A father-daughter team is now running the show at a troubled oil shale project in Australia.
Jennifer McFarlane, daughter of Ian McFarlane, the chairman of Australian oil shale twin Brisbane companies Southern Pacific Petroleum NL and Central Pacific Minerals NL, has been appointed deputy chairman of the two companies. The younger McFarlane has been a director of the companies since 1992 and an executive director since 1998, responsible for external finance, research and development, and exploration. Prior to joining the companies, she had more than 15 years experience in investment banking in the US.
The companies also recently promoted Jim McFarland to managing director from deputy managing director of the project and of SPP and CPM. He has 26 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry in the US, Canada, UK, and Western Europe.
Shale teething problems
SPP and CPM are currently developing the Stuart oil shale deposits near Gladstone, Queensland, with Calgary-based Suncor Ltd. as operator.
Participants in the Stuart oil shale project have set a target date for plant commissioning at the end of 2000. At present, the Stuart project is endeavoring to overcome some problems, including odor emissions.
An extensive review earlier this year-carried out by a team of experts from Suncor, SPP, CPM, Bechtel, the Australian Commonwealth Scientific Industry Research Organization and the oil shale retort developer UMATAC-has mapped out a program to improve the management of air emissions as well as the performance of other key plant operations. These include shale preparation and fines management.
Other moves
In other personnel moves, Susan M. Cunningham has been named vice-president, exploration, of Texaco Inc. She joined the company from Statoil AS, where she served as manager, exploration, with responsibility for all exploration activities in West Africa. Cunningham will be based in Texaco's Bellaire, Tex. office.
Richard G. (Gus) Zepernick Jr. has been elected president and CEO of Forcenergy Inc., Miami. He most recently served as senior vice-president, Gulf of Mexico, for Ocean Energy. Before Ocean's merger with Seagull Energy Corp. in 1999, Zepernick served as executive vice-president, North America.
François Cornélis has been elected chairman of Elf Atochem. He succeeds Jacques Puéchal. Cornélis will head up all of the chemicals activities of the newly merged TotalFinaElf SA, which will be reorganized under the name Atofina. Elf Atochem will soon become Atofina within the structure combining TotalFina SA and Elf Aquitaine SA (see related story, p. 31).
Joel H. Maness has joined Sunoco Inc., Philadelphia, as senior vice-president of Northeast Refining & Chemicals, replacing David E. Knoll, who has retired. Maness was president of Mobil de Venezuela, Caracas. He held a variety of assignments in refining, marketing, supply, and finance during a 27 year career at Mobil.
R. J. (Bob) Ardell has been named president of Nippon Oil Exploration USA Ltd., Houston, effective June 1, 2000. He was executive vice-president. Ardell replaces Kazuo (Gene) Sawada, who has been named deputy general manager, business development and coordination, of Nippon Oil Exploration Ltd., Tokyo. He will oversee North and South America and UK exploration activities.
