| Description | Tape 1 Side A: JOHN TORMEY RYND born 18 April 1957 Houston Texas. Youngest of 3. Grew up in Houston, went to Catholic schools. Did degree in economics at Texas A&M University. Joined Rowan Drilling as roughneck. Paternal grandfather from Ireland. Summary of his work in oil industry, Texaco. Maternal family of Scottish/Irish background. Mother in Waves. Father, formerly in US Marine Corps. Details re parents' meeting. Father an actuary in insurance. Background to joining oil industry 1980. Worked as roustabout with Rowan Drilling in Gulf of Mexico, later in North Sea. Recalls first job, experience working on rig, going aboard by Billy Pugh basket, work as roustabout on drilling location. Compares routine in Gulf and North Sea. Details re first crane operator. Describes safety routine, compares with now, improvements made, reduction in emphasis on speed etc. One of few on rig with college degree. Reasons for joining oil industry. Details re colleagues. Transferred, 1981, to Charles Rowan, first Rowan jackup rig to go to North Sea. Details re tow by ocean tug, assisted by sail. Went to Leman platform, drilled for Shell. Explains procedures followed for tow, stability in weather, work as Barge Engineer, hierarchy on board, height when on drilling location. Details re use of drilling package when working with platform. Compares drilling in North Sea, Gulf. Most rig colleagues were American at first, later most from UK. Explains duties as Barge Captain including monitoring weight distribution. Details re crew numbers, international makeup. No union involvement in drilling operations. Own attitude to unions. Disconnect between union management, worker. Drillers are the modern-day cowboy. Describes work satisfaction, camaraderie.
Tape 1 Side B: Further details re drilling, use of BOP (blowout preventer), satisfaction of job, lifestyle, working time routine. Compares with work of a builder, long term aims. Risks, dangers of job, intuition involved, importance of experience. Moved about 1985 to Rowan Gorilla II, then largest jackup in the world, worked in central North Sea. Details. Spent most time in southern North Sea. Became Assistant Driller about 1984, then Driller. Left 1987, became Tool Pusher in Gulf of Mexico. Shell used latest technology. Details. Explains ownership of rig, equipment. Consumables owned by oil company. Most drilling done for Shell. Mentions other companies. Recalls individuals from Hamilton Brothers. Bottom fell out of industry in 1984. Recalls safety record during time offshore. Shell, Rowan were safety conscious. Impact of Piper Alpha disaster. Own attitude to safety, responsibility of individual. Details re North Sea working hours routine, time off etc. Travelled in earlier period by Rowan-owned Boeing 707 airplane. Explains schedules. Reaction of Great Yarmouth, Aberdeen people to oil personnel. Comments on Aberdeen as an oil town, compares with Edinburgh. Recalls language difficulties between Americans, Scots, English. Explains move up to Tool Pusher, establishing own authority. Own attitude to work, productivity etc. 1990 left Rowan, went into marketing for Chiles Offshore (taken over 1994 by Noble Drilling). Details re later career moves, current position Vice President Investor Relations. Mentions marriage 1988, birth of first son. Explains approach to marketing rigs, company's selling points, record, importance of personality, networking, etc. Importance of experience on drill floor. Explains current role dealing with investment community, own networks, enjoyment of job. |