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Shell Buckets, Superbuckets and Rustbuckets

Screen Shot 2013-01-11 at 20.09.51How come that nobody dared say what everyone in the world saw (thanks to the Donovans) that you simply cannot go to this most sensitive area in the world with a couple of old rustbuckets? The timing of the most recent Shell reorganisation to buckets and superbuckets was very opportune. I wonder if there now exists also a rustbucket? Not many other outfits (apart from the political world) would allow such incompetence without consequence.

From ‘an old EP hand’

Shell has suspended Alaska drilling operations. We knew that project management had gone down the drain over the years (by being over budget by a factor 2-6, delays of many years and under-performance) when political correctness and nice promises became more important than honesty and good delivery. Now it is also clear that technical competence has gone or at least is silenced and stopped from making itself heard.
 
Processes (the love baby of bearded Brinded) replaced skills. Technical know-how which had been carefully built up over many years was removed as less important and ‘the contractor would do it all’. I bet that all the boxes for the various VARs (Value Assurance Reviews) and other process controls were ticked off as necessary. No-one apparently dared mention ‘there is a moose on the table’. How similar to the reserves crisis of 9 years ago.
 
We have seen the disasters of these policies (all carefully hidden behind the correct words spoken by eloquent ‘leaders’, usually of British and American background, yes I am a Dutchman). The last ‘real’ drilling man in charge of Shell worldwide drilling (good old Coen) had his hand on the brake of all 125 rigs and nothing escaped his attention. He had a jobgroup of A. There simply is no way he would have allowed the crap in Alaska we have seen. And yes, we used to have more blow-outs than nowadays and safety standards have gone up as have the costs per foot drilled. But basic mistakes like the Alaska stuff would not have happened. This was the era where one could speak out as a professional and not be afraid to be fired.
 
I have lost count but in order to attract the right bullshitters in drilling, substantial promotions were handed out and now there are presumably at least 5-6 guys at the level of jg-B. About time to put a head honcho to manage this little group at an even more elevated position? It reeks of jobs for the boys. How come that nobody dared say what everyone in the world saw (thanks to the Donovans) that you simply cannot go to this most sensitive area in the world with a couple of old rustbuckets? The timing of the most recent Shell reorganisation to buckets and superbuckets was very opportune. I wonder if there now exists also a rustbucket?
 
Not many other outfits (apart from the political world) would allow such incompetence without consequence. It looks as if Shell has turned into a political party. The problem is that they operate in a highly technological world that politicians do not understand.

ARTICLE ENDS

PERHAPS SHELL SHOULD CHECK THIS OUT? SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE JOB RATHER THAN TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY USING CONVERTED ANCIENT RUSTBUCKETS?

Screen Shot 2013-03-01 at 16.06.40Keppel, ConocoPhillips to design first ‘ice-worthy’ jackup rig

Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre and ConocoPhillips are jointly designing a jackup for operations in Arctic seas that can resist impacts from ice floes.

Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre (KOMtech) and ConocoPhillips are jointly designing a first-of-its-kind “ice-worthy” jackup to operate in the Arctic seas.

The jackup will have dual cantilevers to optimize drilling operations within a limited time frame. It will be capable of operating in a self-sustained manner for 14 days and be equipped with a hull designed for towing in ice. The rig also will be able to resist the impacts from multi-year ice floes and ridges, as well as withstand a certain level of ice thickness.

“The features of this jackup rig make it a cost-effective and promising drilling solution for the Arctic offshore,” Dr Foo Kok Seng, KOMtech director, said. “We believe that this joint project will achieve significant breakthroughs in offshore Arctic drilling.” The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

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