Personnel Moves & Promotions

Feb. 23, 2004
Several principals from Matador Petroleum Corp. have founded Matador Resources Co., Dallas (see Company News, p. 31).

Ex-Matador Petroleum execs help form new private independent

Several principals from Matador Petroleum Corp. have founded Matador Resources Co., Dallas (see Company News, p. 31).

Foran
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Joseph Foran is chairman and CEO of the new company, and Scott King is vice-president of exploration. Among other original Matador Petroleum staff members now part of the new Matador Resources team are Chief Engineer Michael Ernest, Comptroller Kathy Wayne, and Properties Manager Yvonne Hoevers.

King
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Joining Foran and King in forming Matador Resources are Brad Robinson, vice-president of engineering, and David Lancaster, vice-president of business development. Both are both former principals in the petroleum engineering consulting firm SA Holditch & Associates Inc. and most recently were with Schlumberger Ltd. following that company's 1997 acquisition of Holditch.

Other upstream moves

In other upstream news:

Western Gas Resources Inc., Denver, has named John F. Chandler chief operating officer and executive vice-president to oversee exploration, production, midstream, and marketing.

Chandler joined WGR in 1984 and most recently served as executive vice-president, upstream and marketing (OGJ Online, May 2, 2003). Before that, he was senior vice-president, marketing, production, and business development.

Unocal Corp.Chairman Charles R. Williamson has assumed the duties of president and chief operating officer on an interim basis.

President and Chief Operating Officer Timothy H. Ling died suddenly on Jan. 28 in El Segundo, Calif.

In an unrelated move, Unocal has appointed James H. Painter as senior vice-president, exploration and technology. Painter succeeds Christopher A. Wright, who will retire later this year.

Previously, Painter was vice-president, exploration, for Devon Energy Corp., Oklahoma City. Before Devon merged with Ocean Energy Inc., Houston, Painter served as Ocean Energy's senior vice-president, Gulf of Mexico and international exploration.

Sonoran Energy Inc., Los Angeles, has appointed Peter Ostenfeld-Rosenthal as chief operating officer.

Ostenfeld-Rosenthal will help lead Sonoran's pursuit of future oil and natural gas opportunities in Iraq.

He previously was general manager, Aberdeen operations, for Amerada Hess Corp. Before that, he worked for Elf Petroleum Norge during 1993-97, where he served as specialist engineer, project manager, and implementation superintendent.