The OGM Interactive Edition - Summer 2023 - Read Now!
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OUR GREAT MINDS
OUR GREAT MINDS
As a direct result of the offshore exploration geoscience work that the Nalcor team is carrying out, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is poised for growth. Those are not positive fluffy, hopeful words – it is a reality.
New basins in frontier areas have been mapped and seismic results show that oil plays of such significant nature have not been seen in multiple basins, offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. The region is proving to be a hot spot in terms of global exploration and development. Recent significant results include:
Offshore Newfoundland oil and gas basins
Provincial Natural Resources Minister, Siobhan Coady has recently said that Nalcor’s seismic studies are supporting the economic growth of the province and she has acknowledged the significant contribution of the Nalcor seismic programs and the team that has made it all happen. Clearly expenditures on marketing, data sales and costs of attracting investment have been worth it. The province’s investments, through Nalcor, in offshore seismic studies have been paying off by generating record land sales and millions in economic activity within the last bid round of offshore exploration licenses which resulted in $1.2 billion in exploration and development spending in the region. The proof in the pudding.
Flemish Pass Basin recent land sale results
Given the price of oil as it stands today and the industry fighting for cost savings, efficiencies, and lean operations, all expenditures by the industry and the province are under critical review. This is a natural course of correction and will support the growth of the industry by overcoming the challenges of the day. Companies will lean out, avail of new technologies and innovation, diversify and adapt. The oil Industry will re-adjust to new “normals” and the price of oil will eventually rise again. To what amount the price of oil will rebound is in question and nobody can accurately provide that answer. Given the nature of baseline variables that are not constant, the oil and gas climate is volatile and adventurous at best. It takes seasoned veterans of the industry to weather the storm and come out on top when the price of oil goes up.
While economic conditions require a review of all expenditures within the province, the long-term sustainable growth of what could be the “next North Sea“, it is important to consider. Looking to the oil companies who have invested here and the three new oil companies on the scene, it is obvious that our seismic offerings and resource potential are globally attractive. This coupled with the new provincial royalty regime makes Offshore Newfoundland a hotbed of possibilities.
While there are many short-term visions wallowing in the economic crisis and there are reductions, layoffs, and dramatic changes due to oil price drop, the reality is, the big picture holds all the cards. It is the long-term picture of the entire equation that needs to be communicated, understood and realized fully. With media, the public, the government and all industry stakeholders focusing on developing the region and ensuring the work of Nalcor continues are the keys. Marketing seismic, land sales and exploration finds will spur the industry’s next phase of growth. That’s not a conversation to be humble about. That’s a goal and a focus that every single person in the province needs to get behind to make it come to fruition. That’s why industry awards, recognition, and advancement are so important for progress and prosperity. In this light, it was a pleasure to attend the Noia luncheon honoring some of the industry’s champions.
Rob Crosbie, CEO Crosbie Group Limited
Following the path of the entrepreneurial legacy of the Crosbie family, Rob Crosbie is the forth-generation business leader. Successful in executing a strong vision Rob oversees companies that have performed incredibly well in the tough business climate of Newfoundland and Labrador. To watch the story of the Crosbie Family Legacy click here!
The Crosbie family’s involvement in Newfoundland and Labrador business began in 1858 with the arrival of George Crosbie in Brigus. In 1884 George moved to St. John’s and the family business has been headquartered there ever since. His son John, subsequently Sir John, expanded into many diverse businesses and founded Crosbie and Company Limited at the turn of the century. Having “lived and worked” at the infamous Crosbie Place off Crosbie Road for 53 years, the Crosbie Group Limited family recently changed foothold and moved to their new corporate headquarters to Hebron Way, the newest business development park in the region.
Businesses in the Crosbie legacy have consisted of fisheries, real estate, insurance and the offshore oil and gas sector. Rob Crosbie joined the family business in 1979 at a time when there were 60 different businesses employing around 2,500 people and doing $350 million to $400 million a year in business but the recession of the early 1980s impacted this empire dramatically. Creating a new company structure, the Crosbie Group humbly began and grew into the diverse operation it is today specializing in four key areas: Offshore Oil & Gas, Onshore Industrial, Real Estate, and Construction.
Not a stranger to awards and accolades for his efforts in stabilizing, growing and diversifying the family’s business, Rob was chosen as the Ernst and Young 2014 Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year. Today Rob Crosbie is being granted the NOIA Outstanding Contribution Award at the February 2016, NOIA luncheon. Accepting the award was Laura Crosbie.
An experienced and well-respected Newfoundland-based business leader and entrepreneur, Rob Crosbie has a powerful understanding of what it takes to lead growth-oriented companies in resource-based sectors. He is adept at ensuring projects are delivered on time and budget without losing site of client drivers and business enablers. He is a seasoned veteran in developing value-added solutions for clients, particularly pertaining to offshore industrial service, supply chain management, and logistics.
With a strong arm for leadership and a warm heart for people, Rob has proven himself time and time again as a masterful leader and visionary of the business community. He is an inspiration to many and a mentor to those working with him. With an unforgiving schedule, a laser-focus for business execution and a deep understanding of what makes business life work, Rob is what leadership looks like. Congratulations to you and your team on this great award today! To learn more about the Crosbie Group click here!
Along with Rob Crosbie’s award, Dr. Richard Wright of Nalcor Energy (Oil & Gas) was also awarded the Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award was launched in 2014 to recognize the talents of an impressive individual who is 40 years old or younger and has made remarkable strides in their role in the local oil & gas industry. Dr. Richard Wright, Nalcor Energy’s Manager of Exploration, is this year’s winner.
As the Manager of Exploration for Nalcor Energy (Oil & Gas) Richard Wright is being recognized for his leadership, determination and commitment which has resulted in Nalcor Energy initiating and executing several revolutionary activities in Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore. Prior to joining Nalcor in 2009, Richard worked with the frontier exploration team at Chevron, focusing on the Canadian Arctic and offshore Labrador. Before Chevron, Richard worked at a geophysical consulting firm in Orange County, California where he worked on a number of oil fields in California, South America, the North Sea, the Middle East and offshore Australia. Richard studied at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Ph.D. in geophysics with a thesis studying 4D seismic at the Hibernia oil field.
In 2009, Richard was presented with an opportunity to return home and today is Manager of Exploration with Nalcor Energy, where he is committed to finding new oil and gas resources for the people of the province. While established for almost 30 years, Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore – until recently – was largely unexplored. Recognizing the challenge of putting our offshore on the global oil and gas radar, Richard quickly put in place a comprehensive exploration strategy for the province – a strategy based on the collection of high-quality geoscience data. To help execute this strategy, Richard brought together the best and brightest in the industry to form a world-class exploration team.
“The celebratory Noia luncheon also acknowledged the following Noia members marking 30 or more years as Noia members and contributors to the local oil & gas industry:
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Association (ACOA)
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is the Canadian federal government agency responsible for helping to create opportunities for economic growth in the Atlantic Provinces by working with the people of the region – in their communities, through their institutions and with their local and provincial governments and businesses. Planned spending for 2015-2016 consists of $171 million for enterprise development, $89M for community development, $25M for internal services and $11M for policy, advocacy and coordination.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive, by working with diverse communities to develop and diversify local economies, and by championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada. Together, with Atlantic Canadians, we are building a stronger economy.
Acuren Group Inc.
Acuren Group is comprised of a team of consulting Engineers specializing in welding/structural/civil/environmental/mechanical/marine/materials/forensic engineering Services/QA Services/NDT and inspection services. Associated Acuren companies include FGA-ACUREN, materials engineering, NDT and inspection services, primarily to process industries. Extensive field and laboratory services. FGA-QUASAR provides registration and auditing services of ISO 9000 Quality Systems throughout Atlantic Canada.
Acuren world wide is the provider of technology-enabled asset protection solutions used to evaluate the structural integrity of critical energy, industrial and public infrastructures. Acuren provides an unrivaled spectrum of capabilities, including inspection, traditional and advanced NDE/NDT, failure analysis, rope access, materials engineering, reliability engineering and condition based monitoring services. Acuren employs over 3,500 dedicated professionals supporting the mechanical integrity and inspection programs in the world’s largest industrial segments around the globe.
A. Harvey has been in the Marine stevedoring business since 1865. In response to being awarded a long-term contract with Hibernia in 1995, A. Harvey undertook a $7 million reconstruction of Pier 14 in St. John’s Harbour making it the most modern facility of its kind in Eastern Canada. Since that time the A. Harvey Marine Base has serviced offshore drilling activity for Hibernia, Terra Nova, and Husky Energy. The services have grown to include Trucking Services, Container Rentals, and Logistics Support Services. A. Harvey provides a wide range of services under its ISO 9001 quality system including Stevedoring; Logistic Support; Offshore Container Rentals; Offshore Tank Rentals; Container Management and Repairs; Trucking Services; 5 vessel berths; 2 Transport Canada certified cranes.
A. Harvey shore base facility
College of the North Atlantic offers customized corporate training, continuing education and other services to the oil and gas sector. CONA offers safety training, well control certification, non-destructive testing and other programs that support the oil and gas industry. CONA’s corporate services team develops customized training program specifically for oil and gas development and also provides internationally recognized programs or courses.
Oceans Ltd. operates out of two offices located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Newfoundland office has a 24/7 marine weather and sea state forecasting office in-house. Both offices provide site-specific, area, and route forecasting services to various offshore clients. Oceans Ltd. was incorporated in Newfoundland in 1981 in order to carry out applied research and services in oceanography. Since that time, the company has grown and diversified substantially into specific work categories with the ocean as the common link. Supporting the oil and gas industry, Ocean’s has worked on the Hibernia, Terra Nova, and Whiterose projects in various capacities over the last 30 years.
Established in 1977, Noia has more than 600 members in Atlantic Canada and around the world and is proud to serve as the information hub of East Coast Canada’s oil & gas industry. Noia’s mission is to promote the development of East Coast Canada’s hydrocarbon resources and to facilitate its membership’s participation in oil & gas industries. Noia members provide products and services for the petroleum sector. Associate members include petroleum companies, trade associations and government bodies and agencies. Noia (as a member-directed association) provides • market intelligence • business opportunity information • updates on industry and business trends • networking with industry players • profile and marketing opportunities • a voice for the supply and service sector. To deliver its membership programs and services effectively, Noia has established a strong network of volunteers and a highly skilled staff team. As a not-for-profit organization, Noia is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors which provides strategic direction to the Association’s professional staff. The Board’s Chair, Vice-Chair, Past-Chair, and Treasurer, together with the President & CEO, make up the Executive. Specialized working committees are convened regularly to organize larger events (such as seminars and the annual conference) and to provide specialized knowledge for research and policy development projects arising throughout the year.
At Nalcor Energy is a provincially run government organization that is committed to providing safe, reliable and dependable electricity to its utility, industrial, residential and retail customers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Beyond this base of business, Nalcor has expanded into the broader energy sector, guided by a long-term Energy Plan created by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Nalcor is leading the development of the province’s energy resources and is focused on environmentally-responsible and sustainable growth. Throughout the company, the Nalcor team are committed to building a solid foundation for the future and making a difference in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Tina Olivero is a creative, 25-year veteran of business development and publishing. She is an innovative, tech-savvy, entrepreneur that focuses on elevating companies, communities, and people. She spends her time architecting new business ideas, coaching and also has fun as an international speaker. Her abilities are grounded in a holistic approach that assists clients in overcoming business challenges and meeting business goals.
To book Tina for a consult on business growth and content strategy in the digital era, contact her at tinaolivero@theogm.com
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