ConocoPhillips' Ponca City refinery is shown. Jobs here are not being evaluated for consolidation or relocation, company officials say. Photo provided
ConocoPhillips confirmed Thursday it is evaluating whether to eliminate or relocate about 700 nonrefinery and nonpipeline jobs in Ponca City.
Advertisement
The jobs being reviewed are within the company’s pipeline and terminal headquarters division in Ponca City, as well as jobs within the company’s payment systems enterprises division — which handles its credit card transactions — technology division, facility services division and global information services division.
"ConocoPhillips always has been proactive at looking for business efficiency opportunities,” said Tracy Harlow, the company spokeswoman.
The ConocoPhillipsevaluation does not include about 750 refinery or operational pipeline jobs also there, she said. Harlow said the jobs review was announced to affected employees this week.
What’s the reaction?
Bruce Bell, chairman emeritus of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association of Oklahoma, said he wasn’t surprised.
"They have kind of been heading in that direction ever since they took over Phillips,” Bell said.
Bell called the announced job review "par for the course,” noting that big companies like to consolidate their people into one location.
For "big oil,” Bell observed that Houston easily can serve as a North American home because with modern technology, companies can easily oversee their operations from a central location.
"Houston has just become the center of the universe, Dallas is a distant second, and we are at the tail end,” he said. "We are lucky we still have three big companies.”
With energy prices low, there’s a chance for new companies to be created and move into areas big oil is leaving behind, he said.
"When you are starting a company, it is much better to pick an area to have a headquarters where you know you are going to be operating, so I’d hope we will see some new companies coming in and taking the place of some that leave.”
What’s the timetable?
Harlow said ConocoPhillips expects its review of the jobs to take until about the end of January.
"We have no timetable beyond that, because we don’t know what the recommendations will be,” she said.
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Just when real estate became a sellers market after the last loss of 800 jobs it looks like some bargains will be on the market again, maybe they want us to all live in the travel trailers that the temporary refinery workers that are from out of state live in ??? losing 600 jobs will affect a whole lotta folks, I know of no one who prefers living in Houston as opposed to here in Ponca City..
Where are people getting that Boone had anything to do with Ponca City and Conoco. It was Phillips and Borger, TX. Do some research and know what you are talking about or just read and go on.
Chris , Oklahoma is doing just fine at its own self destruction , I just point and laugh when they fall on their(< note correct usage Vern ) collective faces over and over and over and over ..... What can you say about a state that voted so overwhelmingly for McCain ? Except to say that it is so backwards? I mean even that number one Okie booster Boone Pickens chooses to live in Texas.....
Having lived in the Ponca City area off and on for a total of 35 years, it's been my observation that most there keep their heads in the sand. They think the pressures of the world and national economy just won't affect their little city. Well guess what, people? It sure does. What's happening to ConocoPhillips is happening all over the county. The economy's in the tank, and tough decisions have to be made to turn it around. It's childish to try to pass blame on one individual. It only shows the sand is still draining out of your ears.
Mister, I am of the impression that you are on a mission to make sure Oklahoma does not succeed. Your attitude is the makings of a genocidal mad man. First is the starvation of the economy, then the starvation of the people, then comes the elimination. You, sir, are a pathetic soul. Crawl back into your little hole.
This is Boone Pickens final raiding of the town of Ponca City. OSU, you enjoy your new shiny stadium as it was built on the blood of Ponca City. Boone and Icon raided Conoco and people my age never forget! Because of the raiding activities of Boone, Conoco was forced to undergo a fierce financial battle. As a result, Oklahoma lost both Conoco and Phillips. People forget this fact and they elevate Pickens to a god status. But he's nothing but a corporate raider who used Oklahoma as his own personal piggy bank. OSU sold its soul to the devil for a mountain of steel and bricks towering to the gods.
Thank you Don Nickles for failing to step up and help protect jobs in your own hometown back when you were in the position to do so, hope you are enjoying your new job as a lobbyist in the Washington DC area, we really appreciate your efforts..
11
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).