About us

A persistent oilfield myth says that the abbreviation “bbl” for a barrel of oil resulted from Standard Oil Company’s early practice of painting their barrels blue –bbl for “blue barrel.” However, while Ida Tarbell’s controversial 1904 History of Standard Oil Company acknowledged the “holy blue barrel,” the abbreviation “bbl” had been in use before the 1859 birth of the petroleum industry.

In the early 19th century, wooden barrels of all capacities were common containers of trade: hogsheads, puncheons, tierces, butts, tuns, and other long since forgotten terms. Shipping manifests reveal that quantities of honey, rum, whale oil, and other commodities were shipped by the “bbl” – well before John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil’s blue barrels. For today’s industry, the abbreviation simply signifies a 42-gallon unit of measure…of any color.

Nick_and_niels_binnendijk

Nick Binnendijk
Nick Binnendijk, Sr. began his journey in the oil and gas sector working for Baker Oil Tool, a company that has since evolved into Baker Hughes. His career took him across the Atlantic, where he worked in both Los Angeles, USA, and later Celle, Germany. After his tenure at Baker Oil Tool, Nick transitioned to FMC, now known as Technip, in The Hague. His career continued as he took on a leadership role at Weatherford Netherlands, serving as managing- director from 1983 to 1995, during which time the main North Sea oil and gas fields began to open up. After leaving Weatherford, Nick ventured out on his own, initially focusing on sand screen manufacturing and other downhole tools. However, from 2000 onward, pressure control equipment became the core of his business, with successful representations of Power Chokes, T3 Energy Services, NOV, Shaffer and Cortec.

Niels Binnendijk
A New Era: Niels Binnendijk took the helm in 2016 by taking on Axon Energy Services, a U.S. manufacturer of blow-out preventers. Before entering the drilling industry, Niels began his career as a floor trader at the Amsterdam Exchange, where he managed the energy trading book. This background in trading has equipped him with a unique understanding of market dynamics and instilled in him an entrepreneurial spirit that drives our company’s mission: to provide top-notch pressure control equipment and exceptional service to our clients.

With Axon at the core of his portfolio, Niels gradually expanded his product lines to include BOP rental, pumps, and other rig equipment. With service companies and manufacturers, such as Patterson Services, American Block, South West Oilfield Products, Cortec, and South Coast Products, for which Blue Barrel Supply is the official representative for Continental Europe.

Blue_barrel_oil_rig_04

References

QUALITY MADE EASY, FASTLY DELIVERED