Tag: Drilling

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Schlumberger’s Quiet Moonshot

Schlumberger's Ambitious Moonshot

Schlumberger’s bid for Cameron Int’l is big news in a flinching industry.  The vision behind the deal is ambitious — even a bit brash.  It’s more than just the consolidation of two large oilfield suppliers. The technical aspects of the plan could unleash industry ripples for decades to come.

Cameron’s long-time focus has been on the “heavy iron” used in the oil patch.  Schlumberger hopes to expand on that role by creating fully integrated drilling and production systems around its various products. The idea amounts to an operating system that efficiently manages processes from downhole to delivery.

It’s an alluring concept, one that cuts across much of the upstream Continue reading “Schlumberger’s Quiet Moonshot”

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The Reluctant Rockstar

Rockstar

Until recently, if one were to side-click their way to the website of onshore drilling contractor Helmerich & Payne (H&P), they could be forgiven for assuming the company was just another run-of-the-mill driller.  Framed mostly in nondescript grey and blue, the site seemed an unfinished afterthought of a organization with better things to do.

In truth, that’s probably not too far off.  H&P has traditionally avoided heavily marketing itself, leaving the trumpeting of its success to customers and industry analysts.  Nonetheless, when you’ve earned the kind of respect the Tulsa-based company has over the years, taking pride in the presentation of your story is only Continue reading “The Reluctant Rockstar”

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The Customer Has Spoken: A Decade of Appraisals

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In 2004, EnergyPoint Research first set out to discern which oil and gas equipment suppliers and service providers work best for their customers and to quantify their experiences. A decade of collecting and analyzing the relevant data has established EnergyPoint as the resolute voice of the oilfield consumer and the only curator of independent customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

EnergyPoint started its surveys with the assumptions that customer focus drives best practices and satisfied customers feed growth. Those facts held steady. And as we culled more industry wisdom from end users, we shared with our readers and subscribers a clearer picture of the critical variables companies can focus upon to create satisfied repeat customers. We also offered insights into how customers can influence the performance of their suppliers. Continue reading “The Customer Has Spoken: A Decade of Appraisals”

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Global Shale: Potential Bonanza for Suppliers

Global Map

Shale-oil and -gas production in the U.S. has been revered by some as the fuel, engine and vehicle driving the nation toward energy independence and economic solvency. Astronomical estimates of reserves, millions of high-paying new oilfield jobs, enhanced competitiveness for American industry, greater tax inflows for state and federal governments, and incremental export revenues certainly justify the volume of discussion.

Shale has at once become both disruptive and transformative. It’s also here to stay. IEA estimates the share of U.S. shale oil and gas production to double by 2035. Continue reading “Global Shale: Potential Bonanza for Suppliers”

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Top-rated Oil & Gas Industry Suppliers

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With so much at stake in today’s oil and gas industry, customers are looking for both measured authenticity and established competence in their oilfield suppliers. The ability of the current group of top-rated suppliers to perform so consistently well in EnergyPoint’s customer satisfaction surveys is a testament to their commitment to, and talent for, providing a superlative customer experience.

Three of the recently finalized 2012 survey’s four main segment leaders are repeat winners — Helmerich & Payne in onshore drilling, Derrick Equipment in oilfield products, and Ensco in offshore drilling. Newpark Resources captured the top overall ranking in the oilfield services segment for the first time.

Continue reading “Top-rated Oil & Gas Industry Suppliers”

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The Grapevine: Nabors Industries

OIlfield Grapevine

In May of last year, we published an article discussing certain constructive developments we saw underway at Nabors Industries. The relatively sanguine tone of the report, which was met with a certain degree of skepticism by some readers, reflected our analysis of changes in both the executive suite and in the company’s stated strategy and plan for execution.

After reviewing the company’s fourth quarter 2012 earnings report, listening to the associated conference call, and examining updated customer satisfaction results, we continue to see Nabors as making strides. Granted, progress has been slower than expected. But EnergyPoint’s customer satisfaction ratings suggest both change and improvement are the overall trend at the company. Continue reading “The Grapevine: Nabors Industries”

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Contract Drillers Find Customer Centricity

Customer Centricity

For both onshore and offshore applications, EnergyPoint’s latest survey results indicate contract drillers are increasingly out to show customers they mean business. At the very least, land-drillers’ overall ratings remain on an upward bent, while offshore drillers’ ratings continue to be the highest of all the major oilfield segments that EnergyPoint tracks in its customer satisfaction surveys.

Helmerich & Payne’s ratings continue to lead onshore. In fact, the company remains the only land drillers to enjoy a very high overall designation in EnergyPoint’s independent customer satisfaction ratings system. Continue reading “Contract Drillers Find Customer Centricity”

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Positive Change Underway at Nabors Industries

Nabors Industries Featured Image

Are positive changes are underway at Nabors Industries? The company, which currently rates Low overall but is trending Upward in EnergyPoint’s oilfield customer satisfaction ratings, seems to be undergoing a cultural and strategic transformation under the leadership of Tony Petrello, who recently replaced Gene Isenberg as CEO.

As COO, Petrello was seen by many as complicit in the strategies and ways of Isenberg. So, were not sure if these transformational steps Petrello’s own initiative, or if they stem from specific directives from an increasingly proactive board. Continue reading “Positive Change Underway at Nabors Industries”

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The Rig Equipment Blues

Dark image of a drilling rig
Today’s wells cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars a day to drill. Thus, few things rankle operators like slowed activity.
 

To limit downtime, the equipment on rigs receives close attention. However, EnergyPoint Research surveys show many equipment providers are missing the mark. There’s room to improve in post-sale support, availability and delivery, and pricing. Without improvements, the status quo will only entice new entrants.

Continue reading “The Rig Equipment Blues”

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Are Today’s Drill Bits Better Mousetraps?

Chart showing drill bit scores by supplier
When oilfield suppliers make outsized claims regarding a new technology or design, we, like many in the industry, can be skeptical.
 
Looking good on paper doesn’t always produce repeatable results for customers. Over-promoted offerings spawn the kinds of high expectations that lead to low customer ratings.

Continue reading “Are Today’s Drill Bits Better Mousetraps?”