Though communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement, health, environmental, and safety (HES) concerns with suppliers and contractors can be reduced. To address these safety concerns Marathon Oil has continuously engaged with its suppliers to better understand their capabilities, safety culture, safety and training programs to communicate expectations and to improve the business relationship. This discussion will highlight the programs and processes, Marathon has deployed to improve and reduce HES risks with suppliers that provide water hauling, vacuum truck services, produced water and salt water disposal.

Stacey Wales, is the Global Supply Chain Water Category Manager for Marathon Oil’s Southern Assets, in Houston. In her current role, she has focused on commercial, process improvements, and water initiatives supporting onboarding, training, and compliance with suppliers in the water space. She has worked with HES to develop and roll-out the Safety Leadership Engagement programs and policies. She has spent 16 years with Marathon and was the Supply Chain Manager for Marathon’s Piceance, DJ Basin, Eagle Ford D&C Assets and the Project Manager for the Permian Asset. Stacey has a BS degree in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho.

Vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of fatalities in the oil and gas industry. IOGP data shows Land Transportation Safety as a key area of concern, and within the US it is one of the major causes of occupational fatalities. To address this industry organizations such as the IOGP, and standards and research bodies such as ANSI and NIOSH, have developed guidance on road safety programs. This discussion will highlight some of the areas that every company with vehicles and drivers should be reviewing for opportunities to improve their risk management activities.

Tom Knode, SPE, is a Principal Consultant with vPSI Group, LLC, in Houston. He previously worked for Athlon Solutions as the Director of HSE, Statoil on contract, and spent 25 years with Halliburton. With Halliburton, his last role was the Director of HSE Standards and Performance where he worked on strategic imperatives and standards for the company including land transportation safety. He also reviewed the driving safety program while with Statoil on a team to assess conformance and suggest improvements. He has had regional and global responsibilities for the oversight of HSE with an interest in HSE leadership and improving efficiencies and performance. Knode was the Technical Director of HSSE-SR for SPE from 2008-2011, has co-chaired five SPE HSE conferences and co-authored upwards of 20 technical papers and articles, including in the JPT. He has a BS in Geology from TCU and MS in Geology from UT Arlington.