Hans Christian Helmerich
Editor's note: This profile is part of Hart Energy's 50th anniversary Hall of Fame series honoring industry pioneers of the past 50 years and the Agents of Change (ACEs) who are leading the energy sector into the future.
The oil and gas industry was in a down cycle when Helmerich & Payne launched the FlexRig in 2002. The timing of the launch wasn’t great, but the new product represented a step change in rig design with flexible drilling range, faster moving time than conventional rigs and new safety features.
Industry slump or not, Hans Helmerich pushed forward and the FlexRig became a key tool in helping to kick-start the shale revolution.
He “had the courage and the grit to hang in there,” H&P President and CEO John Lindsay told Hart Energy. To reassure customers, Helmerich entered into contracts of two to three years so they could count on a return.
Hans Helmerich represents the third generation of his family to lead the company. His grandfather, Walter Hugo Helmerich II, co-founded Helmerich & Payne with Bill Payne in 1920. His father, Walter III, started working at the company in the 1950s and became president in 1960.
“I’ve grown up around that, hearing those stories and going around with him,” Hans said.
Lindsay has worked directly with Helmerich for about 20 years. “He’s a man of conviction, he has a great ability to listen,” he said. “He’s a man of faith. He does a great job of balancing his faith in that leadership role.”
Helmerich worked various jobs at H&P during summer breaks through high school and college. He began his career with the company after graduation in 1981, and would work with his father, Walt III, for 32 years.
Helmerich said he remembered kitchen-table talks with his father that became a platform for life lessons. “He used it as a way to communicate to his five sons: ‘Hey, look, you’ve got to have certain values, you’ve got to mind your reputation and make sure you’re telling the truth,’” he said.
For Helmerich, the industry is about its people, who have a “frontier spirit. There’s this notion of overcoming challenging circumstances.”
Among Helmerich’s proudest achievements is how the company retained the family feeling during its rapid expansion. After launching the FlexRig, H&P manufactured a rig about every week. Concerns about rapid growth disrupting the culture led to internal discussions about building the iron while continuing to build the culture.
More than 800 H&P employees have been with the company more than five years and many for far longer.
“Wow, how did we convince them to spend their entire career here?” he said. “I think there’s a mutual respect and trust and it gets into your blood.”
—Paul Wiseman, Contributing Editor