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Insider this week: Andex out of Slugger, ENSR’s Jane Thomas visits McNeil, Jack Griffin moves to ConocoPhillips, ‘Cel’ stops train for directions
Wadeen Hepworth
OOPS!…. The worst nightmare of a writer is to go to print and then afterwards get an important piece of info. that changes some of the facts. Kay Cashman, Petroleum News • Alaska’s publisher, had that little nightmare last week after writing the article about BP’s Slugger prospect (pages 4 and 9 of PNA’s Sept. 15 issue).
Kay found out after the stories went to press that Andex Resources pulled out of its Slugger farm-in deal a few months ago.
She couldn’t even excuse the oops as a senior moment — because — she is too young.
NOT ON THE MENU Fortunately for the oil industry Jane Thomas was not part of the grizzly bear feast at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary near Katmai.
Jane, an ENSR senior compliance program manager, and her husband Tim won a chance to view the bears through a lottery held by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Not everyone would be thrilled to have the chance to sleep in a tent two miles from the highest concentration of brown bears in Alaska.
The philosophy behind the trip was to view and study bears — and to see how bears can become acclimated to people in close proximity.
To get water it was necessary to walk a half-mile from camp (they clapped their hands a lot along the way). All food was stored and cooked in a food cabin.
The 34 bears concentrated at the falls were mostly male and sub-adult male bears. There was much standing up, growling and positioning but they were just flaunting their muscles for a special spot.
There are two viewing areas: one on a 20-foot by five-foot gravel pad at river level and the other a viewing platform seven feet higher. In case you were wondering one guide did carry a rifle for protection.
The closest Jane came to a bear was four feet when a sow and her cubs brought a fish to eat next to the viewing platform. She said the bears paid no attention to them and seemed comfortable with people.
Full stomachs have a way of doing that to animals. Wonder how they would have acted on empty stomachs. DENTURES FOR ELEPHANTS? Whoever named Unique Machinery sure knew what they were doing because this little company tucked away in the 5800 block of Old Seward Highway is one of the most unique in Alaska.
The staff not only makes dentures for an elephant, hip prosthesis for people, bike racks and some fish wheels but also does some of the most sophisticated machinery work in the country and has purchased top-of-the-line lathes.
Some people consult with aerospace experts but not Unique. This Alaska-grown company hired the experts and brought them to Alaska to help with its growth plans.
Unique is really four companies under one roof. It is a real education just to walk through the shops let alone understand all they do.
First, it is a machine shop that will do walk-in projects like welding lawnmowers.
Second, it threads 9 5/8 inch and smaller casing and tubing.
Third, it makes original equipment manufacturing parts for the oil industry.
And, fourth, it manufactures and threads down-hole completion products called “jewelry” which can be gas lift mandrels, landing nipples, etc.
Ken Bystedt has owned the company for 26 years. He is a third-generation Alaskan with an eye to the future.
The company is applying for dual certification through ISO 9000 (International Organization for Standardization) and API Q1 (American Petroleum Institute). When approved Unique will be the only dual-certified company in Alaska, my sources there tell me.
The elephant denture, by the way, was a specially manufactured replacement part that was inserted in the elephant’s jaw to connect with the bone and allow the doctor to reattach the elephant’s broken tusk.
All in a day’s work at Unique. PARTNERING GOING ON Global Trade and Technology Network, a program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, is partnering with the Alaska Export Assistance Center.
Global Trade and Technology helps small and medium-sized firms to build trade linkages and identify investment opportunities by providing free, pre-qualified trade and investment leads.
More information is available at www.usgtn.net or by calling Chuck Becker, director of Alaska Export Assistance Center at (907) 271-6237. GRIFFIN ON THE MOVE One of my sources told me Jack Griffin, a Department of Law attorney who specializes in oil and gas law, left state government last week to take a position with ConocoPhillips Alaska.
The word is Jack is replacing Bob McManus as vice president of tax and external affairs, but sans Bob's tax responsibilities. No word yet on where Bob is headed, but a news release containing President Kevin Meyer's post-merger executive staff is supposed to be released shortly.
A SURPRISE GUEST In 1983 the Dresser Magcobar Co. was holding its annual customer appreciation barbecue at its building in the rail yards of the Alaska Railroad when a surprise guest appeared. Suddenly, there was increased motion throughout the crowd and murmuring that grew louder and louder. That’s when my Insider source turned to see a well-known lady named Cecilia — i.e. "Cel" for short, pronounced "Seal."
Anyone who lived in Alaska during and after the construction of the pipeline knew Cel, a colorful addition to the fun days before the bottom fell out of the price of oil. Cel was owner and bartender at several bars in Indian, Alaska, and was unique in that she had been blessed with a fun personality, risqué humor and an ample body in excess of 49 inches. She emphasized this blessing by wearing the shortest of skirts and the lowest of tops — therefore the motion and murmuring at the luncheon. (Remember these were the days before Pamela Anderson.)
My Insider source went over to say hi and asked Cel what she was doing at the luncheon. Cel replied, “Oh some Houston oil men were in the bar the other night and invited me to the luncheon. I was in town and thought what the h—- why not go. Then I got lost and couldn’t find the place so I stopped a railroad train (a yard engine) and asked for directions.”
My source replied, “Oh come on Cel. the Alaska Railroad trains don’t stop to give people directions” — and her answer was — “Honey, this one did!”
And you know what? He checked — they did. DID YOU KNOW? REMEMBER THIS FACT Every day in Alaska, one in five children is at risk of going hungry.
Dianne Barske, in the “It Matters” column for the August issue of Pulse Publications quoted Jenna Apatiki, program director for the Food Bank of Alaska as saying, “People are so blind to hunger. Most adults have no clue that so many kids go hungry right here.”
Summer is hard for hungry children because they do not have access to the breakfast and lunch meals served at their schools, although Kids’ Kitchens has continued to serve supper to children each day. Elgin Jones, founder and director of Kids’ Kitchens (it has served 400,000 meals in six years) said, “No child should go hungry. It is the responsible adults who are letting these kids down.”
So, responsible adults, what are we going to do to erase this terrible statistic? We can call Elgin at (907) 274-8522 or send a donation — now — to Kids’ Kitchens at P.O. Box 102048, Anchorage, AK 99510 or donate to the Food Bank of Alaska. JPO ON THE MOVE Kay Kletka, who joined the Joint Pipeline Office as the program analyst has retired. Kay started with BLM in 1973 and moved to the JPO in 1992. Kay has many interests and hobbies that will insure a fun retirement.
Marietta Houston, one of the few remaining original JPO people, has accepted the BLM program analyst position. Marietta spent 11 years with the state before accepting the CMP database technician job with BLM. TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT APPOINTED American Fast Freight has announced the appointment of Stephen Curitore as transportation consultant for its Midwest region. Prior to joining American Fast Freight Stephen was senior account executive for Sea-Star Lines.
He has more than 20 years of experience in the domestic and international ocean freight forwarding business.
American Fast Freight is a Tacoma, Wash.-based transportation and logistics company with Alaska offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Kenai.
Oil Patch Insider is written by Petroleum News • Alaska columnist Wadeen Hepworth. The Insider appears three times per month. If you have news or a news tip for the Insider, Wadeen can be reached at (907) 770-3506 or via email at [email protected].
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