Our Houston happy hour attracted a record crowd at Indigo Joe's. This lovely restaurant could not have been any more crowded during Super Bowl XLIV than it was February 4.  ARCO and Vastar alumni and spouses filled every spare space in the restaurant.  With the BP and ConocoPhillips offices just around the corner, there were a number of both companies represented, with BP still in the majority.  More and more of our members are working with the smaller independents and reviews were mixed about prospects in 2010, with many still struggling.

While companies may not yet have rebounded, individuals at the event kindly answered three survey questions showing that job satisfaction remains high even in this challenging environment.  While some members are looking for work or finding their current positions less challenging than they would prefer, the majority of members indicate their job satisfaction is the same or higher than before the economic downturn.

Reasons for increased satisfaction include; an increase in responsibilities or a promotion, undertaking a new assignment that gives more enjoyment, and simply remaining employed throughout the economic downturn and being appreciative of having a job!  Full survey results will be shared in a news item in March.

The complimentary drinks were enjoyed by all and a heartfelt thanks to our primary sponsor Advancial and to our cosponsors Noble Energy Inc. and St. Mary Land and Exploration.

Here are some of the pictures from our 2010 Houston event held at Indigo Joe's.  More pictures here in the photo gallery!

All smiles from our ARCO Alumni.

Enjoying a well beer with the game on the big screen.

Catching up over a glass of wine.

Signing in at the start of the evening.

More pictures here in the photo gallery!

Not long ago, ampm was a regional phenomenon. It all began back in 1978, when ARCO stations in southern California began tempting on-the-go consumers with food as well as fuel.

Nowadays, consumers around the country can fill their tanks and satisfy their appetites at ampm stores in places such as Chicago, Atlanta and Cincinnati. The ampm tagline, Too Much Good Stuff, describes the store’s unique vision: a “snack food theme park” where customers can indulge their taste buds.

Too Much Good Stuff goes east
The brand’s trek across the United States started in 2007, when BP decided to retool its convenience stores east of the Rockies. As part of that transformation, about 250 BP Connect and Wild Bean locations were converted to ampm locations.

That November, BP — which acquired ARCO in 2000 — announced that it would be selling more than 700 company-owned sites to franchisees as well as dealers and jobbers.

ARCO-branded ampm stores are found in the following states:

•    California
•    Nevada
•    Oregon
•    Washington
•    Arizona

BP-branded ampm stores are located in the following metropolitan areas:
•    Chicago
•    Indianapolis
•    Pittsburgh
•    Columbus, Ohio
•    Cleveland
•    Cincinnati
•    Atlanta
•    Orlando, Fla.

Consumers can also find ampm overseas. There are more than 1,800 ampm stores in Brazil and Japan.

Tasty offerings, edgy experience make ampm different
One way ampm stands apart from other convenience stores is its strong proprietary program. The store satisfies cravings with its private-label beverages, snacks and all day, every day choice of prepared foods. Besides warm fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers, ampm recently launched a hot breakfast menu with burritos, croissant sandwiches and empanadas.

ampm also offers customers a lively in-store experience. Quirky signage, bold packaging and upbeat background music greet ampm customers, appealing to several of their senses at once.

ampm in the headlines
Since starting the conversion to a franchise-based model, ampm has moved up the ranks of several franchise lists.

Franchise Times magazine, for example, ranked ampm at No. 29 on its list of the top 200 franchise systems for 2008 and 2009. Entrepreneur magazine listed ampm as No. 35 on its annual “Franchise 500” compilation for two years in a row.

Industry publications have also noted ampm’s success in whetting appetites across the country. Convenience Store Decisions magazine recapped the changes in an April 1, 2009, article titled “Focused on the Franchise.”

More good stuff on the way
As for what lies ahead, BP will continue to sell off its company-owned ampm locations through the end of 2009. Thirty years after its inception, ampm is now a national franchise stretching from coast to coast with a bright and exciting future!

ARCO Alumni gathered on a sunny evening at O’Malley’s on the Green in Anchorage where Kirk Barker tells me he summers and works as a marshal at the golf course in exchange for free golf several days a week. Kirk winters in Bellingham WA.

Pat Elverum tells us his daughter is also a member of ARCO alumni. Lynette Elverum was with Nortel most recently which was acquired by Erikson. In the IT/ engineering side of the business, according to Pat, “she followed in my footsteps and worked for ARCO not so much because I encouraged her as because of the fold with whom I worked. Of course, I discouraged her as I knew these guys better” laughed Elverum tongue in cheek. Elverum and Mattison traded name tags the entire evening and caught up with fellow IT folk including Russ Doig and Mack Padgett.

Russ says he literally crossed the street when he took the ARCO package and does at GCI what he did at ARCO. “I even have the same individuals working for me and now we provide the same service to BP and they outsource what we did internally at ARCO to us here at GCI”. GCI cosponsored the happy hour along with AWS and Advancial.

Talk was not just about the ARCO days- several watched baseball on the widescreen TV.  John Melvin, Dan Eck and Gerry Suellentrop were among those for St Louis and Mike Clonts as the only Dodger fan was sorry to see his team lose.

Dan Kruse now at COP tells us to visit trails@biglaketrails.org and learn about his efforts to improve trails and access...at Big Lake of course. Other attendees from COP included Dan Eck, John Melvin, Brian McClaskey and Mack Padgett.

Vicki Oliver is an outsourced service partner to BP providing data and documentation management through ASCI. Vicki was with ARCO for 21 years, 18 of those years in Facility Engineering at Prudhoe.

Other Alumni present included Wayne Swann from ASRC Energy Services, Frank Paskvan and Gordon Pospisil of BP and Nancy Hill who is now at UAA at the Institute of Social and Economic Research.

But what about Palin? One person said he knew there was a God when he was driving home and learned Palin was stepping down from Governor of AK one year early. Another ARCO alumnus however said he expects to see Palin win the Republican nomination and run against Obama in 2012. That was a bet Cathy Clonts was willing to take so we’ll see who is buying drinks at the reunion in 4 years! Most alumni were inclined to think the state was better off without Palin and felt the industry in particular had been dealt a heavy hand by Palin.

As the evening drew to a close our Anchorage Alumni vowed to stay in touch and with the promise of future events and a favourable football result (for most!) said goodbye.

Pictured below are photos of the event. Carol Padgett with Becky Schumacher are pictured top with Mack and Carol Padgett pictured below.

Kenneth Elmore, Wayne McBride and Kirk Barker are pictured top with Kirk Barker and Russ Doig pictured below.

Linda Petrie and Wayne Swann are below pictured top with Dennis Bickford and Pat Elverum pictured below.

Pictured below are Tom Brennan with his spouse Marni Brennan, Susan Andrews and Jim Posey.

Bill Keffer’s practice has specialized in the area of environmental issues confronting the oil-and-gas industry since his tenure with Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) over 20 years ago. Whether it was managing a 100+ case docket as in-house counsel for ARCO, or handling complex, multi-million dollar cases as a partner with Gardere & Wynne, or in his current capacity as a specialty-practice lawyer in his own office, Keffer has handled just about every kind of environmental complaint affecting the oil-and-gas industry. He has handled matters in state and federal court and before state and federal agencies. He has handled complaints and lawsuits in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and California.

Keffer can handle these matters as lead counsel, but most often serves in a more specialized role as expert counsel, supplemental counsel, strategic counsel, or as counsel in charge of special projects. Because of his experience both as in-house and outside counsel, Keffer has a particular aptitude for working with company personnel. Because of his extensive experience in identifying, retaining, and working with experts and consultants, Keffer is often involved in the strategic preparation of the technical part of these cases, allowing lead counsel the ability to focus more of their attention on the constant demands of litigation and the courtroom.

Keffer continues to provide support for Chevron and BP in some of their ongoing environmental litigation in Louisiana. In particular, Keffer has specialized experience and knowledge in the areas of groundwater contamination and claims involving NORM (naturally-occurring radioactive materials) contamination.

Keffer also provides services involving any site-related activities, including investigations, assessments, sampling events, due-diligence reviews, pre-acquisition reviews, and remediation operations. Keffer has access to a team of independent professionals in numerous disciplines, which enables him to organize the right team for any situation.

Keffer can work behind the scenes, with in-house counsel, with lead counsel, with local counsel, and every combination in between. Keffer’s practice affords him the ability to be flexible, responsive, and affordable. He can be a part of cases right here in Texas, as well as in any other jurisdiction in the country.

You can find out more about Bill Keffer and his practice at www.mkbp-law.net. Please call 214/696-2050 or email bkeffer@mklaw.net with any questions.

COMPLETIONS - EOR
Ron Boyd has the following opportunity on behalf of a friend at Kinder Morgan:

Kinder Morgan CO2 company seeks a senior Completions Engineer in Houston, to support our CO2 development team that is currently focussed in the SACROC field.

Location: West Texas

The successful candidate would be responsible for the following:

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Initiate and analyze current EOR production operations, workover and completion methods to co-develop innovative and reliable completion and workover programs
• Provide supportive supervisory oversight of the execution of such well work
• Provide detailed project cost estimates and AFE’s, as required
• Provide technical assessment of wellbore integrity of existing TA’d and PA’d wellbores
• To initiate performance optimization studies involving workover and completion strategies
• To provide technical due-diligence regarding potential acquisition of new fields with the ongoing objectives as needed.
• The candidate will be expected to frequently present findings to senior management, clearly articulate (and defend) recommended courses of action, and be able to align with EHS, technical and business drivers.

Objectives:

• Provide technical leadership in wellbore construction of downhole hardware, cementing, perforating, and stimulations.
• Develop solutions for optimizing artificial lift (in particular, large submersible pumps).
• Initiate, co-develop and support a consistent reservoir/production data management strategy.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• 20+ years of experience as production engineering in secondary/tertiary floods, with high level of field exposure.
• Solid experience and expertise with oil production diagnostics, design and optimization, including well stimulation, artificial lift (submersible and surface) and wellbore management.  Must have an ability to understand and integrate geological, reservoir, and production analysis into completion programs.
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal and leadership skills for interfacing with multifunctional E&P teams and management on multiple projects.  Strong project management skills with the ability to clearly define scope, objectives and activities as well as understand the importance of measuring results. Solid logic skills and bias towards action.
• Experience and expertise in productivity analysis, nodal analysis, well test analysis, well-log interpretation (CBL’s, calipers, GR/Neutron, etc).
• Highly computer literate inclusive of MS-Office products.
• 35 to 40% travel to West Texas.
• Ability to work in a team, using developed influence skills.  Must be able to take direction from supervisor(s), prioritize work schedule, focus attention on details and follow rules.

Preferred Experience

• Professional engineering registration with advanced degree.- Experience in DSS,  Petra production software, Lawson financial systems, Well file Data Entry software a plus.

Anyone wishing to apply please email a resume to Ron Boyd.