Alex Benson, Drill Bit Product Line Director, NOV, is a graduate of the Energy Workforce Executive Leadership Program. He recently shared his insights on the energy services and technology sector.
Energy Workforce: What is your role with the company? What are your core responsibilities? What does a typical day look like?
AB: I am the product line director for drill bits at NOV. In my role, I have to wear many hats and engage with every part of the business; it is strongly people-oriented. However, fundamentally, I am responsible for guiding the strategic vision of what our drill bit products will look like in 3 to 5 years. i.e., what is most important to our customers and what technologies do we have or need to develop to service their needs.
EW: Why did you join the energy industry? Was there an individual who influenced your decision? Was there an event or piece of technology that got you excited?
AB: I joined the energy industry primarily for the adventure. I really loved the idea of working on drilling rigs, getting dirty, and travelling the world. This excitement was ignited through a family friend who ran his own drill stem test (DST) company in Australia. He gave me my first opportunity to work on the rigs. I loved the remoteness and the physical challenge. One of the most unique experiences was when I travelled to the mountains of Papua New Guinea. Here, there are no roads, and the drilling rigs have to be helicoptered in in sections on long line using wartime Chinook helicopters.
EW: What individual has been most instrumental in helping with your career? What did their mentorship look like, and how did it guide your path?
AB: Everyone along the way has been extremely helpful, whether they know it or not. I like to think that even the bad experiences have been learning opportunities. However, the most pivotal person in my career is likely Dave Whitby, who is the Asia Pacific Region Director at ReedHycalog. He was a fantastic boss when I was working in Australia. He gave me the freedom to “get the job done” and was extremely supportive when I expressed interest in moving abroad. He is the reason I now live in the US.
EW: What was your impression of the industry beforehand, and how has it evolved?
AB: The industry has dramatically changed over the past 15 years. The shale revolution has significantly reduced lifting costs for land operators. It is astounding to see the level of efficiency that has been achieved, with some of whom are now regularly delivering 25kft wells in as little as 4 days. This has also shifted production dominance away from OPEC, which has subsequently lost its pricing manipulation power. This is good for Western democracies, capitalism, and the world as a whole.
EW: What has surprised you most about the industry?
AB: Despite the enormity and outsized impact of the energy industry, the community is small. Everyone within the industry is extremely proud of what they do and supportive of one another. Attending industry events and meeting the long list of second-degree connections is always a pleasure. I was once leaving a restaurant in Odessa, Texas, only to run into a friend who used to sell frac services in Adelaide, Australia. Small world.
EW: Where do you hope to see the industry develop over the next five years?
AB: This is a very hard industry to predict, but one thing that is certain is the ever-accelerating rate of innovation. With the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), this will be taken to the next level. I’m excited to see this translate into even greater efficiencies and reduced wastage. Technologies will become simpler and systems more streamlined.
EW: What role do you believe you will play in the industry’s future?
AB: I like to think of myself as an innovator who brings together disparate ideas from the brilliant people around me. Hopefully, in collaboration with the incredibly intelligent people I work with, we can continue to deliver best-in-class drilling products that add value.
EW: How has your involvement in Energy Workforce supported your career goals?
AB: In numerous ways. Firstly, the networking with other like-minded and driven professionals has been invaluable. The best way to grow as an individual is to learn from and assist those around you. I’ve learned many of my lessons the hard way, and I’m trying to change that. Secondly, there is the continual reinforcement of the importance of soft skills. As someone for whom this doesn’t come naturally, I truly benefit from these reminders. One-on-one conversations with people at all levels to get to know and understand them cannot be overstated.
EW: What’s a technology or innovation you’ve seen in the sector that impressed you?
AB: Honestly, everything. It never ceases to amaze me the level of engineering that goes into the most mundane objects. Even the nozzles that are installed in drill bits to direct fluid flow are optimized through thousands of cumulative engineering hours.
EW: What advice would you give someone just getting started in the energy industry?
AB: Do things for others. By helping and supporting others by providing genuine value, you will grow a large and respectful network of advocates. Nothing is more powerful than a strong reference.
EW: What do you wish other people knew about oil and gas?
AB: It’s one of the most dynamic, resilient industries on the planet. Behind every project are men and women solving complex challenges that drive the modern world forward, often with remarkable innovation and pride.
EW: What do you wish other people knew about oil and gas?
AB: Unfortunately, I don’t think most of the general population appreciates how fundamental oil and gas are to the maintenance of the global population and our standard of living. We would not be where we are today without it, and to remove it too quickly would likely be existential for a large percentage of people.
EW: What do you do for fun, or what’s your idea of a perfect vacation?
AB: I love to ski. Most of my vacations have been to different mountain ranges around the world. Heli skiing in Alaska was a high point for me, and I’m overdue for a return trip. Nothing is more impressive than flying over a mountain pass in a small metal box with views of the ocean in front, glaciers beneath, and enormous Chugach mountains on either side.
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