Newpark And Cleansorb Keeping An Eye On The Prize

The path to profitability
As the oil price steadily recovers from historic lows, one thing is clear: during the return to profitability, making the right decisions first time will be more important than ever for oil and gas projects. Collectively the success of these individual projects will add up to the recovery of the industry as a whole.

A question of talent
One issue that must be addressed along the way is the exodus of talent from the industry. In a distressed market, when operators continue to drill complex, challenging wells, the inherent risks of these well types remain. But many service companies are internally distracted and undertaking major re-organization.

Given the emphasis on getting projects right first time, any gaps in fluid knowledge or reduced capabilities in the field will be a potential barrier to recovery. Without experienced people it’s harder to choose the right technical solutions. In addition, the most well-considered plans need skilled crews at the wellsite to implement them efficiently and safely. And operators still seek fast turnaround support from local service bases.

Time for value
Newpark is the global fluids specialist and we are staying laser focused on servicing our customers’ needs. While other established product and service providers have had the focus diverted away from their portfolios, we are continuing to invest in new ways we can create value for customers in these challenging times. Here are just a few examples:

Recognizing the critical nature of fluid systems throughout oil and gas operations Newpark has retained a full complement of subject matter experts in key domains – it means customers can continue to count on the advice and experience of high-caliber professionals.

We also recognize that operators need specialized components to work together as a single fluids package at the wellsite to deliver the best performance without compatibility issues. To help address this we’re building out our reservoir drilling and completion fluids offering with the strategic acquisition of innovative reservoir chemistry company Cleansorb – adding leading expertise and value-added differentiator technologies in the area of filter cake breakers. As Cleansorb customers know, both companies are recognized technical leaders in their respective fields. In fact, Cleansorb’s reputation is such that we've already received a lot of positive feedback from Newpark customers on this new addition.

In a further bid to help customers simplify and manage the supply chain, Newpark has recently opened a Completions Fluids Facility at Port Fourchon. This extension to our capabilities is strategically located to serve customer operations as they pick up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Delivering a win-win for customers
Newpark is nimble. As the industry’s only truly global independent fluids company our position allows us to continue to focus on core activities without the distractions of managing a large enterprise through turbulent times. Customers witness this through our continued service presence on the ground and the responsive support we offer.

In recognition of this dedication to providing the best customer experience, Newpark was honored to receive the Shell Global Wells Services Award for Suppliers. The project in Albania posed a range of technical and logistical challenges from wellbore stability to wastewater management.

“We turned to Newpark for this project in Albania due to the company’s track record of success and experience in the area. Throughout our longstanding partnership, Newpark has consistently demonstrated effective leadership, management support and technical responsibility both on- and-offsite,” said Michael DeWitt, V.P. of Wells Upstream at Shell.

Reasons for confidence
It’s never been more important for service companies to prove to operators that they can be the right kind of partner: stable, focused, experienced, capable and on-hand to execute jobs flawlessly.

As confidence is central to the industry’s recovery, success demands that we deliver continuity without dropping the ball. It’s time for a safe pair of experienced hands.