Wilhelmsen Ships Service is pleased to announce that Frank Liang (photo) has been named Regional Offshore Manager Asia, tasked with building the company’s business with rig contractors.

According to Sean Neilan, Sales & Marketing Director in Asia Pacific, Liang will play an important role in WSS's strategic initiative towards the offshore market. “Frank has a strong business development background and a proven track record in maintaining long term relationships with clients,” he says. “This will be needed as Frank demonstrates the value he and WSS can deliver to our new target market and builds up our profile and reputation in this important segment.”

In his almost three-decade career working as an ITC specialist within the marine, offshore & energy industries, Liang brings a wealth of experience and a vast network to WSS operations in Asia. “My primary focus is to leverage our global network and comprehensive product assortment to meet the specific demands of rig contractors,” he says. “While the company has been active in this segment for decades, we are confident that by refocusing our approach to this market, we can generate strong growth.”

While Liang acknowledges that low oil prices have slowed offshore production in the region, he notes that rig contractors are under increasing pressure to improve services and reduce costs. “The scale and scope of our offering and global network puts WSS in a strong position to attract new customers,” he says. “We have also identified areas where we can easily create bespoke solutions to meet the specific demands of individual rig customers.

Liang will also work closely with WSS’ global offshore team, which works with the top 18 rig contractors in the world, and coordinate with other Regional Directors to help standardise WSS product and service offerings. “The leading contractors serve about 60 per cent of the world’s rigs, so represent a critical part of our business going forward,” he explains. “We will also target smaller contractors serving rigs here in Asia.”

Liang has moved quickly to get to know his sales staff and share his ideas. In late July, he hosted a two-day offshore conference in Singapore, bringing together about 30 Account Managers, Sales Managers and Product Managers in the Asia Pacific region for training. “Our goal was to introduce the specific risk factors and business strategies use to target the offshore market,” he says. “We are confident that by working more closely with our colleagues in other regions and departments to align our services, we will be in a stronger position when the rig market improves.”

Fabrication of this frame confirms Seanic’s engineering capabilities.

Seanic Ocean Systems Inc. (Seanic) is pleased to announce the successful testing and delivery of two steel-tube flying lead (SFL) flushing/parking frames to an oil & gas operator in the Gulf of Mexico. The SFL Frames were designed by Seanic’s Engineered Solutions group and will be used exclusively in the pre-commissioning phase of an SFL, which includes the filling, testing and eventual flushing of the SFL and related components.

Each frame is designed for deep-water use and is rated to 15,000 PSI. Standing at 10 feet high, 15 feet wide, and 10 feet long, the frame incorporates a mudmat designed per all relevant American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications allowing the work to be performed on the seabed. The SFL flushing/parking frames are engineered for the short-term connection to flush the SFL’s and are designed so they can be easily reconfigured for a range of future applications.

Seanic was approached by the oil & gas operator for the engineering and fabrication project earlier this year and was able to complete delivery within four months. “The SFL frames provide the necessary interface required by a work class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to perform these vital tasks subsea,” said Dane Ewing, Project Engineer at Seanic. “We took great care in building these components around the client’s specific needs and upon the same principles used when designing our world renowned subsea tooling - Simple, Rugged and Reliable.”

Tom Ayars, Seanic’s President says, “Our new facility which is currently under construction in Katy, Texas, will allow for large engineering projects like these to be fabricated from start to finish onsite. With continuous client collaboration similar to what took place with the SFL flushing/parking frames, we can almost always save our customers time and produce a cost effective product.”

Statoil has, on behalf of the Johan Sverdrup partnership, awarded a contract to ABB AB in Sweden for fabrication and installation of two high-voltage cables supplying power from shore to the Johan Sverdrup field.

The contract is an EPCI contract covering engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and testing of two high-voltage power cables and a fiber-optic communication cable to the Johan Sverdrup field centre from shore.

The high-voltage cables are 200 kilometers long and designed for a supply capacity of 100 MW/80 kV. This will cover the power need for the first phase of the Johan Sverdrup field development, which is scheduled for start-up late in 2019.

The contract also covers options for delivering high-voltage cables from shore to the Johan Sverdrup field to meet the power requirement of a full development of the Johan Sverdrup field as well as the Edvard Grieg, Ivar Aasen and Gina Krog fields on the Utsira High.

The total contract value is NOK 700 million, plus options.

Fabricated at ABB AB’s plant in Karlskrona, the high-voltage cables will be laid from Haugsneset in Tysvær municipality north of Stavanger to the Johan Sverdrup field centre on the Utsira High. The power cables will be pulled up to the riser platform at the Johan Sverdrup field centre. The cables will be buried into the seabed or covered by rocks, as required.

This contract is one of the three major contracts covering the land-based power supply project. The first contract has already been awarded to ABB in Norway for delivery of high-voltage direct current transformer equipment to the riser platform at Johan Sverdrup and at Haugsneset. The last contract covers all construction work related to the alternating current cable to be laid from Kårstø to Haugsneset and the entire onshore converter station. The contract for the onshore construction work is being evaluated and is expected to be awarded this autumn.

The Johan Sverdrup oil field will be operated by land-based power from production start in late 2019. The first phase of the Johan Sverdrup field development will also include all the preparations needed for land-based power supply for a full Johan Sverdrup development as well as other fields on the Utsira High by 2022.

The Johan Sverdrup field partners: Statoil 40.0267% (operator), Lundin Norway 22.6%, Petoro 17.36%, Det norske oljeselskap 11.5733% and Maersk Oil 8.44%.

Fugro has formed a strategic alliance with Coremar, a Colombian turnkey port, marine services, and logistics provider. The objective is to provide life-of-field solutions to the oil and gas industry in Colombia and the Caribbean, particularly in the delivery of geophysical, geoconsulting, geotechnical, metocean and other core Fugro services.

The alliance enables Fugro to offer unique turnkey solutions. Combining its scientific know-how, technical and geological expertise with Colombian flagged DP2 vessels, port infrastructure and the operational excellence that characterizes Coremar, creates a local integral solution for Colombia and the Latin America region. Together, Fugro and Coremar will offer the region’s first dedicated geophysical survey and geotechnical sampling Colombian flagged vessels.

The agreement was signed on August 27th 2015 at a ceremony with clients during the recent XVI Congreso Colombiano Petróleo y Gas.

Some 50% of crews working on offshore support vessels are willing to compromise safety rather than say ‘no’ to clients or senior management, while nearly 80% believe commercial pressures could influence the safety of their working practices.

Image credit: Helm Operations

The findings come from a newly published report on workboat and OSV safety commissioned by operations and maintenance management software specialist Helm Operations.

The independent report summarize six months of research by Fathom Maritime Intelligence and primary data collection and analysis by Southampton Solent University. It draws on original analysis of Port State Control detention records, feedback from 50 individuals from various off-shore companies, incident case studies, and input from leaders in best practice.

The full version of the OSV Safety report is available to download here.

On an evening in September 2012, a rare sequence of events left one of Bibby Offshore’s saturation divers stranded in complete darkness, 90 meters below the surface of the North Sea, without any gas to breathe.

The diver was rescued and recovered fully, but Bibby Offshore wanted to share its experience and the lessons learnt in the most effective way, so in collaboration with floating Harbour Productions, created a documentary style film, Lifeline, using real time footage and reconstruction of the event to recount the remarkable events that took place that evening.

The Lifeline Story

Lifeline demonstrates an example of human reaction to changing and challenging circumstances, and how leadership training, and the right behaviours, procedures and emergency response actions can tip the balance in a life and death scenario.

Due to the combined effects of unique faults in the dynamic positioning system, Diving Support Vessel (DSV) Bibby Topaz was left 190 meters off position. At the time, diver Chris Lemons and his colleague were deployed subsea working in a drilling template. Although both divers got out of the template safely, Chris’s umbilical, which provided him with breathing gas, hot water for his suit and communications, became trapped and subsequently parted, leaving him alone and in complete darkness on the seabed.

After 40 minutes in incredibly harsh and life-threatening conditions, the professional and astute actions of the Bibby Topaz team resulted in Chris being rescued and returned to the bell, unconscious, but alive. He made a full recovery, and the incident provided the unique opportunity to improve and enhance diver safety across the entire industry which Bibby Offshore was absolutely determined to grasp.

Lead QHSE Advisor at Bibby Offshore Chris Cleghorn, who was on-board the vessel on the night of the incident, said: “Whilst technical safety films are hugely valuable tools, Lifeline does not set out to address safety issues from this point of view, rather it focuses on the human response and personal impact.

“In addition to the many lessons to be learned from the incident, its aim is to make us consider the consequences of things going wrong, and Lifeline is a vivid reminder of the preciousness of a human life.”

Lessons Learnt

Bibby Offshore has used Lifeline extensively to engage with the industry, through regular communication with operators, subsea contractors and industry bodies. The lessons learnt from the incident and the initiatives identified, are also continually addressed through the company’s Diving Safety Workgroup (DSW).

Directly after the incident, Sir Michael Bibby and Bibby Offshore’s Chief Executive Howard Woodcock took the decision to form the DSW to take every step possible to identify how the safety of diving operations can be further enhanced and the risk reduced to as low as possible.

The DSW is an output from the incident, and the means by which Bibby Offshore has continued to engage with the industry since the incident. Its scope covers safety in diving operations, technological development in diving equipment, gaining feedback from offshore teams and assisting with the implementation of identified enhancements while monitoring the effectiveness of them.

The workgroup, which includes representation from the Diving and QHSE departments, was set up to identify opportunities for improvement in diving operational practices, equipment, and procedures for use not only by Bibby Offshore, but across the wider oil and gas subsea sector.

The DSW has been instrumental in identifying improvement and enhancement opportunities to ultimately make diving operations safer, and Lifeline has been an invaluable tool in educating and driving engagement as part of the process.

The whole Bibby Offshore team knows the 2012 incident could have ended in tragedy. However now the goal is to learn from the event, enhance technology and systems, and encourage the entire global diving industry to do the same, ultimately positioning Bibby Offshore as leaders in diving safety.

Assystem, a leading innovation and engineering consultancy secures multi-million Euro contract with Fusion for Energy (F4E) - the EU organization responsible for Europe’s contribution to ITER. The five-year contract sees Assystem working on the world’s biggest international energy project, currently under construction in the South of France.

Assystem, which delivers specialist engineering services to the Oil and Gas, Energy, Aerospace, Automotive, Defence and Nuclear industries has started work on the ITER fusion energy project – an unprecedented international effort by China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States to pool financial and scientific resources to build the biggest fusion reactor in history.

Construction is underway in Cadarache and sees Assystem using advanced and innovative techniques suitable for subsea operations and space exploration, focusing on the ITER Divertor Remote Handling system and confirms the company’s position as a key engineering partner within the ITER project.

The Divertor is a key component of the ITER machine. Located at the bottom of the vacuum vessel, its function is to extract impurities from the plasma, in effect acting like a giant exhaust system. The Divertor Remote Handling systems include the equipment required to safely and reliably position as well as extract each of the 54 removable cassettes within the Divertor.

Remote handling is widely used in space exploration missions, subsea or ground operations. The system brings together high tech robotics, advanced technological tools, powerful computers and virtual reality platforms. A high level of intuition and intelligence are inbuilt within the system which is handled by a human operator with extreme dexterity because of the degree of millimetric precision that is required.

Speaking from the company’s North Sea Oil and Gas engineering base, Andrew Mills, Head of Business Unit said: “We are very pleased to have been selected for this prestigious project. The extensive engineering experience our highly-skilled team has developed across the Energy sector means Assystem can add value across the oil and gas life cycle. Remote handling technology and systems have clear benefits for the harsh North Sea environment from exploration and production, increasingly, to decommissioning.

“Oil and gas producers require more efficient and innovative services than ever before from suppliers and Assystem’s ability to use the expertise developed in the course of this work will be of benefit in demanding North Sea oil and gas operations. “

Since 2009, Assystem has been heavily involved in the concept design phase of the various types of remote handling equipment that will be required to install, maintain, and recover the diverse components of the ITER Tokamak during its operational life.

For Assystem, the contract confirms the Group’s dedication and commitment to the international fusion energy project. It also demonstrates the company’s leading edge competencies and its capacity to bring together the best-in class skills and partners for a specific project.

Assystem and its partners have successfully collaborated to offer a wealth of expert fusion energy knowledge that will drive innovation and meet the uniquely challenging requirements of the ITER project.

The Assystem-led team brings a distinctive combination of skills and experience which provides F4E access to the extensive nuclear remote handling capability available from within Assystem. These skills and knowledge are now available to the UK oil and gas market.

Assystem is an international Engineering and Innovation Consultancy. Assystem supports its customers in developing their products and managing their capital expenditure throughout the product life cycle. Assystem employs more than 12,000 people worldwide and reported $960 million in revenue in 2014.

Hoover Container Solutions (“Hoover”), a leading provider of chemical tanks, cargo carrying units and related products and services to the global energy, petrochemical and related industrial end markets, has acquired Tech Oil Products, Inc. (“Tech Oil”).

Founded in 1980 and headquartered in New Iberia, Louisiana, Tech Oil has become an integral part of the Gulf Coast business community, and a market leader for waste processing and handling equipment to the oil & gas and marine sectors globally. The company designs, manufactures, sells and rents a line of waste compacting, processing and recycling products, as well as offshore cargo equipment. Best known for their ENVIRO-PAK®, SafeSub®, Windchiller® and TOP Offshore Basket brands; the full product line includes over 60 products known worldwide for their reliable and safe operation. Recycle the Gulf® - a partnership between producers and operators, Tech Oil and the Arc of Acadiana - was launched in 2001 with the goal of reducing and recycling the volume of wasted generated offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The program provides a valuable service and has made Tech Oil a trusted pillar of the Gulf Community and a responsible warden for the environment.

The acquisition of Tech-Oil will firmly establish Hoover as a premier supplier of waste processing and handling equipment, offshore recycling equipment, chemical, cargo and waste management tanks, baskets, containers and related accessories and services. Together they will continue to provide a diverse product range and robust services to their customers across the region and in the global energy marketplace.

Hoover’s Chief Executive Officer, Donald Young said, “Hoover is always working to introduce innovative products and services to the market and expand operations to best meet our customer needs. The combined Hoover-Tech Oil offerings are one of the largest and most diverse in the Gulf of Mexico region and makes Hoover one of the only worldwide companies to offer a full range of cargo carrying units including chemical, cargo and waste management products to the global energy market. This acquisition follows our partnership with First Reserve last January and supports our growth plan.”

“The partnership of Hoover and Tech Oil will allow us to provide a more complete product and service offering to our customers Worldwide.” said John Zimmer, President of Tech Oil Products. “We are excited to work with the Hoover because both teams share a similar commitment to high quality products and superior customer service.”

Jee Ltd, a leading multi-discipline subsea engineering and training firm, has unveiled its 2016 course schedule and training and development brochure offering new cost-effective, flexible training programs for the global oil and gas and offshore wind industry.

Covering the whole life-of-field, Jee has designed its portfolio of 27 courses to help subsea engineers build on their existing competencies and meet the standards demanded of them at every stage of their career.

With a reputation for excellence, Jee has been training the global oil and gas industry for more than 20 years, working with over 7000 delegates in 37 countries. With a clear understanding of the necessity for a flexible approach to learning, the company’s methodologies are at the forefront for both the new generation of engineers and experienced professionals.

Jee’s Head of Courses, Jenny Mathew said: “At Jee we understand that in the current climate budgets are being cut, particularly in areas such as training. Cost reduction and efficiencies are key to ensure investment in subsea training continues to be a feasible option for our customers.”

The 2016 schedule offers a variety of online or face-to-face deliveries, at a Jee course hub (Aberdeen and Houston) or in-house at client offices. New options are also available to enhance courses, allowing delegates to create their own unique learning experience.

“Our new training outlook provides cost-effective, flexible training solutions that can be tailored to any organization’s requirements and budget. Delegates have the option to choose a standard ‘off the shelf’ course, customize part of a course, or develop a completely bespoke program to meet specific requirements.

“Using the latest learning theory and offering a range of options, often referred to as blended learning, helps to ensure knowledge is effectively retained and produces real business value when applied to the work of an individual and organisation.” concluded Ms Matthew.

The training team at Jee develop courses in collaboration with tutors, all practising engineers with a wealth of expertise in their field, and incorporate lessons learned from their engineering division to ensure up-to-date content in line with the latest industry codes, standards and best practice.

DNV GL will support the operator in assuring the project equipment transportation and installations are conducted to recognized guidelines, standards and internal requirements.

Shah Deniz stage 2, or Full Field Development (FFD) one of the largest gas developments in the world, will help increase European energy security by bringing Caspian gas resources to markets in Europe for the very first time. The project will add a further 16 billion cubic meters per year (bcma) of gas production to the approximately 9 bcma produced by Shah Deniz stage 1.

James Dingwall, DNV GL Project Manager, said: “The project requires a strong emphasis on the delivery of quality project management that is focused to support the operator in the safe delivery of this tight schedule project. We have developed comprehensive processes, systems and procedures that provide the foundation for us to deliver on project commitments, ultimately demonstrating capability, competence and continuity whilst developing client trust.”

Charles Henderson, DNV GL’s Marine Warranty Services (MWS) Team Leader added: “We were delighted to be advised of our success in the award of this project. The drive to ensure the project is conducted safely and efficiently is paramount, and DNV GL will be proactively supporting BP’s safety culture and ensuring the risks associated with “temporary works” and marine operations are adequately mitigated. Our MWS are supported by the in-depth knowledge of our practitioners and the delivery of this project will draw upon the support of personnel within the group’s marine, engineering, dynamic positioning, metocean and geotechnical teams.”

A key area of focus for DNV GL has been the development and training of local personnel to maintain skills and support long-term cost reduction and sustainability for the local industry and community.

DNV GL has been providing integrity management on Shah Deniz 1 for the past ten years.

Deep Down, Inc. (OTCQX: DPDW) ("Deep Down"), an oilfield services company specializing in complex deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil production distribution system support services announces it has received a large order for patented flying leads and unique UTA (Umbilical Termination Assembly), valued at approximately $2.5 million directly from an independent operator.

The flying leads and UTA will be delivered and deployed in the Gulf of Mexico in the first quarter of 2016.

Ron Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Deep Down, Inc. stated, "Despite the current environment of lower oil prices, this order from a new customer reinforces our strategy and ability to work directly for operators."

Wood Group has acquired Automated Technology Group (ATG), one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of control and power solutions for industrial automation.

Established in 1996 and headquartered in Bedfordshire, ATG operates primarily in the UK automotive, food and beverage and airport sectors employing approximately 250 personnel. ATG generated sales of approximately £36 million in the year to March 2015. Andy Robinson, CEO and founder of ATG, will continue to lead the existing management team.

ATG will perform within Wood Group Mustang’s Automation and Control business unit, providing Wood Group Mustang the opportunity to enter into the manufacturing automation market, complementing its current process automation capabilities.

“ATG provides many opportunities for Wood Group Mustang, including growing our automation business to include manufacturing and expanding into the food and beverage and airport markets. With a culture focused on people and innovation, ATG is the right fit for Wood Group Mustang,” said Michele McNichol, Wood Group Mustang CEO.

“Wood Group Mustang’s global resources and diversified project experience will enable ATG to undertake larger projects and access key growth opportunities outside the UK, building upon our custom solutions for our clients,” commented Andy Robinson. “This will benefit ATG both as a systems integrator for automation projects (our Autotech brand) and as a supplier of low- and medium-voltage electrical switchgear and motor controls centers (our Igranic brand).”

Impact Subsea has announced the opening of its new headquarters in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, UK.

Following the launch of the ground breaking ISA500 the company has moved into premises in the Castle Road Industrial Estate, Ellon, UK.

The new premises will enable the company to continue to support and expand on its innovative underwater engineering and product solutions to the Oil and Gas, Renewables and Scientific markets.

Benedict Grant, Managing Director, commented: 'To support the growth of Impact Subsea, we are delighted to announce the move to larger premises. Our new premises not only enable continued support for the ISA500, but provide a strong base to develop and launch further innovative underwater products later this year.'

Alastair Mclennan-Murray, Technical Director, also commented: 'The new premises will greatly assist in the ability to develop, prototype and produce products in line with our product development roadmap. The year ahead is going to be an exciting one, as we release new products to challenge the status quo of existing solutions in the market.'

Impact Subsea was founded in February 2015 by two experienced ROV & AUV equipment developers. The company launched its first product – the ISA500, the state of the art Altimeter, Heading, Pitch and Roll Sensor at the end of August 2015. Further product launches are planned for Q4 2015.

Further detail, click here.

Aquatic Engineering and Construction Ltd, an Acteon company, has been awarded a contract to lay power cables for the main provider of electricity in British Columbia, Canada. Aquatic will deliver a multi-reel solution making the operation faster and supporting its partners to manage costs and resources.

The shallow water project will commence later this week in the tidal estuary of the Strait of Georgia. Aquatic will be laying approximately 15 km of 87 mm diameter electrical power cable, and will be operating in a busy shipping lane between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia, close to the US border.

Aquatic’s multi-reel solution enables the project vessel to perform fewer of the 230 km trips between the quayside and the project site, and effectively reduces the barge transit distance by 2000 km. The solution will provide considerable time and craneage cost savings by having all four reels loaded on the vessel at the start of the project, rather than mobilised individually.

The equipment was mobilized from Aquatic’s US base at Morgan City, Louisiana. Having a full suite of equipment in North America enabled Aquatic to swiftly respond once the project date had been agreed.

Richard Charles, sales and business development manager, Aquatic, said, “Our recent successes, such as the umbilical installation project with Mermaid Subsea Services in the Middle East earlier this year1, have demonstrated our multi-reel capability and expertise in delivering an integrated managed service. Our people and equipment, once mobilised, will partner with the subcontractor’s teams effectively, within the agreed timescales (weather permitting) and to budget.”

Ashtead Technology’s Houston office has secured an industry seal of approval from ISNetworld (ISN) for maintaining the highest oil and gas safety and quality standards within the Gulf of Mexico.

ISNetworld is a global resource for connecting companies with safe, reliable contractors and suppliers. It measures key performance indicators among contractors in meeting industry needs and regulations.

Ashtead Technology is now a verified and compliant member of ISN following a rigorous six month due diligence and audit process.

Chris Echols, (photo) Vice President of Ashtead Technology in Houston said: “With increasing scrutiny on service and costs across our industry, this certification now independently verifies and certifies our commitment to the highest safety and quality standards within the sector.

“We offer customers more than just equipment rental; we supply technology that is specific to their needs as well as provide invaluable expertise through the global provision of qualified, highly-skilled personnel for both on and offshore operational project integration and support.”

ISNetworld provides companies with the tools required to measure their health and safety performance, identify strengths and weakness and assess how they can drive improvement across the business. It serves as a forum for sharing industry best practices and benchmarking resources, leading efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of contractor management systems.

Mr. Echols added: “This is great recognition of the outstanding work carried out by our team who are committed to delivering a first class service to our customers. It allows us to track our performance and validates our position as a market leader in providing integrated subsea technology solutions across the globe.”

Through the delivery of enhanced technical support services, Ashtead Technology is committed to delivering a range of value-added services which now include the supply of offshore personnel, equipment sales, complete asset management, calibration, repair and maintenance, custom engineering, cable moulding and training.

Formed in 1985, Ashtead Technology employs 84 people in Aberdeen, London, Houston and Singapore with agents in Abu Dhabi, Perth (Australia) and Stavanger.

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) has announced the election of Dr. Sean Gourley to serve as an independent director of the company, effective Sept. 15, 2015.

"Our industry and company will increasingly use big data and artificial intelligence to improve exploration, development and production success, and to do it more safely and efficiently," said Anadarko Chairman, President and CEO Al Walker. "As a highly successful executive and entrepreneur in the tech sector, Sean brings a unique and valuable perspective to Anadarko's Board of Directors. Our company is continuously expanding its use of leading-edge technology to develop oil and natural gas resources, and having a Board member with Sean's expertise will complement and enhance our ability to leverage technology as a competitive advantage."

Additionally, Anadarko announced Amanda M. McMillian, formerly Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. Anadarko's Robert K. (Bobby) Reeves, formerly Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, will assume the new title of Executive Vice President, Law and Chief Administrative Officer, and will continue to serve as a member of the company's executive committee.

"Amanda has been an outstanding contributor to the success of Anadarko," said Walker. "Since joining Anadarko in 2004, she has been a trusted voice advancing the company's legal and compliance requirements, while demonstrating tremendous leadership throughout our organization. This move also will enable Bobby to devote more time to the management of Anadarko globally and, in particular, to enhancing our approach to domestic and international government relations. Bobby is uniquely capable of further strengthening the positive relationships we've developed with various governments and NGOs, as energy policy in all countries continues to evolve."

DR. SEAN GOURLEY

Dr. Gourley, 36, is the founder and CEO of Primer, an early-stage, venture-backed company building software to power artificial intelligence applications. Prior to founding Primer, he was the founder and Chief Technology Officer of Quid, a San Francisco-based augmented intelligence company building software for strategic decision-making. Quid was a finalist for Innovative Company in Big Data by Fast Company magazine in 2013. Born in New Zealand, Dr. Gourley studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar where he received a Ph.D. in physics, and he received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in physics from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was additionally a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Said Business School at Oxford University and is currently an Equity Partner with Data Collective Venture Capital Fund, investing in key data and algorithmic technologies.

AMANDA M. McMILLIAN

During McMillian's tenure at Anadarko, she also served as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Western Gas Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Anadarko and general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) from January 2008 to August 2012. McMillian, 42, began her career at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she represented a variety of clients in a wide range of transactional, corporate governance and securities matters. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern University and received both a Master of Arts and a Juris Doctor from Duke University.