Hess
Tony Houlihan explains how Hess Corporation uses leadership principles and operational science to enhance performance and build a collaborative culture in the Bakken region.
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In his presentation, Tony Houlihan explored how Hess Corporation integrates operational science with leadership strategies to improve performance in its Bakken operations. He explained the complexity of the Bakken production system, which includes thousands of wells, extensive pipelines, and processing facilities. Houlihan emphasized the need to treat the production system as a unified whole and ensure that all teams work together efficiently to achieve optimal results.
A cornerstone of Hess’s approach is its “one team” philosophy, which encourages collaboration and shared responsibility across different departments. Houlihan highlighted the company’s focus on servant leadership, where leaders prioritize the needs of frontline workers to improve decision-making and operational efficiency. He also outlined the role of lean manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving as key components of Hess’s continuous improvement strategy.
Houlihan described innovative practices such as using extended lateral drilling to maximize resource recovery and building strong partnerships with suppliers to adopt new technologies. He concluded by underscoring the importance of an integrated plan that aligns every stage of the production process—from initial development to long-term operations—to create a sustainable and efficient system.
PPI works to increase the value Engineering and Construction provides to the economy and society. PPI researches and disseminates knowledge related to the application of Project Production Management (PPM) and technology for the optimization of complex and critical energy, industrial and civil infrastructure projects.
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