Company Report: Elenburg Exploration
Elenburg Exploration: Creating a culture of safety General Manager Bert Huntington has worked for Elenburg Exploration for 25 years. He tells Exec Digital that the industry has not only become more professional, but also safer

Established in Texas in 1966, the company based in Casper, Wyoming has seen many changes in the oil rig business and the way it operates. It was acquired by CapStar, part of the large Oil States International group, in February 2005. As such, Elenburg Exploration has gained access to new resources and an established customer base, resulting in expansion and success.

"The acquisition by CapStar Drilling has had a good impact on us," Bert Huntington says. "We're able to access more resources and it's been generally beneficial." Elenburg Exploration had worked with CapStar Drilling in the past, because the company produced the same style top-drive rigs as Elenburg Exploration. Mr Huntington, who has been General Manager for seven months, explains that CapStar actually constructed three new rigs for Elenburg Exploration, bringing the companies closer together.

Elenburg currently has ten rigs operating in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado and Utah, while running three equipment yards in Montana. "In the future," Huntington explains, "we are hoping to expand year after year with Oilstates' board approval." The next generation rig is the 750 Super Single, two of which are already under construction in CapStar Drilling's yard.

Employment benefits
In order to run these operations efficiently, the company employs 190 people, with crews of between three and four men on a rig at any one time. This is very different to other drilling contractors, which employ five man or more crews.

The reason behind this, Mr Huntington asserts, is the technology on board its rigs. Other drilling companies are only just beginning to use top-drive rigs, which Elenburg has been using for the past 40 years. Huntington explains that these rigs are smaller, cause less environmental disturbance and can rig down and rig back up again quickly. This ultimately results in increased efficiency and reduced staffing costs.

Not only that, Elenburg Exploration has also begun implementing 'hands-free' technology on its rigs. "This makes the rigs very safe. Tripping pipe is one of the most dangerous operations to perform on an oil rig; with hands-free technology our employees never touch the drill pipe or collars because the top-drive does a lot of that work. This semi-automated aero-hydraulic system means that processes are less dangerous and the crew is smaller."

Elenburg is a small company that has expanded smoothly over the past two years, from 75 employees to 190. Bert Huntington explains that there are a number of larger companies in Wyoming, which have suffered from staffing problems: "In the last few years, large contractors have struggled to retain employees or get experienced recruits. Many companies were set up quickly and employed whoever they could."

The company also offers a training program for its new employees, to ensure that they are qualified to work on rigs safely and effectively. It also sends drillers to a Well Control Course, which encourages best practice and motivates career development.

Bert Huntington asserts that: "Although it is a clich

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