DRILLBITS
Monthly eNewsletter from the IADC

Christi Craddick, Railroad Commissioner, Texas Railroad Commission

Christi Craddick is in the forefront of the newest wave of conservatives in leadership roles in Texas. Raised in a strong conservative household, retained as legal counsel by prominent Texas firms, and shaped by more than a decade as a trusted political adviser, Craddick has set a clear standard of integrity, self-reliance and innovation in her position as Commissioner at the Railroad Commission.

Since her tenure on the Commission began in November 2012, Craddick has pushed to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of an energy industry that is driving the state’s unparalleled economic success. In the process, she has repeatedly proven that sensible regulations, careful listening and plain talk can foster innovation that has solidified Texas leadership in the energy sector.

Craddick has worked to educate the public about the oil and gas industry and its impact in Texas. As part of her efforts to modernize the agency, Craddick has championed an Information Technology overhaul at the Commission, seeking improvements that would upgrade the Geographic Information System, increase public access to the agency’s data, and speed up inspections and permitting times.

With over 40 years of experience, Dr. Dan Hill is a well-known professor in the industry. A background in chemical engineering, Dr. Hill has presented lectures and courses and consulted on these topics throughout the world. He’s also recognized as an industry expert in the areas of production engineering, well completions, well stimulation, production logging, horizontal and multilateral well performance. He holds five patents in oil recovery and well injection processes, has authored numerous publications, and been recognized with various awards from the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

An experienced Environment, Health, and Safety Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry, Micha Backlund brings over 15 years of experience of managing HSE in the field. Skilled in ISO 14001, Petroleum, Gas, Pumps, and Workplace Safety, he’s managed teams of HSE professionals, supporting 100+ rig operations, providing daily support to senior managers and customers. Over his career, he’s developed strong operations proficiency.

Policy expert with over 10 years of experience blending science with public policy, Emily Hague has  demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry. Skilled in Government, Energy Policy, Legislative Relations, Energy Industry, and Energy, Ms. Hague applies an analytical framework to discussion of the implications of public policy.

Ms. Hague has a strong background in program and project management who holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University and a JD from  University of Houston Law Center.

Larry Nixon has 38 years in the oil and gas industry with experience as a well site supervisor on drilling, completion and workover projects – both domestic U.S. and international.Larry’s career has a strong focus on drilling, well control, well intervention, and blowout recovery operations. He has also presented well control risk solutions to the Lloyds Joint Rig Committee, the well control underwriting community, which were adopted and still in place to date.

Currently, he serves a dual role of Sr. Well Control Specialist with Cudd Well Control and Vice President of Corporate Services of PRIME (a division of Patterson Services), Sr. Well Control Specialist for Great White, President & Sr. Vice President – Well Control Services for Stellar Well Control & Risk Services LLC, Manager of Well Control Operations for Wild Well Control, Inc., Country Manager for Boots & Coots / International Well Control, Risk Manager of Operations for Transocean.