Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Dallas, announced three executive appointments related to continued expansion of its operations in the US, South Africa, and Tunisia.
The company has divided executive responsibility for US operations, naming Jay Still executive vice-president, domestic operations, a position also held by Danny Kellum.
Kellum will continue to direct the asset teams in the Permian, Midcontinent, South Texas, and Mississippi areas, while Still will assume responsibility for the asset teams in the Rockies, Alaska, and the Barnett shale.
Previously, Still served as Pioneer’s executive vice-president, western division. He joined the company in 1995 and was appointed head of the western division in September 2004. Prior to joining Pioneer, Still spent 10 years with Mobil Oil Co. in various drilling, operations, and reservoir engineering assignments.
Additionally, the company has promoted David McManus to executive vice-president, international operations. He joined the Pioneer team in early 2005 as vice-president, international operations, directing operations in South Africa and Tunisia. Before joining Pioneer he served as executive vice-president with BG Group. He also served as president of ARCO Europe and held senior positions with Lasmo PLC, Ultramar, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC.
Also, Denny B. Bullard has been promoted to vice-president, operations services. Bullard will have oversight of drilling, facilities, purchasing, and various compliance functions of the company.
Bullard previously was vice-president, engineering and development, of Pioneer’s operating subsidiary. He joined the company in 1991 and has served in various senior capacities, including as vice-president, Gulf Coast operations, for Pioneer’s operating subsidiary. Prior to joining Pioneer, Bullard held engineering and managerial positions with Conoco Inc. and Damson Oil Corp.
Other moves
ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Co. (ExxonMobil LPS) has appointed Alan J. Kelly as president and has elected him vice-president of the parent company effective Dec. 1. Kelly succeeds Jerry L. Kohlenberger, who will retire Jan. 31, 2008, after more than 33 years of service.
Kelly began his career with the company in 1981. He held a variety of positions in the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, and the US, working in the company’s fuels and lubricants marketing activities and refinery logistics and supply operations. In 2001, he was appointed regional director, North America, for ExxonMobil LPS.
Kelly became general manager, corporate planning for ExxonMobil in 2003. In 2006, he commenced a special assignment as project director of the National Petroleum Council’s Global Oil and Gas Study, commissioned by the US Department of Energy.
Kohlenberger started his career with the company in 1974. He held numerous engineering, technical, and management positions at refineries in California, Illinois, and New Jersey. In 1994, Kohlenberger was appointed general manager of the Jurong refinery in Singapore, and in 1996 became vice-president and general manager, central engineering, for Mobil Corp. In 1997, he was appointed general manager, global information systems, and became president, ExxonMobil Global Services Co., in 2000.
Kohlenberger was appointed president, ExxonMobil LPS, in 2002.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC has appointed Willem Schulte chief scientist, reservoir engineering.
Schulte has more than 28 years of experience as a reservoir engineer and is recognized for his expertise in improved and enhanced oil recovery technologies with Shell and in the oil and gas industry.
Schulte has spent a large part of his career researching complex displacement mechanisms, and has contributed to key areas such as chemical flooding and field depressurization.
He has served as Shell’s value assurance team leader and in this capacity has seen many of the challenges around improving recovery in existing oil fields.
Calvalley Petroleum Inc., Calgary, has made several executive appointments.
Grant Harms was named vice-president, engineering and operations. Harms has 26 years of industry experience, including 7 years in Indonesia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Most recently Harms cofounded and served as chief operating officer and vice-president of production for Los Altares Resources Ltd., a private western Canada company.
Terry McCoy has been named vice-president, exploration. McCoy has more than 37 years of senior oil and gas executive experience. He has served as vice-president of exploration and land at Murphy Oil Co., Poco Petroleums Ltd., and Burlington Resources Canada Ltd., where he also served as president. Prior to 1990, McCoy held executive positions at Columbia Gas Development of Canada Ltd., Conwest Exploration Co. Ltd., Union Oil Co. of Canada, and Amoco Canada Resources.
Calvalley also has named Geoff Martin as manager of geophysics, and Lorne LeClerc as manager of exploration.