David Wood, in charge of international exploration and production for Murphy Oil Corp., El Dorado, Ark., will become executive vice-president with responsibility for worldwide E&P, effective Jan. 1, 2007.
At the same time, Murphy will centralize its E&P office in Houston and close its New Orleans office. John Higgins, who has been in charge of Gulf of Mexico E&P operations, will retire.
Harvey Doerr, head of Canadian operations, will become executive vice-president with responsibility for worldwide refining and marketing and all strategic planning and be based in El Dorado.
Other moves
Linn Energy LLC, Pittsburgh, Pa., has appointed Mark E. Ellis executive vice-president and chief operating officer.
Ellis has more than 25 years of oil and gas experience. He previously worked for ConocoPhillips as president of the Lower 48. Before that, Ellis served as senior vice-president of North American production for Burlington Resources Inc. and president of Burlington Resources Canada Ltd. He began his career in 1979 with Superior Oil Co.
Crosstex Energy LP, Dallas, has appointed Robert S. Purgason executive vice-president and chief operating officer, a new position.
Purgason has more than 25 years of oil and gas experience. He joined the company in October 2004 as senior vice-president of the treating division.
Previously, he worked for 18 years for Williams Cos. Inc. in Tulsa, serving as vice-president of the company’s Gulf Coast midstream business and in various senior-level positions in natural gas liquids, gas marketing, mergers and acquisitions, and major project development departments.
Purgason began his career in treating at Perry Gas Cos., one of the earliest gas-treating companies in the industry.
James Rundell has been appointed president of JED Oil Inc., succeeding Al Williams, who resigned along with Chief Financial Officer David Ho in what the company calls a comprehensive change to its business plan.
Rundell has been involved in JED since its inception and served as the company’s drilling manager since June 2005. He has more than 30 years oil and gas industry experience, mostly related to drilling.
UK Sec. of State Alistair Darling, who leads the UK Department for Trade and Industry, will assume responsibility for energy in a reorganization that gives energy cabinet-level status for the first time in more than a decade.
Former Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has been appointed science minister following the surprise departure of David Sainsbury from that post.
A spokesman told OGJ that the DTI soon will clarify how the energy portfolio will be distributed within the government.
“Darling will still be focused on the major consultations that are taking place at the moment for the energy white paper which we hope to publish next year,” he added.