 36 persons. The requirement will support the drilling program on Shell’s Bonga project offshore Nigeria.
Offshore Logistics Inc., a provider of helicopter services and production management services to the offshore energy industry, changed its corporate name to Bristow Group Inc. In conjunction with the corporate name change, the company also has changed its common stock symbol on the New York Stock Exchange to “BRS.” The company currently operates under the brand names of Air Logistics and Bristow Helicopters for its helicopter services, and Grasso Production Management for its production management services. These brands will continue to be used in their respective markets alongside the new Bristow name and logo because of their strong customer recognition and association with a heritage of excellence in safety and service.