Summer 2015 - Noble Corporation

NOBLELink
The Noble LINK is published by and
for the employees of Noble Corporation
and its subsidiaries and for our clients
and friends. Comments regarding the
Noble LINK should be directed to:
John Breed, Noble Drilling Services Inc.
13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Email: [email protected]
Editor: John Breed
Design: Scott McFarlane
Summer 2015
4
6
12
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Hooked
on Safety
NOBLE NEWS
Winning
performance from
around the world
Practicing a consistent technique of quartering
upstream and getting a natural drift contributes to
success in fly fishing. In much the same way, working
safely is a function of consistently performing all the
steps to safe operations to yield the catch of another
day worked safely. Congratulations to the following
rigs for consistent safety performance.
RIG UPDATES
Rigs head to the
Black Sea and Arctic
RIGGING &
LIFTING
Know the
lift types
LISTEN UP!
Safety message
in a song
C
NO TIME
for downtime in
Supply Chain
olumns
20
24
26
28
31
Work Safe...Live Safe
Beating the Heat
Noble Efforts
Community Support & Scholarships
Technology Desk
Preventing Hacker Attacks
Ethics Azimuth
Beyond Tone from the Top
Noble Recognition
Employee Promotions &
Harnessing Workforce Potential
Years without a Lost-Time Incident
18
13
9
8
6
5
4
3
2
years
years
Noble Max Smith
Noble Homer Ferrington
Noble David Tinsley
years
Noble Jim Thompson
years
Noble Roger Lewis
Noble Danny Adkins
years
Noble Hans Deul
years
Noble Discoverer
Noble Joe Beall
years
Noble Charles Copeland
years
Noble Scott Marks
Noble Globetrotter II
years
1
Noble Paul Romano
Noble Don Taylor
Noble Gene House
Noble Bully II
year
Noble Regina Allen
Noble Sam Turner
Noble Amos Runner
Noble Bob Douglas
Noble Houston Colbert
Noble Jim Day
Noble Sam Croft
Noble Alan Hay
Noble Mick O’Brien
Maturín
Ciudad Guayana
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up to 85 knot winds and complicated logistics are
Islands
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West Falkland
from drilling
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Puertoin
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East Falkland
Punta Arenas
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Santa Inés Island
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On the Cover
The Noble Houston Colbert, one of six JU3000N
high specification jackups in the Noble fleet, is
currently operating off Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego
under contract to TOTAL. To date this rig has
successfully performed three rig moves and delivered
two exploration wells and two development wells
following delivery to the region. The rig’s operations
are in an area of extreme remoteness in what is locally
known as the “end of a straw.” Extreme weather with
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FRANCE
1
Cycles Happen…
W
inston Churchill once held that
“History is written by the victors.” In
Churchill’s case, he was pointing to
the fact that whoever wins the war will largely
influence how future generations will judge the
victor’s ideas and beliefs, not just the outcome
of a particular battle. Perhaps there is a larger
meaning here, as well, for those of us in the
offshore drilling business. When the history
of this cycle is written, I fully believe Noble
will be a victor and will help write the next
chapter in our industry’s history.
So what happens next? When the crude price
drops nearer to the all-in cost of production, further
exploration and investment can be discouraged.
Indeed, this year, a number of operators have scaled
back investments. This is important, since new
investment is needed to offset naturally occurring
production declines in existing fields. However again,
as history tells us, production and demand will come
into better alignment. The question for us is not if,
but when, and what is the best way to position Noble
for that coming reversal of fortune? That’s exactly
what we focused on; day in and day out.
That’s a bold statement in the face of moderating
day rates, more than ample rig capacity, vacillating
crude prices and, at least near-term, muted energy
demand. Taken together, our industry is facing
formidable headwinds. We have faced these winds
before. For example, global oil prices went into free
fall, declining from over $30 a barrel in November
1985 to nearly $10 by July 1986. The U.S. oil industry
basically shut down. In late 1985, there were nearly
2,300 rigs drilling wells; a year later, there were barely
1,000. That indeed was a cycle that was both dark
and deep.
When it comes to assessments on the forward
price of crude, there’s a new prediction almost every
day. Some experts forecast continued erosion on
price. Others predict that the U.S. benchmark for oil
will finish the year well above $60 a barrel. As for me,
I believe it is nearly impossible to accurately predict
future crude prices because there are just too many
variables. The key is to prepare for a broad range of
possible outcomes and that is just what we have
been doing at Noble for the last few years.
History tells us these cycles happen, what drives
them and how they end. For example, in 2000 supply
began to struggle to keep up with rising demand.
Global economic growth, especially in Asia, pushed
demand for crude as the Chinese middle class began
driving cars. Chinese oil imports, virtually nonexistent
in 1985, have risen steadily ever since. As everyone
buying a gallon of gas today can tell you, however,
supply is currently outstripping demand but that
won’t always be the case.
2
First and foremost, we are staying true to our
core beliefs and safety culture. We have positioned
ourselves for cycle transparency with substantial
backlog, strong customer relationships, excellent
performance and a focus on safety. The daily ebb
and flow of economic and political news is in my view
just noise. A hopeful sign on Monday may well be
undone on Tuesday, and more importantly, we can’t
really impact things on the macro level. In working
safely, safeguarding the environment and delivering
operational excellence for our customers, we keep
our hands on the tiller of issues we can impact. Our
message to the troops is to stay focused, stay positive
and above all, work safe.
CHAIRMAN’SLetter
We are also staying close to our customers, as we
always do, helping them understand the value we
create. A race to the bottom of the dayrate curve
is not always in their best interest. To be clear, they
care about dayrates, but lower dayrates are not a
substitute for top-tier performance. Our goal is
to be a partner in the process, helping them bring
efficiency, uptime and stellar execution to every
well we drill. Done well, these Noble attributes lower
finding costs, a key consideration in a low oil price
environment.
The Noble fleet is among the most technologically
advanced and capable in the industry, which sets
us apart from some of the other established names
and puts us on par with many of the newer names
who have entered the space. Ensuring we have the
right assets, in the right places is an ongoing effort.
This was a factor in our decision to retire three rigs
earlier this year. Said simply, we have worked hard to
become a higher-spec driller, capable of addressing
the most challenging of drilling opportunities. That’s
an advantage we hold today and it’s an advantage I
believe we will maintain going forward.
Our continuing focus on reliability also is central
to recognizing the full benefit of our contract
backlog. Today our maintenance, operations and
sourcing groups have a laser-like focus on driving
uptime performance. Technology has helped
simplify some aspect of this process, but at the end
of the day, it is the professionalism and diligence of
our teams that is driving our performance to new
heights in measurable ways. Having guided investors
to anticipate our downtime to be around 7 percent
through the first half of 2015, we delivered far better
performance, with downtime running around
4 percent. That equals real value for our customers
and better earnings for Noble.
In
the
current
industry environment,
another priority at
Noble is to maintain
a solid balance sheet
and adequate liquidity
to manage through the
cycle. We are doing
a great job managing
our debt and our
excellent execution
has provided strong
cash generation from
operations — almost
$200 million more cash than expected through the
first half of 2015.
The bottom line here is that Noble has successfully
navigated these economic waters before and I
believe we are doing what it takes to be positioned
well for the inevitable upturn in the drilling market.
That upturn will happen, and Noble is taking the
steps necessary to position for advantage. In this, I
have full faith in the Noble team to get the job done
as they lead us into the better days ahead.
David W. Williams
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
3
Noble Sam Croft
e .
h
t
.
d
.
s
n
i
a er
nn
i
W
Receives Honors
L
eaders representing many of the
top businesses in North American
shipping gathered recently to celebrate
the winners of the Lloyd’s List North
American Maritime Awards 2015. High on
that list was the Noble Sam Croft, which
was named as the recipient of the North
American Offshore Industry Operator of
the Year Award.
The Croft is one of four new ultra-deepwater
drillships Noble owns based on the Hyundai Gusto
P10000 hull design, capable of operations in water
depths of up to 12,000 feet and offering a variable
deck load of 20,000 metric tons. The Croft is
equipped to operate in up to 10,000 feet of water
while offering DP-3 station keeping, two complete
six-ram BOP systems, multiple parallel activity
features that improve overall well construction
efficiencies and accommodations for up to 210
personnel.
All four rigs are equipped with a 165-ton heave
compensated construction crane to facilitate
deployment of subsea production equipment,
providing another level of efficiency during field
development programs.
Lloyd’s was particularly impressed with the fact
that the Croft was delivered on time, under budget
with more than 2.2 million man-hours with no Loss
Time Injuries during its construction. They also
noted that upon arrival to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico,
the vessel passed the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate
of Compliance inspection without deficiency; and
broke the world record in setting the heaviest casing
and landing string run ever, all within just three
months from the start of operations.
4
NOBLENews
In Other Words...
Praise from Noble Customers
“I’d like to pass on my thanks to Noble for
the successful operation on the first well drilled
by the Noble Sam Turner. It’s great to get the
first one under our belts. Generally the rig and
the team have performed well since the start
of the well and the signs are that operations will
continue to get better as everyone becomes
increasingly familiar with the equipment. It can
be a difficult period working with a brand new
rig, so thanks to all involved in getting the first
well done with little problem time. I now look
forward to what I hope is a safe and efficient
operation on the rig’s first HPHT well.”
Derek Charlton
“You must be very proud of the achievement
that your teams, onshore and offshore, have
made to date on Shearwater SW01s1, especially
given the significant milestone of today’s report,
with the production liner now run to TD and
cemented in a text book fashion. SW01s1 in
my view represented the most technically
challenging well to drill on the Noble Hans Deul
program to date and today’s report represents
yet another successful milestone reached on
the well. Congratulations to you, and your
teams from your colleagues in ExxonMobil! This
milestone required state of the art engineering,
planning and excellence in execution in order to
achieve.
HEAD OF DRILLING & WELL SERVICES MÆRSK OLIE OG GAS A/S
Richard N. Cutt
Drilling Advisor
ExxonMobil Development Company
5
T
he Noble Globetrotter II was so named due
to its pioneering design. Smaller, narrower
and equipped with a tower that could be
lowered using its onboard crane, it was thought
that there were few offshore drilling locations
that the Globetrotter design could not reach.
However, this claim had not been rigorously
tested until this year when Noble Globetrotter II was
mobilized to work for Shell in the Black Sea.
The briefest glance at a map of the area shows the
immense challenge of accessing the Black Sea via the
Mediterranean. From easy sailing between Gibraltar
and west Turkey, the transit becomes immediately
complicated as the land masses close in between
Bulgaria and Turkey. Access from the Mediterranean
to the Black Sea is via the Sea of Marmara, which
separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey. The
Sea of Marmara then connects to the Black Sea
through the Bosporus Strait. It was through this
narrow highway that the Globetrotter II needed to
pass in order to reach its commitment for Shell.
This posed a phenomenal feat to accomplish. A
challenge for all drilling rigs to cross the Bosporus
Strait into the Black Sea is that they must pass
underneath several bridges. To complicate matters
further, per Turkish government regulations, the air
draft (the distance from water level to the highest
point on the rig) must be less than 58 metres.
6
How would a conventional rig face this challenge?
It would need to have a section of the derrick
removed in order to reach the required air draft. The
derrick would then need reassembling afterwards,
an extensive process which has historically taken up
to around three months. There could be significant
delays while waiting on weather as conditions,
particularly wind, would need to be very favorable
for the derrick builders to be able to work and for
equipment lifts to take place safely. A large floating
crane would need to be rented to remove and
reinstall the top derrick section and associated
equipment. All in all, the process would require
an extensive and expensive shipyard visit with
significant out of service time.
This is where the design of the Globetrotter II came
into its own. The rig does not have a conventional
derrick. It is equipped with a Multi-Purpose Tower
(MPT) that was designed specifically with the
challenges of top section removal in mind. The top
section of the MPT is outfitted with removable
electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic services, and one
of the shipboard cranes is large enough to perform
To Get to the Other Side…
Noble Globetrotter II shows benefits of unique
design with recent crossing into Black Sea
the removal and re-installation of the section, thus
eliminating the need for a large floating crane or an
extensive shipyard visit.
How did the challenge progress? Firstly, a brief
stop at Besiktas shipyard in Turkey was required to
add light winterization to prepare the rig and the
crew for the cold winter days in the Black Sea. A
specialized skid was built and installed on the vessel
to secure and store the top of the MPT once it was
removed for the transit along the Bosporus Strait
into the Black Sea. The team also installed Shell’s skip
and ship equipment for cuttings handling, changed
out the ROV umbilical, as well as performed some
other client requested projects. The critical activity
though was the main lift of the top section of the
MPT which was flawlessly performed on January 1.
After completing final inspections, on January 6 the
rig departed Besikitas and made its way across the
Bosporus Strait.
7
With the bridge crossing complete, the
challenge of reassembly had just begun. The tough
environmental conditions became immediately clear
upon arrival at Eregli port in the Black Sea. Snow
and high winds caused the port to shut down for 3
days. The sheltered location of the port nevertheless
enabled the team to prepare for the reinstallation
of the MPT. After the weather cleared, the project
team and rig crew began the process of successfully
reinstalling the 170 ton section and reconnecting all
services. The rig was ready to go to work on January
16. The project was completed safely, under budget
and ahead of schedule.
What is remarkable is that the entire process from
arrival in Besiktas shipyard until the ship was drillready took less than one month, and this included
the many days needed to complete the various client
requested projects. This is thought to be about one
third of the average time taken by other rigs that
have made the crossing. Equally impressive was the
incredible performance of the rig on its first well
location in Turkey. As Firas Adi, Noble Operations
Manager, described: “the rig performed very well for a
period lasting over 5 months with minimal downtime
or major events. Shell and their partners were very
pleased with the rig’s performance”.
Operations were completed on July 7 and the rig
sailed off location back to port at Eregli where the
team went through the process of removing the
MPT again. This time it took only four days and the
rig departed port on July 12 back to Sile-1 location for
the final DP (dynamic positioning) trials. The trials
were completed on July 16 and the rig sailed through
the Bosporus, arriving in the Canakkale Port in the
Marmara Sea on July 18, where it reinstalled the top
section of the MPT. This also took only four days,
another major milestone. Excluding the time needed
for DP trials, the rig was able to disassemble, transit
the Bosporus and reassemble the MPT in 11 days,
an achievement that cannot be overstated. The rig
departed port on July 22, headed for Gabon where it
will drill another well for Shell.
Overall, the unique capability of the Globetrotter II
design resulted in immense cost and time savings for
the customer and the flexibility to easily access what
has historically been a very inaccessible market. This
was a phenomenal accomplishment, truly illustrating
the rig’s “globe-trotting” capabilities.
The Bosporus Strait is a narrow and
complex natural channel with several
sharp turns and changing currents.
8
One of the shipboard cranes is large enough to
perform the removal and installation of the top
section of the MPT, thus eliminating the need for
a large floating crane or a shipyard visit.
9
Noble Discoverer Returns to the Arctic
The Noble Discoverer has returned to waters off of Alaska where the rig is in position for
operations this summer. During the relatively short Arctic drilling season, Shell intends to drill in
the Chukchi Sea on the Burger prospect. Consistent with our commitment to the environment,
Noble’s focus is on assuring the Discoverer operates exceptionally well. A major aspect of that
preparation has been operational readiness and assurance programs included preparing the rig for
Arctic service and training for the crew to ensure safe and environmentally protective operations.
Significantly, 40 percent of the crew has prior Arctic drilling experience and approximately $200
million has been invested in the vessel in the past few years. These improvements included a
new main engine, new lower-emission generators, new deck cranes, additional winterization and
additional hull sponsons for improved stability.
About Noble in Alaska
Noble is also committed to the people of Alaska. Since 2012, we have registered 21 Alaska
suppliers for local purchasing of equipment, parts, and services. Noble has also been working to
develop an Alaska-based workforce as part of a program implemented in January 2014, creating
20 entry-level development positions onboard the Discoverer. These crew members have been
trained using Noble’s training and “Knowledge, Skills and Ability” programs, including training
on-the-job and at our Lower-48 facilities.
10
11
Rigging & Lifting Initiative
T
he new Rigging and Lifting Operations
procedure was created to enhance the
performance of lifting operations on all Noble
assets. The sheer volume and criticality of lifting
operations warranted a thorough review of how
this type of work is approached and executed. The
new procedure combines updated regulatory
requirements with industry and Noble best practices
that help employees plan and conduct lifting
operations in a safe manner that will set them, and
Noble, up for success.
procedure provides the guidance and structure
for achieving this goal. We will continue to build
upon this framework by incorporating the feedback
we receive from the field as we seek continuous
improvement of our policies and procedures.
Joey Kawaja, Regional Manager - U.S. Gulf of
Mexico, summarizes “The development of the new
Rigging and Lifting Operations procedure is another
example of introducing a policy that incorporates
Noble and Industry best practices into one global
document. This procedure was developed by
Noble personnel and is something we can all be
proud of. Now that we have the procedure, it
is the responsibility of everybody to ensure we
operationalize the procedure into every lift we make,
whether that is utilizing the deck cranes, making a lift
with hoist on the rig floor, or maintenance rigging up
to change out a motor. Utilizing our nine question
Pre-Lift Pocket Card Checklist will ensure every lift
is a safe lift.”
To begin with, it was imperative that enhanced
access to training became mandatory. By creating
multiple levels of training for our workforce, Noble
is providing the opportunity for formalized skill
development to go along with on-the-job training.
To supplement training, a nine question Pre-Lift
Pocket Card Checklist has been provided for
reference as the baseline for every lift that is made.
A Lift Categorization Flowchart, containing criteria
for assigning each lift as General, Complicated, or
Critical, has also been incorporated as a guideline
that ensures appropriate
measures have been
taken into consideration
for each lift. In addition,
Identify the need for
a lifting operation.
a new template has
Ask:
been developed to allow
• Does the operation involve the lifting of
personnel?
employees to document
• Is the load in excess of 90% of the crane
capacity or the rigging equipment WLL?
• Does the load require more than one
their lift plans and execute
lifting appliance?
NO to all
• Is load significantly fragile?
Questions
an in-depth assessment
• Is the load significantly expensive and
irreplaceable?
• Inadequate headroom for the lifting
of the varying factors
appliance and slings?
• Is further engineering input required?
associated with each lift.
• Are synthetic slings being used?
Know the Different Lift Types
12
The goal is to provide
our employees with all
of the tools necessary to
carry out lifting operations
in the safest manner
possible while protecting
people and assets. This
Ask:
• Is the load in excess of 75% of the crane
capacity or rigging equipment WLL?
• Is this a blind lift?
• Is the load missing designated lift points?
• Does the load require cross hauling or
involve multiple lifting appliances?
NO to all
• Is the lift taking place in a confined
Questions
space?
• Is the load of an odd shape with a high
or unknown center of gravity?
• Is this the first time a lift of this type
has been carried out?
YES to any
Question
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The following apply:
Single lifting appliance
Basic rigging/slinging
Known weight
Dedicated lifting points
Below 75% utilization of crane
and rigging
Personnel are trained and competent
Load is pre-slung and all rigging
is within certification
Lifting operation has been
performed before
All hazards have been
adequately addressed
YES to any
Question
This is a Complicated Lift
This is a Critical Lift
Requires the following:
• Detailed JSA
• Reference the Pre-lift Pocket Card Checklist
• Toolbox talk and task-specific lift plan
• Permit to Work
• ARM approval
• Supervised by ARM/Lead Rigger
Requires the following:
• Detailed JSA
• Reference the Pre-lift Pocket Card Checklist
• Toolbox talk and task-specific lift plan
• Lead Rigger approval
• Supervised by Lead Rigger
Lift Safe.
This is a General Lift
Requires the following:
• Detailed JSA
• Reference the Pre-lift Pocket Card Checklist
• Toolbox talk
• Supervised by Lead Rigger
Plan your
work, work
your plan.
Plan: Categorize your lift and carefully plan each
element of the job being done.
Lift safe.
13
No time for
DOWNTIME
I
n today’s world of e-commerce, many
businesses never close. Stores open
their doors 24 hours a day, global
enterprises that operate across time
zones and support customers and
suppliers non-stop. Today being “on
the payroll” day-in and day-out is the
goal and the avoidance of downtime is
a critical concern.
14
At long last, the rest of the commercial world is
catching up with the offshore drilling industry.
“Noble was quickly moving into a new era of
offshore operations, with a more high-spec, high
capability and technologically-advanced fleet,”
Brian says. “Our challenge was to develop a plan for
implementing an effective inventory management
system leveraging Noble’s SAP ERP system and
standards for critical spare management. At the
same time, our task was also to facilitate a culture
change throughout the fleet.”
To answer the challenge of downtime, Noble has
implemented an effective and efficient inventory
system throughout its global fleet, with the goal
of improving the efficiency of operations and
reducing the risk of downtime.
“The supply chain for an offshore drilling rig can
be very complex and difficult to manage and many
of the parts are highly specialized,” says Brian Wolf,
Noble’s Vice President of Global Supply Chain
“Critical parts must be not only readily available,
but we must navigate the logistics of moving these
parts to where they are needed on a moment’s
notice.”
Prior to 2009, Noble, and most offshore drillers
for that matter, had the luxury of maintaining
inventories of a few key components at each rig.
Decisions on what parts to keep on hand were
largely based on personal experience and historic
experience. As rigs grew in complexity and the fleet
grew more globally dispersed a more systematic
approach was needed.
Understanding the Need
Owners of a Rolex watch may believe them to be
among the most complex and demandingly made
products in the world – but in reality they contain
fewer than 120 moving parts. By comparison,
many of the systems aboard a modern drilling rig
have thousands of individual parts – all made to
exacting tolerances. Failure of any of these parts
can bring drilling to a halt.
“For example, the engines that power our HHI
drillships are made up of over 1,500 distinct and
unique parts,” says Rod DeVersa, Director of
Procurement. “When you consider that each of
the four ships has six engines – that represents
tens of thousands of individual parts. “It’s not
necessary that we have all of those individual
parts on hand at any one time, but clearly we
have to understand how likely they are to fail and
how best to get replacements if they are needed.
In the case of the main engines installed on the
HHI ships, we inventory over 350 of those unique
parts for routine and preventative maintenance
requirements.
15
For some critical parts, Noble has created its own internal source of supply – which includes both parts for
subsea systems and topside components. Management of the system is performed at our “Noble North,”
facility located near Houston’s Intercontinental Airport. That complex, spanning more than 25 acres and
90,000 square feet of storage under one roof, serves as a hub for many long-lead-time critical spares.
On Noble’s drilling rigs today, heightened
attention to preventive maintenance, regimented
order points and mandated minimum stock levels
are the norm. When the reorder points are reached,
a requisition is automatically proposed, reviewed,
approved and sent to a buyer in Supply Chain who
sources and manages the purchase order. This helps
ensure that in as much as possible, parts are on hand
at the rig level for many of the most often replaced
parts. Efficiency of the procurement process is
strengthened with fixed price and delivery contracts
that account for fifty percent of all materials supplied
to the rigs.
When it absolutely has to be there overnight
Having the right part on hand or available at
a vendor can sometimes be just half the battle.
Getting the part to a rig on the other side of the world
often falls to Kevin Smith, Noble’s Senior Logistics
Manager.
“We have worked hard to establish close working
relationships with freight forwarders who meet our
high standards for business and process transparency,
as well as them offering real time ability to track and
trace our shipments.”
For Noble, a delayed supply shipment is more than
a temporary inconvenience. “If we’re waiting for a
part or material and not having that item prevents
us from doing our work, our clients and our revenue
are directly impacted,” says Kevin. “It would be a big
problem if a critical part is lost in transit and we could
not supply our rigs with the parts they need.”
16
“By working closely with our suppliers and our
forwarders – a missed shipment rarely happens –
even to remote locations. We all understand clearly
that the ramifications of not having a smooth-running
logistics operation can have a profound impact on
our bottom line. We never want a rig to go offline
because we are waiting for materials,” he adds.
Materials and supplies are sent via air, ocean, or
ground shipments to regional hubs, then into the
country nearest to the offshore rig being supplied.
Logistics providers in each country handle customs
and last-mile shipping, then make deliveries to shore
bases operated by Noble.
One such shore base is located at Bayou Black,
Louisiana, which handles freight shipments bound
for the Company’s fleet in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2014,
the Bayou Black facility coordinated the shipment of
more than 3,200 “packages” bound for Noble rigs.
This volume is all the more impressive when you
consider that they represented a combined weight of
more than 5 million kilograms (11 million pounds) and
a value of more than $100 million. Most important
was how the timely movement of those materials
supported Noble’s performance.
“Noble’s materials management team today is
a key contributor in Operations ability to reduce
downtime,” says Therald Martin, Vice President
Operations - Eastern Hemisphere, Operations. “This
process has now been refined to a point where their
use of historical ware and failure data such that even
for our newbuilds, they have the correct material
for spares even before field operations start. This
approach is clearly driving uptime performance.”
“As Brian and his team have continued to centralize
his supply chain group with the capital spares
warehouse, we are better prepared to deal with any
planned or unplanned event with efficiency through
their control of available spares and equipment,”
said Ronald James. Vice President of Operations Western Hemisphere, Operations
Off the shelf
Noble’s global supply chain encompasses large,
highly technical equipment as well as standard
supplies used by rig crews such as switches, electric
motors and valves. The Company purchases
materials and supplies throughout the regions it
operates in and employs buyers who are responsible
for those specific areas.
Strong supplier relationships
Solid relationships with suppliers also help Noble
overcome the logistical challenges that are inherent
in operating a global, high-spec fleet. Direct spend
with our suppliers is in excess of $700M annually. Of
that, the top 10 make up more than 50 percent of the
total, making Noble a significant customer to parts
and components suppliers.
Approved purchase orders are sent via electronic
information interchange to freight forwarders, each
of whom has a two-way EDI link to Noble’s SAP
system. “We get items into our supply chain system
as soon as possible, so we work with contracted
logistics providers that have a link to us,” Smith says.
“One of our greatest strengths is removing
impediments to the smooth flow of items,” Brian
adds. “We’ve established relationships with suppliers
who understand our urgency and our needs. They
understand that our rigs are counting on the items
they make to arrive and that in a very real sense –
time is money.”
17
Listen Up!
Noble Clyde Boudreaux crew tunes in
to innovative safety message
L
istening to music through earbuds is not
something you will see on the drillfloor of
a Noble rig, but you may well hear thumping
bass and rock show vocals pounding out a safety
message during a pre-tour meeting aboard the
Noble Clyde Boudreaux.
Those memorable tones are part of two music
videos produced by crew members to help drive
home the importance of safety. Far from the dry
and predictable safety videos of days past, these
videos takes a fresh approach to communicating an
important message. As important is the fact that
there’s solid science supporting the effort.
Lights, camera, hardhat
The videos, which feature nearly a dozen members
of the rig crew, were cast, filmed and recorded
using the talent and situations encountered every
day. By filming on the rig, the safety staff and rig
management concluded that the message is more
immediate and relatable to the crew, as opposed to
the standard or generic videos sold commercially.
The crew members also enjoy the opportunity to
see themselves on screen, and to play a part in
communicating the importance the rig places on
safety.
18
Customer support
As with all rig activities, Noble believes in
working closely with our customers. Safety is
no exception — and cooperation in this area is
particularly keen between Noble and Shell — which
has successfully utilized the Boudreaux in the Gulf
of Mexico, Brazil and currently in Australia. For their
part, Shell supported the use of the videos and sees
them as supporting safety and crew cohesion aboard
the rig.
“I really support the videos we have been
making,” says Fokko Schröder, Shell’s Senior Drilling
Supervisor aboard the Noble Clyde Boudreaux, “For
me, the videos are a real morale booster, and more
importantly, you can put in the video all sorts of
examples of how to work safe and avoid unsafe
working practices.”
How it works
Think about a song you first heard years ago and
the odds are that with little effort the particulars of
that song can often be recalled simply by “playing”
the song mentally.
Psychologists have long been fascinated by this
connection between music and memory. Hearing an
old song can take you back decades in the blink of
an eye. That’s helpful if you are learning the alphabet
or a foreign language, to be sure, but what about
music’s ability to impact safety culture? It turns out
that music’s benefits to memory and its ability to
influence behavior aren’t limited to the classroom.
In fact, today music as a teaching tool has gone
mainstream — with applications ranging from
public service announcements targeting teens and
distracted driving — to treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia.
The video contributors onboard included (L-R): Toney Jett
(ET), Brenham Daniels (SSE), Leigh Sutherland (STS) and
Dwayne Te Aho (Shell Safety Coach)
One of the reasons the link between music and
memory is so powerful is that it activates such large
areas of the brain. A recent brain imaging study
found that music activated the auditory, motor and
emotional regions of the brain, and did so more
completely than other activities such as reading or
engaging in a conversation.
The motor areas process the rhythm, the auditory
areas process the sound, while the limbic regions
are associated with the emotions. The study found
that whether their participants were listening to the
Beatles or Vivaldi, largely the same areas of the brain
were active. Adding imagery to the music, such as
with a related video, further enhances the effect.
“In memory terms,” says Dr. Victoria Williamson,
Vice Chancellor’s Fellow for the Arts and Humanities
(Music) at the University of Sheffield. “We often find
that music can be a bit of a mixed bag — sometimes
it helps with learning but sometimes it can get in the
way. The key is to tow that line between stimulation
and distraction…In your case, you have hit the right
end of the spectrum.”
“We call this kind of effect ‘elaborative encoding’,
basically you make a memory easy to make and
draw on later if the initial presentation of the
to-be-remembered information is more elaborate,
multi-sensory, and active in mind.”
The team is already working on this year’s
song and video, which will air soon. To
watch the video “Hands Free Rules”, visit:
http://vimeopro.com/noblecorp/link
19
Beating the
Heat
On and off
the job
“Everyone complains about the weather,
but no one does anything about it,”
holds Mark Twain’s famous expression – but that
isn’t exactly true at Noble, where the Company is
in the forefront of addressing extreme work related
weather concerns from the Arctic to the Equator.
In the Middle East, for example, heat stress is a
major challenge for workers who are engaged in
outdoor activities. This can be particularly important
for team members who spend hours in temperatures
that could lead to ailments such as stroke, cramps,
rashes and exhaustion.
20
Starting in April each year, daytime temperatures
in the Middle East can easily reach 120° F (49° C).
By the end of September, it starts to cool down – to
around 95° F (35° C). Working in these conditions
safely means paying special attention to a number of
factors – with proper hydration topping the list.
“Heat stress can be a significant hazard in our
operations and we are constantly raising awareness
of our crews regarding eating and drinking habits,”
says Odis Cobb, HSE Supervisor, Middle East. “We
encourage our people to stay ahead of dehydration
issues by drinking a three to one ratio of electrolytes
to water as early in the day as possible.
“For the members of the crew who observe
Ramadan and fast during the day – we take the
added step of facilitating them working on night
shifts to further reduce risk. In addition, we have
huge fans called blowers that can provide much
needed ventilation to cool off,” Odis adds.
WorkSafe...
Knowing what to look for…
Beyond personal wellbeing, even mild dehydration
leads to deterioration in short-term memory, simple
visual orientation, simple arithmetic, and complex
motor coordination. For this reason – individual crew
members also play an important role in protecting
themselves from heat stress.
“On the rig, with regard to heat stress, we foster
a culture of being proactive with your health on
and off the job,” notes Michael Brainerd, Safety &
Training Supervisor aboard the Noble Globetrotter I.
“For example, people are encouraged to acclimate
themselves to heat at least one week before they
arrive. This means staying outside more and staying
hydrated. Knowing what and when you are eating
such as light meals during the hottest part of the day
and lots of fruit (bananas and oranges) for increased
electrolytes.”
Three types to learn
There are three basic types of heat-related illness:
heat cramps, heat exhaustion—and the most
serious—heat stroke.
Heat cramps occur mostly in the muscles of the
legs, often causing severe pain and spasms. Intense
exercise and sweating in hot temperatures can
initiate these cramps. Fortunately, the treatment
is simple. Find a cool place, rest and drink plenty of
fluids, especially sports drinks, like Gatorade. In most
cases, the cramps eventually subside.
Dehydration can also cause heat exhaustion.
Along with heavy sweating, symptoms include
dizziness, weakness, nausea, extreme thirst, anxiety
and sometimes a low-grade fever. Treatment for
heat exhaustion is similar to that of heat cramps, but
should be sought more urgently. If your condition
does not begin to improve after moving to a cool
place and drinking fluids, seek medical help.
The most dangerous heat-related illness is heat
stroke, which is also life threatening. Heat stroke
occurs when the brain cannot properly regulate
body temperature under extremely hot and humid
conditions. When body temperature rises rapidly
over 105 degrees an individual can lose consciousness
and slip into a coma. Unless heat stroke is treated
immediately, it can be fatal.
“It’s very critical that each person watch out for
each other and when they see their buddy showing
signs of heat stress, talk to them and support them
to take action,” says Michael. “We have a tendency
to be macho out here sometimes and heat stress is
nothing to mess around with.
“Everyone knows their own body and their
tolerance for heat. We encourage everyone to know
their own situation and be smart about what they are
taking into their bodies. For example many people
take supplements and medicines for many different
reasons. These can increase your need for water
making you dehydrate quicker and/or even speed up
your heart rate,” Michael adds.
21
W
ater your
N
oble employees living in the southern
United States can attest, summers can
be brutal. The hot, humid conditions are
not only tough on gardens, but also on gardeners.
When people are exposed to extreme heat, they
can suffer from potentially deadly heat-related
illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the
United States, even though most heat-related
deaths are preventable. Importantly, many of the
heat-related emergency room visits relate to nonwork activities such as keeping yards or summer
sports exertion.
When you are looking at the seven-day forecast
hoping to see a rain cloud, pay careful attention
to the heat index. The heat index is the “feels
like” temperature which combines the effect
of the air temperature and relative humidity.
Relative humidity above 60 percent hampers
sweat evaporation and reduces the body’s ability
to cool. Remember that heat index is higher in
full sun than in shade, so try to work in the shade
whenever possible.
Heat-related illnesses always are a concern
in summer – not just during record-setting heat
waves. Prevention always is preferable, so plan
yard work to minimize risks. However, it also is
important to know the symptoms, and immediate
treatment options for early signs of heat stress
to protect you from a potentially life-threatening
problem.
22
lawn,
Prevention
The key to preventing heat exhaustion is to plan
your outdoor work. It should be timed early in the
morning or early evening whenever possible when
the sun is less intense and temperatures are not at
their peak. This may be a change in habit for those
that have relocated from cooler climates.
Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing is best
Light colors reflect light and heat. Dark colors
absorb heat. Loose-fitting clothes allow for more
air circulation and better sweat evaporation.
A wide-brimmed hat always is a good option.
Light colors are preferable. Straw and ventilation
holes also help to keep your scalp cooler by
increasing air circulation. Neck flaps also are a
good way to protect the back of your neck from
sunburn.
Drink lots of fluids
Before, during and after outdoor work.
Replenishing fluids is critical. Water is the best
option, with sports drinks a good option if you are
worried about salt depletion. Avoid caffeine and
alcohol.
Plan the work — work the plan
Plan your yard work around shade patterns. Do
as much outside work that is limited to sunny areas
as early in the morning as possible. Delay outside
chores that can be done in the shade until later
in the day. If natural shade is not available, you
can make your own. Beach umbrellas can provide
temporary shade that can be moved. Realize that
...LiveSafe
Yourself
and
umbrellas can blow over in windy conditions, so
keep that in mind to prevent other injuries while
trying to prevent heat related illness.
Symptoms
There are two types of heat exhaustion — water
depletion and salt depletion. Symptoms of water
depletion include excessive thirst, weakness,
headache and loss of consciousness. Also note that
dark-colored urine is a sign of dehydration. Salt
depletion is noted by nausea, vomiting, frequent
muscle cramps and dizziness. If not addressed,
heat exhaustion can lead to a heat stroke which
can damage the brain and other organs.
Treatment. If you find yourself feeling dizzy
or have other signs of heat exhaustion, take
action immediately. Get out of the sun and sit
down. Apply water to the skin by washing the
face, taking a cool bath or shower, or by applying
wet compresses to reduce body temperature.
Increasing air circulation with a fan also helps
to speed up water evaporation from the skin
and naturally cools the body. Also, drink water
or a sports drink to replenish water and salts. If
symptoms don’t improve in 30 minutes, seek
medical help immediately.
Whether at home or on the job, the key to
working safely in hot weather is to learn to
recognize the causes of heat-related illnesses.
Identifying and responding to early symptoms can
protect you, your team members, your family and
friends.
23
Team Noble Crosses the Finish Line with Record
Contribution to Fight MS
ong before the bluebonnets and Indian
paintbrush make their springtime appearance on
the rolling hills between Houston and Austin, Texas,
Noble’s MS-150 team members are training for the
challenging two-day fundraising bike ride which
helps help fund important research aimed at ending
the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. Over
the past few years, Team Noble has grown to more
than 65 employees and family members participating
as riders and volunteers. This year, the team raised
more than $306,000, a 60 percent increase over the
team’s 2014 performance.
L
This year’s performance was bolstered by the
teams’ “Virtual Rider” program, which facilitated
and encouraged participation by Noble’s offshore
crews. Ron Swan, Noble’s Worldwide Maintenance
Director, says, “The final numbers are in from the
Virtual Rider competition and I could not be more
proud of all of the individuals who helped make
this group effort such a success. Currently, Team
Noble Drilling Virtual Riders are in first place with
our fundraising efforts, with the Noble Tom Madden
leading the way having raised a total of $9,536
towards the fight against MS.”
24
The crew of the
Madden set an initial
goal of $6,000 and
beat it by $3,536 with
a collective effort by all
of the rig’s employees,
as well as FMOG,
Oceaneering, Swaco &
Franks International. As
a result, the crew of the
Madden will be named
the “Fundraiser of the
Year — in recognition
of Jennifer McDaniel.”
Congratulations also
go to the Noble Sam Croft and Noble Danny Adkins,
which both reached the top fundraising level with the
MS Society and Tour of Champion status. These rigs
have both also qualified for the Tour of Champions.
The MS Society depends on support from
members, friends, corporate partners and the public
at large. Nationwide income in 2014 was $232.7
million, the majority of which came from private
contributions such as those raised by Team Noble.
To learn more about Team Noble or make a donation,
please visit: http://www.noblecorp.com/ms150
NOBLEEfforts
Educational Fund Scholarship Winners Named
y some estimates four years of college today
costs more than $70,000 for tuition, fees, and
room and board. As a result, finding the funds
needed to complete a degree can put a strain on
almost any family’s budget. That’s where the Noble
Educational Fund Scholarship Program, a meritbased, competitive scholarship program sponsored
by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation fits in,
providing scholarships to eligible dependents of
full-time employees of Noble Entities, including
Noble Drilling and Noble Energy. These $20,000
four-year scholarships are open to students seeking
an undergraduate education at institutions of higher
learning or post-high-school training at vocational
technical train­ing institutions. Students may apply as
high school seniors or at any point during their postsecondary education.
B
Competition for the scholarships is keen and this
year there are three winners from Noble Drilling.
•
Eli McFarlane, who will be attending the
University of St. Thomas to joint major in
Environmental Science and International
Studies. Eli is the daughter of Scott McFarlane,
Manager — Corporate Identity and Design.
•
Megan Nguyen, who will be attending
Clemson University where she will major in
Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering.
Megan is the daughter of Hung Nguyen,
Director — Global
Health,
Safety
and
Environmental Programs.
•
Michelle Stewart, a Sophomore studying to be
a Registered Nurse at the University of South
Alabama. Michelle is the daughter of Daxton
Stewart, Assistant Driller on the Noble Jim Day.
Extended Reach
he drillship Noble Sam Croft has incredible reach
with its ability to drill in 10,000 feet of water and
construct wells up to 40,000 feet. As astounding
as that may sound, the crew of that rig has an even
bigger reach and is making a difference in the lives
of children more than 8,500 miles away in Talakag,
Bukidnon in the Philippines. That’s the location of
the Bethany Christian Home for Children, which
opened just after World War II to offer services to
orphaned, abused or abandoned children.
T
In April, the crew pooled their resources to help
this group which had been brought to their attention
by Janci Barrios with Sodexo, who helped facilitate
the effort. Roy Olsen, who serves as Captain for the
vessel, says, “The response from the ‘brothers on
the Croft’ showed the heart everyone had for this;
one of those moments that reinforces one’s faith in
mankind.”
In total, the crew raised more than $1,150 which
was used by the organization to meet the needs of
the 30–40 children who call the facility home. In
acknowledging the crew’s gift, Rose A. Longcob,
Bethany’s CEO noted, “Our children’s lives have
been touched and blessed through your sharing
your life and resources and in demonstrating your
compassion for our children.”
25
H
ollywood often portrays hackers as lonely
guys working out of their basements.
But, in reality, the greatest threat often
comes from organized, well-financed groups that
use technical and social skills to take over entire
computer systems. In countering these attacks,
employees play a key role in guarding against
hackers.
Remembering your password is easy when you
don’t update it often. It also exposes computer
networks to prying eyes and ill intent. That’s why
hackers hope you have something in common
with the majority of computer users. According
to a report by Info Security Europe, 65 percent
of workers use identical passwords for different
purposes including personal banking, websites
and access to corporate applications. Many people
make it easy for hackers by using easy-to-guess
passwords: the top five passwords are password,
123456, 12345678, abc123 and QWERTY.
A number of recent high profile hacking
cases have driven home the importance of data
protection and the rise in risk from what were
formerly common practices.
As a member of the Noble team, you play an
important role in protecting our Company’s
information assets. In fact, our team members are
our first line of defense against the unauthorized
access, misuse or theft of Noble’s data. Muni
Chatarpal, Noble’s Information Technology
Security Manager, shares the following
recommendations to avoid becoming a hacker’s
next victim:
26
Hacker
From your phone
to your desktop,
hackers can
strike
anywhere
1. No company email on public computers.
Hackers today add a key logger (a program
that captures all your keystrokes without your
knowledge) to public computers at places like
airports and Internet cafes with the intention
of capturing your username and password
information.
2. Be careful when using ‘free’ Wi-Fi. Resist the
temptation to use public Wi-Fi. Hackers can
easily hijack one’s account and access email,
social media accounts and even your online
banking.
3. Avoid listing company email addresses
publicly. Cyber criminals troll for email
addresses and can potentially use your email
address and credentials to commit a variety of
illegal activities on your behalf. Don’t make it
easier for the hacker by giving them easy access
to your company email.
Attacks
Don’t
make it
easy for
them.
4. Create strong passwords and don’t use
the same password for different accounts.
A password at one site or email address is
a gateway for further hacking. In particular,
when it comes to online banking or other
core business activities, make sure that
unique passwords are used for each financial
institution.
5. NEVER share passwords with anyone.
Noble team members should avoid sharing
password information with colleagues, friends
or even loved ones - and NEVER provide your
password to anyone that calls you. Scammers
often conduct social engineering attacks by
posing as law enforcement or Internet support
companies to obtain credentials.
6. Change online behavior. Be careful about the
sites you visit and the information you share
with complete strangers. Here are some basic
guidelines to follow: Avoid downloading videos
and other files from unknown websites. If you
receive an unusual email from a friend, don’t
download any attachments or click on any links
until you can verify that they have sent it. If
you suspect it to be a “phishing” attempt – use
the installed PhishMe Reporter on your Email
to report it or alert Noble’s IT Service Desk. If
you ever suspect that your credentials have
been compromised, change your password
immediately and notify Noble’s IT Service Desk.
7. Keep your computer updated. For personal
computers, make sure that you have installed
the latest security patches for your Operating
System and that you have installed the latest
signatures for your Anti-virus program.
Ideally passwords should be long, complex and
a combination of letters, numbers and special
characters. Users of the Noble network can
change your password as often as they like – but
must always comply with our mandatory password
updates. The longer you use the same password,
the greater the likelihood that it can be exposed
and end up in the hands of hackers. We suggest
changing passwords every 90 days or even more
frequently.
“The bottom line is that we are all targets since
we have something they want and all of our team
members need to have their ‘IT hat’ on whenever
they are logged in,” says Muni. “After all, the
stakes are high and with a little care and attention
we can deny access to vital company and personal
information.”
27
Beyond
from the Top
Driving a Culture of
Ethics and Compliance
M
any
companies,
including Noble, take
pride in their “corporate culture.”
At the most fundamental level, corporate
culture can be thought of as a set of shared
beliefs, norms and values that defines what is
important and what is appropriate.
In communicating corporate culture, there is a
lot of emphasis on the “Tone from the Top”—as
seen in the messages and actions of Noble’s senior
management. Just as important is our “Tone from
the Middle”—the behaviors and actions of middle
management”, as demonstrated at Noble by line
management, both onshore and on the rig, in
managing their teams and crews.
28
ETHICSAzimuth
Middle Management
Strong middle management is the driver at the
deckplate for employee engagement and a healthy
ethical culture — creating a work environment
where employees are committed and engaged, do
a good job, and do the right thing. Weak middle
management, however, often has the opposite effect.
For example, workplace studies have shown that
employees’ loss in confidence of their manager’s
ethical behavior can be a predictor of a decline in
the overall ethical culture at a company. In addition,
research also indicates that employee perceptions
of whether or not their company is an ethical
company is based on how they view their manager’s
ethical behavior. Other studies have shown a
direct correlation between job dissatisfaction and
unethical conduct; further emphasizing the degree
of influence and impact that middle managers can
have on their crews and direct reports, as well as on
the overall ethical culture at a company.
Employees typically interact with their direct
managers or supervisors and may have little to no
regular interaction with senior management. An
employee’s manager or supervisor is often the sole
representation of the company and its values to that
employee.
Middle managers also typically receive the most
reports of concerns or allegations of misconduct (as
compared to other methods/individuals who receive
such reports). Employees will often raise concerns
or allegations directly with their managers. A survey
conducted by the organization, Corporate Executive
Board, indicated that “66% of misconduct allegations
are received by front-line managers, yet only 57%
of these managers feel comfortable addressing
employee concerns”.
Communication Skills
How a manager handles such a discussion with an
employee and how a manager acts on an ethical or
compliance concern will have a significant impact on
employees and the company.
1. Does the manager truly listen to the concern
the employee is raising or does the manager
appear distracted or annoyed?
2. Does the manager maintain his/her composure
during the discussion, creating an environment
consistent with our “Open Door” Policy in
which the employee feels comfortable raising
and discussing concerns with the manager?
3. Does the manager thank the employee for
bringing forward the concern?
4. Does the manager address any retaliation
concerns the employee or others may have in
raising the issue?
5. Does the manager appropriately act on the
concern—whether it be looking into the
concern himself/herself and/or escalating the
concern within his/her management chain,
the Designated Person Ashore, or Corporate
Compliance to look into?
6.Does the manager circle back with the
employee to let them know that the concern
was looked into and properly addressed
(for example, only sharing
details with
the employee as appropriate in line with
protecting the confidentiality and integrity of
any investigation conducted)?
29
In addition to appropriately fielding concerns
about alleged misconduct, what are some other
management behaviors that demonstrate ethical
leadership and help to create an ethical culture?
Managers should:
•
•
•
Talk frequently about Noble’s ethical
commitment, elements of our Code of
Conduct, and most importantly, our values:
Honesty and Integrity, Safety, Environmental
Stewardship, Respect, and Performance
Anticipate ethical dilemmas which may
typically arise in the manager’s area of
responsibility, for example incident reporting,
accuracy in recording activities, etc.
During the planning process, talk with your
team about how our values and ethical
commitment apply to the work and specific
steps and decision points during the process
•
Recognize ethical issues when they do arise
and ask questions (i.e. troubleshoot) when
the ethical action is unclear; and make
decisions consistent with Noble’s values,
ethics, Code of Conduct, and corporate
policy
•
Report concerns about unethical actions/
behavior to senior management, the
Designated Person Ashore, or Corporate
Compliance.
Leadership Crucial
Leaders in a rig management position play a
crucial role in affirming the ethical culture on the
rig--they are the “Tone at the Top” and it is critical
to their crews and to Noble that they demonstrate
and reinforce exceptional ethical leadership and
behaviors.
Why is ethical culture important at Noble? Having
a strong ethical culture at Noble is important for
several reasons:
•
Higher employee morale and job satisfaction,
which helps with employee retention and
recruiting
•
More productive and engaged workforce
•
Positive impacts to Noble’s reputation and
overall value to the stakeholders
•
Prevents and deters misconduct (less
lawsuits, investigations, fines/penalties)
In addition, at Noble, we administer a Compliance
Survey each year to better understand employee
views and understanding of compliance, the
effectiveness of Noble’s Compliance Program, and
potential opportunities for improvement – in other
words, the ethical culture at Noble. It is administered
online and on an anonymous basis. Please look for
the announcement for this important survey later
this summer and keep the items discussed in this
article in mind when you complete it.
Our Obligation to Report
30
In discussing ethical culture and the role of
management, it’s important to remember that
if you have concerns about the legality of any
conduct or concerns about potentially unethical
conduct, including compliance with the Code of
Conduct or Company policy, as a Noble employee,
you are obligated to report it. You can report
such concerns by speaking with your supervisor,
any senior manager in the Company, the
Designated Person Ashore, a Human Resources
representative, Legal, Corporate Compliance, or
by calling the NobleLine (toll-free in the U.S. and
Canada at: 1-877-285-4162 or Collect at 704544-2879 if calling outside the U.S./Canada). In
addition, our policy protects against retaliation for
reports in good faith or assisting in good faith with
an investigation or proceeding.
EMPLOYEERecognition
Promotions and Advancement
November 2014 – August 2015
Brazil
United States
Chad Conn
Rig Manager
Rafael Burgos
Subsea Projects Engineer
Brian McMahon
Assistant Rig Manager
Neil Daboul
Master
Dennis Rab
Master
Javier Hernandez
Director - Tax
Jessie Jordan
Operations Manager
Shannon Knapp
Training Management Supervisor
Curtis Laskowski
Master
Michael Leahy
Master
Europe & West Africa
Bruce Boyle
Drilling Superintendent
Martin Hendriks
Rig Manager
Andrew Jolly
Assistant Rig Manager
Ryan LaComb
Rig Manager
Meindert-jelto
Meindertsma
Spanky McGehee
Director, Simulator and Technical Training Programs
Assistant Rig Manager
Jimmy Mouton
Assistant Rig Manager
Gordon Mitchell
Assistant Rig Manager
Holli Perdue
Claims Adjuster
Bauke Postmus
Assistant Rig Manager
John Schieferstein
Master
Vaidas Sabonis
Assistant Rig Manager
Middle East & India
Raymond Dunn
Regional Manager - Far East/Oceania
Aubrey Fenton
Assistant Rig Manager
Perry Hammond
Drilling Superintendent
Rodney Lyles
Assistant Rig Manager
Joe Stanford
Drilling Superintendent
Christopher Sharpley Rig Manager
Adam Sokol
Master
Ryan Tasma
Assistant Rig Manager
James Walden
Master
Aaron Zaidel
Drilling Superintendent
31
Harnessing the Potential
of Noble’s NEXT Generation Workforce
A
t Noble, we believe that a
key ingredient to our success
is our ability to plan. From
our shipyard projects to end of well
maintenance planning is essential, and
that is particularly true for managing
the incredible talent and significant
potential of our industry-leading team
members. With this in mind, Noble has
taken steps to improve its employee
performance evaluation process.
The process, which went live on June 1, captures
performance measurement, feedback, progress,
and goal setting, but most importantly, helps ensure
success for every team member. The process
was designed to be completed both onshore and
offshore and will help employees see how their role
and expected contributions fit within the bigger
picture of the organization.
“Assessments, when done candidly, fairly, and
constructively, are important to both Noble and our
team members,” says Tom Madden, Noble’s Vice
President & General Manager of Administration. “It
has been my experience that people at all levels of
an organization actually like to know how they’re
doing. They want and need meaningful feedback. It
can also give an employee time to course-correct,
if needed, to improve performance and support
individual career growth and development. I think
the changes we have made clearly support that goal.”
32
Based on feedback from the most recent
Worldwide Rig Management Meetings, as well as a
survey of select supervisors and employees on the
2014 performance review process, a number of key
improvements were included in the review process
for the current year.
“Simplicity was the goal,” notes Brian Woodward,
Noble’s Global Operations Manager. “We simplified
the evaluation process dramatically, such as reducing
the key attributes section by nearly 50 percent. We
also streamlined the approval process into five basic
steps so managers, supervisors, and employees can
concentrate on the performance appraisal itself
instead of the procedural aspects. Now supervisors
have more time to focus on what really matters –
having an honest conversation about what is going
well, what can be improved, and what development
is required for employees to reach their goals.”
“What we heard from our team members both
onshore & offshore was that they needed a review
program that focused on both current performance
and improvement opportunities – but in a simple to
use format,” says Jessie Jordan, Operations Manager.
“In the end, career growth is each individual’s own
responsibility. What we want our managers &
supervisors to do is to develop a trusting relationship
where they can offer feedback and ensure that our
team members know their contribution is valued and
how they can make the most of the opportunities
they have here at Noble. I believe the new
performance review is a great step in that direction.”
4
6
12
14
18
Hooked
on Safety
NOBLE NEWS
Winning
performance from
around the world
Practicing a consistent technique of quartering
upstream and getting a natural drift contributes to
success in fly fishing. In much the same way, working
safely is a function of consistently performing all the
steps to safe operations to yield the catch of another
day worked safely. Congratulations to the following
rigs for consistent safety performance.
RIG UPDATES
Rigs head to the
Black Sea and Arctic
RIGGING &
LIFTING
Know the
lift types
LISTEN UP!
Safety message
in a song
C
NO TIME
for downtime in
Supply Chain
olumns
20
24
26
28
31
Work Safe...Live Safe
Beating the Heat
Noble Efforts
Community Support & Scholarships
Technology Desk
Preventing Hacker Attacks
Ethics Azimuth
Beyond Tone from the Top
Noble Recognition
Employee Promotions &
Harnessing Workforce Potential
Years without a Lost-Time Incident
18
13
9
8
6
5
4
3
2
years
years
Noble Max Smith
Noble Homer Ferrington
Noble David Tinsley
years
Noble Jim Thompson
years
Noble Roger Lewis
Noble Danny Adkins
years
Noble Hans Deul
years
Noble Discoverer
Noble Joe Beall
years
Noble Charles Copeland
years
Noble Scott Marks
Noble Globetrotter II
years
1
Noble Paul Romano
Noble Don Taylor
Noble Gene House
Noble Bully II
year
Noble Regina Allen
Noble Sam Turner
Noble Amos Runner
Noble Bob Douglas
Noble Houston Colbert
Noble Jim Day
Noble Sam Croft
Noble Alan Hay
Noble Mick O’Brien
NOBLELink
The Noble LINK is published by and
for the employees of Noble Corporation
and its subsidiaries and for our clients
and friends. Comments regarding the
Noble LINK should be directed to:
John Breed, Noble Drilling Services Inc.
13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Email: [email protected]
Editor: John Breed
Design: Scott McFarlane
Summer 2015