Angus Measurement Services, LP Special Service Group
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Good Wednesday morning January 10, 2024, from the old Permian Basin, on the southwest edge of the Llano Estacado, off the east side of the Frankle City Highway, in beautiful Gaines County, Texas as we get ready for Sunday when winter hits the Permian. It is still a few days off, but it looks like early Sunday morning when this Blue Northerner hits. Need to be checking the heat tapes and freeze protection on all the water lines. This does not look like a replay of Uri in 2021, but its gonna get cold. Saturdays high is forecast to be 63and Sunday's low is 8. That is a 55-degree change in 24 hours. If I can talk the Unicorn into it, Sunday evening supper looks like chili, black-eye peas and cornbread.
I read this on Vopak Coatzacoalcos Terminal going 24 years incident free. I know there are a lot of places that can come close and even beat this, but 24 years is a long time. In the tank business we have the opportunity for mechanical and structural failure that can cause an unscheduled hydrocarbon release (UHR). Seals on pumps or tank bottoms developing leaks, lightning, the list is long. For all these conditions that can happen, the biggest risk is those who are reading this.
Humans.
The highest factor to UHR's is the human factor. Valves left open. Valves left closed. Ignoring alarms. Complacency. Twenty-four years where none of this happened in this and other facilities. How in the world did they manage that? I don't know the particulars of this facility and the others like it, but I can bet these facilities or operated by people who are leaders, not managers.
You manage things, you lead people. In my going on 45 years in the oil and gas industry and a lifetime in the "patch" I have come across and worked for people who believe humans are a capital asset. A thing. As a thing their output can be measured and evaluated. "X" number of inputs equal a widget. "X" amount of input has "X" amount of output.
Simple.
Leading people is hard. Managing them is simple. As someone in charge you can be either. You have to train yourself to be either. It takes longer to learn how to be a leader. To show what and how things need to be done and done over a period of 24 or more years and more takes a person who cares about their people. It reflects well on the company they work for too. It shows they have the vision to hire and promote leaders. hats off to Vopak.
In your operations if the biggest risk of your having a failure would be the humans you are surrounded with, lead them. Look back over your career. Can you remember the first names of the people you worked for? I will almost bet they are leaders, not managers.
Everyone have a safe day. Find someone you can make their life a little better. Heck, maybe find two.
Angus Measurement Services, LP
Congratulations on the successful completion of your new facility! This milestone is a testament to your dedication to innovation and excellence. Wishing you continued success and growth in this exciting new chapter.