ConocoPhillips moving more to B'ville

[OurTulsa]

This is more great news for B'ville but also great news for Tulsa.  More a$$e$ at the PAC in and out of TIA, a few more in and out of Utica Sq. and on Brookside.  

Maybe it's only some time before the company is running all the bizz out of B'ville save the few corp. execs that need the immediate connections that Htown provides.

Would love to see B'ville establish itself as a significant corporate and cultural micropolitan powerhouse.  

Here's the story in today's World.  Particulary enjoyed the part that states the jobs are coming from Houston.  


ConocoPhillips to add 300 jobs
By JOHN STANCAVAGE World Business Editor
11/30/2006

View in Print (PDF) Format




The expansion in Bartlesville is in addition to 500 positions previously announced by the energy giant.
ConocoPhillips plans to move 300 jobs from Houston to Bartlesville in 2007, officials said Wednesday.

The news marks a second wave of the company's expansion plan in the city. The 300 positions are in its U.S. marketing services; truck, rail and logistics solutions; and corporate health and safety and environmental.

ConocoPhillips would not disclose an average salary for the jobs.

"They are all professional positions," company spokeswoman Tracy Harlow said in telephone interview.

The company does not anticipate that all of its affected Houston employees will move to Bartlesville, Harlow said, but it is encouraging as many as possible to do so.

Relocation benefits are being provided, she said.

The moves allow ConocoPhillips to boost efficiency and increase the value of the services it provides throughout the company, she said.

"We're continuing the consolidation of our major internal services in Bartlesville. This is where we lead delivery of our services to our operations around the world."

ConocoPhillips now employs about 2,700 in Bartlesville, up 415  

this year, Harlow said.

The new jobs are in addition to 500 announced in September 2005 for the company's Global Services operation in the city. Of the 500 in that effort, 400 positions have been identified. About 350 of the jobs have been moved from Houston, and 50 more will be relocated in 2007.

In addition, 65 positions have been relocated from Fort Worth as part of ConocoPhillips' $35 billion acquisition of Burlington Resources.

Not including the 300 new jobs announced Wednesday, Harlow said natural growth in Bartlesville could mean approximately 90 more hires in 2007. That total would include 20 doctorate-level workers at ConocoPhillips' technology center, she said.

Harlow praised Bartlesville's efforts to welcome the company's employees.

"ConocoPhillips is very pleased with the way the city has responded to our recruitment efforts. They've played a key role in making Bartlesville a place where people want to live and work."

Phillips Petroleum Co. was founded and based in Bartlesville until 2002, when the company merged with Conoco Inc. and moved its headquarters to Houston.

Statewide, ConocoPhillips employs about 4,200 people, slightly more than it did before the merger.

In Ponca City, where ConocoPhillips operates a large refinery, the company employs about 1,400.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


John Stancavage 581-8314
john.stancavage@tulsaworld.com

[inteller]

just a comment.  The "immediate access to contacts" that Houston provides is a myth.

[Porky]

Great news for B'ville indeed as the surrounding areas.

[Oil Capital]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

just a comment.  The "immediate access to contacts" that Houston provides is a myth.

How is that?

[pmcalk]

I hope Tulsa tries to capitalize on this.  Many of those relocating from Houston have chosen to live in Tulsa or Owasso.  We should start looking at public transportation possibilities between DT Tulsa, the airport, Owasso & Bartlesville.  If not light rail, at least some sort of shuttle service.

[SXSW]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

I hope Tulsa tries to capitalize on this.  Many of those relocating from Houston have chosen to live in Tulsa or Owasso.  We should start looking at public transportation possibilities between DT Tulsa, the airport, Owasso & Bartlesville.  If not light rail, at least some sort of shuttle service.

I've thought the same thing, and there is an existing rail line that goes from downtown Tulsa up through Owasso to downtown Bartlesville.  Could be a good commuter line, especially if a spur is built to TIA.  But yes a Shuttle service would be awesome in the short term, is there not one already?

[pmcalk]

From what I understand, Conoco use to provide a shuttle between Tulsa/Bartlesville back before the move, but discontinued it.  So, no, there is currently no shuttle.

[perspicuity85]

Hopefully this will streamline the completion of the Gilcrease Expressway.  Tulsa needs to capitalize on this and pave the way for development in its NW quadrant.  Parts of Skiatook offer hilltop views of downtown Tulsa- maybe that could become a hot new suburban zone.

[Trams]

I'm impressed with Bartlesville's continued growth and expansion.  Is there anything to learn from it?  What sort of incentives does Bartlesville offer to incoming businesses?  Or is this just a fluke related to Conoco-Phillips -- which have had an ongoing presence in Ponca City/Bartlesville for a number of years?

[SXSW]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

Hopefully this will streamline the completion of the Gilcrease Expressway.  Tulsa needs to capitalize on this and pave the way for development in its NW quadrant.  Parts of Skiatook offer hilltop views of downtown Tulsa- maybe that could become a hot new suburban zone.

The Gilcrease Expressway should be a higher priority because it's the last highway expansion Tulsa needs for at least 20 years.  Finish that project (which has been "proposed" since the 1970's) and then you will start seeing more developments on the NW side which will only help downtown and work to stop suburbanites moving south and east as Osage County taxes are less than Tulsa County.  Maybe this is a good place for form-based codes that promote sustainable development and not just more south Tulsa-like sprawl...

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Oil Capital

quote:Originally posted by inteller

just a comment.  The "immediate access to contacts" that Houston provides is a myth.

How is that?

well for one there is nothing immediate about Houston.  All of the oil and gas companies are spread out.  They arent all crammed downtown as some would have you believe.  So if I want to talk to someone at BP and I'm downtown, I have to drive hours through Houston traffic to talk to them.  It isn't like you can just walk across the street to talk to someone.  Furthermore, SMART companies are figuring out that you don't have to physically be near the assets you are managing.  Offshore divisions can live in Denver or Tulsa for that matter.  You go where your employees want to go.  I think Conoco is figuring out that their employees want to be somewhere a little less hectic than that hellpit of a town called Houston.  I think its funny when you ask a Tulsan who moved to houston how they like it there.  They will first tell you how great it is and all these things you can do.  Then when you ask them the last time they did any of those things they admit they haven't in a while because traffic is so bad.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by SXSW

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

Hopefully this will streamline the completion of the Gilcrease Expressway.  Tulsa needs to capitalize on this and pave the way for development in its NW quadrant.  Parts of Skiatook offer hilltop views of downtown Tulsa- maybe that could become a hot new suburban zone.

The Gilcrease Expressway should be a higher priority because it's the last highway expansion Tulsa needs for at least 20 years.  Finish that project (which has been "proposed" since the 1970's) and then you will start seeing more developments on the NW side which will only help downtown and work to stop suburbanites moving south and east as Osage County taxes are less than Tulsa County.  Maybe this is a good place for form-based codes that promote sustainable development and not just more south Tulsa-like sprawl...

 so you dont want south tulsa sprawl, but you advocate completing the gilcrease expy so you can have north tulsa sprawl.

I dont know if this is an oxymoron or irony.

[Oil Capital]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by Oil Capital

quote:Originally posted by inteller

just a comment.  The "immediate access to contacts" that Houston provides is a myth.

How is that?

well for one there is nothing immediate about Houston.  All of the oil and gas companies are spread out.  They arent all crammed downtown as some would have you believe.  So if I want to talk to someone at BP and I'm downtown, I have to drive hours through Houston traffic to talk to them.  It isn't like you can just walk across the street to talk to someone.  Furthermore, SMART companies are figuring out that you don't have to physically be near the assets you are managing.  Offshore divisions can live in Denver or Tulsa for that matter.  You go where your employees want to go.  I think Conoco is figuring out that their employees want to be somewhere a little less hectic than that hellpit of a town called Houston.  I think its funny when you ask a Tulsan who moved to houston how they like it there.  They will first tell you how great it is and all these things you can do.  Then when you ask them the last time they did any of those things they admit they haven't in a while because traffic is so bad.

Wow, you make a lot of leaps of logic in one short post.

First, the oil companies are not as spread out as you would have us believe.  There are major concentrations downtown, west (in the energy corridor) and north.  It does not take "hours" to get from any of those areas to any other of those areas.  In some cases, they can walk across the street, or even take an elevator.

Then you tell us that "you go where your employees want to go"  and take the logical leap that by moving some employees to B-ville, that means their employees want to be somewhere other than . . .  Houston.  Well, if that's the case wouldn't they be moving more than a small percentage of their total employees out of Houston?  Nice try, but ...  You may be quite right that "you go where your employees want to go", but if so, it hardly proves the point you are trying to make.  FWIW, here's just a sampling of corporate relocations to Houston in the last few years:  

-- Citgo relocating its corporate HQ from Tulsa
-- Parker Drilling Co relocating its corporate HQ from Tulsa
-- ConocoPhillips choosing Houston as its HQ after their merger
-- Noble Affiliates movings its HQ to Houston from Ardmore, OK

I think it's hilarious that you ask former Tulsans if they like Houston and then refuse to accept their answer.  A famous movie line comes to mind:  You can't handle the truth!

The simple truth is that ConocoPhillips has been making additional acquisitions and growing fast.  As a result they are doing some reorganizing and shuffling to maximize the use of their assets.  Good news for Bartlesville, but that's as far as it goes.  In spite of your fondest dreams, it does not signify the imminent decline of Houston, or salvation of Tulsa.

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by SXSW

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

Hopefully this will streamline the completion of the Gilcrease Expressway.  Tulsa needs to capitalize on this and pave the way for development in its NW quadrant.  Parts of Skiatook offer hilltop views of downtown Tulsa- maybe that could become a hot new suburban zone.

The Gilcrease Expressway should be a higher priority because it's the last highway expansion Tulsa needs for at least 20 years.  Finish that project (which has been "proposed" since the 1970's) and then you will start seeing more developments on the NW side which will only help downtown and work to stop suburbanites moving south and east as Osage County taxes are less than Tulsa County.  Maybe this is a good place for form-based codes that promote sustainable development and not just more south Tulsa-like sprawl...

 so you dont want south tulsa sprawl, but you advocate completing the gilcrease expy so you can have north tulsa sprawl.

I dont know if this is an oxymoron or irony.

I think the thing to focus on here is the fact that this employee relocation brings people to the Tulsa metro area, or at least within shouting distance.  Most healthy metro areas have an urban core surrounded by supporting suburban sprawl.  The suburbs cater more to people as they reach their thirties and start to have kids that start school.  The urban core caters more to young professionals that don't often have children yet.  Tulsa as a city should focus on developing its urban core while at the same time cooperate with INCOG in developing supporting areas for the city.  People in Tulsa need to realize that the city and the suburbs
can coexist, and often receive mutual benefit.