We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to the STRYDE family, Keith Hutcheson who will be stepping into the pivotal role of Operations and HSSEQ Manager. Based at our Dubai facility, Keith brings a wealth of experience in seismic operations and a deep passion for health, safety, security, environment, and quality (HSSEQ).
In this blog, we get to know Keith a little better and find out more about his new role at STRYDE.
A career built on experience and innovation
Originally from Scotland, Keith graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
His seismic journey began in 1992 with Western Geophysical, where he started as a junior observer in land seismic. After spending many years at Geco Prakla (part of Schlumberger) and later WesternGeco, Keith accumulated nearly three decades of hands-on experience in seismic acquisition, working in both land and marine environments in Operations, QHSE, and Technical roles.
His diverse career includes a key role at Blue Ocean Seismic Services, where he played a pivotal part in the development of autonomous robotic nodes for marine seismic operations, including the attainment of ISO 9001 certification.
Most recently, with Aramco, he demonstrated his expertise by working closely with seismic crews and HSE teams, overseeing multiple land operations in some of the most demanding and remote environments. This extensive hands-on experience has equipped him with the skills and knowledge to seamlessly take on his new responsibilities at STRYDE.
Why STRYDE?
So, what excites Keith about joining STRYDE?
"I’m really looking forward to working with game-changing technology that has a profound impact on HSE for our land crew customers,” says Keith.
"Using STRYDE, customers can drastically reduce their exposure to HSE risk by eliminating the need for heavy vehicles, reducing the crew size by more than 50%, speeding up deployment operations, and significantly reducing the number of lightweight vehicle driving. This is a stark contrast to the cabled crews I have overseen across my career and a big step change in HSE risk exposure for land crews.
“As the world works towards a greener future, it’s not just about making operations safer and smoother but also significantly reducing environmental impact traditionally associated with land seismic acquisition. With STRYDE, companies can reduce vehicle emissions, avoid line clearing, and minimise disturbance and damage to the surrounding environment—STRYDE’s technology really is a game-changer from my HSE perspective."
The role of ensuring safety and efficiency for STRYDE and our customers
As Operations and HSSEQ Manager, Keith will oversee a wide range of responsibilities, from providing critical support to STRYDE’s field teams and ensuring the highest standards of health and safety are upheld across all projects they support, to implementing robust quality management systems. His efforts will focus on maintaining product reliability and consistency, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, and effectively managing risks, all with the goal of enhancing customer satisfaction and driving the success of each seismic survey.
Beyond work
When not focused on ensuring safety and operational excellence, Keith enjoys an active lifestyle. “I’m a big fan of sports, particularly golf and skiing. I also love to travel and explore new places whenever I get the chance,” says Keith.
A fun fact about Keith? Despite having travelled extensively for both work and leisure, he has yet to visit South America - but it’s definitely on his bucket list!
Looking forward
Keith will play a critical role in driving operational success for STRYDE and our customers while ensuring that we continue to prioritise safety, environmental sustainability, and quality in everything we do.
Please join us in welcoming Keith to STRYDE as we continue to push the boundaries of seismic technology and innovation!