Interviewer: Laura Ek

Affiliation: University of Arizona

I was referred to Dennis Duhart by Dennis Sullivan, a fellow Halliburton employee. Mr. Sullivan describes Mr. Duhart as one of the first African American men to be deployed offshore, and someone he worked with. I called Mr. Duhart, and we set up an interview at the apartment he stays at while working at Halliburton when he is away from his home and family in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Dennis Duhart was born in 1949 and raised in South Texas. He graduated high school and went to college. He dropped out in 1970 with the intention of going back and married his wife. He ended up being drafted in 1970, and he worked for the military for two years in Thailand, finishing his service in 1972. He began his 39 year career with Baroid as a mud logger 1972. He was offshore from 1976-1984. When things took a downturn in 1987, he went to working 14/7. Just recently, his schedule has gone back to 14/7 since the 1987 downturn. In 1992, he was transferred to the Lafayette district. He has stayed with Baroid since it was bought out by Dresser, and later Halliburton (since 2000). He raised his family in Corpus Christi Texas, and not wanting to move them, commutes between Lafayette and Corpus Christi on a 14/14 schedule, one he has held most of his life. He has three daughters and two sons.

He talks about the downturn of the 1980s, and how it was felt offshore. He discusses his career (including his first day offshore) as a mud logger and how it has changed over time. He discusses why he chose his career with Baroid, and his perspectives on life he has gained from his work. He also discusses some of his strategies for working in an environment that had few African American men employed (especially in his position) when he first began in the 1970s. He discusses education and training provided by the community, and changes in technologies, highlighting communications and logging while drilling (LWD).