FEATURE
3 QUESTIONS WITH GREG BERLOCHER Talking Industry Trends with New Star Energy Services CEO
G
reg Berlocher is a veteran of the telecommunication industry with indepth knowledge of voice, data, fiber optic, solar power, wide area networks, and satellite communications. Throughout his 40-year career, he has supported customers in every facet of the Energy Industry. Mr. Berlocher is the CEO of New Star Energy Services in Sugar Land, Texas. New Star Energy Services (www.newstar-inc.com) provides telecommunication engineering services and broadband connectivity to customers with locations in rural locations and harsh environments.
1.
From your point of view, which are the main trends currently shaping the Oil & Gas industry?
The Oil & Gas Market is multi-faceted, comprised of many different segments, including: exploration, production, refining, transportation, maritime, and retail; each market segment faces their own set of competitive and P&L challenges. These challenges have a direct impact on the technology choices they make. In addition, competitors in each segment exhibit unique corporate person-
alities. Some are innovators and early adopters, while others are laggards. Although each market segment is different, there are a handful of industry trends that affect the entire Oil & Gas Industry. First, the rise in corporate stature of Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) organizations cannot be overlooked. Health issues, environmental concerns, and worker safety are now as important as drilling and refining technologies, perhaps even more so. HSE organizations are having a significant impact on the ongoing operations of energy-related companies and are driving the adoption of new technologies that will have a positive impact on worker safety and a cleaner environment. Another significant trend is cloud computing. IT organizations no longer purchase, operate, and maintain
Health issues, environmental concerns, and worker safety are now as important as drilling and refining technologies, SEPTEMBER 2018 | ISSUE 102
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