Tim McCauley, Manager of Engineering & Drilling

From his thirteen years experience as a Drilling and Operations Engineer, Mr. McCauley has shown the ability to manage all aspects of an offshore well.  He is an innovative problem solver and team leader with strong communication skills and commitment to successful completion of projects.  His experience has focused on the designing and drilling of complex wells.

A degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University has been supplemented with 3 years of Business studies at the University of Houston.  He is a member of both the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the International Association of Drilling Contractors.  Former company affiliations include:  AGR Turn Key Drilling, Applied Drilling Technology Inc., and Challenger Minerals, Inc.

Ray Ward, Consulting Partner – Operations and Acquisitions

Ray O. Ward has over 34 years of engineering experience specializing in maximizing production while minimizing operational costs.

A graduate of Mississippi State University with a BS in Petroleum Engineering, Mr. Ward began his career with Mobil Oil Corporation in 1977 as a Production Engineer I. Over the next 18 years, he steadily gained responsibility while rising through the company ranks with promotions to Senior Production Supervisor with a staff of 40 for several OCS fields, District Operations Engineering Supervisor for two offshore districts, to Division Operations Engineering Supervisor in charge of a staff of 42 covering 53 fields and over 1,000 active completions producing 900 MMCFGPD and 90,000 BOPD in two onshore and one offshore districts. His work at Mobil took him from Louisiana to Texas, to the OCS, and to temporary assignments in Africa.

Mr. Ward took an early retirement from Mobil in 1995 as a member of their senior engineering management group. From then, his expertise in well completions, lift systems, well remediation and stimulation, and operational management has been in continual demand as both a consultant and team member for a number of companies including as consultant to El Paso Production, Northstar GOM, LLC, and Erskine Oil, among others, and as Production Superintendent for Sonat Exploration Company, Vice President of Operations and Production for Millennium Offshore Group, and, most recently, as Chief Operating Officer of ECCO Energy, Inc.

Mr. Ward developed and received several disclosure patents involving mud system maintenance and a down-hole vent screen application.

Robert M. (Don) Gray, Land Manager

Robert (Don) Gray is a high level Landman/Manager with over 30 years of successful diversified oil and gas experience.  His undergraduate degree from the University of Texas featured a Major in Government and a Minor in Petroleum Land Management.  His professional affiliations include: American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), Houston Association of Professional Landmen (HAPL) and West Houston Association of Professional Landmen (WHAPL).  Previous employers include: Hunt Oil Company, Americo Energy Resources, Petro-Guard Operating Company and Bank One. He has also been a Consulting Land Manager for a number of companies over the years and was president of Sandstone Exploration, Inc.
 

Barry J. Rava, Consulting Partner – Geophysicist

Barry Rava is an exploration consultant, licensed geologist and geophysicist in the state of Texas.  Mr. Rava has over 27 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.  He has served on the board of directors and been an officer of geological libraries.  His job functions are project management and technical management as well as geological and geophysical interpretation.  He has held various technical and management positions with both major international oil and gas companies and smaller independents, culminating as vice president of exploration of an independent company with over 600 producing oil and gas wells.  He is past President of the Coastal Bend Geophysical Society and of the Gulf Coast Geological Library.  He was a partner in a large geological and geophysical consulting firm operating in the Gulf of Mexico.  In the last 5 years, 16 out of 26 Wildcat wells in which Mr. Rava had an interest and/or originated have been completed as productive.  He has co-authored articles in the field of planetary physics, lectured on the oil industry at two universities and a museum and has earned a BS, Cum Laude with high honors in Geology from Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, and a MS in Planetary Geology and Geophysics from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
 

Allen W. Hobbs, Controller

Allen Hobbs, CMA,  is a seasoned accounting professional and business manager with over 16 years of experience as Controller/CFO.  His previous experience includes 8 years in upstream/midstream oil & gas companies.  His BS degree is from the University of New Mexico, and he is a Certified Management Accountant.  His professional affiliations include: Institute of Management Accountants, (Petroleum Accountants Society of Houston (PASH), and Council of Petroleum Accountant Societies (COPAS).