Reda 1 - Nothing like competition to level the playing field. LOL ! Really, I don't believe that many oil & gas operators even look in any depth at the Centrilift website or any others like Reda or Wood Group except when enticed to download something like an updated version of Autograph ( which most operators probably don't even know how to use effectively). And if they do visit the website, they don't pay much attention to those things like Centrilift best in class talk. As far as websites go, most of those manufacturer websites are glitzy with lots of tradenames and hoopla, but that doesn't help you produce much oil and gas, does it? Mostly, the esp companies like Centrilift provide tools, and some light service during installation, with some backup engr applications support on the front end for the sale. Sr. engineering talent is still definitely there, but stretched the way I understand.

ESP companies could do more, but operators really need to step up if they want the extra service and pay for it - for things like recurring maintenance, checking for things before they become a problem. ESP companies make their money by selling tools and being there when required to make up during installation, and help work out bugs when commissioning. To date the solution that operators look for from these manufacturers are more tools, like monitoring gauges and some light interface controls.

If operators would pay more for their services, maybe the esp companies could make a business case and provide far better service. But similar to the US airline industry these days, you gotta pay if you want the service you want and expect.  If operators want longer runtime, etc., new technology advancement and monitoring tools can help. However, Service is the key. This is the one thing that is worth the extra investment that is lacking to some degree. Alliance agreements are the closest thing to this as it gives the ESP company better assurance of payback on service investment.

Anyway, about your subject point that you were making, yea guess you are right, I've never seen a best in class award from an operator to those guys in Claremore but I wouldn't worry about it. Not that important. My guess is that eventually they will tone it down and spin the words in a different way. They can say whatever they want about themselves, who's really paying attention ? I'm out in a bunch of production locations a lot, and I guarantee you these guys out here could care less about what Centrilift says on their website about themselves - no way are they going to waste their time looking at some glitzy tool companies marketing themselves, when oil & gas companies have an operation to run and a life to live. Really now, what kind of solutions do those ESP websites offer? No dialogue, just a one way commercial. Great for the brochure and web image artists, picture guys, script writers and the overhead to manage it.  But what does it do for operators? Think about it, why would Nelson Ney, the current President of Centrliift, apparently write a memo to employees banning dialogue to operators on a website like this? I suppose one reason is that they don't want information or their ideas for solutions shared for other professionals to see. So then you'd wonder what the SPE Roundtable is all about then? Isn't that in essence what professionals do, get together and share technical information of common interest. Or is there another purpose to the SPE? To sell and market and promote oneself?

Suppose another reason would be the fear their salesman would be increasingly cut out of the business picture. Why couldn't  applications be done online in real time? And if that were the case, you could just put your prices on a webpage interactive with the company together with all that marketing glitz like Dell sells computers and click to order.

So I would suppose that the real business case and siginificant portion of INVESTMENT public coporations like Schlumberger and Baker Hughes and  Wood Group have made over the years are locations throughout the world, mostly sales and service & delivery. Anything to diminish that investment in infrastructure and their competitive advantage of getting close to the customer would be a threat.

Like online forums. Definitely a competitive threat and lessen their ability to make money. Forums get real close to customers, much closer and more frequently available than a salesman could ever be to a customer. And guess what? If let's say, management like Nelson Ney at Centrilift or Gary Ford at Wood Group ESP agree to offer fourms to their customers, then guess what? Customers can actually share information about their experience freely and easily - not too easy for a vendor to control! - and salesmen's ability to persuade a customer and even being needed to be present in front of the customer are taken out of the equation. So do you see the threat that online forums have to big vendors like Centrilift, Reda and ESPI ? Their real advantage is their distribution network of salesmen around the world with a service guy or two in the area. Smaller companies can't afford that type of investment.

So this forum is probably going to be more for operators to talk among themselves, together with other retired esp veterans. And those few esp company guys who aren't afraid to speak up and share the truth. As far as bashing of Centrilift that some people are mentioning and claiming  on this board, my viewpoint is that I guess if an ESP  company really does boast a lot and say things like we're the in best etc then they are game for critique.Modesty is the real virtue, no need to boast if you really are best in class, right?

DavidPDavidson

Reda 1, What if Reda (Slum) is actually #4 are you going to change your name to Slum 4.

You can actually tell who is best in class several way's:
 Where do competitor's steel their man power from to improve their over all company image.
 Which company's get bashed the most on site's like this, useally the leaders or "Best in Class" get knocked around the most whether that is Slum, Wood Group, Weatherford or Baker/Hughes.
 Hey Reda 1,what ever happened to the good old "Made in America"? Not to many company's can brag about that now is there.
 Reda 1, lets see Slum has their head quarters in France ( to avoid paying American taxes, and they build their equipment in China to avoid paying the American people. Damn they have to be number 1 in avoiding the American people and boosting the economy. Kind of makes you proud to be an American calling yourself Reda 1 doesn't it!