Built on the wealth of operational and financial experience
We focus on sustainable balance sheet strength and near-term production, revenue, and cash flow growth, while adhering to principles of integrity and respect for the dignity of others as the foundation of our mission. As a for-profit organization, we are driven by a rate of return that delivers results for our investors.
Steve Farris
With over 50 years of experience, Mr. Farris is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Apache Corporation, an oil and natural gas exploration and production company. During his tenure as CEO from 2002 to 2015, the company grew from less than $2 billion in assets to one of the largest independents with a $35+ billion market cap. Mr. Farris joined Apache in 1988 as vice president of domestic exploration and production and was promoted to senior vice president in 1991 and President in 1994.
Prior to Apache, he held executive positions at Terra Resources and Robert W. Berry, Inc. Mr. Farris started his career with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells as a Certified Public Accountant. He holds bachelor's degrees in history and accounting from Oklahoma State University and serves on several boards.
Founder and Partner
Jim Blackwell
Previously served as executive vice president of technology and services for Chevron Corporation, responsible for overseeing technology, major capital project management, procurement, and other corporate operating and support functions. Prior, he served as president of Chevron Asia Pacific Exploration and Production Company, where he oversaw activities in nine countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr. Blackwell has over 40 years of experience in the energy industry. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology and environmental technology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master's degree in petroleum engineering from Tulane University. Mr. Blackwell serves on several boards.
Founder and Partner
Walter van de Vijver
Walter's unique career spans over 40 years in the global E&P of the energy sector, having worked in Europe, Middle East, and the USA. He worked for the largest European super-major (Shell Group), for the largest Indian energy conglomerate (Reliance Industries), and created a global start-up oil company (Delta Hydrocarbons) with PE backing.
Walter was President of Shell Oil E&P (USA) from 1998 to 2001 and Shell Group Managing Director from 2001 to 2004. He holds an MSA in Civil Engineering from Delft University of Technology.
Partner
Mike Thorson
Mike previously served as the Senior Vice President of Operations and Engineering for Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast Region at Apache Corporation.
With over 30 years of experience in field operations, development, and reserves assessment both domestically and internationally, with assignments in Egypt, Canada, and Argentina, Mike possesses crucial expertise in reservoir engineering and operation management. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa.
Partner, General Manager
Mitchell Rosas
With over 20 years of experience in finance and business development gained during employment with Chevron and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Mr. Rosas was known within Chevron for developing and promoting collaborative cross-functional initiatives.
Prior to joining Chevron, as a lead auditor at PWC he developed extensive experience leading audits, reviewing financial statements, and internal controls for supermajors like Chevron, Shell, and companies from various industries (Kellogg's, Hilti).
Finance & HR Manager
Jennifer Miller
Jennifer has over 10 years of Oil & Gas accounting experience. Her extensive background includes multiple accountant positions with an emphasis on both operational and financial for exploration and production companies in the Permian Basin, Delaware Basin, Oklahoma, and East Texas.
She has managed and over seen the accounting and accounting processes for a number of large, domestic independent oil and companies.
She is a 4th generation oil & gas professional.
Supervisor Finance and Administration
Matt Simpson
Matt serves as a cross-functional engineer, supporting both our engineering and accounting teams. He has 5 years of experience in reserves assessment in the SCOOP/STACK.
He started his career in oilfield operations with Schlumberger and has two years of experience as a Fracturing and Stimulation engineer in the Utica and Marcellus basins.
Matt graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Sr. Petroleum Engineer