To paraphrase Mark Twain’s wry remark, “reports of the demise of the oil & gas industry have been greatly exaggerated.” Sure, crude prices have dropped to around $50 a barrel and gas is sitting at only $2.50, but if activity in Houston is any indication, the industry is gearing up … Read more
As the Affordable Care Act ripens, healthcare organizations must transform to survive. Hospitals and clinics will treat more Medicare patients and will be rewarded more for the quality of care than for the volume of patients they treat. While this is an improvement in patient care, the shift in healthcare … Read more
Benjamin M. Butchko will be part of two panels at the upcoming 2015 TechSec Solutions Conference. TechSec brings together manufacturers, suppliers, installers, consultants, and end-users in an interactive discussion to review trends in the industry and share insights from their different perspectives. It is a dynamic gathering of industry thought … Read more
To the chagrin of just about everyone, Sony capitulated to the hacker’s demands and threats – sending absolutely the wrong message. What was Sony thinking? From a long-term view and national perspective, the action they took was in error. If you give in to the demands of terrorists, they will … Read more
Sub-$70/barrel oil is rapidly changing the operational climate for US oil and gas production. As highlighted in the December 4th Houston Business Journal article, “Oil price drops means businesses need to mitigate risk now,” a reevaluation of financial risk and mitigation measures is necessary to remain viable and profitable in … Read more
Oil field theft is not new, but with the rapid development in the Eagle Ford Shale, the opportunity for extensive and pervasive theft has expanded. Today’s article in the San Antonio Business Journal highlights the impact that such theft has on not just the companies from whom the oil was … Read more
When it comes to pipeline safety and security, our two neighbors provide an interesting and illustrative contrast. To our north, Canada’s oil and gas industry’s safety and security standards, with regards to pipelines, mirror and even surpass those of the U.S. The oil and gas sector is privately owned and … Read more
I have often said that opportunities along the U.S.–Mexico border are as vast as it landscape. However, those opportunities are not without risk. Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter’s most recent press release highlights the real threat that exists in South Texas [Porter Voices Concerns Over South Texas Pipelines Commissioner Visits Sites … Read more
“When it comes to pipelines, security is today where corrosion was 20 years ago.” This candid assessment, from Phillip Nidd, Vice President of Operations at Dynamic Risk USA, really distilled our impressions and understanding of security’s role at the 29 September – 3 October 2014 International Pipeline Conference in Calgary, … Read more
Threat is the “fissile material” needed to activate the individual components of asset, vulnerability, impact, consequence, and likelihood in the calculation of risk. It is threat that initiates the sequence of relationships and events that, together, combine to elevate or lower risk. It is important to understand threat in this … Read more