[Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the January 2020 edition of E&P. Subscribe to the magazine here.] 

PEOPLE

The board of BHP appointed Mike Henry CEO and executive director, effective Jan. 1, replacing Andrew Mackenzie, who retired as CEO on Dec. 31, 2019.

Lilis Energy Inc. named Joseph C. Daches CEO.

Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd. has appointed William Lancaster president and CEO, and Amanda Reitenbach has been promoted to COO. In addition, the company has announced the resignations of James Riddell from the board of directors and Tony Berthelet as CEO.

CNOOC Ltd. has appointed Xu Keqiang CEO.

Weatherford International Plc selected Christian Garcia as executive vice president and CFO, effective Jan. 6.

Kyle McClure has been appointed CFO of Airswift.

McDermott International Inc. has appointed Chris Krummel executive vice president and CFO.

David Hendry has submitted his resignation as CFO of Obsidian Energy to pursue other opportunities.

Max Williams has elected to step down from his position as CFO and director of Aminex after serving more than 25 years with the company in various financial roles. John Arthur will assume the position of CFO but will not have a position on the board.

Royal Dutch Shell has promoted Zoe Yujnovich, its current Australia chief, to executive vice president for conventional oil and gas, based in the group’s headquarters in The Hague.

TDI-Brooks International has welcomed Richard Byno III as director of marine operations.

Wellpro Group has welcomed Mark Fraser and Martin Webster as regional managers of the Middle East and Asia, respectively.

WAGO has appointed Drew Amos regional sales manager for southern California and also welcomed Barry Nelson as public relations coordinator.

Neodrill has appointed Tim Dallas to the newly created role of business development manager for Australia and New Zealand.

Flowline Specialists COO Graeme Chalmers was welcomed as a member of GlobalScot, Scotland’s international business network.

RMEC has appointed industry veteran Vic Allan to help oversee its operations.

Julia Szlakowski has joined EIV Capital as director of communications and investor relations.

Dr. Govert van Ek has stepped down as director of Tap Oil Ltd.

Martin Greenslade has been appointed as a member of the audit committee and nonexecutive director of Tullow Oil, replacing Steve Lucas, who will step down from the board in 2020.

Santos has appointed Janine J. McArdle as an independent nonexecutive director.

JDR has appointed Jon Vail as strategy director and a member of the board of directors.

GTI reelected Adrian P. Chapman, Arthur C. Corbin, Marc J. Florette, Nickolas Stavropoulos and Kimberly S. Greene as board of directors for three-year terms. Michael E. Webber was newly elected to a two-year term. In addition, the board reelected David C. Carroll, James F. Ingold, Ronald N. Snedic, Paula A. Gant, Michael A. Rutkowski and Quinton B. Ford for another term.

COMPANIES

Microsoft is expected to open its AI Centre of Excellence for Energy in the United Arab Emirates in early 2020.

Baker Hughes has broken ground on its first chemicals manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia. The facility is expected to open by 2022.

CGG has established a regional Geoscience Center in Abu Dhabi to deliver geophysical, geological and reservoir technology and support to clients across the Middle East.

Gator Technologies, a provider of downhole tools, has expanded its operations in Midland, Texas, and Broussard, La. The new facilities will provide purpose-built space to support Gator’s bottomhole assembly tool rental, repair and manufacturing capabilities.

Sulzer has opened a new service center in Pasadena, Texas, which includes a large pump repair shop that is equipped with lift capacity to handle large machines along with repair technologies and equipment.

Total has announced plans to open a Digital Factory in Paris in early 2020 that will bring together up to 300 developers, data scientists and other experts to accelerate the group’s digital transformation.

Van Beest, a manufacturer and supplier of accessories for lifting chain and steel wire rope, has moved to a new office and distribution center in Houston.

Shawcor has opened a new facility in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

SitePro has acquired Integrated Control Solutions. The acquisition brings together two oilfield automation providers that will provide upstream and midstream operators with an automation software platform and service.

Ithaca Energy Ltd. has completed the $2 billion acquisition of Chevron North Sea Ltd.

Eni has joined forces with CDP, Fincantieri and Terna to establish a new company for the development and manufacturing of wave energy power plants. The agreement will launch the first phase of a joint project to convert the Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter pilot project, a system that transforms energy generated by waves into electricity, into an industrial scale power station, making its application and use immediately available.

Worley has acquired 3sun Group, the U.K.-based installation, inspection and maintenance specialist in the offshore wind sector.