My, where has the time gone? Here we are in the midst of a gorgeous spring, which follows a cold and rainy winter, and we are just now publishing our periodic update. You'll note that we have combined two issues into one; with good reason as yours truly was on the road pretty much throughout the holidays and into February. As in, California and Nevada at Thanksgiving, Christmas in Houston, New Year's in Toronto, back to California and Nevada, then myself in Houston whilst spouse galivanted in Chile and Argentina. So do forgive me, but the chain is unbroken if not timely.
We hope that those of you who could do so had excellent holidays in the warm embrace of your families.
We hope that those of you who could do so had excellent holidays in the warm embrace of your families.
Due the passage of time, we have a large amount of news which is chronicled below. In a rare change to the blog format, we have moved instructions as to how to view the site, how to use the links at right and and various other technical details at the bottom of the newsletter. Headline real estate is just too valuable (unlike actual real estate, which is another matter entirely).
Ruminations
Is it us, or has the pace of natural disasters acclerated in the last decade? My cousin thinks that it is the beginning of Armaggedon, but he is of the excitable sort. The Mayan calendar predicts that the world will end in 2012; such predictions have come and gone before. In my view the world has always been reinventing itself, and life will survive in some form or another until the Sun goes out, which really would be the end. To get some perspective, look at the following link to the American Museum of Natural History:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jymDn0W6U&feature=youtube_gdata_player.
Returning to the world as we know it, northern Japan was rocked by an earthquake and tsunami in March. We tend to think of the Japanese as being so organized that they can cope with anything, but even so there are limits to human endeavor in the face of an angry planet. The human suffering of this disaster is unbelievable in a highly developed nation - could you really conceive of how we would feel if we had just lost something in the neighborhood of 30,000 dead due to a disaster in our own country? Displacement we are familiar with due to Katrina and Ike amongst other tropical storms, but think in terms of millions displaced with - really - nowhere to go. They don't have the luxury of moving over a few hundred miles.
We've all seen the videos, but modern media tends to be remote and unfeeling. We see the pictures in a cocoon, real yet unreal. Do the right thing and dig out a donation to one or more of the agencies that are attempting to provide aid to the Japanese people. Without bias, here is a link to ABC News that lists agencies that are actively involved: http://abcnews.go.com/International/japan-earthquake-donating-relief-funds/story?id=13122660. Or, follow your heart and donate to the organization that you think will do the most good. In any case, just do it. You'll be doing a good thing.
The business of extracting useful hydrocarbons from under the sea in these United States has just begun to thaw. Not in time for many offshore drilling and service companies who have departed the scene, either by relocating operations or liquidating; and certainly not in time for the American consumer, who is now paying just south of $4 per gallon of gasolene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jymDn0W6U&feature=youtube_gdata_player.
Returning to the world as we know it, northern Japan was rocked by an earthquake and tsunami in March. We tend to think of the Japanese as being so organized that they can cope with anything, but even so there are limits to human endeavor in the face of an angry planet. The human suffering of this disaster is unbelievable in a highly developed nation - could you really conceive of how we would feel if we had just lost something in the neighborhood of 30,000 dead due to a disaster in our own country? Displacement we are familiar with due to Katrina and Ike amongst other tropical storms, but think in terms of millions displaced with - really - nowhere to go. They don't have the luxury of moving over a few hundred miles.
We've all seen the videos, but modern media tends to be remote and unfeeling. We see the pictures in a cocoon, real yet unreal. Do the right thing and dig out a donation to one or more of the agencies that are attempting to provide aid to the Japanese people. Without bias, here is a link to ABC News that lists agencies that are actively involved: http://abcnews.go.com/International/japan-earthquake-donating-relief-funds/story?id=13122660. Or, follow your heart and donate to the organization that you think will do the most good. In any case, just do it. You'll be doing a good thing.
The business of extracting useful hydrocarbons from under the sea in these United States has just begun to thaw. Not in time for many offshore drilling and service companies who have departed the scene, either by relocating operations or liquidating; and certainly not in time for the American consumer, who is now paying just south of $4 per gallon of gasolene.
Our friends at the unpronounceable BOEMRE (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement nee MMS; if there had to be an acronym, we would have preferred BOREME, which has multiple amusing interpretations) have finally realized that a storm of adverse public opiniion and political pressure is not what they had in mind, and have finally begun to do something about permitting in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. Gracious, even BP is in the permit queue. Not fast enough for us, but at least there is motion. It's fair to say, however, that readily available reserves in California and West Florida won't be touched for years, or at least until they are worth ten times what they are today.
On the whole, fascinating behavior for a government which is trying to stimulate the national economy and to save jobs.
In the long and tangled saga of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Det Norske Veritas has concluded that a flaw in the design of the shear rams in the DWH blowout preventer was the primary cause of the ensuing oil spill. This is small comfort to the families and friends of our compatriots, who were already dead by the time that the rams were actuated by as yet unidentified means; but at least there is some illumination there. Keep those eleven close in your hearts and never let their memory fade.
In our corner of the oil patch Ensco PLC of the UK (formerly of Dallas) has agreed to purchase Pride International of just down the street from me. This will create the second largest offshore driller by rig count and significantly augment Ensco's deepwater capabilities, but the effects on our friends who work for Pride are as yet unknown. Think well of them and help them out if they need it.
Speaking of offshoring, CBS's Sixty Minutes news show visited Transocean's office in Zug, Switzerland and found one person in the office, a receptionist (a nice one who we suspect was confused by Leslie Stahl and bright lights; what can one do but stammer in the face of mighty CBS with an absent boss?). They also tried to visit Weatherford's office in the same building but no one in the building knew where it was.
This expert crew apparently failed to notice the corporate signage for both companies on large office buildings in Geneva until after they had visited Zug. No interviews with the drilling services folks and most other companies mentioned in the piece; although the CEO of Cisco Systems was kind enough (and brave enough) to explain to Leslie on the air that the US 35% corporate tax rate has a sobering effect on the management and stakeholders of companies that choose to domicile in our fine country. 'Nuff said.
This expert crew apparently failed to notice the corporate signage for both companies on large office buildings in Geneva until after they had visited Zug. No interviews with the drilling services folks and most other companies mentioned in the piece; although the CEO of Cisco Systems was kind enough (and brave enough) to explain to Leslie on the air that the US 35% corporate tax rate has a sobering effect on the management and stakeholders of companies that choose to domicile in our fine country. 'Nuff said.
On a different and lighter note, Houston hosted the NCAA's Final Four, the Shell Houston Open, the Astros season opener, Rockets vs. Spurs, Rockets vs. Hawks and Dynamo vs. New York all in the same week. Must be some sort of a record for simultaneous major sports events outside of the Olympics (and far more interesting). Being good citizens we watched all this on TV from San Antonio so as not to have to deal with the 150,000 or so attendees of these various hoe downs. Our usual traffic is crazy enough.
The Business of the Tribe
Dave Geer reports that he has retired in Portugal after one last year-long hitch doing marketing for RIG in Angola. Still working as consultant (aren't we all?) but on a less hectic basis. This sounds like a good thing, but I wouldn't be stuffing Portuguese government bonds under the mattress unless you want to have more padding. They would make good wallpaper, though. Pictures of your place please, Dave.
Jeff Shepard and wife Trisha have executed their getaway to Reynolds Plantation in Georgia, just in time for the late season snow. For those of you who wish to harrass Jeff directly regarding this despicable defection from the Republic, his email and cell numbers have not changed. New address: 1050 Swift Creek, Greensboro, GA 30642. At least the Shepards have no black bears, unlike John and Suzie Donahoe who apparently have fauna wandering through the yard in Asheville, North Carolina at will. What more could you want? Bears and snow. Kind of like a National Geographic special, except being live.
Old friend Dan Hansen scared the willies out of all of us by having a heart attack in January. Dan survived the event and is well, but a scare like that is not something we like to hear about. If you're over 50, think about it and get thee to the gym.
James and Rebecca Stegall welcomed twins Lilly and Laney into the world in February to join son Luke. We know where Doug Stegall will be spending his time - he just loves grandbabies and finally has enough to keep him busy, we think. Bye the bye James recently made Rig Manager, so congratulations are in order.
Alan Breed and wife Tiffany have founded The Calendar Garden nursery on Hockley Road in Magnolia, Texas. Now yours truly really likes this as, being a condo dweller, one of the few things I miss about ground-level living is my garden. It takes some vision and lots of heavy lifting to open a nursery; this apparently is a boutique operation involving roses from the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence (for which yours truly has always had great affection when motivated to make the drive to Hempsted and points beyond), Texas Master Gardeners and all sorts of cool indigenous stuff (as in, stuff that won't die four minutes after you plant it). Magnolia is a lot closer than Independence; go buy a something from Tiffany and tell her we sent you.
Carmel Finlay, who has been a fixture on the GSF and RIG circuit for some years to our great pleasure and amusement, has up and gone back to Newfoundland. We'll miss you, girl; although after long absence we would not recommend consumption of screech except under medical supervision...
Speaking of Canada, Anil Shah has made his way north and is now working for Rick George as VP Treasurer of Suncor in Calgary. Not exactly a tropical locale but there you go; great company, great town, great people, great rodeo. We want a picture with a cowboy hat, Anil!
Kyna Agerton reports: Doug Freede will be a grandfather in April. Patrice Domingue will be a grandmother in May. Laurie Hayward is engaged. We (and time) move on, do we not?
Other Sightings: We always said that when GSF went it would be like a supernova, and we were right. Points of light everywhere.
Fred Brooks has joined Matt Ralls' team at Rowan (old friends Dave Faure, Nick Postolos, Ted Lewis, Rick Bohlen, Lisa Gauthier, Brandy Picou Ehrig and Brian Daniells already having landed).
Peggy Fitzgerald has joined Helix as general counsel; Drew Baker has joined Atwood Ocenics as general counsel; Kathi Greer has moved to Seadrill as an HR recruiter; Mike Anderson joins alums Gary Sullivan and Campbell Austin, amongst others, at Northern Offshore; Paul Moreno, Noel Cipriano and Jeff Trial are at Nabors; Danny Garcia has joined as controller as Marlin Offshore; Dave Boutelle can be found at Vantage Drilling; Susan Green has landed at Aon Risk Solutions; and Larry Noyce has landed at Texas Health Resources in the Dallas area.
If you're feeling adventurous, you can visit Khaled El Barkouki at Sahara Petroleum Services in Cairo. Still handsome as ever.
Last but not least, our old friend and indefatigable correspondent Kyna Agerton is looking to make a move. Let her know if you have something that might suit. She has the Voice. Really.
Notes on locating the alumni:
First, download the Alumni Directory from the link at right. It contains everything that we know about the location and current pursuits of the alumni. If you find your own information to be incomplete or incorrect, let us know at gsfalumni@gmail.com and we'll make it right. If you know of someone who would like to be listed in the Directory, please let us know at the same email.
Second, if you have not done so, sign up at LinkedIn.com. Simply the most effective business network that we have ever found. Amazing in its scope and utility.
Necrology
Now for the sad part; it's always sad, but especially this time. Old friend and all-around fine gentleman Charlie Johnson passed away in Smithville, Texas on February 22nd. We have not the words to describe our feelings, so we will leave it to his good friend Mike Yoakum.
"My friend Charlie J passed away this week. Of all the people I have known in the oil patch, he was one of the very best, brightest and cut a wide path through this life. A colorful gentleman to say the least who did things in his time others wouldn't dream of and was never afraid to put it on the line. May you rest in peace, my friend. We sure gonna miss you."
And Now... Roger Gosnell Channels Dennis Miller (or perhaps Mark Twain)
Old friend Roger Gosnell, who prowled the halls of the Payroll Department at GSF for many years, has revealed a heretofore unheralded aptitude for observation of the human condition which has at last been revealed. He titles these observations "I HATE" and "I WANT TO KNOW". To view the complete collection, visit Roger's Wall on Facebook. For your amusement, a few samples:
To Sum Up
It's been a time of change and doubt - even tragedy - for several years now, but it seems to me that the light of dawn can now be seen. A new dawn, a different dawn for many of us; but better times really do lie ahead. In life, things that have been broken have a tendency to mend themselves or to fade away as bad dreams. Stick together - honor your friends, love and appreciate your families, do your best and all will be well.
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Blog Instructions
We have quite a few new correspondents, so here are our usual reminders in abbreviated form. You can contribute by writing to us at gsfalumni@gmail.com. You can comment on any post using the Comment tool at the bottom of each post. A current directory of the alumni is to be found in the sidebar to the right of the posts.
Please do remember that if you don't tell us what you are up to, we can't let others know. All quite voluntary. Should we omit information or report incorrectly, we do apologize. We hate missing babies, marriages, relocations and so forth; but we do what we can to keep up with a very large and very active group.
Your faithful Blogmaster and Associates.
Please do remember that if you don't tell us what you are up to, we can't let others know. All quite voluntary. Should we omit information or report incorrectly, we do apologize. We hate missing babies, marriages, relocations and so forth; but we do what we can to keep up with a very large and very active group.
Your faithful Blogmaster and Associates.
