Empire Energy Group Ltd (ASX:EEG, OTC:EEGUF) expects to enhance its transition from gas explorer to producer following the appointment of experienced Australian onshore unconventional gas specialist Chris White as chief operating officer (COO).
White has 25 years of experience commercialising and developing Australian onshore unconventional gas resources and is expected to play an important role in bringing Empire’s Beetaloo Basin assets in the Northern Territory to commercial production.
Origin Energy experience
He joins the company after 18 years at Origin Energy where he served as general manager Upstream Growth, general manager Exploration and New Ventures, group manager Field Development Optimisation, Production Optimisation manager and Petroleum Engineering Team leader.
Prior to Origin, White was a project manager for gas infrastructure projects at Laing O’Rourke UK and a Petroleum Engineer at Queensland Gas Company.
“Perfectly suited”
Managing director Alex Underwood said: "The Empire team is delighted that Chris is joining us as our chief operating officer.
"His skills and experience are perfectly suited to drive forward the successful execution of Empire’s staged growth strategy focused on unlocking the enormous potential and scale of Empire’s Beetaloo Basin assets.
"Following Empire’s recent successful capital raise, the team is actively preparing for our upcoming 2024 pilot development drilling program.”
Track record
Chris White, who has a Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum) from the University of NSW, has a demonstrated track record leading multi-disciplinary teams and has been instrumental in proving the commerciality of onshore unconventional gas resources in Queensland.
In doing so, he has driven rapid reserves growth, built production to export scale, delivered production outcomes exceeding FID assumptions to fill two Australia Pacific LNG trains at Gladstone, delivered successful exploration campaigns across multiple basins including the Beetaloo Basin, and helped deliver multi-billion dollar investments by attracting joint venture partners.
"We expect to make further announcements to the market soon as we finalise gas sales negotiations, execute drilling and stimulation contracts, and prepare to commence field activities,” Underwood added.
"Chris’ addition to the team will benefit these initiatives.”