Vienco Ltd. and AGT Energy Ltd.
Aberdeen and West Yorkshire, respectively, have announced the formation of a jointly owned company, OilFlow Solutions Ltd. OilFlow will market a portfolio of new product systems targeted at the flow optimization of viscous oils. The systems are based on a unique patented core chemistry developed by AGT Energy.
Richard Selwa, chief executive of Vienco, will serve as chairman of OilFlow. Mike Crabtree, managing director of AGT Energy, will be managing director, and Rob Arnott and Hugh Crook will act as non-executive directors.
Vienco Ltd. is a niche oil and gas specialist established to maximize investment opportunities in the international hydrocarbons industry. Its technology is leading edge and designed for heavy oil and waxy crude marginal fields.
AGT Energy Ltd. is a commercial spinoff from Bradford University, UK, to exploit unique chemistry discovered by the university team.
Miller & Lents Ltd.
Houston, has announced two additions to its staff of petroleum engineers. John T. Han, previously with Halliburton, Schlumberger, Hunt Oil, Kerr-McGee, and Coastal Corp., has been named manager of business development. He holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University. Regina S. Eco, previously with TRC Consultants, Sproule Associates Inc., Landmark Graphics, and J.R. Butler & Co., has joined the firm as a consulting petroleum engineer. She received a BS degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas.
Miller & Lents Ltd. is an international oil and gas consulting firm that has served the industry for over 50 years.
Petris Technology Inc.
Houston, has announced agreement to acquire the Recall well log storage and analysis software from Baker Atlas, a div. of Baker Hughes Inc. Petris will assume worldwide responsibility for the development, sales, service, and future development of the software.
Petris Technology Inc., founded in 1994, provides IT-based solutions for energy clients, leveraging its expertise in data management, application hosting, geospatial information systems, and professional services.
Clariant Oil Services
The Woodlands, Tex., has purchased Data Chem Inc., of Reserve, La. The acquisition enables Clariant to provide improved logistics and technical support to customers in the US Gulf Coast region.
Clariant Oil Services, provider of chemicals and integrated services to the global oil and gas industry, is a unit of the Functional Chemicals Div. of Clariant Corp.
Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes (V&M Tubes)
Houston, has named Didier Hornet as deputy managing director for the company’s new North America oil country tubular goods (OCTG) division. He also will serve as chairman of the board of V&M Star. Roger Lindgren has been named chief executive officer of V&M Star.
Hornet, who has an MS degree in aeronautics and an MBA from IAE Paris Sorbonne, joined the Vallourec Group in 1993. He held posts in Paris, Aberdeen, and most recently in Houston.
Lindgren has a BS degree in metallurgical engineering, and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. He has been in the tubular industry for 35 years, 20 of those at North Star Steel.
V&M Star, formerly North Star Steel, is the steel manufacturing arm of V&M Tubes’ North America OCTG Div. Plants are located in Youngstown, Ohio, and Houston.
Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between the French Vallourec Group and German Mannesmannröhren-Werke. The company is a leading producer of seamless hot-rolled steel tubes with a broad range of dimensions.
Varel International
Dallas, has been acquired by KRG Capital Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm specializing in ‘buy and build’and consolidations for middle market companies. Executive management of Varel will remain in place.
Varel International, founded in 1947, manufactures a range of roller cone and fixed cutter drill bits for the global oil and gas, mining, and industrial markets.
Invensys Process Systems
Foxboro, Mass., has announced the opening of a new technology center in Beijing, China. The new center complements Invensys’ existing presence in China, which includes its Shanghai-Foxboro Co. Ltd. facility in Shanghai.
Invensys Process Systems, a business unit of Invensys plc, provides products, services, and solutions for the automation and optimization of industrial process plants.
The Invensys Group is headquartered in the UK, and has 35,000 employees operating in 60 countries.
GlobalSantaFe Corp.
Houston, has announced the appointment of W. Matt Ralls as executive vice-president and chief operating officer, and the promotion of Michael R. Dawson to senior vice-president and chief financial officer, and Robert L. Herrin Jr. to vice-president and controller.
Ralls joined Global Marine Inc. in 1997 prior to its merger that created GlobalSantaFe. He most recently served as senior vice-president and CFO.
Dawson held financial and investor relations management positions with Union Texas Petroleum and Shell Oil prior to joining GlobalSantaFe.
Herrin spent nine years with Tenneco Oil Co. before joining GlobalSantaFe.
GlobalSantaFe Corp. is a leading worldwide offshore oil and gas drilling contractor offering a full range of equipment and drilling management services. The company’s fleet of 59 offshore rigs includes premium and heavy-duty, harsh-environment jackups, semisubmersibles, and dynamically positioned ultra-deepwater drillships.
Foster Wheeler Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda, has announced the appointment of Umberto della Sala as chief executive officer of the company’s Global Engineering & Construction Group. A 32-year veteran with Foster Wheeler, della Sala has served in a variety of engineering, commercial, and operational roles in Europe and North America.
Foster Wheeler Ltd. provides a broad range of design, engineering, construction, manufacturing, project development and management, research, and plant operation services to the refining, upstream oil and gas, LNG and gas-to-liquids, petrochemicals, and other industries. Based in Hamilton, Bermuda, the company’s operational headquarters are in Clinton, NJ.