Company & Association News

Association News

Herrenknecht recently received the (IPLOCA) International Pipeline & Offshore Contractors Association's New Technologies Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., for the newly developed semi-trenchless Pipe Express®. The Pipe Express® is an innovative mechanized method for the near-surface installation of pipelines. Pipelines of up to 2,000 meters in length and with diameters of 900-1,500mm (36-60 inches) can be installed in a single-step procedure.

The IPLOCA, based in Geneva, Switzerland, represents major companies in the onshore and offshore pipeline industry worldwide. Every two years, as part of its annual meeting, the IPLOCA Award is given for significant innovations in the pipeline industry, which is sponsored by BP.

Doug Evans, president of the IPLOCA and CEO of Gulf Interstate Engineering, emphasized in his speech that Herrenknecht Pipe Express® can make a key contribution to environmental protection in pipeline projects. This aspect was decisive for the jury as protection of the environment is of major importance in the development of large-scale projects. Ulrich Schaffhauser, chairman of the executive board of the Business Unit Utility Tunnelling, received the award during the event.

The American Gas Association (AGA) presented the 2013 Distinguished Service Award to David M. McClanahan, president and CEO of Center Point Energy, based in Houston, TX. McClanahan received the award at the recent AGA Executive Conference in Kiawah Island, SC. McClanahan has been a member of the AGA Board of Directors since 2001, serving as chairman in 2008. In addition, he has served on nearly 20 AGA committees.

David Spigelmyer has been named as president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC). Prior to joining MSC, Spigelmyer served as vice president of Chesapeake Energy Corporation's Appalachia Division, where he was responsible for government relations, regulatory policy, stakeholder engagement and communications efforts.

Personnel Changes

James A. Davis has joined Tex-Direct Drilling LLC as president Davis will continue the company's ongoing success in providing horizontal directional drilling services to pipeline construction companies in North America. Wayne Robin and Cheryl Higham will remain as co-owners and Robin Higham will continue his current role as vice president of field operations.

NorTex Midstream Partners, LLC has named Ben Moore to lead the company as president and CEO. He joins NorTex with 25 years of experience in business development, operations and engineering in both the upstream and midstream energy sectors.

G2 Partners has named Greg McCooi as its vice president and principal. McCooi specializes in GIS data and records integration, engineering project execution, pipeline risk management, and corporate growth.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. announced that David M. McClanahan will step down as president and CEO and as a member of the company's board of directors. The board of directors has named Scott M. Prochazka, the company's COO, as McClanahan's successor. McClanahan will remain as an officer with the company and special advisor to the CEO during the first half of 2014.

Weatherford International Ltd. has appointed Krishna ShivramDharmesh Mehta to executive vice president and COO.

Vacuworx Global LLC has expanded its global presence with the addition of three new hires and a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa. James F. Pfeiffer has been named the vice president of sales. Keith Rhodus joins Vacuworx Global as a district sales manager covering the Southeast United States region and Joe van Wyk has been named general manager of Vacuworx Africa, responsible for all Vacuworx operations and its affiliates within Africa.

TÜV Rheinland has named David Leers CFO for North America. In his new role, Leers will guide the company's financial decisions and corporate strategy.

Sabine Oil «fe Gas LLC has promoted Todd Levesque to COO. Levesque previously served as Sabine's senior vice president of Engineering and Development.

Mott MacDonald has appointed Albert Allan as managing director of its oil, gas and petrochemicals business. He will oversee a 4,100 member team, which is currently engaged in developing, designing and providing project management services for onshore and offshore exploration, production, storage, processing and transmission facilities.

Newfield Exploration Company announced that Terry W. Rathert, a Newfield founder and the executive vice president and CFO, will retire at year's end after more than 25 years with die company. Lawrence S. Massaro has been named to succeed Rathert as executive vice president and CFO. Rathert will serve as special advisor through August 2014.

Joseph Riva has been promoted vice president and chief surveyor of ABS. Riva will be responsible for guiding and overseeing all ABS survey activities. He will succeed Linwood Pendexter, who has held the position for ten years.

Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. has named Patrick J. McDonie as president of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, the partnership's general partner. McDonie has been the senior vice president and COO of the general partner since July 2012. He will remain as COO.

Company News, Mergers & Acquisitions

To accommodate product line expansion of PipeSak and PipePillo, PipeSak Pipeline Products Inc. recently moved their headquarters to a new and larger facility in London, Ontario. The new address is PipeSak Pipeline Products, Inc.747 Hyde Park Road, Suite 125, London, Ontario, N6H 3S3.

Interpipe's production facilities recently passed the qualification audit of the Italian oil and gas company ENI S.p.A. In particular, ENI S.p.A. has agreed to the qualification of Interpipe's oil and gas tubular products: API 5 CT threaded casings and seamless and welded line pipes. The prequalification enables Interpipe to supply tubular products to all of ENI S.p.A.'s production facilities.

American Piping Products, Inc. has purchased the assets of Ozark libular Products, Inc. Based in St. Louis, MO, American Piping Products also has locations in Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Baton Rouge, LA.

High Pressure Equipment Company recently opened a new manufacturing plant at 2955 W. 17th Street in Erie, PA.

Signaling the company's growth in oil and gas exploration and development in Texas, North Dakota and across the U.S., Peregrine Petroleum has moved its Houston operations to new offices in AIG's America Tower, 2929 Allen Parkway, Suite 1520, Houston, TX, 77019.

Dawood Engineering, Inc. has expanded into West Virginia, opening of an office at 103 Cambridge Place, Bridgeport, WV, 26330.

CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc. has formed an alliance with China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPP), one of the world's largest pipeline contractors. With over 30 years of cooperation, CRC-Evans has rented dozens of automatic welding machine spreads and sold 10 full spreads of dual-torch welding equipment to CPP. Using this equipment, CPP constructed over 50% of the pipeline contracted by China National Petroleum Corp.

Mikhail Blekherov, president of CRCEvans Onshore East, said, "Many contractors in China follow CPP's example regarding construction equipment management, strategically positioning CRC-Evans in equipment business in China and around the globe."

COOPER® Valves has acquired Accuseal, headquartered in Houston. Accuseal will conduct future business as a brand of COOPER Valves, under the name COOPER Accuseal. Financial terms were not disclosed.P&GJ