Double Eagle Petroleum Co., Denver, has appointed Charles F. Chambers to the position of chairman and chief executive officer, effective Apr. 1. As part of the transition, the company is changing its name to Escalera Resources Co., also effective Apr. 1.
Chambers, who has served 40 years in the upstream oil and gas industry, was managing director of Castleton Commodities International LLC’s oil and gas business from March 2012 to November 2013. He oversaw the company’s upstream business activities focusing on building a US natural gas portfolio.
Chambers succeeds Richard D. Dole, who will become vice-chairman.
Erkan Icsel, who has more than 41 years of development experience in international energy projects, has been appointed president of Escalera International Co. LLC, effective Apr. 1. He will focus on upstream and midstream international opportunities, first in central Asia and later in Africa.
Double Eagle said the name change was an essential step in the repositioning of the company for future growth as it looks to expand beyond its traditional role of onshore, domestic natural gas.
Double Eagle has historically explored and developed natural gas and crude oil properties in the Rocky Mountain region. The company currently has development activities and opportunities in its Atlantic Rim coalbed methane and in the Pinedale Anticline in Wyoming, as well as Niobrara acreage in Wyoming and Nebraska, which totals more than 70,000 net acres, and more than 6,000 net acres in Nevada (OGJ Online, Mar. 8, 2011; Oct. 2, 2012).
The company’s new focus areas include international and midstream opportunities that are currently being actively pursued.
Escalera Resources Co. will have offices in Houston, Denver, and Casper, Wyo. Chambers, Dole, and Icsel will be based in Houston, while the company’s finance, administration, and Rocky Mountain operations will remain in Denver.
