Let's talk about it.
Raise your internet hand if you have seen something that made you question; Is this decision being made based on what is best for Apache, or based on what is best for a few parties external and internal? In this case it has been observed on several occasions.
In situations involving leadership and external vendors, decisions have been made where a similar or superior service is offered at comparable prices to the chosen party. Contracts have been awarded to companies who have senior staff on E&P side sitting on their board. As an employee and stockholder, this concerns me deeply. From this side, the behavior has been observed mostly with chemical vendors. Completion and Production Chemicals.
It hurts the company in two ways, one the fiscal reality that a higher price is being paid than necessary for goods and services. Two, there is a severe conflict of interest that leaves Apache open to lawsuits by shareholders as well as vendors that were put through multiple costly RFPs/RFQs where there was no fair chance at business.
The market is way too damaged to support good ol boy deals and kickbacks. Please look into it, I do not want Apache to fail.