A recent article in the Tulsa World about oilfield theft brought back some memories.

I got a graduate degree in oilfield theft, I can tell you all about it. Back in a previous life (and previous employer) during the 1980’s to early 90’s I saw a lot of it. I didn’t participate I just had to deal with it. I got so that I could smell it a mile away.

I worked for a company headquartered in Dallas. They thought something was amiss in their West Texas Division headquartered in Midland, Texas. One evening I was told to be at the airport packed for a week. I showed up, we flew the corporate jet to Midland. A private investigator met us we went to the Region Office. Every single person in the Region Office was terminated. My boss and I drove to the field office a few hours away and announced we were taking over.

After a short time, we determined that every single person in the field office was on the take one way or another, about two dozen people. Further there were only about 2000 people in the whole county. If we fired these guys, who else could we hire to run the system. There wasn’t anybody else. What do you do? We sold the pipeline system.

A year later, we went through a similar thing in the Oklahoma City office. We didn’t fire everybody, just a few. We should have fired several more as we found out later. We paid the price, my family also. I had to work for several months with a guy who I knew was a crook while our PI did his investigation. It was one of the most trying things I’ve ever been through. Having to watch myself the whole time. I also worried about our safety. Big money was involved.

We ended up firing the guy, but not prosecuting him. Pissed me off then, and still makes me mad. Most energy companies sweep stuff like that under the rug. I still remember, like it was yesterday, the day I got permission to fire him. I thought he was going to jump across the desk at me. He told me that he didn’t do it, and then he wanted to know if he could pay reparations. Like, if you didn’t do it, why do you want to pay reparations.

The thing most vivid is that he asked if he could drive home and tell his wife and then come back and get his stuff. Uhh, he was a gun nut. “Nope, Frank (not his real name.) We are going to load your stuff up and take you home now.” (He had a company truck so he needed a lift home.)

On the way to his house he reminded me that his wife had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. I told him I felt bad about that. (His wife was a very nice person.)

I left him standing on his driveway with all his stuff. He asked me to help him carry it in. “Nope, I have to go.” Not very helpful or friendly was I?

I could go on, but I won’t. I had to deal with several others elsewhere.

Do you think you work with a crook? I know all the indications. Want to know a few?

• Guys who are overly helpful. They can take care of things that are not in their job scope. They know people who can help. Yep, there is a payoff lurking about.

• Support staff and subordinates who are not friendly or communicative. They have been told to be quiet and not talk to outsiders. How is this silence bought? Through threats is how. The way it works is they come to work on day and their boss says “Hey, I have something for you.” It is something nice, a pair of ostrich cowboy boots (we are talking oilfield stuff here) lets say or a gift certificate, or something else. Later they get called in again. They get told, “You say something about what I am doing, you are going down with me.” “What” the subordinate says, “I am not involved.” “Oh yes you are.” they are told, “Remember those ostrich boots? Where do you think they come from?” Works like a charm. I feel sorry for these victims. The guilt and worry they feel can literally wreck their lives. Doing something like that to another person is one of the worst things you can do to somebody.
• The advocacy of suppliers or contractors who are “really good” or the “the only ones” can provide the goods and services. These are the crooks. The condemnation of “sorry” providers. These are guys who won’t pay kickbacks.
• Excuses and Lies. These guys are the kings of excuses and they lie a lot.
• Problems elsewhere, gambling, drinking, adultery ,money. These guys have integrity issues.

What all this means is hidden, until you come to your senses, by a “veil of trust.” Once that falls away then it is very plain to see. It can be shocking to see somebody you trust be a crook.

Want to know something else that is shocking. Oftentimes companies are nicer to thieves than they are to honest employees. You should hear some of the crap I have heard over the years.

• We don’t want him to sue us.
• We don’t want this to get in the papers.
• This looks really bad for us.

So, I say “Prosecute them,” “Sue them,” Get rid of them.

Anything else is an insult to your poor dumb honest employees.