Celebrating Excellence. SWPSC 2022 Duane A Crawford Service Awardee. Mr. Russell Stevens

Russell Stevens

Product Line & Technical Services Manager

With a career spanning over 35 years in the artificial lift field, Russell Stevens has specialized in the design, optimization, and failure analysis for sucker rod lift systems. Recognized in the industry as an accomplished problem-solver, Stevens has helped oil & gas companies around the World initiate and implement programs that identify and reduce failures associated with the artificial lift system.

In 2014, Russell was the recipient of the J.C. Slonneger Award presented by the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course Association and sponsored by the Petroleum Industry of West Texas in cooperation with the Texas Tech’s Department of Petroleum Engineering. This year, Russell is being celebrated as a recipient of the Duane A. Crawford Service Award.

?Russell and Dr Gharib, Libya.

?Russell on location, 1984.>>

What does the Duane A. Crawford Service Award mean to you?

“What the award means to me is a recognition for my life’s work which includes my achievement and contributions. I didn’t go to school for this career, I am self-taught because I loved being a part of it and I knew that it’s what I wanted to do professionally and there’s nothing that I’d rather be doing.”

<< Russell and his wife, Julie. Lake George, CO.

Where did you grow up?

“I was born in Western Oklahoma in a little town called Moreland and that’s pretty much where I went to school and grew up. My father was the chief of police so I tried to live up to the old adage about the cop’s and preachers’ kids.”

Tell me about a pivotal moment in your career.

“Switching from sales to a technical role was challenging for me, there was a lot to learn. What really made a difference for me was going to the short course and learning from the top people in the field, and basically absorbing knowledge by reading everything I could. There were also many people who helped me make this switch.”

What has been the highlight of your career?

Russell attributes his success and career path to a great sense of curiosity, the many people who encouraged and mentored him along the way, and the support of his wife.

“I’ve been truly blessed that I’ve had a great career, and have had great bosses and mentors through the years that have taught me a lot and taken me under their wing, it would be hard to name them all. I guess now other people look at me as maybe an expert? Everything I know comes from the School of Hard Knocks and it’s just me wanting to learn and reading everything I could about the subject and listening to the experts.”

?Russell and Rod Lift Consulting (RLC) Team.

What do you do for fun?

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, whom he describes as his soulmate and best friend.

“I’m kind of boring and always order the same thing at a restaurant for example. If I could say I have one fun hobby it would be playing computer games with my wife.”

?Russell in the late 80’s. Can you guess the location?

Any advice for young people entering the industry today?

“Find someone who is an expert in the field, and absorb as much knowledge as you can from them. Someone in the field that you intend to pursue that has a lot of knowledge about the subject you’re working on.”

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

“I’m not sure, maybe to enjoy life more. Probably the one thing that I’ve never done well – take time to smell the roses more often.”

To that end, Russell and his wife plan on visiting and spending more time with his daughter and grandchildren, whom he describes as the “apple of his eyes”.

?Russell and Julie with their granddaughters.