XTO Energy Inc., Fort Worth, announced the promotion of Keith A. Hutton, currently executive vice-president, operations, to president.
Hutton has also been appointed to the board of directors.
Upstream moves
K2 Energy Corp., Calgary, announced that its shareholders approved a change of K2’s name to Resilient Resources Ltd. In connection with the restructuring, D.M. McDonald was appointed as president and chief executive officer.
McDonald has been involved in the oil and gas business for more than 50 years, primarily as an independent oil and gas explorer and producer. McDonald also was president of Star Oil & Gas Ltd., a private oil and gas company. He currently owns and operates two private companies involved in the oil and gas industry.
BPZ Energy Inc., Houston, appointed Frederic Briens as chief operating officer.
Also, in a planned transition, Manolo Zuniga, BPZ president, assumed the additional title of chief executive officer. The former chief executive, Tom Kelly will continue in an active role on the board.
Briens rejoined BPZ in December 2004 as vice-president, operations. Briens has more than 20 years of senior-level operating experience in international oil and gas and was formerly with Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips, Schlumberger Ltd., Lundin Petroleum AB, and Perenco SA.
Kinder Morgan Inc. named Park Shaper president and Steve Kean executive vice-president, operations.
Most recently, Shaper served as chief financial officer and Kean as president of KMI’s Texas Intrastate Pipeline Group (TIPG).
Tom Martin, currently vice-president, asset optimization, for KMI’s intrastate pipelines, will succeed Kean as president of TIPG.
Separately, Scott Parker, currently president of Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL), will succeed Deb Macdonald as president of Natural Gas Pipelines (NGP) in October. Dave Devine, currently vice-president, financial planning, for NGP, will succeed Parker, who plans to retire.
Unit Corp., Tulsa, named John Cromling as executive vice-president, drilling, for Unit Drilling Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Cromling, who joined Unit in August 1997 as a vice-president and divisional manager, will be responsible for all of Unit’s drilling divisions. In January 2004, he was promoted to the position of senior vice-president, drilling operations.
Graeme G. Phipps was appointed executive vice-president, corporate development, and a director of PetroKazakhstan Inc., Calgary.
Phipps has 30 years of experience in the Canadian and international oil and gas industry and has held management positions previously at Petro-Canada, Nexen Inc., and Esso Resources.
Phipps also is a director of Tundra Oil & Gas Ltd.; director, officer, and vice-president, exploration, with Ausam Energy Corp.; and founding partner of a private international investment fund.
It is anticipated that Phipps will be appointed president and chief executive officer of PetroKazakhstan in September.
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. named Karl F. Kurz, formerly vice-president, marketing, to senior vice-president, marketing, and general manager, US Onshore.
Separately, Michael O. Bridges, currently general manager, Canada, and president, Anadarko Canada Corp., was promoted to vice-president, Canada.
Real Resources Inc. appointed J. Dean Tucker as vice-president, operations, and Michael J. Stone as vice-president, land.
Tucker has 20 years of experience in oil and gas engineering and operations in Canada and other areas. For the past 2 years, he was responsible for the drilling and completion operations for Calgary-based Real. In his new role, Tucker will be responsible for Real’s engineering, field operations, and production.
Stone brings 30 years of extensive land-based experience to Real, which he joined 3 years ago as senior land consultant and will now, in his new role, be responsible for the firm’s land and business development activities.
Endeavour International Corp., Houston, named Clint D. Smith vice-president, operations, for the North Sea-focused exploration and production company.
Smith has more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He has managed North Sea and European well operations and drilling for ConocoPhillips UK Ltd. and, before that, Phillips Petroleum Co. UK Ltd.
Other moves
The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Ltd.’s council, Canberra, Australia, appointed Belinda Robinson successor to Barry Jones, the APPEA’s executive director for the past 8 years, when he steps down from the position in July.
Robinson was chief executive officer of the Australian Plantation Products & Paper Industry Council. She earlier spent 9 years with the Australian government.
Alan Niem joined Methane Energy Corp., a subsidiary of Torrent Energy Corp., Vancouver, BC, as a geologist.
John D. Carlson was named chief operating officer.
Methane is developing a coalbed methane pilot in Coos County, Oregon, where it holds rights to more than 70,000 prospective acres in the Coos Bay basin.
