PERSONNEL MOVES AND PROMOTIONS: Ocean Energy appoints president, operations director for Russian unit
Houston-based independent Ocean Energy Inc. has added a president and an operations director to its Russian subsidiary, Texneft Inc.
Daniel G. Nasser has been appointed president of Texneft, which produces a net 5,000 b/d of oil as a 50% partner in a joint venture with Tatarstan state oil company OAO Tatneft. Prior to holding this position, Nasser worked for 41/2 years in Cairo for Houston-based Seagull Energy Inc., which was later acquired by Ocean Energy. For the last 2 years, Nasser has held the position of country manager for Egypt for Ocean Energy.
Dean E. Gaddy has been appointed operations director for Russia for Ocean Energy. Gaddy joins Ocean Energy from Oil & Gas Journal, where he served as senior editor, drilling and special projects. Prior to joining OGJ, Gaddy worked in China, Russia, and Australia for Enron Oil & Gas Corp. as a geological coordinator.
Gaddy will be assigned to Almetyevsk, Tatarstan (Russian Federation) in May with his wife, Polina, who will serve as the subsidiary's financial director.
In other moves, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has approved the proposed makeup of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA's (PDVSA) new board of directors.
Gen. Guaicaipuro Lameda will continue as PDVSA's president and maintain his position on the board, as will several other current board members, while four new officers will be included on the board. President Chávez is expected to make an official announcement regarding the new PDVSA board members at a later date.
Industry sources said, however, that Lameda received Chavez's approval of the new board members during a meeting earlier this month. The sources said that Jorge Kamkoff, Karl Mazeika, Vincenzo Paglione, and retired Gen. Juan Torres will be the newcomers on PDVSA's board; all four will become PDVSA vice-presidents.
Kamkoff currently serves as executive director, refining, supply, and marketing coordination at PDVSA, while Mazeika is executive director, exploration and production coordination. Paglione is president of PDVSA's research unit, Intevep. Torres is a newcomer to the oil industry.
The sources also said that Domingo Marsicobetre and Eduardo Praselj will continue as PDVSA's vice-presidents, while retired Gen. Arnoldo Rodriguez Ochoa will retain his post as PDVSA's external director.
Aires Barreto, who currently is one of PDVSA's vice-presidents, will retire, the sources said.
Apache Corp., Houston, has made several management appointments related to its pending acquisition of Repsol-YPF SA's exploration and production properties in Egypt's western desert (OGJ, Jan. 29, 2001, p. 32). The acquisition, Apache said, will solidify the company's position in Egypt, where it holds interest in the Khalda and Khalda Offset concessions.
James L. House has been named general manager and managing director of Khalda Petroleum Co. Prior to this appointment, House served as managing director of Apache Poland. Prior to that, House was general manager of Apache's Qarun concession in Egypt. David R. Gilbronson will assume the general manager position with Apache Poland.
Other appointments within Khalda Petroleum are David M. Talbott, operations general manager, oil; Warren E. Ford, operations general manager, gas; C. Brian Boutte, deputy exploration general manager; John C. Youle, deputy development general manager; and James T. Page, deputy finance general manager.
Phillip A. Gobe has joined Nuevo Energy Co., Houston, as chief operating officer. Gobe will be responsible for managing the company's exploitation and exploration operations and business development functions in the US and internationally.
Before joining Nuevo, Gobe most recently served as senior vice-president, production, for Vastar Resources Inc., Houston. Prior to that, Gobe worked for ARCO and its subsidiaries-primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and in Alaska-during 1976-97. During that time, he served as operations manager for ARCO Alaska Inc. from 1991 to 1993, vice-president, human resources, for ARCO Alaska during 1993-95, and vice-president, human resources and public affairs, for ARCO International Oil & Gas, during 1995-97.
Doug R. Harris has joined Tom Brown Inc., Denver, as vice-president, operations. Harris, who brings 25 years of industry experience to the company, most recently served as vice-president, production, at Burlington Resources Canada, Calgary.
Tom Dyk, Tom Brown's executive vice-president and chief operating officer, noted that his company expects to spend four times its 1999 capital expenditures, or $190 million, this year.
Nancy J. Zupan has been promoted to vice-president, controller, for Frontier Oil Corp. Zupan has serve as controller for Frontier's subsidiaries since 1991, when the company acquired the Cheyenne, Wyo., refinery from Husky Oil Co. She held the same position for the prior owners since 1987.
Prior to 1986, Zupan was employed by Husky at the Cheyenne refinery, where she began her career in Cody, Wyo., in 1977.
David Pope has been named president of Dynegy Inc. unit Dynegy Canada, Calgary. In this capacity, he will oversee the company's marketing and trading of natural gas, crude oil, NGL, and electricity. Prior to joining Dynegy, Pope was a vice-president at Enron Corp. for 9 years, serving initially in Canada and subsequently spending a 5-year term in Europe. Prior to his stint at Enron, he was founder and president of Canadian Gas Marketing, which was acquired by Enron in 1992.
Phil C. DeLozier has been named vice-president, business development, for EOG Resources Inc., Houston. DeLozier will be responsible for the independent firm's new business opportunities, which will include acquisitions and joint ventures.
Before joining EOG in 1996, DeLozier served in numerous business development management positions with Tenneco Oil Co. and privately held independent producer McCormick Resources.