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EXPLORATION, GEOSCIENCE MANAGER
* Accomplished exploration manager, USA, Canada, other international locations (South America, Middle East, SE Asia, Australia, Norway)
* Accomplished subsurface and business manager in development of conventional and unconventional resources
* Accomplished manager of geoscience, engineering and technology groups
* CEO recognition for exploration and reservoir successes
* Cross-boarder and cross-Canada business, technology, regulatory and workforce expertise
* Reserve certification for conventional and unconventional resource portfolios
* M.Sc., Geology, Colorado School of Mines, petroleum science emphasis
EXPERIENCE
25+ years of petroleum industry experience, with over 20 years of progressively senior management roles in Fortune 500 companies.
* 20+ years experience in E&P Management and Chief Geoscientist positions covering on-shore and off-shore areas of responsibility. (Rockies (CO, UT, WY, MT, ND, SD), Mid-Continent, Permian Basin, On-shore and off-shore California, western Canada, East Coast off-shore Canada, GOM, West Africa, North Sea, Kazakhstan)
* 25 years experience negotiating and executing JVs, Farmouts, and Farmins.
* 25 years experience in strategic and business planning, technology management, HR
* 30 years experience coordinating office and field operations, data acquisitions, trades, A&D activities.
* 30 years experience in project management
* 25 years experience utilizing customer and employee feedback to assess project, team, and personal performance
OBJECTIVE:
I am seeking a position where I can lead the company's exploration and/ or major reservoir development programs. My extensive exploration and production experience throughout the US, Canada and with international projects, makes me uniquely qualified for such positions.
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
* Numerous exploration discoveries and significant production increases in each North American assignment throughout career. (Rockies, Mid-Continent, West Texas, California, western Canada).
* Designed E&P opportunity assessment and capital allocation process for ranking and funding of North American exploration and producing asset expenditures.
* Twice recognized at CEO level of major corporations for exploration discoveries and optimization achievements through reservoir management practices.
* Negotiated and managed several significant joint ventures
* Nominated for AAPG Matson Award for best technical presentation at National AAPG.
CAREER HISTORY
2006 - present: VP - Manager of International Exploration, Reliance Oil and Gas, Mumbai/Houston
Prospect development and evaluation in diverse international areas, e.g., Middle East, North and West Africa, Australasia, South America. Reliance is India's largest private sector company and has a capitalization of $45B.
2002 - 2006: PetroTrek Exploration Consulting, The Information Store, Houston, Texas
Chief Geoscientist and Vice-President, Business Development, Houston/ Calgary
Prospect and reservoir analysis for exploration and development asset portfolios for customer operations in Mid-continent, Rockies, GOM, Canada, Mexico, Nigeria.
* Consulted on asset valuation, exploration portfolios, reserves estimates, technical integration, and change management for exploration, production and A&D projects, in high exploration activity areas for ChevronTexaco, BP, Shell, Pemex and Dominion.
. Consulted for midstream projects, e.g., Central Alberta Midstream Company and related assets.
* Selected over major vendors, such as Schlumberger and Landmark to provide exploration and production services.
* Designed key models for petroleum asset management: production, exploration, JV reporting, project management, A&D, reserves and farmout tracking.
* Developed analysis methods to rank exploration prospects.
1977 - 2002: Chevron Corporation
North America Exploration and Production Company
New Ventures Manager, Houston/ Calgary 2000 - 2002
Fast-tracked development of exploration prospects and reserves under producing properties by using advanced technology.
* Rationalization of Chevron and Texaco exploration portfolios
* Accelerated ChevronTexaco production from faster and better decisions equating to $150MM in additional NPV
* Captured 15% time efficiency in start-up of new ChevronTexaco production asset teams from data access and integration solutions for exploration, production, land information, equating to $30MM value on a North American basis.
* $20MM savings in ChevronTexaco merger-related seismic data license transfer fees.
* IT savings of $32MM through merger-related software rationalization and optimized data access.
* $150MM savings potential from data transfer costs relating to upcoming divestiture of $20B in producing assets
* $50MM additional NPV capture potential from accelerated closing of asset sales.
Manager of Earth Science and Technology (Chief Geoscientist), Calgary 1996 - 2000
Guided exploration and reservoir management processes, revamp management of CCR's domestic and international earth science and engineering workforce, optimize IT, exploration and engineering investments, strategic management of critical technical skills.
* Significant exploration discoveries and commitments resulting from refocused Western and East Coast Exploration efforts
* Selected for Chevron Corporation's Reserves Review and Advisory Committee (special recognition award)
* Developed corporate process for exploration capital allocation (special recognition award)
* Developed corporate process for Corporate Strategic Staffing (special recognition award)
* Developed corporate process for Reservoir and Reserves Management (Chairman's Award)
* Reduced attrition of critical skill personnel from 30% to less than 5% in one year (President's Award)
* Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Advisory Committee
Manager of Exploration and Earth Science, Bakersfield, CA 1993 - 1996
Recruited by VP of North American Exploration and VP of Production to repair failed working relationships between earth science and engineering functions; assess the future viability of California exploration opportunities and fast-track development of oil reserves.
* 356MMBO reserve adds from secondary and enhanced recovery projects in waterflood and steam drive reservoir projects
* Developed a systematic exploration prospect review process that led to a standardized review process for all US exploration opportunities. Later adopted corporate wide.
* Refocused California exploration program, which led to the discovery of 500+ BCF, 50MMBO from San Joaquin and Sacramento Valley compressional structures.
* Logistics and evaluation of 300 development wells annually
* Led two teams for BU restructuring effort resulting in strategic focus on light oil siliceous shale resource (6BBOOIP) and heavy oil (2BBOOIP)
* Managed surface and subsurface contamination remediation group which mitigated contamination claims by $5MM – $10MM annually.
* Effectively managed costs and personnel levels so that price drop to $8/bbl in 1994 did not require any reduction in personnel.
* Reduced earth science G&A costs from 25 cents to three cents/ bbl. over three years
Manager of Exploration and Earth Science, Midland, TX 1988 – 1993
Recruited by VP of North American Exploration and VP of Production to introduce and develop multi-functional work teams with earth science and engineering, develop an exploration portfolio for West Texas and conduct reservoir characterization projects necessary to fast-track development of oil reserves
* Led restructuring of earth science support to accommodate divestiture of 48% of the Permian Basin producing properties
* Reservoir characterization of North Ward Estes Field, involving 3300 wells and 17 reservoirs, for $75MM CO2 enhanced recovery project.
* Reservoir characterization for McElroy Waterflood and CO2 projects, and other major field projects, such as Goldsmith, San Andres, McKnight, Waddell Ranch, SACROC
* Discovered Wolfcamp mound play that resulted in 70MM bbls of primary recovery reserves.
* Discovered Brushy Canyon play of Chevron acreage, resulting in 252MM bbls primary reserves
* Analysis and drilling of complex structures in Delaware and Val Verde Basins.
* Led review of properties for application of horizontal drilling practices
* Led review of producing properties which led to strategic decision to acquire $30-50MM of 3D seismic over majority of remaining Permian Basin properties
* Provided professional testimony that successfully defended Chevron in City of Crane $50MM water contamination lawsuit.
Manager of Exploration and Earth Science, Oklahoma City, OK 1985 - 1988
* Added 60BCF of reserves in Arkoma Basin structural trend
* Reduced logging and testing costs 35% in two years. Recognized as leader in reducing G&G costs and served as benchmark for studies conducted by other major oil companies.
* Led logistics of exploration program for $100MM Chevron/ Nippon North American Exploration Joint Venture, involving 35 exploration wells.
* Developed exploration prospects in deep Anadarko basin and Ouachita-Marathon Thrust Belt
* Increased net present value by implementing risk analysis, decreasing adversity to risk, and improving communications with production engineering function
* Orchestrated first logging vendor alliance, later expanded to Northern Region operations resulting in $5MM annual savings.
* Provided professional testimony that successfully defended Chevron in $75MM water contamination lawsuit.
* College recruiting and workforce development
Gulf Oil E&P Company, Casper, WY 1977 - 1985
Rocky Mountain Exploration Mgr 1983 – 1985
Led organization of 100+ earth scientists in the exploration of Rocky Mountain basins in WY, CO, UT, MT, ND, SD. Lease position or approximately 5 million acres and G&G budget up to $40MM.
* Led exploration integration process for Gulf Oil at merger with Chevron
* $65 MM Gulf/ Pennzoil Joint Venture
* 300 well per year operated and non-operated well program
Area Exploration Mgr 1980 - 1983
Led organization of approximately 40 earth scientists in the exploration of northern Rocky Mountain basins in MT, ND, SD and WY. Lease position of 3+ million acres and G&G budget up to $25MM.
* $75 MM Gulf/ Conoco Joint Venture
* 300 well operated and non-operated well program
Exploration and Production Geologist 1977 - 1980
* Little Knife Field (80 MMBO) and other discoveries
Bear Creek Mining Company, Lead Exploration Geologist, Brooks Range, AK 1974 - 1975
Led organization of 25+ earth scientists and support personnel in the exploration for base and precious metal deposits. Included mapping, surveying, core analysis and camp logistics.
EDUCATION
1977 Master of Science, Geology, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
Dean's Honor List, Carbonate Geology, Structural Geology, Petroleum Exploration.
1975 Certificate - Managerial Accounting (Accounting practices, Inventory Management)
1974 Certificate Modern Management (Business Management, Economics, Business Law, Labor Relations)
1973 Bachelor of Science, Geology/ Biology, Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison, Colorado. Dean's Honor List, Mining, Petroleum, Structural Field Mapping
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION
CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
* AAPG Certified Petroleum Geologist #2759
* American Association of Petroleum Geologist (Member)
* Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (Member)
* Registered Professional Geologist, State of Wyoming #414
* Society of Exploration Geophysicists (Member)
* Society of Petroleum Engineers (Member)
* AAPG Division of Environmental Geology (Member)
* Wyoming Geological Association (past Member)
AWARDS
* Matson Award Nominee for Best Technical Presentation at National AAPG Convention, 1980
* Gulf Oil President Recognition Award, for Exploration Accomplishments and Discoveries, 1981
* Chevron Chairman's Recognition Reward Nominee for Reservoir Management Review Process, 1999
* Numerous community and industry recognition awards for volunteer service.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
2003 – pres. "Inn from the Cold" outreach volunteer, providing shelter to Calgary homeless.
2003 – pres. Camp Teepee Pole Christian Leadership Camp, Red Deer, Alberta. Camp Counselor.
2001 – 2004. Phoenix Football Booster Association. Support organization for Springbank High School Football program and players.
1987 – 2002. Community baseball coach and volunteer in every community where assigned throughout career. Calgary, Bakersfield CA, Midland TX, OK City OK, Casper, WY. Currently active in the Babe Ruth Baseball Association in Calgary.
1980 – pres. Community church volunteer in every community assigned throughout career. Currently volunteering at First Lutheran Church and Springbank Community Church, both located in Calgary.
1992– 1993 Permian Basin Graduate Center Board of Directors, Midland, TX
1988 – 1993 YMCA Youth Group Leader for Indian Guides Father Son Program, Midland TX
PROFESSIONAL PAPERS, PUBLICATIONS, ACTIVITIES
2005 AAPG/ SPE (Nominee) Joint Committee on Professional Certification for Reserve Estimation
2005 Hydrocarbon Habitat LLC, Board of Technical Advisors
2005 Wittstrom, M.D., 2004, Data Overload, but Information Starved: The Power of Context, Insight, January, 2005
2004 Wittstrom, M. D., 2004, Session Chairman, Rock and Fluid Properties, Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 2004.
2004 Wittstrom, M. D., 2004, Managing the Information Blizzard, Editorial Interview, Oil and Gas Inquirer, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, March, 2004
2003 Wittstrom, M. D., 2003, Managing the E&P Opportunity Pipeline: The Role of Information Access and Information Sharing in Maintaining the Flow of Opportunities. In press
2002 Irani, B., and M. D. Wittstrom, 2002, VPN's Ideal for Joint Ventures, Hart's Oil and Gas - September 2002.
2002 Wittstrom, M. D., 2002, Decision Support Solutions for Radical E&P Performance Improvement, in Proceedings of the Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 2002.
2002 Wittstrom, M. D., and T.C. Woolley, 2002, Web-based Technology for Capturing Value in E&P Asset Management, SPE Energy Forum, Houston, Texas, USA, April, 2002.
2002 Wittstrom, M. D., and P. Neadeu, 2002, Wireless Technology for Cost Reduction in Oil and Gas Producing Operations, PTAC Wireless Technology Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, March 2002.
2001 Wittstrom, M. D., and T.C. Woolley, 2001, e-Business and Asset Teams: A Perspective, SPE Paper 71445 and SPE Convention presentation, October 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
2001 Wittstrom, M. D., Improving B2G Work Processes in the Oil and Gas Industry Through Internet Technology, Groundwater Protection Council, September, 2001, Reno, Nevada, USA,
2001 Wittstrom, M. D., 2001, e-Business Experiences Along the Petroleum Value Chain, in World Oil and Gas Technologies, London, England, June, 2001.
2001 Wittstrom, M. D., 2001, Canadian Institute Mid-Stream Conference Chairman and presentation, Digital Business, Lessons Learned on Getting What You Want, Canadian Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, May, 2001,
2000 Wittstrom, M. D., 2000, e-Business Experiences Along the Petroleum Value Chain, Ziff Energy, Energy and Business Conference, November, 2000, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2000 Wittstrom, M. D., 2000, e-Strategies for the Oil & Gas Sector of the New Economy Ziff Energy E-Business Conference Presentation, July, 2000, Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
2000 Wittstrom, M. D., 2000, Maximizing Asset Value Through Reservoir Management Quality Fitness Reviews, Chevron Reservoir Management Forum, San Ramon, CA, USA.
2000 Chevron Corporation Chairman's Award Nominee for Reservoir Management Quality Fitness Process
2000 Chevron Canada Resources Inter-company Geophysical Conference Organizing Committee, Program Chairman.
1999 Chevron Canada Resources President's Award for proactive career management of Earth Science and Engineering personnel and organizational redesign.
1999 Chevron Corporation and Chevron Canada Resources Reservoir Management Forum Session Chairman
1998-00 Chevron Corporation and Chevron Canada Resources Reserves Examiner
1998 Chevron Corporation and Chevron Canada Resources Reservoir Management QFR Design Team
1997 Chevron Corporation and Chevron Canada Resources Reservoir Management Forum Session Chairman
1997 Chevron Corporation and Chevron Canada Resources Upstream Strategic Staffing Team
1995-96 AAPG National Convention Technical Committee Member & National Technical Poster Session Chairman
1993-94 Permian Basin SPE, Enhanced Recovery Conference, Technical Committee, Midland Texas, USA.
1992-93 Permian Basin Graduate Center, Board of Directors, Midland, Texas, USA.
1991 Permian Basin SPE, Conference Session Co-Chairman, Reservoir Characterization, Midland, Texas, USA.
1991 Wittstrom, M. D., and R. F. Lindsay, 1991, Little Knife Field, U.S. Williston Basin: AAPG Bulletin (abs) v. 75, p. 695
1990 Wittstrom, M. D., 1990, Little Knife Field, U.S. Williston Basin, in E. A., Beaumont and N. H. Foster, eds., Treatise of Petroleum Geology Atlas of Oil and Gas Fields – Stratigraphic Traps I: Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., Tulsa, Oklahoma, p. 159-188.
1985-88 Oklahoma City Exploration Managers Assoc. Member, Program Chairman 1986
1983-84 AAPG House of Delegates Representative
1983 Wittstrom, M. D., 1983, Preparation of 35mm Sides for Technical Presentations, Unpublished paper presented to the Wyo. Geol. Assoc.
1982 Chimney, P. J., and M. D. Wittstrom, Relation of lithofacies and diagenesis to porosity development in the Mission Canyon Formation, North Dakota: AAPG Bulletin (abs.) v. 66 p. 559.
1981 Special Recognition Award from President of Gulf Oil Exploration for impact exploration discoveries
1980 AAPG Matson Award Nominee, Best Technical Presentation, Proposed Model for porosity development in the Red River Formation, Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota
1980 Wittstrom, M. D., and P. J. Chimney, 1980, Proposed Model for porosity development in the Red River Formation, Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota: AAPG Bulletin (abs), v. 64 p. 804-805
1979 Wittstrom, M. D., and M. E. Hagemeier, 1978, A review of Little Knife Field Development, North Dakota: Oil and Gas Journal, v. 77, n. 6, p. 86-92
1978 Wittstrom, M. D., and M. E. Hagemeier, 1978, A review of Little Knife Field Development, North Dakota, in D. Estelle and R. Miller, eds., Williston Basin Symposium, Montana Geological Society 24th Annual Conference, p. 361 – 368.
1978 Wittstrom, M. D., 1978, Sedimentology of the Leadville Limestone, Northeastern Gunnison County, Colorado. Unpublished Master of Science Thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
1977-84 Numerous other unpublished papers and presentations on exploration and field development.
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