Jaime Kammerzell •Gulf of Mexico Editor
People
Alan Booth,senior vice-president and managing director of Encana (UK), has been elected president of the UK Offshore Operators Association (London).
Phil Bentleyhas joined PSL Energy Services (Aberdeen) to manage the company's UK pipeline, process, and well services operations.
Craig Ogdenhas been promoted to regional operations director at offshore catering group Aramark.
Svein Kjellesvikis the new head of strategic planning and industry affairs at Multiwave Geophysical (Norway).
Red Spider Technology (Aberdeen) has appointedSteve Nicolassembly and test manager.
Apache Corp. has namedJohn Christmannvice president, business development. Christmann joined Apache in 1997 and has served as production manager for the Gulf Coast. The company has also named Kregg Olsonvice president, corporate reservoir engineering. Olson joined Apache in 1992 serving in corporate reservoir engineering.
Chuck Kinghas been named vice president and general manager of Stupp & Mannesmann Line Pipe LP, a new joint sales and marketing company based in Houston, Texas.
Compagnie Générale de Géophysique has appointedChristophe Pettenati-Auziereas senior executive vice president for Geophysical Services, replacing Gerard Chambovet. Chambovet will take over as senior executive vice president for strategic planning, control, and technology.
Dr. Ivor Ellul,CEO of Knowledge Reservoir, has announced that Jaime Kammerzell Gulf of Mexico Editor
BJ Process and Pipeline Services has appointedAndrew Bardento division technical manager. In his new role, Barden is responsible for all business development, engineering, and training activities for BJ. BJ Process and Pipeline also has promoted Doug Sangsterto BP UK continental shelf account manager. Sangster will oversee the division's agreement with BP to provide a range of safety-testing and maintenance services for all BP assets in the UK continental shelf.
Flotation Technologies Inc., a deepwater buoyancy system company, has appointedFred Maguireto sales and marketing manager. Maguire will oversee all sales and marketing activities and is responsible for increasing Flotation Technologies global market share.
David B. Robson,chairman and CEO of Veritas DGC Inc., stepped down in March. After a four-month search, the company's board of directors has appointed Thierry Pilenkoto replace Robson, subject to the receipt of immigration documents that will allow Pilenko to live and work in the US.
Unocal Corp. has namedJames H. Painterto senior vice president, exploration and technology. Painter succeeds Christopher A. Wright,who will retire from Unocal later this year.
John Wood Group has appointedTrevor Nobleand Les Thomasas group executive directors. Both joined Wood Group in March and will join the board. Following the impending retirement of Bill Edgar, group director for the engineering and production facilities division, Noble will be responsible for engineering activities and Thomas for production facilities activities within the division.
Gavin Hills-Joneshas been appointed vice president of reservoir services of Geotrace's UK subsidiary based in London. Prior to this appointment, Hills-Jones served as marketing director of Geotrace, responsible for the Eastern Hemisphere.
Fugro-McClelland Marine Geosciences Inc. has namedVladimir Rapoportas the new president of Fugro CIS. Although based in Europe, Rapoport will lead Fugro's market development within the former Soviet Union. He will oversee the expansion of the Fugro service line for established companies in that region, including Fugro Project Ltd., Moscow; Fugro Project Ltd., Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; and Fugro-Geostatika Co. Ltd., St. Petersburg.
Companies
PennWell Corp., publisher of Oil & Gas Journal, Offshore, and Oil, Gas and Petrochem Equipment, has launched a new publication called Oil & Gas Financial Journal. A preview issue of Oil & Gas Financial Journal premiered at the Howard Weil Energy Conference in New Orleans on March 28 and will be available at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston in early May.
Woodside Energy Ltd. will supply additional accommodation for up to 24 personnel on a gas platform operating on the North West Shelf off the coast of Western Australia. The contract covers the hire of three eight-man accommodation modules over a 12-month period beginning in April. They will be installed on the Goodwyn Alpha platform, which is being modified as part of the low-pressure train project.
DNV has signed a new cooperative agreement with theRussian Maritime Register of Shipping. The agreement covers the classification of ships and mobile offshore units (both newbuildings and ships in operation), and the certification of material and components, consulting, verification, and the provision of third-party services to the oil and gas industry.
The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)and the Offshore Operators Committee(OOC) will receive a Special Citation from the Offshore Technology Conference recognizing their joint development of the IADC/OOC Deepwater Well Control Guidelines. The OTC Special Citation will be bestowed during the 2004 OTC Awards Luncheon on May 4.
Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc. and Subspection Ltd. have agreed to collaborate on future development and marketing of the CP Snake offshore pipeline cathodic protection survey system. The CP Snake is designed as a stand alone screening survey methodology to supersede less sophisticated trailing-wire type surveys and is a shallow water companion to the Subspection ROV-assisted pipeline cathodic protection survey system, the company said.
C & C Technologieshas completed an AUV hazard survey in Green Canyon blocks 596, 640, and 641 for CheveronTexaco'sTahiti project. C & C's AUV, aboard the R/V Supporter, collected high-resolution multi-beam bathymetry, side scan sonar, and sub-bottom profiler data in 1,000 to 1,300 m of water. During the project, the AUV collected 1,000 km of survey line data that onboard route engineers analyzed.
Alderleyhas acquired the issued capital of Specialized Management Services Ltd. and its subsidiary C & M Hydraulics Ltd. This is part of Alderley's strategy to expand the range of systems it supplies to the oil and gas industry, and to enhance its position in the North Sea maintenance and customer support market.
BJ Services Co.'sBJ Tubular Serviceshas expanded its casing, tubing, and hammer services capabilities to the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas market. BJ acquired Cajun Tubular Services Inc. of Lafayette, Louisiana, which provides tubular running, testing, and torque monitoring services to the Gulf of Mexico market. BJ Tubular Services also acquired the assets and business of Petro-Drive,a division of Grant Prideco Inc. Petro-Drive is a provider of hydraulic and diesel hammer services to the Gulf of Mexico market and selected international markets.
Aker Kværner Offshore Partner Ltd. has won a £9-million contract to provide engineering, construction, and operational support over the next five years on BG Group'sArmada platform, 250 km northeast of the Granite City.
