SUMMER 2011 No180

SUMMER
2011
No180
IN ISSUE 180 SUMMER 2011
4 Sitting on the
dock of a bay
7 Into the deep
10 Blooming London
The need to secure a new
generation of offshore
reserves, plays right into the
hands of Hunting’s subsea
division
Famed for being one of
London’s liveliest havens,
Covent Garden Market has
developed from fruit and
vegetable wholesaler to
entertainment and retail
destination
16 Holland hub
18 Breaking waves
Hunting Energy Services
Dutch division provides a
logistical hub for both the
European mainland and a
global customer supply chain
A stranded rig in the South
Atlantic Ocean called for a
little more lateral thought
than usual from Gibson
Shipbrokers’ tanker projects
team
20 Back to the
drawing board
With the revival of activity
in the Gulf of Mexico, the
focus is again on Hunting’s
Louisiana facilities
24 News from
our community
2
Cover
The gateway to
Heemskerk Castle,
close by Hunting
Energy’s Dutch
operations at Velsen
Noord.
Photo:
David Hunting
The award of the 2011
Hunting Art Prize is set
to boost the commercial
prospects and international
profile of the latest winner
13 It’s all about
the people
An introduction to the people
at newly acquired Hunting
Innova, the sophisticated
electronics manufacturer
23 On a roll
The Variball rolling system
is finely positioned to
deliver intervention tooling
to today’s highly deviated
wellbores
Hunting Review; the external house
magazine of Hunting PLC
3 Cockspur Street,
London SW1Y 5BQ, UK
[email protected]
Edited by Victoria Bailey and Georgia
Langdon, Campaign PR.
[email protected]
Designed by Anthony B Ainley MCSD
[email protected]
Produced and printed by
Duffield Printers Ltd
[email protected]
Plain to see
The need for reasonably priced energy to stimulate western economies and sustain growth in developing
nations is going to cost a lot of money. No matter how the energy mix is muddled with political
interventions, the stark reality is that we are very close to the point where production from existing means
is balanced by growing consumption.
No spigot has been left unturned in trying to ‘normalise’ international oil prices at $100 barrel and no
ready alternative provides a substitute. The safety of nuclear power generation is now being questioned
after the terrible events in Japan and reverberations from geopolitical upheavals cause worry for those
who depend on traditional crude oil suppliers. These examples only serve to exacerbate the precarious
energy balance and give clear sight for the case for investment in our future needs. However, with the low
hanging fruit plucked and eaten some time ago, future harvesting looks to be an expensive proposition.
In this issue of the Review we offer an overview of the people at the heart of our most recent acquisition,
Hunting Innova, whose strategic manufacturing capability underpins the Measurement and Logging While
Drilling operations of the world’s major
service companies.
The need for high reliability products
with critical safety features has
never been more acute than in
the ultra deepwater environment
where tomorrow’s resources will
be developed. We look at how the
company positions for these markets
with the deployment of new technology
such as the Chemical Injection System
and our investment in the future of
subsea activity. We also take a look
at our Louisiana facilities, located
at the key stepping off points for the
Gulf of Mexico. These already share a
strong international mindset but the
re-emergence of the Gulf as a major
operating basin raises some interesting
local challenges as well as business
opportunities.
Our growing global footprint continues
apace and as we go to press our
newest and largest ever facility has
just held its formal opening in Wuxi,
China. We plan to revisit this story
in more detail in further issues of
the Review. Meantime we consider
how important some of our oldest
operations such as our Dutch facility
remain, with their ability to respond,
adapt and innovate to meet the needs
of a rapidly changing world.
3
Hunting’s Louisiana
operations are set to
widen their focus as the
Gulf of Mexico comes
back on stream
Sitting on the
dock of a bay
4
Staff at the
Marrero facility
are busy fulfilling
Gulf of Mexico
orders once again
D
rilling activity is once again on the up
for offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico
following the moratorium imposed after
the Macondo blow out. More than 50 permits
have been granted by the ocean energy bureau
for shallow water wells since the new safety
rules were imposed in June last year and
15 to date for deepwater projects. For those
like Hunting Energy this is both welcome and
daunting: it is good that the local domestic
market is bouncing back, benefitting the local
economy and boosting domestic supply. On
the other hand the ability to switch business
to other growing and international markets
last year means that those facilities nominally
affected by the moratorium, now find they are
expected to respond to the resurgent activity
off their door step too. As the meticulous Kenny
Matherne, the General Manager at Hunting’s
Marrero facility, muses: ‘Some problems are
worth the having’.
A great feat
To put this into context the Marrero facility
alone, located south of the Mississippi river and
in sight of New Orleans, could in theory thread
more than two and a half million feet of pipe by
the end of this year. That would keep the 50plus team very busy indeed but the experience
and skill set is fully geared up to meet this sort
of opportunity. Large outside diameter (OD)
pipe handling and high volume throughput are
the regular diet for this plant that forms part
of the Well Construction segment of Hunting’s
business. Some of the senior workforce have 15
years of experience in the pipe and connection
operations.
The team in Marrero works closely with
colleagues across the Well Construction
platform, coordinating with the North American
headquarters at Northpoint in Houston and not
least with colleagues some 50 miles along the
gulf coast in Houma.
Full steam ahead
The two facilities in Houma continue to flourish
and growing pains have set management
sights on a new ‘Mega Center’. The Woodlawn
workshop, which is run by the ever willing Jim
Schexnayder, is also looking to optimise the
anticipated increase in potential throughput.
Running a speciality machining operation this
facility, which is at the load port for so much of
the Gulf of Mexico activity, is highly susceptible
to local offshore demand peaks in addition to
the broader workload from further afield. The
site also acts as a major offshore staging centre
with a service capability for the storage, repair
technology sector but even some of the more
and sales into customer inventory. In this way
junior staff tend to have around seven year’s
minor items can be assembled into full length
knowledge of working with these products. This tools, packed under the same roofline and
is a reflection of Hunting’s premium positioning shipped in offshore baskets designed for rig side
- even new recruits are expected to have a
operation in whatever the weather.
minimum of two year’s experience under their
Meanwhile the Capital Boulevard site round
belts. Generally the facility works with pipe of
the corner, specialising in Well Intervention
OD sizes ranging from 2 3/8in up to 20in, onto
technology, is bursting at the seams. Under
which Hunting’s proprietary range of Seal-Lock the watchful eye of Frank Jarveaux, the
threads are threaded, including Flush and
increasing number of machine lines is close to
Semi-Flush. The new WedgeLock Flush is also
the physical limits of the site’s capacity. With
being tested by a major customer here and
this in mind land has already been purchased,
is expected to become a regular product line
stabilised and sanctioned for building workshop
order.
and service areas. This is a large site which
Located behind a protective levee the whole
will in time accommodate all the Hunting
facility is set up to handle large volumes
Houma operations slightly further inland than
whether by truck or rail spur directly into the
the current facilities and so better protected
yard. Buildings house each of the threading
from hurricanes while remaining close to the
lines in a logical progression by size and type
customer’s operation. Capital Boulevard is due
with yard space to manoeuvre and store in
to move in this year and, once settled, plans
between. Swaging and Phosphate areas are
can be drawn for the Woodlawn Ranch move as
housed under a different roof as a discreet
the situation demands.
operation since, depending on pipe size, work
All the Louisiana facilities pride themselves
orders move at a different pace to the threading on running highly efficient businesses and
5
workshops. The ethos is shared across all
Hunting facilities: safety first, quality a
close second and then the grit and steady
determination to get whatever jobs need doing
as quickly and effectively as possible.
The Big Easy
Gazing out over the Mississippi river from the
top of the Marrero levee, the skyline of New
Orleans is temptingly close. The contrast of
modern and old could easily shadow the dance
of the energy industry of the modern city with
the smoky, louche jazz reputation of the old.
Steeped in history, this bustling city contains
a wealth of architectural treasures from the
old French Quarter with graceful townhouses
and elegant mansions to single-storey Creole
cottages and the city’s famous ‘Shotgun
houses’. Complemented by beautiful, historic
gardens, this variety reflects the cosmopolitan
and truly multi-cultural nature of one of
America’s most unique cities.
Founded in 1718 by the French Mississippi
Company in the river delta as it empties into
the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans is named after
Philippe d’Orléans, who was Regent of France
at that time. Under Spanish control from 1763
to 1801, it briefly reverted to the French before
being sold to the United States in the Louisiana
Purchase of 1803. The city then grew rapidly
and welcomed waves of immigrants: African,
6
American, Creole, French, German, Haitian,
Irish and Italian among others.
This wealth of cultural influences has
resulted in a city renowned for its cuisine,
its annual celebrations and festivals, most
notably the world-famous Mardi Gras carnival
and, above all, music. Acknowledged as the
birthplace of jazz, New Orleans remains one
of the most exciting places on earth for those
seeking a flourishing music scene. As for the
city’s festivals, Mark Twain observed: ‘I think
that I may say that an American has not seen
the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras
in New Orleans’.
The many tourists who flock here for these
attractions - New Orleans has traditionally
been one of the most visited cities in the United
States - are spoilt for choice when it comes to
food. Cajun fare, which combines French and
Southern influences, features hearty dishes
like jambalaya and crawfish etoufee, while
Creole dishes such as gumbo and redfish
courtbouillion make full use of local seafood,
herbs and tomatoes. Both traditions boast a
repertoire of deep, delicious flavours.
Less happily, the city’s reputation as The
Big Easy, so named because of its residents’
famously relaxed approach to life, was severely
tested by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As is
well-known, the flood protection system failed,
resulting in the devastation of a city with an
average elevation below sea level. But the
determination of inhabitants and the volunteers
who came in their thousands ensured that New
Orleans would recover and continue to exude its
own special brand of vitality.
New Orleans
A major United States port, New Orleans
is the largest city and metropolitan area in
the state of Louisiana
The New Orleans metropolitan area, (New
Orleans-Metairie-Kenner) had a population
of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest
in the USA
Famous residents include Lenny Kravitz
and Brad Pitt
New Orleans cemeteries are a major
tourist attraction
The city boasts the oldest continuously
operating streetcar in the world
New Orleans is home to a distinctive
variety of Louisiana Voodoo
Anne Rice set much of the action of
Interview with the Vampire in New Orleans
Into
the
deep
The expected growth in
the subsea sector means
investment is high on the
agenda
Global subsea forecast
Source: Quest Subsea Forecast Awards Nov 2010
Africa/Mediterranean
Asia/Pacific
North Sea
N. America
S. America
2010
2011
2012
$140
bn
2013
2014
A
s the US initiates efforts to return to
deepwater drilling, the global interest
and surge in investment committed to
this sector is set to provide the opportunities
for Hunting to venture further into the deep.
Expenditure on the global subsea production
market is currently hot news as the Independent
Oil Companies look to the next ‘frontier’ for
their future as national interests inhibit activity
in established onshore regions, as Chevron
comments: ‘National Oil Companies control 94
per cent of the world’s reserves’.
Over the next four to five years, the current
investment figure is expected to more than
double to nearly $140bn. While the full
potential of deepwater fields is still not fully
understood, it is estimated that in Brazil alone
the deepwater pre-salt Santos Basin resources
could run into 70bn barrels of oil equivalent.
As more reserves are mapped out and recategorised from possible to probable, some
experts say this figure could turn out to be on
the conservative side. Analysts predict that
deepwater resources, primarily for offshore
Brazil, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico
alone, could provide almost 14m barrels of
oil equivalent per day by 2030 - that’s more
than double deepwater’s current contribution
to global supply. Added to this almost all
major field operators have declared that they
will increase their offshore Exploration &
Development expenditures; the deepwater rigs
that will drive that activity will add around 38
per cent to available drilling capacity.
The drive to dive
Hunting’s subsea technologies, which are
managed from Stafford, Texas at the National
Coupling Company (NCC) facility, fit neatly into
this picture. The global forecast for subsea
expenditure has accelerated the in-house
development programme to take advantage
of emerging opportunities. Of particular note
has been the technological advancement and
7
Gary Weathers
demonstrating new
machining capability
as Dane Tipton
(below) points out
the new building site
now fully commissioned with a visitor inspection
suite and real time remote video monitoring
capability. It is also available for third party
testing since the chamber’s size, pressure limits
and inspection facilities make this a unique
regional proposition.
Perfect seal
deployment of Hunting’s innovative Chemical
Injection System (CIS).
The CIS is an active flow control system that
works through positive displacement metering
to deliver multiple chemicals to individual
subsea wells at controlled and verifiable
injection rates to ensure the smooth and
consistent production from a well. The system is
mounted subsea on a production tree, manifold
or pipeline end termination sled (PLET) and is
remotely operated and monitored in real time.
The electronic control system on the device
constantly analyses flow data and automatically
adjusts its active valve opening to accommodate
a variety of changing flow parameters.
Federal enforcement of higher safety
standards in the energy industry, associated
with the adoption of new enhanced technical
standards for subsea operations worldwide,
is also a boon to Hunting’s CIS. The system
is one of the mostly technically advanced in
the world and fully geared to deal with the
complexities of working at typical deep sea
depths. The company’s hyperbaric chamber,
where all pre-delivery testing takes place, is
8
Other product lines at the Stafford facility
also address well safety issues. A new subsea
coupling design is being developed which will
produce high volume, metal to metal seal
connections for use when sampling fluid from
wells. This new RS-24 coupling line is a result
of increased safety and flow requirements in
deepwater drilling around the world. While
traditional standards were deemed adequate
with a single point ‘Choke & Kill’ line setup, a multiple point heavy brine injection
capability is now being explored. The latest
design parameters include the need to meet
50 barrels per minute with tolerances that
must cope with high temperature operating
conditions of 170 - 200 degrees centigrade
with high pressure exceeding 20,000 psi. In
such severe conditions only all metal seals can
meet these demands.
NCC also addresses the rigorous safety and
reliability requirements of both the drilling
and production segments of the oil and gas
industry with its Specialty Valve product line.
The company has recently introduced new
materials and enhanced designs for valves
controlling critical safety functions on subsea
drilling control systems. Additional valve
designs are being developed for high reliability
production control.
Welding demand
To ensure the highest levels of quality control
are maintained, the facility has now brought
in house all of the previously outsourced
speciality welding work. Over two years in
development, this process is state-of-the-art
combining precision machining and automated
welding technologies and is complemented by
leading edge digital radiography and computer
tomography to meet all Non Destructive
Evaluation (NDE) requirements to verify critical
weld integrity. This automated welding and
NDE capability has simplified material logistics
and shortened lead times while eliminating the
need for maintenance of a physically large and
continually growing film storage library.
The success of the
product range has
led to increased
investment opportunity
Building the machine
Hunting is committed to continued process
improvement in all aspects of manufacturing
by employing Lean Manufacturing technology.
NCC’s lean manufacturing journey began
in early 2002 and is continuing to improve
efficiency, reduce costs and streamline
production activities to meet customers’
requirements for value, quality and on-time
delivery. As part of this effort, a parallel
investment programme is in place to purchase
new state-of-the-art machine tool technology
to continually reduce the unit of labour in
all manufacturing processes. A recent result
of this effort is the capability of producing
a finished product in 10 minutes from raw
austenitic stainless steel bar, down from an old
process time of 50 minutes. Investing in ‘lightsout’ unattended manufacturing technology is
also an integral part of the company’s lean
journey. This effort is anticipated to provide the
capability of producing 30-40 per cent extra
shift work completely unattended, as they
say ‘lights out’, within the next two years. To
ensure reliable electrical power two natural
gas generators are being bought to provide
back-up in the event of electricity failure from
the public grid. These are essential to ensure
an uninterrupted and steady power supply can
be maintained during night hours with staffing
levels at zero.
Girding for growth
With all the current growth in the subsea
arena, expanding the facility to cope with
anticipated demand has become a priority.
To facilitate this growth it is essential that
new premises to accommodate production
expansion and support employees are also
built. NCC has recently acquired approximately
four acres adjacent to the existing facility for
a total of 17.5 acres. This additional land will
facilitate the first phase construction of an
additional 38,000sq ft of manufacturing and
service space. As the Review went to press
the concrete work had been started following
completion of ground preparation, pictured far
left. It is planned that the hydraulic coupling
line and some of the machining tools will move
to the new workshop this autumn.
This investment will help in developing
key new and complex products and raising
manufacturing capacity. The majority of sales
are already destined for overseas markets, even
though most of the orders are placed locally. As
worldwide demand materialises the expansion
of the subsea division is expected to keep in line
with the vast emerging opportunities. Hunting
has every intention of being the supplier of
choice to those who equally anticipate and
eagerly expect to venture into the deep.
9
Blooming London
South Piazza, Covent Garden in the early 20th century
10
L
ocated close to Hunting’s London HQ,
Covent Garden is one of the capital’s most
vibrant spots, receiving many thousands
of visitors each year. Whether popping in and
out of the myriad of shops, pausing to marvel at
the daring street performances or just enjoying
the unique buzz of the place, few come to learn
about the cobbled streets’ colourful past.
During the reign of King John in the
13th century, a 40 acre site formed a large
kitchen garden for the Convent of St Peter
at Westminster. Over the 700 years which
followed, the monks’ ‘convent garden’ evolved
into London’s primary source of fruit and
vegetables. Visitors to the city today can still
find this authentic area situated between St
Martin’s Lane, Drury Lane, Floral Street and
Maiden Lane.
It was not, however, until the early 17th
century that the area now referred to as
Covent Garden, a corruption of the original
convent, began developing into a commercial
enterprise. In 1631, a century after King
Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries and
confiscation of the land from the Abbey, Francis
Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford, obtained a license
from the Crown and started to build on the site
of the former convent gardens. In collaboration
with the leading architect of the time, Inigo
Ever since the first traders settled in the Italian designed
piazza, the name of Covent Garden has been synonymous with
lively London market trade
Jones, Bedford modelled the development on a
traditional Italian piazza. Particularly striking
was the design, construction and management
of the square, which represented a radical
departure from traditional Tudor practice.
A flourishing trade
The new area rapidly attracted further
development and with numerous shops, taverns
and market stalls open for business, profitable
commercial ventures soon materialised. History
suggests that it was as these traders started
peddling their goods, that the first pineapples
were introduced to England. In response to
immediate popular demand, the fruit soon
became an exotic symbol of wealth and
hospitality. This tropical motif was adopted by
many architects, craftsmen and artists and is
still recognised as the emblem of the market. To
this day, visitors to Covent Garden Market can
observe a pineapple adorning each street light a charming link to the market’s rich history.
The devastating impact of the Great Fire
of London, which swept through the city in
1666 and destroyed many of the smaller, rival
markets, meant that exotic produce arriving
from around the world could then only be
shipped to Covent Garden. Almost overnight
the market became the country’s principal
point of trade for fruit, vegetable and flowers.
The ever increasing potential for business led,
in 1670, to King Charles II granting the 5th Earl
of Bedford permission to establish an official
fruit and vegetable market on the central
square.
Industrial revolution
The growth of manufacturing, agricultural
productivity and the arrival of factories - all of
which took place in the following century helped the British economy to industrialise. It
was during these years that the pioneering
work of the influential Scottish economist,
Adam Smith, considered the father of modern
economics and capitalism, began to gain
recognition. Smith’s revolutionary Inquiry into
the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations,
which was published in 1776, emphasised the
belief that an individual’s pursuit of selfinterest indirectly promotes the good of society.
Although warning consumers against the
commercial conspiracies of businessmen, Smith
suggested that an element of self-interested
competition in the free market would benefit
society by keeping prices down, while
simultaneously developing an incentive for a
variety of goods and services.
The market at Covent Garden weathered
11
The Royal Opera House nestles
next to the buzz of Covent
Garden’s bustling streets
many storms over these years yet remained
resiliently open for business. Employing more
than 1,000 porters at its peak, it continued
to welcome its customers on a daily basis
throughout blizzards, thunderstorms and war
as well as surviving some particularly volatile
economic climates.
Mark to market
An increasingly fashionable place to live and
work, the market quickly gained a modern
commercial and residential mix. Following the
opening of coffee and ale houses, entertainment
also arrived on the site and since then has
played an intrinsic part in the popularity of the
area. As the entertainment industry expanded
and many more theatres were built, printing
also became a major source of employment
in the area. In addition to the Theatre Royal,
which remains the oldest functioning London
theatre today, the area also boasts the
Aldwych, the Lyceum, the Royal Opera House,
the Coliseum, the Fortune and the Donmar.
In the 19th century the 6th Duke of Bedford
responded to this rapid commercial growth and
opportunity for further progressive investment
and began to rebuild the marketplace. Gone
were the old stalls and in their place today’s
neo-classical market building was erected,
designed by the prominent architect Charles
Fowler. A roof was eventually installed in
1870, much to the appreciation of the market’s
weather-worn inhabitants, both traders and
customers.
Common market
Despite Covent Garden’s historical prominence
as London’s largest wholesale flower, fruit
and vegetable market, it became apparent
by the beginning of the 20th century that
the central location, which had become
increasingly congested with traffic, was no
longer an appropriate venue. The two world
12
wars led to delays in resolving the future for
the market during the first half of the century,
but in 1974 the agreed solution was to move
it to Vauxhall. The consequence of this was
that the remaining piazza and surrounding
streets, having been deserted by the relocated
traders, had remained relatively unchanged
for more than 70 years and were long overdue
redevelopment.
From apples to Apple
By carefully preserving the historical fabric of
Covent Garden, it began once again to attract
commercial interests. A number of private
investors built commercial establishments,
converting the central market into Europe’s
first speciality shopping complex with
beautifully designed lanes full of fashionable
boutiques. Where there were once many rows
of apples and pears, now an equally vivid
array of stylish gift shops and leading stores
are on display, including the largest Apple
shop in the world. A honey pot for tourists
- an estimated five million people visit the
piazza every year - the catering industry also
identified the new market place as presenting
an ideal opportunity, and countless bars,
cafés and restaurants were opened and now
flourish. While the world-renowned theatres
remain a legacy, Covent Garden’s central
square is equally famed for its street artists
performing thrilling acts for the entertainment
of audiences.
Coming up roses
Today’s Covent Garden is now, happily, fully
restored to an equivalent of its former glory. It
is a unique area of London which has managed
to regenerate itself while successfully retaining
its characteristics from over the centuries. It is,
in its way, a symbol of London’s ability to adapt
and survive, like the flowers and fruit that were
once its mainstay.
It’s all about...
B
The MWD/
LWD sector is
critical to the
upstream energy
industry and
never more so
than now with
the emphasis
on horizontal
drilling
Trey Cook
Scott George
efore joining Hunting last year the story
of Innova had begun in 1994 with founder
Trey Cook. He engagingly recalls the
commitment needed to establish and develop
the company as it grew to become the largest
strategic, electrical contract manufacturer to
the ‘high reliability’ end of the industry. Until
that time the major oil service companies had
kept their production in house. However with
the advent of outsourcing, the business model
changed with processes that were deemed to
be non-core contracted out - and with that the
opportunity opened for Innova. The customer
got to keep its designs and intellectual property
rights while Trey set about providing the
manufacturing services.
To future proof the offering meant a
conscious decision to step away from
replicating established industry practices
and to embrace new techniques and the
technologies that set new manufacturing
standards. It also lead to the development
of a close knit team which shared the same
goals and aspirations, with many long serving
members still with the company today. While
lighting upon some of the core members in
this article it is worth noting that without the
enthusiasm and dedication of individuals within
the 400 plus complement, there would be no
story to tell.
No barriers
The management team is a well established unit.
Working closely with Trey is Scott George, who
has day-to-day responsibility for overseeing
operations at all levels as VP Corporate
Development. He came to Innova via an industry
OEM whose programme for board building
was being outsourced to the company in 2000.
He echoes the ambitions of his colleagues and
desire to use Hunting ownership to take the
company further into the realms of ‘Hi-Rel’.
Scott works alongside Mike Blehm VP
13
...the people
Inspection and testing
Mike Blehm
Manufacturing; as a contract manufacturer it is
no surprise that this operation should be at the
heart of Innova. Having joined in 1996, he has
an intimate knowledge of all these areas, which
he manages on a daily basis including customer
service, engineering, planning, new product
development and cost control.
Walking the talk
While the administration, sales and support
staff have dedicated departments, it is only
a short step to the shop floor where many of
the team can be found at any given time. Once
in the main manufacturing facility, with its
$700,000 worth of static free flooring, the work
flow proper starts with the Surface Mounted
Technology group where printed components
are attached to the circuit board.
Darryl Tarpley has been in the Printed
Circuit Board manufacturing business all his
working life, the last seven with Innova. As
Manufacturing Manager he is responsible for
ensuring that all the manufacturing aspects
of the Surface Mounted Technology group,
including all related customer matters, run
smoothly. Ably supported by Ernest Buggs,
Production Supervisor, Commercial Products,
there is a need for close cooperation to set the
production pace and scheduling that starts the
manufacturing journey.
14
The inspection process is set into the early
stages of the journey and circuit boards
undergo full optical and x-ray analysis. A
testing regime is agreed with each customer
requiring regular contact to tailor the individual
programme as well as to assure product
quality. That is a responsibility of Test Engineer
Russell Chapman, who looks after the software
and hardware developments for their test
specifications. The personal rapport between
OEM and Innova is critical at all levels to
the success of the partnership. Arming those
personal relationships with the right technology
to support the entire operation, Chet Fielden
is Director of Technology. He joined Innova in
October 1997 after being a Senior Software/
Hardware Consultant and a Senior Project
Engineer. Chet now has overall responsibility
for technical sales, test engineering, functional
test and the IT department.
Chet
Fielden
Russell
Chapman
Dennis
Wilson
Assembly and integration
The flow process continues in dedicated
customer cells where the requirements of
each client can be met without compromising
their design property. Thru-hole assembly
and integration of the electronic components
into the tools are performed. In charge of this
section is Dennis Wilson, VP Tool Integration,
who is ultimately responsible for the assembly
and integration of components into the
customer’s product. With more than 26 years of
experience within the energy services industry,
Dennis has been involved in many aspects of
Ernest Buggs
Darryl Tarpley
the manufacturing process.
The complexity of individual customer
requirements needs the support of a wider
team to fulfill particular niche roles. Key
members include Eric Taylor as Production
Manager for Tool Integration and the Computer
Products Division where he manages projects,
training and internal audit teams. Leang
Chhath, Production Manager, Tool Integration/
SLB, balances out the team with 15 years of
experience with Innova including expertise in
Thru-hole Manufacturing Assembly and Quality
Assurance.
Form and function
Once the end product is assembled and all
components fully integrated, the testing
continues with full functional checks being
performed and final inspection undertaken.
Only then can the full documentary dossier be
prepared by Steve Reed, Production Manager,
who is responsible for all current customers in
the manufacturing process, ensuring quality,
customer service and on time delivery.
Onwards and up
Hunting Innova employees have been a
tremendous asset to the success of the business
and they are valued in every capacity. With a
record of loyalty and service longevity there is
much common ground with the existing Hunting
companies and a shared ambition to build an
even stronger presence as manufacturer of
choice to the energy services industry.
Kitting
raw
material
Surface
mount
placement
Convention
reflow
Optical
inspection
Functional
test
Flying
probe
test
Thru-hole
placement/
integration
assembly
X Ray
inspection
Potting/
Encapsulation
Final
inspection
Shipment
to
customer
stock
Steve Reed
Eric Taylor
Leang Chhath
15
Holland hub
H
unting Energy Services BV has been a
constant mainland European presence
since the start of commercial gas
production from the southern North Sea in the
mid 1970s. Originally just a toe-hold in Den
Helder, this then led to a more substantial
presence some 50 miles to the south at
Velsen Noord, opposite the port of Ijmuiden
on the North Sea Canal. The Large OD pipe
workshop and yard at Olieweg has direct
access to the waterway, while up the road,
the separate fabrication unit occupies the
site of an old paper mill whose double storey
height more readily accommodates the taller
structures the company specialises in. The
management of these operations forms part
of the European grouping based in Aberdeen
while the character and local outlook is
pragmatically Dutch. This configuration
allows for the optimisation of North Sea basin
manufacturing while promoting a marketing
initiative to mainland Europe and international
opportunities further afield. More than 10 years
ago 80 per cent of the activity was geared
to the domestic market with the remainder
destined for overseas. The inverse is now true
with 80 per cent of product destined for the
16
international market and the remaining 20 per
cent orientated to the local sector.
Hub at the heart
Olieweg sits in the shadow of the massive Tata
steelworks (the old Koninklijke Hoogovens then
Corus plant) that forms the mainstay of Velsen
Noord’s economy at the mouth of the North
Sea Canal that links maritime Amsterdam with
the world. This proximity belies an irony that
all the raw steel materials used by HES BV for
machine stock are now exclusively imported.
A double irony is that this illuminates the key
role played by the Dutch operation at the hub
of a logistical network whose web can be highly
complex as well as prized. A steady order
book across a range of tubing and accessories
is maintained by a reputation for quality and
swift response with the experience of handling
diverse materials, grades and sources. These
typically come from Japan, Germany, the UK,
China or Eastern Europe. By way of example,
an order from an Emirati customer in the
Middle East calls for steel imported from
Japan, transhipping to a train in Flushing,
while couplings are trucked from the UK. This
is all brought together for manufacturing in
Canal plus
Hunting Energy’s Dutch
presence provides a unique
outlook on the horizons of
world trade and the supply
chain alike
HES BV ready for the finished products to be
air freighted to the end user in Central Asia.
The trans-border bureaucracy truthfully needs
as sophisticated a response as logistical and
manufacturing expertise.
Supply chain intervention
The ability to slot into an international network
by providing a low friction service, means that
Large OD orders can also be managed as part
of a complex supply chain as demonstrated by
the photographs showing an order of Greeksourced 18 5/8 in pipe being re-loaded onto
a boat once threads had been cut, buttress
couplings machined and protectors applied
before being shipped back into a larger
supply contract. Such ability to step into and
successfully manage a particular sub element
in the wider supply chain typically leads to an
average of two to three such boat operations a
year. Another example might encompass a work
package of 15,000 18 5/8 in pipe from steelworks
in Germany, couplings from France, protectors
from Moldova, commercially arranged by the
client in the UK and destined for an end user in
the Arabian Peninsula.
As well as speed and flexibility, proximity
to the quayside is clearly a strong point since
shipping this sort of quantity by boat is far
cheaper than by truck or train. The advantage
is the ability to give the customer a choice
for parcelling out elements of the main work
programme and making a valuable contribution
to their supply chain. Naturally such work does
not flow through the door of its own accord
and involves a substantial amount of travelling,
working closely with the decision makers and
then being able to create and demonstrate the
viability of the various options before agreeing
the appropriate service.
Velsen Noord in the province of North
Holland is often described as being just
north of the city of Harleem, which is
slightly economic in definition now that
the North Sea Canal with its complex of
levees, locks and channels splits the two.
It is quite staggering to realise that this
colossal engineering feat was undertaken
by hand. Like a ribbon development
along a highway the canal has allowed
the gradual ingress of industry along its
banks which has spawned a multitude
of marine orientated businesses or
those that need ready access to the
international sea lanes. This is epitomised
by the steel plant itself and then national
desire in the post first world war era to
build an independent Dutch steel making
capability. At the same time it is a very
short step away from the canal to enter
a picture perfect bucolic landscape with
ancient castles and rich Amsterdam
merchants’ summer residences built in
fine aspirational style with formal gardens
and sculpted parkland.
the Drilling Tools with equipment management
and rental business facility in Aberdeen can
also be helped up into a European client
base. The prospects for these businesses
encompass not only the existing range of major
basin activity but mean that they are also
pre-positioned for the exciting emergence of
European shale play prospects - as and when
they happen.
Family reinforcement
The role played by the Dutch units gives a
much desired European angle for other units in
the Hunting fold where synergies make sense.
It allows other divisions, new acquisitions
and new formations access to expansion
opportunities by levering off this mainland
springboard. Distribution of manufacturing for
common Hunting products and components
with assured quality gives an inherent flexibility
and strong competitive advantage. The Well
Intervention activities work increasingly
effectively in this manner. It is anticipated that
17
Breaking
waves
A troubled call for
assistance on the high
seas got the deep sea
tanker team
a-thinking
Protected zone
Open water
18
A
rranging contracts for tankers on long
term charters and pooling agreements for
the carriage of oil and oil products is the
usual bread and butter for Gibson Shipbrokers’
deep sea tanker projects desk. Accordingly, the
team is familiar with the frequent and often
unpredictable complexities involved in the
business of oil transportation. Even so, when
a client puts in an especially unusual request,
it still raises eyebrows and gets the creative
juices flowing. This is exactly what happened
when Murphy Oil came with a particularly
unusual scenario for a ship in support of a
stranded jack-up rig.
All at sea
Earlier this year a painful drama was being
played out in the southern Atlantic as Murphy
was trying to reposition its chartered rig, the
Atwood Beacon, off the coast of Suriname.
Normally a jack-up would be manoeuvered into
place, either self-propelled or towed, using its
own hull for buoyancy. Once in position the
legs of the rig are ‘jacked-down’, grounding it
securely on the sea floor. The rig platform is
then raised or jacked up to a predetermined
height above the surface, limiting the impact of
waves, tides and currents on the rig’s drilling
operation. With drilling completed the theory
is that the operation is reversed and the rig is
safely floated into a new location to start the
process once again. Or not as the case may be.
After 45 days of attempting to refloat the rig,
Murphy was still struggling with repositioning
due to heavy swell and strong currents. An
innovative solution would have to be found.
Making waves
The relationship between client and broker
is paramount to success and in this instance
allowed for the creation of options that would
not otherwise have been generated to break
this impasse. Murphy decided to try a new
technique, using a drafted down tanker to lie
off the rig, restricting the swell and current
on the tanker’s lee side, to allow the jack-up
operation.
The tanker project desk in conjunction with
colleagues in the mainstream tanker and dry
cargo departments presented Murphy with
several vessel options in close proximity. The
charterers having decided a minimum draft of
12m was necessary to reduce the swell, asked
Gibson to arrange for the Norwegian owned
Aframax, the MT Evi Knutsen, to perform the
role. The vessel, with full seawater ballast,
was able to draft down to about 14m and was
initially contracted for approximately 20 days.
During operations, the vessel was held about
500m off the windward/seaward side of the
rig by its dynamic positioning system and two
anchor handling tugs, which were also needed
to ensure the vessel’s bow and stern stayed
perpendicular to the rig.
A swell job
Success - the tanker provided sufficient lee
for the rig to relocate safely and continue its
drilling operations. To reinforce that Murphy
re-hired the vessel one month later to perform
the same role allowing the Atwood Beacon
to complete Murphy’s drilling campaign.
Meanwhile the brokers at Gibson look forward
to further challenges and a niche market for
large tankers in equally innovative roles.
Tugs help to keep the MT Evi Knutsen in optimum position
19
Back to the
Dennis Proctor hands Leigh Anne Lester her prize
The arts community
and energy industry
met once again at a
spectacular award
ceremony to celebrate
the winner of the 31st
Hunting Art Prize
L
uminaries from across the American art
scene and distinguished industry guests
came together at an evening gala in April
to view the latest creative contributions of
Texan artists and celebrate the winner of the
2011 Hunting Art Prize. The event has really
become an eagerly-anticipated fixture which
takes place just before the annual Offshore
Technology Conference in Houston.
Staged at the distinctive Friedkin Corporate
Campus, Toyota Gulf States, for the second
year in a row, the evening’s attendees were
greeted by their hosts, company Chairman
Richard Hunting and Chief Executive Officer,
Dennis Proctor, together with the event chair,
Philamena Baird.
Reflecting both the creative and geographic
diversity of the Prize, this year the competition
attracted more than 1,600 entries from Texan
artists, originating from not only the state’s
metropolitan areas, but also some of its smaller
communities such as Alpine, Valley View,
Rosharon and Lorena.
Artistic endeavour
An important feature of the Hunting Art Prize is
that the winning artist is determined solely by
the quality of the work that they have produced
for the award. In keeping with the competition’s
tradition, every entry is judged anonymously,
ensuring that the judges’ decisions are made
20
solely on the individual quality of the art and
remain uninfluenced by an artist’s background.
Each artist is required to provide a digital file
of the work they wish to submit which is initially
assessed by a panel of judges. Once all the
entries had been reviewed, in early February
113 finalists were put forward to enter the next,
and most critical, phase of the three-tiered jury
process. Those selected were then asked to
present their original artwork for the second
jury panel to consider when it reconvened to
make its final decision on April 30.
A spectre to behold
With a sense of suspense in the air, the
assembled audience waited to learn the winner
of the prestigious prize. The tension was
almost unbearable as Dennis Proctor gradually
revealed details of the artist’s background
before the actual announcement was made and
a visibly startled Leigh Anne Lester stepped
forward into the limelight to accept the award
for her work, Mutant Spectre.
A graphite drawing, produced with delicate
intricacy on drafting film, the idea for Mutant
Spectre stemmed from Lester’s interest in
genetic modification. The picture itself was
carefully composed using elements of different
plants to form a unique hybrid species,
symbolising the artist’s speculation about the
possible implications of genetic modification.
drawing board
From left, compere Lisa Malosky, Richard Orr from
OHH, Richard Hunting and Philamena Baird
The captivating creation took more than seven
months to complete.
Driven by an interest in the idea of
knowledge, Lester’s work reflects the fact that,
throughout history popular opinion has always
held that it has complete and all-encompassing
knowledge, but as time goes on we realise
how uninformed we actually are. While some
aspects of the work are taken from recent
pictures, Mutant Spectre also includes botanical
drawings from the 16th century, which Lester
hopes, ‘reflects on the fact that at particular
times we believe that we have a full grasp of
knowledge about nature - but new technology
shows us how little we really do know’.
‘The artist successfully represents the power
and bounty of nature by presenting the viewer
with a sense of both beauty and improbability,’
enthused Rachael Blackburn Cozad, Director &
CEO of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary
Art. Explaining the reasoning behind the
judges’ decision Julien Robson, Curator of
Contemporary Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the
Fine Arts, alluded to Lester’s ‘great technical
skill’ while Carol Damian, Director and Chief
Curator, The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art
Museum acknowledged how, ‘the mutant reflects
what is happening today on the planet, while
reinforcing the scientific traditions of the past’.
A promising artist with work featured in a
number of national and international collections,
21
Members of the 2011 jury
Rachael Blackburn Cozad
Director
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Kansas City, Missouri
Carol Damian
Director
Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
Florida International University, Miami
Julien Robson
Curator of Contemporary Art
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Philadelphia
The judging panel in action
44-year-old Lester traces her keen interest in
art back to childhood. Enhanced by a degree
in Fine Arts, Lester has intensively focused on
her work for over a decade and during the last
17 years has managed the San Angel Folk Art
gallery in San Antonio, which boasts the largest
collection of folk art in the United States. She is
also the co-founder, co-owner and co-curator of
the cactus bra SPACE, an alternative exhibition
for up-and-coming artists.
Commercial appeal
Open to all amateur and established artists
over the age of 18, the $50,000 Hunting Art
Prize is famed for the opportunities that it
offers talented artists across Texas. Many
applicants have gained significant visibility
and recognition from the competition, which
they might not have otherwise been exposed
to, in addition to making key connections with
galleries, collectors and patrons. Indeed, a
considerable 20 per cent of the work featured
was actually sold on the night of the award.
Lane Hagood, whose work Books I Have
Possessed stole the show at last year’s event,
clearly demonstrates how the Hunting Art Prize
can accelerate the achievements of emerging
artists. Since the 2010 award ceremony,
Hagood has enjoyed immediate success. With
barely enough money to make the journey home
from the evening, his work has since been
22
shown in Paris, London, Berlin and Bordeaux
and he has gone on to feature in his first solo
exhibition in Houston, as well as appearing in a
group show in New Orleans.
Leigh Anne Lester certainly looks set to
achieve similar success as she joins Lane
Hagood in the Hunting Art Prize Hall of Fame.
Past winners of particular note include Robyn
O’Neil, whose exhibition at the Des Moines
Art Center was described by one critic as ‘the
most striking solo museum show [of] 2010’ and
Michael Tole who was publicly praised for his
work in ArtForum International magazine.
A helping hand
The 2011 Hunting Art Prize also marks the
second consecutive year that the company has
supported the not-for-profit charity Oilfield
Helping Hands (OHH). Established in 2003,
OHH provides critical financial assistance for
those within the oil and gas industry who, for
reasons beyond their control, have fallen on
hard times.
Supported by the sales generated at the
gala event, Hunting has announced that it will
contribute $125,000 to the OHH charitable
cause. The company’s donation in 2010 has
played a vital part in the charity’s efforts
to expand its services into Oklahoma and
Louisiana.
On
a
roll
Hunting’s Variball™
rolling system for
running Slickline and
Wireline tools is fast
becoming the preference
for operators and major
service companies
around the world
A
surge in the need for specialist well
intervention equipment to help in
servicing highly angled and deviated
wellbores is good news for the team that
developed Variball. The increasing viability of
tapping unconventional resources with new
technology has meant that energy operators
have increased their demand for a down hole
roller system for use in these high angle plays.
Variball has been successfully deployed at a
run depth of close to 17,000ft and in one case
side tracked nearly 10,000ft with an angle of
87.5 degrees. The rolling system minimises
the friction on the tubing that can occur when
running tools in deviated wells.
Because the chassis is encapsulated in an
elliptical roller system, the rollers are always in
contact with the tubing so keeping friction to a
minimum while running the intervention tools
into the wellbore.
The rollers themselves are interchangeable
within a ¾in range - allowing various
configurations, and so reducing the required
tool inventory as the one size chassis can
cover different completion sizes. Each roller
is independent from one another and rotates
around a common axle. The axle itself rotates
in the chassis allowing a further twist to reduce
friction in the tube; this means that if a roller
were to seize up during running, it is designed
to compensate for that automatically with its
secondary means of rotation. The elliptical
shape of the rollers means that their contact
point with the wellbore is constantly changing
so minimising the wear on the system. To date
no roller has been changed or removed as a
result of wear on the running surface.
The Variball is now in use globally and
frequently specified as the preferred system.
Applications include a major operator in the
North Sea, which has been using it on water
injection wells where they use a plastic lined
tubular. Using a camera in real time to inspect
the lining during competitive trials, Variball was
the only system to inflict no apparent damage.
A major Middle Eastern operator has now
specified the system in all its contracts with
Slickline service companies.
But Variball’s development has not stopped
there. An E-line version is now available with
connections to suit most E-line tools. These
have been used recently in a perforating
campaign with multiple runs accumulating
260,000ft without incident. The system has
also been engineered to incorporate jar action
technology with a suite of Varijar products
when there is need to manipulate, set and
retrieve down hole flow control devices.
Proprietary designs have also been used and
proved in the field to perform wire recovery
operations. Further advances are being made
in capillary tubing for coiled tubing and open
hole operations with prototypes currently
being trialled in a live environment. Results
are eagerly anticipated by both customer
community and the Hunting Well Intervention
team alike.
23
Our Hunting
Community
Appointments and Promotions
With strong progress in all markets, the company is pleased to announce
the following
Hunting North America
Andrea Romero has joined Hunting as Corporate Metallurgical
and Quality Engineer. Based in the Hunting Northpoint office in
Houston, Andrea’s responsibilities will include specifying and
selecting the best standardised materials for Hunting products
and auditing metallurgical product quality from the steel mills
that Hunting uses, while supporting all quality initiatives.
Hunting Europe
Kirsten Tollerton has been appointed as the new Regional
Internal Audit Manager at Hunting Energy Services in Aberdeen.
Kirsten has responsibility for the UK, Europe and the Middle
East and shares responsibility for the Asia Pacific region. Before
joining the company, Kirsten spent eight years working with
PricewaterhouseCoopers, where her primary clients included
Petro Canada and Coates Offshore.
Hunting Asia
Babu Raghavendren is the newly appointed General Manager,
Quality Assurance in Asia. Based at Hunting’s Singapore office,
Babu will oversee the direction of all quality programmes
throughout the region. Joining the company with more than
20 years of OCTG quality and operations experience, Babu has
worked in Indonesia and Singapore since 1990.
Hunting Manufacturing USA
John Fox has been promoted to the role of Operations Manager
at Hunting’s Sam Houston Parkway facility in Houston, Texas.
With 20 years of industry experience, John has previously held
positions in quality assurance, engineering and operations
management during his eight years with the company.
John Acosta has been promoted to the position of Operations
Manager at Hunting’s Thruway Park facility in Lafayette,
Louisiana. John has worked for the company for 11 years, during
which he has held roles in inventory, process control and sales.
T J Dunn is the new Operations Manager at Hunting’s Ramsey
Road facility in Crosby, Texas. T J has worked for the company
since 2000 and has held positions in process and finishing,
machining and programming.
James Caldwell has joined Hunting as the Operations Manager
at the Rankin Road facility. Prior to his current role, James had
already worked in the oilpatch for eight years gaining experience
across quality assurance, lean systems management, supply
chain and manufacturing.
John Phillips is the newly appointed Group Inside Sales Manager
for US Manufacturing. John has worked for the company since
1996 and he was previously in charge of the US Manufacturing
Corpus Christi location. He will be replacing Ritchie Lebouef,
who has assumed a position in Commercial Outside Sales.
Max Fabre has relocated from Hunting’s Houma facility to join
the Outside Sales team in Houston. Max will focus on Slickline
and Wireline equipment sales, in addition to associated products
and services.
Hunting Pensions
Peter Gee has been appointed a Director of Hunting Pension
Trust Ltd. Peter joined Hunting on 18 November 1991 and
became Group Pensions Manager on 1 October 2009.
Gibson Shipbrokers
A formidable dry cargo broker with 14 years experience at
Gibson, Nick Ward is the latest to join the company’s Board as
a Director. Nick’s special area of expertise is the Cape Size Dry
Bulk sector and he has enjoyed considerable success with his
work in this market.
Richard Hunting was honoured with the award of ‘Commander of the British Empire’ (CBE) at Buckingham Palace in recognition
of his services to the Arts and Heritage. Pictured with his wife Penny, shortly after the ceremony, he was hot off the slopes from
competing in a Super Slalom race for Veterans in the French Alps organised by the London Livery Companies
24
Health and safety
recognition
Hunting Energy Services (UK) has
been awarded the highly prestigious
International Safety Award from the
British Safety Council (BSC) for the
tenth successive year. For over half a
century the BRC has been conducting
assessments in the field of health and
safety and is now globally recognised
as one of Europe’s leading independent
safety organisations.
The International Safety Award scheme
was established to reward companies
which demonstrate a global commitment
towards improving standards in health,
safety and environmental operations,
across all levels of organisation. This year
saw more than 600 organisations from
around the world apply for the award.
After meeting the initial application
criteria, which stipulates that companies
must achieve accident rates better
than the industry average in order to
qualify, Hunting underwent a three day
audit from an independent panel before
achieving the International Safety status.
A two-time winner of the esteemed
BSC Sword of Honour, Hunting is
internationally acknowledged for putting
safety at the heart of its operations.
HTS History
Celebrating 50 years in international
development, the Hunting Technical
Services History book traces the growth
of the company, which was once part
of the Hunting Group. From a single
member of staff in 1953 to its growth and
ultimate sale to Genus Plc in 1998, the
history charts the ever changing focus
of development thinking and describes
how the company has adapted to changes
and prospered where others have failed.
To order your copy (£23.50 including
p&p) please contact Peter Thompson at
[email protected]
Wuxi opens its
doors
Hunting’s newest manufacturing facility
opened in Wuxi, in the Jiangsu region of
China, just as the Review went to press.
Measuring an impressive 323,000sq ft
this is the largest dedicated plant ever
commissioned by Hunting. The grand
opening was attended by local dignitaries
and senior Hunting executives. Built to
handle a throughput design capacity of
120,000 metric tonnes of OCTG per
annum, the site will serve the fastgrowing domestic and regional Asia
Pacific market with a high quality
premium product.
Andalucia Open
victory
Much to the delight of his Hunting
sponsors, Scottish golfer Paul Lawrie
has won the Andalucia Open. Taking the
title from Johan Edfors of Sweden, with
a one-shot victory on the final hole, at
the tournament in March, the prestigious
golfer gained his sixth European Tour
win. In recognition of Hunting’s support
of the Paul Lawrie Foundation (PLF),
the golfer proudly sports the company’s
corporate logo, the Hunting Horn,
on his collar. Launched in 2001, the
PLF encourages participation and fair
competition in a range of sports and
provides opportunities for juniors of any
age to compete in golf and improve their
capabilities to the highest level.
Global health and
safety award
Hunting Energy Services’s Rankin
Road facility has become the first in
the world to obtain the Occupational
Health and Safety Standards (OHSAS)
18001 Certification under the American
Petroleum Institute’s Registration
Programme. The OHSAS specification
enables an organisation to control its
OH&S risks and improve its performance
accordingly.
25
Our Hunting
Community
OCTG Japan
bulletin
It is now three months since the
catastrophic Japanese earthquake and
tsunami shook the world. During this time
Hunting Energy Services has examined
the long term effects of the disaster and
is issuing regular bulletins to keep its
customers advised. These reports can be
accessed from the Badentoy, Aberdeen
office. The company wishes all of its
colleagues and friends in Japan a speedy
recovery from the impact of the disaster.
Hunting Drilling Tools award
Hunting Art Prize 2011
This year’s $50,000 Hunting Art Prize has been awarded to Houston artist, Leigh
Anne Lester for her remarkable work Mutant Spectre. Selected from a field of 113
finalists, the winning piece is a graphite drawing that combines different elements
of plant life to create a hybrid species, a reflection
on the far-reaching possibilities of genetic
modification. The announcement was made in
April at a gala evening held at Houston’s Friedkin
Corporate Campus, Toyota Gulf States. Plans for
the Hunting Art Prize 2012 are already underway.
The competition is open to all amateur, budding and
established Texan artists, aged 18 or over. Proceeds
from the gala event, which raised $125,000 went to
Oilfield Helping Hands (OHH) - a charity established
to lend a hand to those in the energy industry who
involuntarily find themselves faced with serious
personal and economic challenges. Dennis Proctor is
pictured handing the donation to Rich Orr, President
of Oilfield Helping Hands, following one of the most
successful Hunting Art Prize gala event’s yet.
26
Following its recent establishment, Hunting Equipment Management Services
(HEMS) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the Fearnley Procter
and NS-1 Technical Review Committee award, under its Worldwide Accreditation
Scheme. The Specification NS-1 Quality and Inspection Requirements for New and
Refurbished Drilling and Well Completion Equipment is used by most of the major
operators for reducing costs associated with equipment failure.
Technical Manager Doug Stuart also received Fearnley Procter Group’s Procedural
Design Approval for HEMS’ wear band application and procedure. Irene Holden,
HEMS General Manager and Doug Stuart were presented with the plaque for
achieving NS1 certification by Fearnley Procter Regional Operations Manager,
Gordon Cook.
Rankin Road’s jambalaya event
Each Hunting facility has its own character, customs and regional traditions. In
keeping with this, each organises seasonal employee lunches, whether a crawfish
boil in Louisiana or, in this case, a spicy jambalaya at Rankin Road in Houston.
As pictured, the Rankin Road management team tempted the staff - some of whom
went to town dressing for the occasion - with a themed menu, which included the
local delicacy fried catfish and white beans in addition to a sizzling chicken and
sausage jambalaya.
Core Principles of the Hunting PLC
Code of Conduct
Every employee and business partner has a critical part to play
in ensuring the Code of Conduct becomes part of the fabric of
our organisation. Doing business the right way is not about
compliance, it is part of our culture.
• We aspire to deliver growth and strong performance in all our operations.
We invest in opportunities that fit with the ethos of the Group, always subject to rigorous financial
and commercial review.
• We behave with integrity.
Hunting PLC promotes a culture of honesty, transparency and fairness. We will not partake in
unethical practices such as bribery and expect the same of our business partners.
Annual
Shipbrokers’ Party
An estimated 800 guests attended the
annual Gibson cocktail party, which was
held at London’s historic Middle Temple
Hall. The event was also an opportunity
to recognise the achievements of
Ray Tough as he retired following an
illustrious 29 year career with Gibson.
Credited with establishing the company’s
successful and highly respected
Offshore section, Ray hands over the
reins to a capable team. Ray moved
into broking from chartering at Hunting
Surveys, totting up more than 40 years
of continuous employment within the
Hunting fold.
Ray Tough
• We are objective and trustworthy.
Our employees act without bias and conflicts of interest. We do not act in an anticompetitive
fashion and are respectful of confidential information when entrusted to us.
• We develop responsible business relationships to drive our strategy.
A customer focused approach is core to the Group’s strategy. We are committed to developing
mutually beneficial relationships with our business partners and communicating our core business
principles.
• We drive growth in a responsible manner.
Employees are encouraged to seek opportunities to develop their distinct business units, but never
at the expense of the highest ethical standards. We have a culture of continuous improvement,
focused on safety, quality and value.
• We respect our colleagues.
Our employees have the right to work in a safe, secure environment, with proper training, equality
and regard of their colleagues.
• We respect the laws and principles of the jurisdictions in which we operate.
Hunting PLC recognises its obligations as a leading Public Company and expects its
employees to observe the laws, rules and regulations in all operational jurisdictions.
• We behave in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
We strive to apply the highest standards in health, safety and the environment as well as being
sensitive to local cultures and the communities in which we operate.
Richard Hunting Chairman Dennis Proctor
Chief Executive
If you become aware of any breaches of the Code of Conduct, please raise any concerns with the nominated PLC contacts. These
details are contained in the Code of Conduct document, which can be downloaded from www.huntingplc.com
27
Hunting PLC
3 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5BQ, UK
Tel +44 (0) 20 7321 0123
www.huntingplc.com
Hunting PLC (USA)
24 Waterway Avenue, Suite 700, The Woodlands,
Houston, Texas 77380, USA
Tel +1 713 595 2950
Hunting Energy (North America)
2 Northpoint Drive, Suite 400, Houston
Texas 77060-3236, USA
Tel +1 281 442 7382
Hunting Energy (Europe)
Badentoy Avenue, Badentoy Park, Porthlethen
Aberdeen AB12 4YB, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1224 787000
Hunting Energy (Middle East)
1505, LOB 19 Jebel Ali Free Zone
PO Box 261929 Dubai, UAE
Tel +971 4 8865 799
Hunting Energy (Asia)
34 Benoi Road, Singapore 629901, Singapore
Tel +65 (0) 686 16176
Gibson Shipbrokers
PO Box 278, 16 Ely Place, London EC1P 1HP, UK
Tel +44 (0) 20 7667 1000