The Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame Society is honouring six men and women as its 2018 inductees at a special luncheon Nov. 23 at the Calgary Petroleum Club. In a series to be published weekly on the Daily Oil Bulletin and jwnenergy.com, writer R.P. Stastny profiles each of the inductees. Today: Ron Sorokan Ron Sorokan built some remarkable drilling rigs over his career. He cofounded what is today Dreco Energy Services, which became an important part of National Oilwell Varco over 20 years ago. Ron’s rig designs for harsh environments, rapid mobility and operating efficiency helped establish Edmonton and Nisku as an export hub for Canadian drilling rigs destined for oilfields in the North Slope of Alaska, deserts of Kuwait, the North Sea and the jungles of South America. Ron’s pioneering innovations continue to influence rig designs today, and he also inspired a generation of leaders through employee mentoring and his highly collaborative business approach. “Ron began mentoring engineers, designers, fabricators and constructors in the early 70s right through to his retirement,” says Precision Drilling CEO Kevin Neveu. “His mentorship and personal support of myself and many other professional, executives and, for that matter welders and electricians, is unmatched […]
