ANCHORAGE, Alaska — July 31, 2024— The Alaska Oil and Gas Association will honor individuals and companies for their achievements working in the oil and gas industry at its annual conference on August 28-29, at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.
The 2024 AOGA Industry Awards winners are:
CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR SAFETY PERFORMANCE, sponsored by the Alaska Support Industry Alliance: Cruz Construction, Inc.
The Contractor of the Year Award for Safety Performance, sponsored by the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, recognizes an oil and gas support company that has demonstrated exemplary commitment to safety.
Cruz Construction, Inc., an Alaska-based heavy civil and oil field support company, excelled in safety and performance while completing the 2024 winter components of the Phase 1 STP Civil-Mining project at Oliktok Point for Santos’ Pikka project. Cruz worked 72,225 hours with a peak manpower of 78 personnel, reporting only one minor injury. The project involved mine development at E-Pit, ice road construction, gravel hauling, and sheet pile installation. Cruz and Santos developed a detailed work plan, ensuring project success through close cooperation. Despite challenges like a storm surge, Cruz maintained the schedule with only two minor vehicle incidents. The team’s exceptional planning, communication, and dedication to safety enabled the completion of pile driving in just 57 days, well ahead of schedule.
THE RISING STAR AWARD: Julianne Lamb, Santos Alaska
The Rising Star Award honors a young professional oil and gas industry employee under the age of 35 who has made an immediate and definitive impact on the oil and gas industry in Alaska.
Originally from Texas, Julianne Lamb’s work to impact Alaska’s oil and gas industry began globally. With a profound love for all things science, she transitioned from studying engineering to geology, graduating with a B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas in 2011. Her early career in Houston and subsequent M.S. from the University of Houston in 2014 set the stage for her eventual move to Alaska. Moving to Sydney in 2016, Julianne honed her skills in basin modeling. After making the journey to Alaska in 2020, Julianne led the charge to bring “GeoIsotopes” to Santos Alaska in 2023. This technology provides unique insights into reservoir characteristics and seal integrity through a deep understanding of source rocks and migration pathways. Now a key figure in Alaska’s Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) industry, Julianne’s work ensures safe, long-term CO2 storage, securing Alaska’s energy future.
PROJECT OF THE YEAR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND INNOVATION, sponsored by Stoel Rives: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s Legacy Facility Removal Project
The Alaska Oil and Gas Project of the Year for Environmental Stewardship and Innovation, sponsored by Stoel Rives, honors an Alaska oil and gas industry project that demonstrates superior environmental stewardship in its area of design, construction or operation and/or an innovative approach that sets a new standard for industry design, construction or operation in Alaska.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska) is evolving its operations to meet the changing needs of Alaska’s oil industry with a long-term “TAPS 100” philosophy. Currently transporting approximately 175 million barrels of oil per year, Alyeska anticipates an increase in throughput in the coming years. This shift has necessitated operational changes, including the reduced use of pump stations. Alyeska has implemented an Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO) program to clean and remove facilities, completing decommissioning at Pump Stations 10 and 12, with work in progress at Pump Stations 2 and 8. Alyeska is committed to reducing TAPS’s footprint by isolating and removing five inactive pump stations by 2034, and has provided conceptual plans for legacy equipment removal at Pump Stations 1, 3, 4, and 9. Major demolition was completed at PS10 in 2020 and at PS12 in 2023.
MARILYN CROCKETT LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Lisa Pekich, ConocoPhillips Alaska
The Marilyn Crockett Lifetime Achievement Award is named in honor of the former AOGA executive director who dedicated her 41-year career to, as she stated, “growing Alaska’s economy through a vibrant oil and gas sector in the state.” This award honors the dedication Marilyn displayed during her career: exceptional devotion of time, effort, thought, and action consistently shown in his/her work for the betterment of the oil and gas industry in Alaska.
Lisa Pekich, a 33-year ConocoPhillips Alaska employee, is this year’s winner. She earned her engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University and launched her early career with ARCO Alaska. Pekich’s technical expertise and interpersonal skills led her to senior roles in environmental coordination, strategy, and commercial analysis. Since 2011, she has directed ConocoPhillips Alaska’s community relations and village outreach team, transforming it into a model of effective community engagement. Lisa’s leadership in the Willow project and her commitment to community responsiveness highlight her impact. She also serves on the Iḷisaġvik College Foundation board, advocating for tribal education and workforce development.
The 2024 AOGA Industry Award submissions were received and reviewed by a committee made up of industry experts, both active and retired, in the fields of government and public affairs; business; environmental and regulatory affairs; land management; and environmental law.
About the Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA):
The Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA) is a professional trade association whose mission is to foster the long-term viability of the oil and gas industry in Alaska. Through advocacy,
education, and collaboration, AOGA works to ensure the sustainable development of Alaska’s oil and gas resources for the benefit of all Alaskans. More information about the organization can be found at www.aoga.org, on Facebook (AlaskaOilAndGas), Twitter (@AOGA) and Instagram (@alaskaoilgasassociation).
