Energy Players

Utt, a more than 20-year industry veteran, has served as president and CEO of Suez Energy North America since 2000. From 1995-2000, he was president and CEO of Tractebel’s North American energy businesses. Previously, he held increasingly responsible senior management and executive positions with CRSS Inc. Utt started his career in 1984 with CRS Sirrine Engineers Inc.

Utt holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia as well as a master’s of business administration from The Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia. Since 2003 he has served in various leadership positions for the Electric Power Supply Association, including his current role as chairman.

KBR is a global engineering, construction, technology and services company employing more than 60,000 people in 43 countries around the world. Halliburton, founded in 1919, proves products and services to the petroleum and energy industries.

Fred Barrett replaces retiring Bill Barrett as chairman and CEO

The board of directors of Bill Barrett Corp. has elected Fredrick J. Barrett to serve as chairman and CEO. Fred, currently president and COO, replaces William J. Barrett, who will retire from the company and the board as of the annual meeting of stockholders on May 17, 2006.

Bill Barrett stated, “His strategic vision, leadership, technical expertise, and Rocky Mountain exploration experience make him the ideal leader to guide this company to the next level.”

Bill Barrett Corp., headquartered in Denver, explores for and develops oil and natural gas in nine basins and the overthrust belt in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States.

FMC Technologies appoints Kinnear president and COO

FMC Technologies Inc. has appointed Peter D. Kinnear president and COO. In addition to his current responsibilities of managing the company’s Energy Systems businesses, he will now lead its FMC FoodTech and Airport Systems businesses and the corporate information technology, human resources, and procurement functions.

“Peter’s success in leading our oilfield businesses, building our subsea franchise and expanding our technology base make him a superb choice to manage a broader portfolio of businesses, ” said Joseph H. Netherland, chairman and CEO.

Until his latest appointment, Kinnear served as executive vice president, responsible for the company’s Energy Systems businesses. He joined FMC Technologies’ predecessor organization in 1971 as a business planner. He subsequently held several marketing and operations management positions in the company’s energy businesses. He was named a vice president in 2000 and an executive vice president in 2004.

FMC Technologies Inc. provides technology solutions for the energy, food processing, and air transportation industries. FMC Technologies employs approximately 10,000 people and operates 32 manufacturing facilities in 17 countries.

Lawyers Meadows and Wilson join King & Spalding’s Houston office

King & Spalding LLP, an international law firm, has hired James H. “Jim” Wilson and Robert E. “Bobby” Meadows to join its Houston office. Wilson joined the firm as a partner in its corporate group and Meadows joins as managing partner.

Meadows succeeds Randolph C. Coley, whose three-year term ended December 31.

Meadows’ representation of clients in oil and gas litigation includes lease and royalty disputes, offshore property evaluation and contract disputes arising under operating agreements. His trial experience in tort litigation includes the defense of corporations confronted with multi-plaintiff environmental claims.

He received his BA from the University of Texas in Austin and his MPA from the University of Texas Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs.

Wilson joins King & Spalding from Vinson & Elkins, where he was a partner in the corporate finance and securities practice. His M&A experience includes public company mergers, hostile and negotiated tender offers, “going private” transactions, and spin-offs.

King & Spalding’s corporate practice group is comprised of more than 125 lawyers focusing on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and private equity. King & Spalding opened its Houston office in 1995 with three litigation attorneys; today the office has grown to 85 attorneys focusing on a diverse array of litigation and transactional law.

Jessen to lead Ernst & Young’s oil and gas industry sector

Ernst & Young LLP announced today that Rob Jessen, an energy professional with more than 24 years of oil and gas experience, has been appointed the global leader of the Ernst & Young Oil & Gas Industry Sector. Jessen will provide leadership to ensure integration of Ernst & Young’s oil and gas services in regions around the world.

Previously, Jessen served as the global managing director of oil and gas services for Capgemini. Jessen began his career at Ernst & Whinney, predecessor firm to Ernst & Young, and has since worked with more than 60 energy companies on more than 700 projects.

He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley where he earned a BS degree in business administration with a concentration in finance and economic analysis and policy. Jessen also attended California State University at Hayward for post-graduate studies in accounting.

The Energy Center in Houston is the nucleus of Ernst & Young’s energy practice, which provides quality assurance, tax, transaction, and risk management services to oil and gas, chemical, and utility companies.

Ernst & Young employs 107,000 people in 140 countries whose services are centered in of auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions.

Officer promotion for Walen at Cabot Oil & Gas

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. has appointed Michael B. Walen to the new position of senior vice president, COO. Walen has most recently served as senior vice president of exploration and production, in charge of the company’s operations.

Walen is an 18-year employee of the company and has held positions in all three of the domestic regions in which Cabot operates. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University and a master’s degree from Western Washington University, both in geology.

Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. is a North American exploration and production independent. The company’s reserves are focused in both conventional and unconventional basins including the East, the West (Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent), the Gulf Coast (South and East Texas to North Louisiana), and in Canada.

Barclays appoints co-heads of US investment banking

Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays PLC, has appointed managing directors Reuben Daniels and Mathew Pendo co-heads of US investment banking.

“Reuben and Matt have had a material impact on the development of our US franchise since they joined in 2003, generating significant success with some of our largest clients and adding new relationships to the firm,” said Peter Goettler, managing director and head of investment banking and debt capital markets for the Americas.

Daniels and Pendo will lead all of the corporate relationship teams within US investment banking, which includes industry groups encompassing the communications, entertainment, diversified industrials, healthcare, consumer products, retailing, and power and energy segments. Based in New York, they will continue to report to Goettler.

Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government, and institutional clients with solutions to their financing and risk management needs. The firm has offices in 25 countries and employs over 8,000 people.

Luquette Replaces Wilcox as president at Chevron

San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron Corp. has noted that Raymond I. Wilcox, president of Chevron North America Exploration and Production Co., has retired from the company, to become president and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC, a company owned equally by Chevron and ConocoPhillips. Wilcox will be succeeded by Gary P. Luquette, currently managing director of the European strategic business unit of Chevron International Exploration and Production Co.

“Over the course of his 38 years at Chevron, Ray distinguished himself as a strong and proven leader,” said Chevron chairman and CEO, Dave O’Reilly. “He has demonstrated that he is well prepared to be the next chief executive of Chevron Phillips.”

Commenting on Luquette’s appointment, George Kirkland, executive vice president for Global Upstream and Gas, said, “Gary’s broad experience, both in and outside the United States, makes him exceptionally well-suited to oversee our North American exploration and production activities, especially as we look to maximize and grow the value of our business.”

Luquette, 50, joined Chevron in 1978 as a design and construction engineer in the company’s exploration and production unit in Lafayette, La. He subsequently held a number of positions of increasing responsibility within Chevron. In 1993, Luquette was named manager of Enhanced Oil Recovery, for P.T. Caltex Pacific Indonesia. In 1996, he returned to the US to become profit center manager of exploration and production for the San Joaquin Valley Profit Center and in 1999 was promoted to vice president in the San Joaquin Valley business unit. He assumed his current position, which is based in Aberdeen, Scotland, in January 2003.

With more than 53,000 employees, Chevron subsidiaries conduct business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing, and distributing fuels and other energy products.

Three officers elected at Devon Energy

Devon Energy Corp. has elected and promoted three corporate officers - R. Alan Marcum, Richard K. Mitchell, and Gina E. Sewell.

R. Alan Marcum has been elected vice president and corporate controller. Marcum joined Devon in 1995 and was elected controller in 1999. He is responsible for Devon’s compliance under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as US and international operations accounting. Prior to joining Devon, Marcum was employed by KPMG Peat Marwick (now KPMG) with responsibilities including special engagements involving due diligence, agreed upon procedures, and SEC filings. He holds a bachelor’s degree from East Central University, majoring in accounting and finance, and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is located at Devon’s Oklahoma City headquarters.

Richard K. (Rick) Mitchell has been elected vice president, drilling and E&P services. Mitchell joined Devon in 2003 following the company’s merger with Ocean Energy and was previously director, deepwater drilling and facilities. In his new position, Mitchell will be responsible for coordinating global drilling and completion activities, project management processes for major capital projects, and production technology coordination within the exploration and production department. Mitchell earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He is located at Devon’s Houston office.

Gina E. Sewell has been elected vice president, tax. Sewell joined Devon in 1991 and was previously director of tax. She is responsible for all aspects of the tax process, including US and international tax planning and compliance. From 1987 to 1991, Sewell served as the tax manager for Hadson Corp., an independent oil and gas producer. From 1983 to 1987, she was with the public accounting firm of Ernst and Whinney (now Ernst and Young). Sewell holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant. She is located at Devon’s Oklahoma City headquarters.

Devon Energy Corp. is an independent energy company engaged in oil and gas exploration, production, and property acquisitions.

Duncan to serve as VP, Swindells on board at Swift

Swift Energy Co. has appointed Ed Duncan vice president - exploration. Duncan has provided geological and geophysical consulting services to Swift Energy for the past two years.

He brings over 25 years of experience in domestic and international exploration programs. Most recently, Duncan was president of Beta4 Exploration and Production Consultants Inc. He has also held positions at the Bureau of Economic Geology (University of Texas at Austin), BP Exploration Co., Sohio Petroleum Corp., and US Mineral Corp. Duncan completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in geological sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.

In related news, Swift Energy has added Ambassador Charles J. Swindells to the company’s board of directors. Ambassador Swindells will stand for election by shareholders at Swift Energy’s annual shareholder meeting to be held on May 9, 2006. With the addition of Ambassador Swindells, seven of the ten board members are independent directors.

Ambassador Swindells currently serves as a managing director of US Trust Co., NA and also is a director on the board of The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. He served as United States Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa from 2001 to 2005. He previously held the positions of vice chairman of US Trust Co. NA, chairman and CEO of the Capital Trust Management Corp., and managing director/founder of Capital Trust Co. in his career that has spanned 30 years in the investment and fiduciary services industry.

Ambassador Swindells received his BS degree from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., and received an honorary doctor of laws (LL.D.) degree from Lewis & Clark College.

Swift Energy Co., founded in 1979 and headquartered in Houston, engages in developing, exploring, acquiring, and operating oil and gas properties, with a focus on onshore and inland waters oil and natural gas reserves in Louisiana and Texas and oil and natural gas reserves in New Zealand.

Whittier Energy adds new directors after summer RIMCO acquisition

After the RIMCO acquisition last summer, Whittier Energy Corp. added David B. Kilpatrick and Ray Seegmiller to the company’s board of directors. Both are independent directors.

Kilpatrick is president of Kilpatrick Energy Group, which provides management consulting services and invests in oil and gas ventures. He has over thirty years of executive, management, and operating experience in the oil and gas industry. He serves on the boards of two publicly traded companies, Cheniere Energy and PYR Energy. He was formerly president of Monterey Resources Inc.

Previously, he had served as western division manager of Monterey’s corporate predecessor, Santa Fe Energy Resources, from 1990 to 1996. His career has included assignments with majors and independents in California, Texas, Alaska, and foreign countries. Kilpatrick is a past chairman for the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. He has served as president of the California Independent Petroleum Association and is currently a member of its board.

Kilpatrick earned a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in geology and physics from Whittier College.

Ray R. Seegmiller is former chairman, CEO, and president of Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., a NYSE listed natural gas producer and marketer, where he served in executive officer roles from 1995-2002. In addition, Ray was past president of the Domestic Petroleum Council from 2000-2002.

He owned and operated RCS Enterprises Inc. in Houston from 1993-1995 and was president and CEO of Terry Petroleum, a Houston-based private oil and gas producer from 1988-1993. Seegmiller held various executive officer positions including president and CEO with Marathon Manufacturing Co. from 1963 - 1988. He served as division controller for Southwest Forest Industries, Los Angeles, and was auditor, tax staff, and administrative services staff for Arthur Andersen & Co., Chicago. Seegmiller earned a bachelor of business administration from Drake University with a major in accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas.

El Paso’s Douglas Foshee appointed to Dallas Fed’s Houston branch board

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has appointed Douglas L. Foshee to the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ Houston branch for a term ending Dec. 31, 2007. Foshee is president, CEO, and director of El Paso Corp. He serves on the boards of Children’s Museum of Houston, Goodwill Industries, Central Houston, Greater Houston Partnership and Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. He also is a member of the Rice University Board of Trustees, Independent Petroleum Association of America and Houston Producers’ Forum. He holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Southwest Texas State University and a master of business administration degree from the Jesse H. Jones School at Rice University. He also is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. The Houston Branch board of directors consists of seven members, four appointed by the Dallas Fed board and three by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.

Chesapeake Energy elects Davidson to board of directors

Chesapeake Energy Corp. has appointed Richard K. Davidson to the company’s board of directors to serve until the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, when he will stand for re-election by Chesapeake’s shareholders. Davidson, 64, currently serves as chairman of Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific Corp. after retiring as its CEO on January 1, 2006.

A native of Allen, Kansas, Davidson started his career in 1960 as an 18 year old brakeman with Missouri Pacific Railroad and held various positions of increasing authority before being named vice president of operations in 1976. In 1982, Union Pacific merged with the Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific railroads, and in 1986, Davidson was promoted to vice president of operations of the combined railroads. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1989 and became chairman and CEO of Union Pacific Railroad in 1991. He was named chairman and CEO of Union Pacific Corp. in 1997.

Davidson is a graduate of Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

With the addition of Davidson, Chesapeake’s board now has seven members.

Daytona Energy makes changes to board of directors

Daytona Energy Corp. has appointed James Breimayer, BS geological engineering, to the board of directors. Breimayer has been under contract with the company since April 2005 to exclusively develop and evaluate oil and gas prospects in the United States for possible exploration and development.

He has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry spanning 24 years. During his tenure with senior oil and gas producers, Breimayer was involved with over 700 wells in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He has served top tier oil and gas companies in a number of capacities, including vice president and general manager of EOG Resources, exploration manager for Enron Oil and Gas, senior staff geologist of North Central Oil Corp., and senior exploration geologist and senior production geologist for Tenneco Oil Co.

“We’re very excited to have James come aboard as a director. His depth of energy experience is unparalleled in the Southeast US, and we’re fortunate to have him as we move forward,” said Jim Ford, CEO of Daytona.

Concurrently, Robert Berven resigned from the board of directors for personal reasons.

Daytona is an oil and gas exploration/development company, focused on gas exploration in Alberta, Canada and the Gulf Coast region of the United States.

ENSCO expands management team and board of directors

ENSCO International Inc. has made two executive appointments. Daniel W. Rabun has been named to serve as president of the company, and has also been appointed to serve as a member of the board of directors. Rabun received a BBA in accounting from the University of Houston and a JD from Southern Methodist University. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1976, was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1983, and has been associated with the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie LLP since 1986. He has provided legal advice and counsel to ENSCO for over fifteen years, and served as a director of the company during 2001.

The company has also promoted William S. Chadwick, Jr. as the company’s executive vice president and COO. A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Chadwick has been with the company since 1987, and has served in a number of management positions, most recently as senior vice president - operations.

Carl F. Thorne will continue to serve as ENSCO’s chairman and CEO. It is currently contemplated that Thorne will step down as CEO within the next year, at which time Rabun will be appointed to serve as ENSCO’s CEO. Thorne will thereupon continue to serve as chairman of the board.

ENSCO, headquartered in Dallas, owns and operates a modern fleet of offshore drilling rigs servicing the petroleum industry on a global basis.

Senior management promotions and a new director named at Noble

Noble Corp. has made three senior management promotions. Mark A. Jackson has been promoted to president and COO from his previous position of senior vice president and COO. Jackson received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Oklahoma Christian University and is a C.P.A.

In addition, Julie J. Robertson has been promoted to executive vice president. Robertson previously served as senior vice president - administration and corporate secretary and she will maintain her office as secretary of Noble. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of journalism degree in communications and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Robertson has over 26 years of experience in the drilling industry.

Robert D. Campbell has been promoted to senior vice president and general counsel of Noble. Campbell has previously served as vice president and general counsel of Noble Drilling Services Inc. He holds a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering and a doctor of jurisprudence degree from The University of Texas at Austin and has 29 years of legal experience.

In addition, the company has named Julie H. Edwards to the board of directors. Edwards, 47, is serving in the class of directors who will stand for re-election to a three-year term at the April 27, 2006 annual general meeting of members of the corporation.

Edwards has served as senior vice president and CFO of Southern Union Co. since July 2005 and immediately prior to that served as executive vice president - finance and administration and CFO, as well as in other various financial roles, for Frontier Oil Corp. from 1991 to 2005. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in geology and geophysics from Yale University.

Noble Corp. is a provider of diversified services for the oil and gas industry.

Michael Portillo named to Kerr-McGee board

Michael Portillo has been elected to the Kerr-McGee Corp. board of directors.

Portillo has more than 30 years experience as a statesman and energy advisor. He most recently served as Conservative Member of Parliament for Kensington and Chelsea in the United Kingdom. He began his career in 1976, in the Conservative Research Department. In 1984, he won the Parliament election in Enfield Southgate and served in this seat for 13 years. He joined the government in 1986 and served in a variety of positions including member of the British Cabinet under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major. He also has served as Secretary of State for Defense, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Minister for Education, Employment, Transportation and Environment, and as a special advisor to the secretary of state for energy.

Portillo was admitted to the Privy Council in 1992. In the 1990s, he became a recognized international journalist. He was re-elected to Parliament in Kensington and Chelsea in 1999 and subsequently served as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. He left the House of Commons in 2005.

Kerr-McGee is an Oklahoma City-based oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused in the US onshore, deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and select proven world-class hydrocarbon basins.