October 2015, Vol. 242, No. 10

Features

October Business Notes

Company News

Two Pipeline & Gas Journal editors were recently named winners of the Houston Press Club’s 2015 Lone Star Awards. Editor Jeff Share won second place in the magazine column category for “The Cost of Bad PR” and Managing Editor Michael Reed won third place in magazine features for his investigation of issues involving cast-iron pipe.

Personnel Changes

Tulsa Rig Iron made promotions within its sales department at global headquarters in Kiefer, OK. President Trevor Young appointed Mike Sadler as vice president of Sales and Terry Flynn, director of Sales and Marketing.

Roberts Pipeline named Robert C. (Rob) Lyons as president. He replaces longtime leader Gary L. Roberts who has worked for and led the company for over 40 years and will be chairman.

The company also made these changes to senior management: Jason Roberts, executive vice president and COO, Greg Fisher, vice president of Operations and Jeff Viars, who will lead all sales and marketing efforts as vice president of Business Development.

Gas Natural Inc. named Vince Parisi chief counsel and Todd DiSanto internal auditor.

Henkels & McCoy, Inc. named Steve Hicks pipeline vice president and division manager. He will oversee the company’s Pipeline Division from its operational headquarters in Houston.

Also, Bob Kearns was promoted to senior director, Company Project Management Office (PMO) which supports the planning and execution of projects and programs.

Monterra Energy, a company focused on the development and operation of strategic midstream projects and assets in Mexico, named John O’Beirne director of Projects and Construction. H based in Monterra’s office in Mexico City.

Greene’s Energy Group named Michael “Mike” Hayes vice president and general manager of Pressure Testing and Services (PTS) and the Engineering Group. Brian Cooper was named key account manager, focusing on the Permian Basin. Hayes and Cooper will be based in Houston.

Elliott Smith has joined Voith Turbo’s Power, Oil & Gas Division as vice president of Business Development and Strategy. He will be based in Houston.

Oceaneering International, Inc. named Steve Barrett senior vice president, Subsea Products.

CH2M promoted Bob Prasad to vice president of Business Development, Canada and western U.S. for the Oil, Gas & Chemicals Business Group.

Company News, Mergers & Acquisitions

Pickett & Associates, Inc. obtained an FAA Modernization and Reform Act (FMRA) Section 333 exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration authorizing commercial aerial data collection from small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Data will be used for mapping, surveying, and inspection.

Kiefner & Associates moved its Columbus, OH office to 4480 Bridgeway Ave., 43219.

The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology has opened a new Student Resource Center (SRC) at its Troy, OH campus to help students to find a job upon completion of their welding training. Julius Blair has joined the company and will teach various continuing education courses within the technical department. Elmer Swank has joined the staff as a senior technical instructor.

Wood Group Mustang has consolidated the Pipeline, Onshore and Oil Sands business units into the Onshore Pipeline and Facilities (OPF) business unit, which provides oil and gas processing, transportation, and field services. The new OPF leadership team is comprised of senior leaders from the combined businesses. Simon Wooler is president of OPF. For a listing of the leadership team, visit www.woodgroup.com.

EN Engineering recently introduced a “Hiring Our Heroes” training program for military personnel. Military veterans and current National Guard members can get two weeks of CAD training and apply skills they learn on the job while getting paid. Adam Biggam, vice president, Distribution, who created the program, said, “We specifically targeted this group because they are hardworking, disciplined, and dedicated. Many of our most successful employees come from a military background.”

Fluor Corp. and Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (COOEC), a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp., have formed a joint venture, COOEC Fluor Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (CFHI), through which the two companies will own, operate and manage the Zhuhai Fabrication Yard in China’s Guangdong province.

Black & Veatch has opened an office at 10403 – 172 St. Suite 203, Edmonton, Alberta, T5S 1K9.

Ritchie Bros. sold $45 million of equipment and trucks at its unreserved public auction in Houston on Aug. 26-27. Over 3,875 items were sold including 285 truck tractors, 160 frac tanks, 110 excavators, 55 loader backhoes, 25 crawler tractors, 55 flatbed trucks, 25 dump trucks, 25 cranes, and more. The auction attracted 4,125 bidders from 53 countries, including 2,500 online bidders. Bids were made in person, online rbauction.com and by proxy.

Obituaries

Janet Holder, 58, who spearheaded the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline in British Columbia, has died following a long battle with leukemia. Holder grew up in Prince George, BC and returned there in 2011 when she was named Enbridge’s vice president for Western Access. She headed the project team that would see Alberta crude flow to Kitimat, B.C. for shipment to Asia. She retired at the end of 2014 for health reasons.

Gilmer “Chuck”Harold Ogg Jr., 55 of Pryor, OK, died June 29 in Follansbee, WV. During his career, he worked on pipeline construction projects in the U.S. and in several foreign countries. He was most recently working for Associated Pipe Line Contractors as a tie-in foreman. Ogg was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 627 and Pipeliners Local 798. He leaves his wife, Beverly; and sons, Matthew, Joshua and Ryan.

Allen H. Coolsaet, 90, died July 20 in Grosse Ile, MI. The 1977 PLCA President and honorary member was chairman of R.L. Coolsaet Construction Co. He leaves his wife, Edween; children, Margaret; Amanda; Karen (Bill) Hollenbeck; Paula (Rick) Paul; Janice (John) Poutier; Jeff (Mary); Robert (Susan); Chris (Kathy); and Remi (Barb). He had 29 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.