Welcome from the steamy banks of Buffalo Bayou (well, actually, the equally steamy terrace of yours truly's Uptown penthouse, but close enough). Our rule of thumb is that when you see permanent shrubs and grass dying in the River Oaks and West University districts of Houston, then we really are in complete drought. For those of you who ranch, we empathize deeply. What a nightmare. Hope your stock tanks and wells hold out. For those of you who golf, one phrase: wait until the heat breaks in late September. Many of us just don't need to be hacking about in 104F degrees in the shade, yours truly included. An hour a week with my admittedly sadistic golf pro is enough for me.
Ruminations
The tribe has suffered several grievous losses since our last issue which we will get to in due course. But, for every loss there have been happy events which we will chronicle as well.
In the meantime, the oil patch has been hopping, our government continues to act in the strangest and possibly most dangerous manner, stock and bond markets are reacting accordingly, and gold briefly hit $1,900 per ounce last week. This is not great news for our retirees or near-retirees, unless they happened to shop heavily in the gold souks of the Middle East at some point in time and can still find all that stuff.
While we never take sides in this column, it seems inconceivable to us that the executive and representative branches of our government continue to dither on matters of utmost importance. Due to the considerable influence of the Speaker of House well and craftily employed, there is at least a chance that the saner heads in both houses of Congress and the executive itself will move to the center and compromise in the best interests of all. There was a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal last week which compared the finances of the Federal government to those of an average household. In the case of the former, should it have been in the circumstances of the latter, the Federal government would be a candidate for foreclosure and repossession of all of its remaining wealth. Except for the Federal printing presses, which must be overheating at this point. Where do they get all that ink?
Certain very wealthy folks who will go unnamed have suggested that taxes on the "rich" would be a good idea. We wish them well as they on average pay 17% or so of income per year since most of their income is constituted of long term capital gains, and they can afford to make such suggestions. The majority of our population (52%) pay no income tax at all. This means that everyone in the middle is by definition "rich", which has ominous connotations for the future unless addressed by our ultimate weapon - our votes.
Meantime, the U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate in the world or very nearly so. And we wonder why our corporations hold vast, useful amounts of cash overseas rather than contribute to the spending machine that we have created and give it into the hands of the aforementioned government; and continue to flee the predations of that government.
Our friends in Europe have been reaping the same sour harvest that in time will come to us. Of the whole group, only the Swiss, the Germans and the Scandinavians seem to have fiinancial and social control. Our very good friends the British, with whom we have long shared common bonds, are suffering record austerity measures and appalling social unrest. The same may come to France. The fate of the Union hangs in the balance, a sobering thought. A spill-over to the US of these issues is even more sobering.
At the same time as our regulatory agencies have been partly brought to heel on the issue of offshore drilling (although the dispute between Exxon Mobil and the BOREME over expired leases regarding their giant Julia discovery in the Gulf does give pause to this thesis), these agencies have now turned their attention to possibly the greatest gas and oil discoveries of the last 100 years resulting from shale drilling and fracking. For heaven's sake, the SEC is even involved in addition to the USGS and the EPA amongst others. Add this to the vilification of coal and nuclear resources in our own country and oil sands in our closest neighbor, and one has to wonder: will we take what nature and science have given us or will we persist in dependence on less friendly outsiders and the fantasy that faux-science can save us tomorrow?
We personally have no problem with energy conservation and alternative energy sources, but the latter are far from ready or available to bridge the next twenty or thirty years, if not more, to provide true energy independence.
America is a great engine of economic growth, entrepreuership, innovation and captial generation. Not to mention, in comparison with other venues, a generally nice place to live. We may be bending, but we will not break. That is our nature.
On that note, the tenth anniversary of 9/11/2001 will occur next month. Never forgive, never forget.
The Lost Shuttle
It's now official, and we in Houston take umbrage:
Enterprise goes to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York.
Discovery replaces Enterprise at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in DC/Virginia.
Endeavor goes to the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
Atlantis goes to Kennedy Space Center
Two shuttle command seats go the the NASA Houston Space Center
Now, not to seem regionally centric, but Los Angeles, really? Exactly what did LA have to do with the shuttle besides some highly profitable contracts and the movie "Armaggedon"? We ran it, our people operated it, and in some cases they died for it. I have this fantasy of swiping Endeavor and telling everyone else to "Come and Get It" (remember the Goliad flag?). However, they're just too big to move about unnoticed. Shame on you, Charles Bolden (NASA Administrator). Your Texas passport is hereby revoked.
Oil Patch News
Frontier Drilling (FDR) has been sold to Noble Drilling. It seems that most of the Frontier folks have found new workplaces or have been placed with Noble, but anyone who has not yet done so and wishes to can contact us for assistance and information.
Rowan Drilling Company under the leadership of old friend Matt Ralls has completed the sale of its Letourneau Technologies division to Joy Global Inc. and its land drilling division to Ensign Energy Services Inc. Rowan thereby becomes a pure offshore play and is moving ahead very much in the model of GlobalSantaFe, including deepwater vessels. Many of our compradres have joined with Rowan; see the Alumni Directory and our last issue for contacts.
It appears that the Keystone XL (Transcanada) pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast will finally be approved by the US government, perhaps as early as next week, for the transport of heavy Canadian oilsands crude for refining in the US. Canada now supplies approximately 22% of US crude demand and that (thankfully) is expected to rise. Who needs bad partners when one can deal with good neighbors?
Brazil has announced $220 billion+ in projects to expand deepwater production over the next ten years. This work is expected to vault Brazil into the top five world producers.
The Business of the Tribe
Hilja Sexton reports in from SBM Atlantia that, amazingly enough, the designs for both the CR Luigs and the Jack Ryan were P10000 models designed by a sub of SBMA, Gusto. She is back in the Enclave Parkway area and is quite happy with that. In addition, Hilja reports that SBMA is hiring; engineers, pay attention. 281-848-6460 or hilja.sexton@sbmoffshore.com.
Mike Dawson and fiancee Julie Shapiro wedded and immediately embarked on a tour of northern Italy in July. A definite "parent trap"; the two met via their daughters, who apparently are joined at the hip. A better arrangement can't be imagined. Brian Townsend married Whitney Supak and is apparently quite happy in wedded bliss.
Old friend Neil Patience, now of Northern Offshore, paid a visit to Houston in July and a small celebration was had at Sherlock's on Westheimer to welcome him to the sauna. Attending amongst others, yours truly, Gary Sullivan, Bob Herrin, Dana Elliott, Chris Fearing, Ian Clydesdale, Al Schneider, Scott Waller, and Scott Osmond. Neil seems to be in fine fettle, so yours truly evacuated for a dinner party before things got out of control Aberdeen-style.
Having last been sighted at Rowan in a consulting role, Drew Baker has been made General Counsel at Atwood Oceanics. Neil Voohies can now be found at W&T Offshore. Jana Coates has moved to NFR Energy. Stuart Cory has popped up at Callum and Associates in a consulting role. Suzanne Jamison has landed at GL Noble Denton.
Job Seekers
Engineers, see Hilja Sexton @ hilja.sexton@sbmoffshore.com above.
Cathy Bolin, long-time HR and Benefits supervisor for GSF is job hunting for a similar role.
Mary Brashear, a highly experienced AP supervisor and analyst, has returned to us after an absence at Intsel Steel (Triple S) and is looking for a similar role.
Rowan is actively hiring as their mission transforms.
Check the Alumni Directory attached in the sidebar for all available information regarding the current activities of the Alumni and their current locations. We are now more or less 380 strong, and have considerable breadth and influence across our various companies and industries.
Contact us directly at gsfalumni@gmail.com if you have anything that might suit for Cathy or Mary. Likewise, if anyone else is in the market please let us know.
History Lessons
We have two interesting history lessons on Global Marine and Santa Fe. You know, we all didn't realize it because we were in the middle of it every day, but we were making history.
Kyna Agerton found the following which is most interesting to the oldsters amongst us (and perhaps the young, to understand where we really came from). Rather that reprint in full, here is the link:
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/GlobalSantaFe-Corporation-Company-History.html
Jay Gregory reports on the fate of the Global Marine drillships which were at one point the pride of our world (lightly abridged, Jay).
"Am on the the run [headed out tomorrow for Cape Town] Jay Gregory here, on Celtic Sea in Cape Town for a well deserved, and needed overhaul. Headed to Angola to work for Esso. Story: Met 3rd party electrical testing type [checking switchboard breakers] that actually works on :Glomar Atlantic, Pacific, and Coral Sea. The Glomar Coral Sea is anchored not far from the Celtic in the bay not far from Cape Town. These Drillships are still in the mineral recovery business, and still operational."
"I was a Java Sea hand in the Gulf of Mexico, and I know first hand how those old "Gals" could infect your mind."
"Glomar Grand Banks is active off of Namibia doing diamond mining right now. I have the man that was working on their ROV crawler doing work on the Celtic Sea during our shipyard here in Saldahna Bay, (S. Africa). I don't remember where the other fellow said the Glomar Atlantic and Glomar Pacific were anchored (in South Africa) but they are not active right now (no idea why?). Regretfully I didn't have anything really cool to input, with that said I wish y'all adeiu."
We who remember the "Gals" thought that was quite cool. Thanks, Jay.
A Few Scares
Gregg Farris of Oceaneering reports regarding old friend Dick Hudson, formerly head of Global Marine's IT Department:
"On April 18th while handing a letter to the postman at his neighborhood post office in Richmond VA, Dick suffered a blown disk and vertebrae breakage that has left him paralyzed from the waist down. He is currently in a top rated rehab center until May 31st learning how to live as independently as possible. His wife Margie, daughter and grandchildren are by his side rooting him along. Dick has chosen to move forward with a positive can-do attitude and has received the highest scores across the board of any patient at the rehab center. His physical and occupational therapy teams call him their "Rock Star". The example Dick is setting for anyone faced with adversity is simply incredible."
"What can you do? Reach out with some positive moral support, let him know you are thinking about him and his family, send your well wishes. You'll see, he will be very appreciative." We agree.
I recently corresponded with Dick and after three very scary post operative moments he is now doing much better. Do contact him and lend your support.
Mark Sacco of Transocean and ex-GSF in the enterprise financial application sphere, suffered a stroke in May. It was fortunately controllable and he is now back on the job post- recovery, but we really wish you wouldn't scare us that way, old boy. Golf when it gets cooler, OK? We'll have a mini-tournament for you.
Necrology
Now, we are sad to say, the bad news. It has been an absolutely terrible summer for the tribe, with several of our distinguished members gone to their respective angels.
Robert Forrest Bauer, who was the founder of Global Marine and the founder of many of our careers and fortunes, passed away on Saturday, April 30 at the age of 93. He was an innovator of the highest order and quite literally helped to make our industry possible. He was also a tremendous family man and sportsman who loved Montana as if he had been born there.
Quite selfishly I'm going to reprint my own little story about Bob Bauer.
When I joined Global Marine in 1974 Bob Bauer was already an historic figure in our company; which at that time was quite smaller than the successor companies to Global Marine, particularly GlobalSantaFe, but certainly a big deal for me. It was my first job out of college. Bob was a forbidding, quite craggy figure and I was scared to death of him. Two weeks after I joined the company, Bob and I were alone in an elevator (except for the elevator operator Bernie; the old Arts building in Los Angeles which we occupied at the time was quite antique); we looked each other over (I was just about curled up in the corner of the elevator under his somewhat withering gaze), and then Bob leaned over to me and said quite kindly, "You know, I'm really not such a scary guy. I just have to be that way to keep all these cowboys in line. Do your job, and you'll always have my blessing ." With that we became hail-fellow-well-met friends and whenever I had any doubt about where Global Marine was going, I knew that we had a great leader. RIP, Bob. May the Big Sky always be yours.
Our beloved friend Allen Gott passed away untimely on June 23. Allen was our risk manager at Global Marine and GSF and cut quite a wide swath in his own way. Therefore, again selfishly, my own obituary for Allen.
"Allen was the most amazing man - a whole man. At first impression he was a little stern and imposing in person; but upon becoming close to him I found him to be intelligent, discerning, literate, considerate and very social. He knew the measure of others and would not tolerate fools; but having passed the bar, I found him to be a good fellow traveler. His sense of humor was dry and unrelenting; no friend was safe from a soft jibe followed by a nudge with a big smile from Allen.
I will miss that wry smile and that dry wit very much. Also his insane golf swing, which between us caused much merriment.
Allen had his travails but at the end was a happy man and a devoted friend who would do anything for his friends or anyone in need. I am envious of his great heart and great demeanor, and only hope that I can be as good a man as he. Happiness and contentment are all that we can ask; but the search and commitment to these are so much more important. Allen made that search and succeeded."
RIP old friend.
Allen is survived by Juanita Gott, his loving partner. She can be contacted at 318 Joann Trail, Livingston, TX 77351 or nita.gott@yahoo.com. We are all gathered 'round.
Terry Rutherford, Performance Division Manager passed away on March 24 after battling cancer. He will be much missed by his Transocean collegues after a long and distinguished career.
Mike Malekie, a wry, highly opinionated and thoroughly amusing former member of the GSF IT department, passed away on March 25 much before his time. Our arguments were more fun than the making up after. One of the few people in my life who ever told me that I was an idiot - and in those particular cases he was usually right. An original.
Jock Mirrey (William Thorburn Mirrey), whom I did not know personally but appeared to be fond of living large (see his Facebook profile photo of he and a giant brandy snifter, still posted), passed away on June 19. Seems like the kind of fellow that I would have liked to work for and to know. A fine Scot by all accounts.
Norm McGuire passed away in early May. Unfortunately no further details available.
Finally, Kyna Agerton's mom passed away last weekend at the age of 99. Do lend her an ear in her grief.
The sincere condolences of the entire GSF alumni go out to the families of these fine individuals. We all together share in their loss.
Finally, Kyna Agerton's mom passed away last weekend at the age of 99. Do lend her an ear in her grief.
The sincere condolences of the entire GSF alumni go out to the families of these fine individuals. We all together share in their loss.
Gone Missing
We have been having difficulty with interfacing the latest version of GMail to AOL users, which means that you may not hear from us. Conspiracy theory? Probably. In any case, we will contact all AOL users by private email to advise them of the problem and urge them to consider using a second service such as GMail, Yahoo, or HotMail to resolve the problem.
Alums whom we cannot find at all in no particular order:
Mark Denkowski, M Hynes, Bruce Watson, Sam Owens. If you know these folks please ask them to contact us at gsfalumni@gmail.com with new emails or contact numbers.
Also, you will note a large number of entries in the Alumni Directory (see sidebar to the blog) with incomplete information (cells marked in grey). If you wish this information to remain private please feel free, but if you wish to update please contact us at the email above.
On the same note, if we have listed any information incorrectly in the Directory, please let us know. There are quite a large number of us to keep track of, and we frankly don't always get it right.
To Sum Up
In the simplest terms it's been a lousy summer, with a few (hopeful) bright spots. As the oilfield folk that we are, we remain eternally optimistic; there will always be a bottom, and there will always be a high; there will be frustration and sadness and high times and great joy. Think well of each other, and help each other out when you can. We are after all the Tribe.
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