James E. Smith, P.E.

smithjames@jes-engineer.com

 

 

1981 - Present     President, James E. Smith & Associates, Inc., Spartan Operating Company, Inc., and Peak Oil & Gas Company, Inc.

 

                             A leader in the field of petroleum engineering; plan, drill, operate, supervise, and complete wells; develop and review geological prospects; monitor Railroad Commission hearings; consult as an expert witness, with experience on more than 500 cases.

 

1978 - 1981         President, Smith & Harman Engineering Company, Inc., Safety Management Associates, Inc., S-H-K Operating Company, Inc., and Streetman Salt Water Disposal, Inc. 

 

                             Planned and supervised drilling and completion of over 100 wells ranging in depths from 5,000 to 16,000 feet; planned and developed Streetman Salt Water Disposal, Inc.; managed numerous oil and gas properties in the East Texas area.

 

1976 - 1978         Vice President, Petro-Management, Inc.

                            

                             Planned and supervised over 20 wells down to depths of 15,000 feet, including high pressure sour gas wells; conducted operations on day work basis; planned and supervised rig selection, bit program, hydraulics, mud system, H2S safety training, casing programs, log evaluations, completion recommendations and supervision.

 

1974 - 1976         State Field Operations Director, Railroad Commission, Austin, Texas.

                             Reviewed wells being drilled and completed in the State of Texas; acted as State Field Monitor on oil well fires and blowouts; monitored operators' programs with "Authority to Proceed,” conducted extensive investigation into Hydrogen Sulfide, “Sour Gas,” oil and gas operations; developed the Texas Rule 36 Regulation for sour gas production, drilling and completion operations; directed "East Texas Field Study," developed an on-line computer system for the State of Texas; organized the Statewide Radio Network; completed numerous official projects.

 

1967 - 1974         District Director, Railroad Commission, Kilgore, Texas.

 

                             Directed Railroad Commission review of the drilling and completion of all wells in the District; organized planning, logistics and well-site supervision for re-entry and re-plugging of over 300 abandoned wells, two of which were located in 40 foot of water in Toledo Bend Reservoir; reorganized Railroad Commission Districts 5 and 6, which became the model plan for Railroad Commission Statewide Operations.

 

1962 - 1967         District Director, Railroad Commission, Abilene, Texas.

 

                             Directed the re-entry and clean out of over 200 wells leaking saltwater and oil to ground level; reorganized Abilene office; supervised the Hubbard Creek Pollution Abatement Program, a pioneer Railroad Commission effort, and forerunner of the Statewide Railroad Commission "No Pit" order; completed extensive projects involving fluid injection problems and well plugging.

                            

1962 - 1962         Project Engineer, Railroad Commission, Kilgore, Texas

                            

                             Supervised all field activity for Railroad Commission District 4; conducted slant well investigation; planned field logistics and well-site supervision of the re-entry and clean out of over 200 wells which had been intentionally junked to avoid investigation.

 

1960 - 1962         Assistant District Director, Railroad Commission, Corpus Christi, Texas.

 

                 Supervised and trained all Railroad Commission field personnel inland and offshore                       drilling and completion operations.

 

1958 - 1960         Field Engineer, Railroad Commission, Abilene, Texas.

 

                             Supervised drilling and completion reviews; conducted well tests, lease inspections, and regulatory investigations.

 

Education

 

1958                     Texas A&M University, B.S. Petroleum Engineering

                             Recipient of Minnie Piper Stephens Scholarship

 

1955 - 1957         Arlington State College

                             Freshman Honor Society - 1955

                             Distinguished Student Award - 1956-57

 

 

Post Graduate Achievements

 

2008                     Horizontal Operations in the Cotton Valley, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Tyler, TX

 

2007                     Applied Engineering Ethics, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Vail, CO

 

2007                     Reserves Evaluation, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Vail, CO

 

2006                     Horizontal Well Completions, Society of Petroleum Engineers, San Antonio, Texas.

 

2006                     Reservoir Aspects of Horizontal and Multilateral Wells, Society of Petroleum Engineers, San Antonio, Texas.

 

 

2004                     Engineering Liability, Protections & Ethics, Kerry C. Williams of Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin, Texas Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers, Houston, Texas.

 

2004                     The Engineer’s Approach to Texas Oil & Gas Regulation, Pollard Petroleum Consulting, Austin, Texas.

 

2004                     “Produced Water and Associated Issues”, Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, Texas Region, University of Texas at Austin Bureau of Economic Geology.

 

2004                     Barnett Shale II Symposium, Brookhaven College Corporate and Continuing Education Division, Award of Merit.

 

1999                     Hydrocarbon Economics and Evaluation Symposium - Energy in the Next Millennium, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Dallas, Texas.

 

1999                     Formation Damage:  Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Prevention, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Houston, Texas.

 

1999                     Applied Technology Workshop – Probabilistic Assessment of Reserves, Society of Petroleum Engineers; Houston, Texas.

 

1997                     3-D Seismic for Engineers, Society of Petroleum Engineers; Dallas, Texas.

 

1991                                         Safety and Compliance Seminar, Department of Transportation, Kilgore College; Kilgore, Texas.

 

1991                                         Train-the-Trainer Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Instructor Training Course, American Society of Safety Engineers; Midland, Texas.

1990                                         Overview of Horizontal Drilling and Completions, Society of Petroleum Engineers; New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

1986                     East Texas Regional Meeting, Society of Petroleum Engineers.

 

1977                                         Annual Technical Meeting, Society of Petroleum Engineers; New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

1976                                         Interstate Oil Compact Commission Meeting; Wichita, Kansas.

 

1976                     Annual Gas Conditioning Conference; Norman, Oklahoma.

 

1976                                         Drilling and Production Institute, University of Kansas; Liberal, Kansas.

 

1974                     East Texas Regional Meeting, Society of Petroleum Engineers.         

 

1967                                         Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Graduate Seminar, Texas A & M University; College Station, Texas.

 

1958                     Annual Technical Meeting, Society of Petroleum Engineers; New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

 

Professional Affiliations

 

 

Texas Board of Professional Engineers

American Society of Safety Engineers

East Texas Gas Producers Association (ETGPA)

Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA)

National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE)

National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO)

National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)

National Gas Society of East Texas (NGSET)

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (SIPES)

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)

Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE)

Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA)

Texas Alliance of Energy Producers (TAEP)

Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO)

Texas Oil and Gas Association (TOGA)

Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE)

Past Chairman, East Texas Chapter of Society of Petroleum Engineers

Past Chairman, Abilene Chapter of Society of Petroleum Engineers

Past Chairman, West Central Texas Waterflood Association

Past Chairman, East Texas Chapter Joint Engineers Banquet

Past Chairman, East Texas Symposium on Hydrogen Sulfide Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awards and Honors

 

Featured as Petroleum Industry Legend in “Black Gold: The Story of Texas Oil & Gas”

Certificate of Recognition-Petroleum Pioneer, Permian Basin Int’l. Oil Show, Inc.

Certificate of Appreciation, West Texas Oil & Gas Association

Certificate of Appreciation, West Central Texas Municipal Water District

Certificate of Appreciation, Desk & Derrick Club

Certificate of Appreciation, National Professional Engineers Hall of Fame

Certificate of Appreciation, Lubbock Area Firemen’s Conference

Certificate of Appreciation, West Central Texas Society of Petroleum Engineers, (SPE)

Certificate of Appreciation, West Central Texas Waterflood Association

Certificate of Appreciation, East Texas Section, Society of Petroleum Engineers, (SPE)

Honorary Citizen, City of Kilgore

Who's Who in the Southwest - 1975

Who's Who in Engineering and Science - 1993

 

 

Civic Affiliations

 

Past Member, Abilene Chapter, Lions Club

Past Member, Kilgore Chapter, Lions Club

Former Scout Master, Boy Scouts of America

Wood Badge Training Certificate Instructor, Boy Scouts of America

Texas A & M University Alumni member

Tyler Chamber of Commerce

Century Club Member, Texas A & M University

 

 

Presentations and Publications

 

            Smith, J.E.  “Introduction to Gas Quality Specifications”, presented to the Red River

            Conference 2006, North Texas Gas Producers, Natural Gas Society of East Texas and

            Access Education.

 

Smith, J.E.; “The Search for the Right Way: A Review of Engineering and Operational Dichotomies Currently Operative in the Development of the Barnett Shale,” presented to Strategic Research Institute sponsored conference “Gas Shales: Production & Potential”; Denver, Colorado (July 2004).

 

Smith, J.E., Neufeld, M.H. and Sorrells, D.C.; “Development of the Cotton Valley Geopressure Zone in Panola County, Texas, Using Air/N2 Drilling and Openhole Completion Techniques;” paper SPE 14657 presented at East Texas Regional Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers; Tyler, Texas (April 1986).        

 

 

 

Smith, J.E.; “H2S Regulations in Deep Well Drilling;” presented to the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Deep Well Drilling Conference; Amarillo, Texas, (April 1977).

 

Smith, J.E.; “The Effect of Rule 36 (H2S Service) on Material Selection;” presented to the Houston Chapter, American Society for Metals; Houston, Texas (January 4, 1977).

 

Smith, J.E.; “A History of the Development of Rule 36;” Journal of Petroleum Technology; (1977) 1227-1234.

 

Smith, J.E.; “A Review of Texas Railroad Commission Rule 36 for Operation in Hydrogen Sulfide Areas;” paper, SPE 6147, presented to American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. (1976).

 

Smith, J.E.; “H2S Regulation in Perspective;” presented to the 12th Annual Pipeline & Maintenance Institute; University of Kansas (November 16-17, 1976).

 

Smith, J.E.; “History of the Development of Rule 36;” paper presented to the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Annual Technical Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana (October 1976).

 

Smith, J.E.; “Development of Texas Hydrogen Sulfide Public Safety Regulation (Rule 36);” paper presented at Interstate Oil Compact Commission Meeting, Wichita, Kansas (June 28, 1976).

 

Smith, J.E.; “The Relationship of New Texas Sour Gas Rules to Gas Conditioning Operations;” paper presented at 26th Annual Gas Conditioning Conference, Norman, Oklahoma (March 6-10, 1976).

 

Smith, J.E.; “New Texas Railroad Commission Regulation on Sour Gas (Hydrogen Sulfide)” paper presented at Drilling and Production Institute, U. of Kansas, Liberal, Kansas (February 3-4, 1976).

 

Smith, J.E.; “Cooperation is Key to Pollution Control in East Texas;” Petroleum Engineer (November 1971).

 

Raschke, Alvin, Smith, James E. and Wills, M.E.; “Let Engineering Know-How Solve Salt-Pollution Problems;” The Oil and Gas Journal (August 9, 1965).

 

Landrum, Bobby L., Smith, James E. and Crawford, Paul B.; “Calculation of Crude-Oil Recoveries by Steam Injection;” Petroleum Transactions; (1960) Vol. 219, p. 251-256.

 

Landrum, Bobby L., Smith, James E. and Crawford, Paul B.; “Calculation of Crude-Oil Recoveries by Steam Injection;” Summary of T.P. 8130; Journal of Petroleum Technology (1959) p. 237-A.

 

JAMES E. SMITH, P.E.

Special Activities in the Field of H2S Operations

 

 

·         Personally developed Texas Railroad Commission Rule 36 for Hydrogen Sulfide Public Safety.

 

·         Devised internal safety training program for Texas Railroad Commission staff.

 

·         Conducted six Safety Training Seminars in 1975 for the Texas Dept. of Public Safety Personnel.

 

·         Organized Texas Railroad Commission Industry Compliance Seminars.

 

·         Presented fifteen speeches on Hydrogen Sulfide regulation and safety at various industry and public groups in Texas and other states in 1976.

 

·         Served as advisor to other states developing H2S regulations modeled on the Texas Rules.

 

·         Served as advisor and consultant to many clients conducting Hydrogen Sulfide compliance studies.

 

·         Participated actively in development of H2S safety systems.

 

·         Developed contingency plans for various clients with Hydrogen Sulfide operations.

 

·         Instructed at Petro-Management, Inc. sponsored H2S Safety School.

 

·         Testified as an expert witness on H2S for Basin Operating Company and Rudman Oil & Gas in the original Eustace Field Rule Hearing.

 

·         Developed the H2S Safety Plan for Delhi Gas Company and the Texas Oil & Gas for their East Texas H2S system and H2S operation for drilling, completion and production.

 

·         Testified as an expert witness for Woolf & Magee, Inc. on its McCord Well #1, Henderson County, Texas.  Protesting citizens sought to prevent drilling of well; Texas Railroad Commission ruled in favor of Woolf & Magee, Inc.

 

·         Testified as an expert witness for, and acted as consultant to the Union Grove School District of Upshur County, Texas, on concerns about H2S operation in their area.

 

·         Developed H2S Safety Manual and H2S Contingency Plan for Tejas Gas Co., East Texas Operations.

 

·         Served on Texas Railroad Commission 1984 Advisory Committee for Review of Texas Railroad Commission Rule 36 effectiveness.

 

·         Served as H2S Operations expert witness in several regulatory and civil litigation cases, 1976-present.

 

·         Served as the Primary Engineering Consultant on the planning for drilling, completion, and operation of more than 50 deep, high-pressure H2S wells in Texas Railroad Commission Districts 5 & 6.  Assignment required the development of procedures for both operating and safety, including the selection and specification of materials.

 

·         Served as chairman and planner/developer of the 1974 Sour Gas and Crude Symposium held by the East Texas Section of the Society of Professional Engineers in Tyler, Texas.

 

·         Served as guest instructor for H2S training for the American Society of Safety Engineers.

 

·         Consulted with Oxy USA on the development of the H2S Contingency Plan for Eustace-Myrtle Springs Pipeline.

 

·         Prepared H2S Contingency Plan for Trident NGL, Ginger Extension, Rains County, Texas.

 

·         Consulted and advised Freeport McMoran on the H2S Contingency Plan for their Main Pass 299 Sulfur Field.

 

·         Collected and reviewed 300 publications on H2S and prepared a formal bibliography, 1990.

 

·         Prepared briefing for the Texas Railroad Commission on "Shelter in Place" for H2S Episodes.

 

·         Developed H2S Safety Contingency Plan for Trident NGL, Inc., Myrtle Springs Gas Gathering System, 1993.

 

·         Prepared an H2S Safety Study of Installation for Texas Utility Fuel Oil Co., 1993.

 

·         Developed H2S Awareness Training for Texas Electric Service Co., 1993.

 

·         Prepared H2S Safety Study of Installation for Texas Utility Fuel Oil Co.

 

·         Developed H2S Safety Contingency Plan for Ultra Petroleum (U.S.A.), Inc., White Estate, Cedar Creek South (Smackover Field), Henderson County, Texas, 1997.

 

·         Developed H2S Safety Contingency Plan for Dynegy Midstream Services, L.P., Eustace/Edgewood/Myrtle Springs/Ginger Fields in Rains, Van Zandt and Henderson Counties, Texas, 1998. Pioneered the utilization of dispersion modeling and escape rate determinations for prediction of potentially impacted areas.

 

·         Developed H2S Safety Contingency Plan for Vintage Petroleum, Inc., Bright Star/Ginger, Edgewood/Edgewood NE, Fruitvale/Fruitvale-East, Wade, Wesson Fields in Raines and Van Zandt Counties, Texas, 1999.

 

·         Introduced utilization of the concept of “Shelter in Place” as a means of protecting the general public.

 

·        Developed H2S Contingency Plan for Newstar Energy utilizing the pioneering, innovative concept of the re-injection of Hydrogen Sulfide into non-productive reservoirs for disposal.

 

JAMES e. SMITH, P.E.

Experience in Exploration and Production Operations

 

 

·               Professionally active for over 40 years in the oil and gas industry.

 

·               Consulted and operated as manager on over 1,000 wells ranging in depths of 3,000 to 20,000 feet.

 

·               Experienced primarily in East Texas; additional work in South and West Texas, the Texas Gulf Coast, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

 

·               Experienced with both low and high-pressure wells and wells classified as critical service wells.

 

·               Experienced as both office engineer and well-site supervisor.

 

·               Managed the operation of 100 wells owned by SMK Energy for Deberry Operating Company from 1984 to 1989.

 

·               Managed and/or supported the operations of:

Petroleum Production Management                                            1984 – 1996

Hanover Energy, Inc.                                                                1984 – 1989

SMK Energy, Zapata County, Texas                                          1986 – 1999

Spartan Operating Company, Inc                                                1992 – Present

East Texas Production Management                                           1995 – 1999

Zapata-Fender, L.L.C.                                                               1995 – 1999

Larry Townes, Shelton Field, Red River County, Texas                1996 – 2001

Redwood Energy Production, L.P.                                              2001 – Present

Pegasi Operating, Inc.                                                               2002 – Present

BEUSA Energy, Inc.                                                                 2004 – Present

Chalker Energy Management, L.L.C.                                         2005 – Present

Encana Oil and Gas, Inc.                                                           2005 – 2008

Regency Gas Services, L.P.                                                       2005 – Present

Sawtooth, Inc.                                                                           2005 – Present

Triangle Three Resources, L.L.C.                                              2005 – Present

Forest Oil Corporation                                                               2006 – Present 

Comstock Resources, Inc.                                                         2007 – Present

59 Disposal, Inc.                                                                        2007 – Present

T R Rodessa, Inc.                                                                     2007 – Present

NFR Energy, L.L.C.                                                                  2008 – Present

Sunray Operating Company, L.L.C.                                            2008 – Present

Triple S Management, L.L.C.                                                     2008 – Present

 

·               Knowledgeable and experienced on computer systems; operating on many current state-of-the-art engineering software programs available to petroleum engineering field.

 

·               Experienced in reserve and evaluation work with numerous projects completed and accepted by major financial institutions.

 

·               Experienced in multi-disciplined planning, supervision, and day-to-day surveillance; processing of all invoices, billing, and revenue distribution; and all other requirements for the operation and management of exploration and production companies.

 

·               Recognized within the legal fraternity as an expert with an extensive and tested record in oil and gas operations.

 

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS TO SUPPORT

A BOSSIER SAND PROGRAM

 

 

            The East Texas Bossier has received a significant amount of attention in recent months.  JES has been involved in drilling, completion and operation of the wells on the western shelf of the East Texas Basin since 1976.  JES has been involved with many wells in this area over the past 25 years.  This experience has included in varying degrees the following:

 

(1)                Drilling, completion and operations involvement in the excess of 200 wells since 1976.

(2)                Formations have included the Smackover, Cotton Valley Lime, Cotton Valley Pinnacle Reef, Bossier Sand, Cotton Valley Sand, Travis Peak, Rodessa, and Woodbine.

(3)                This involvement has included elements in varying degrees of the following assignments:

(a)                Regulatory permitting

(b)                Regulatory filings

(c)                Regulatory hearings

(d)                Well planning

(e)                AFE development

(f)                 Facility and pipeline planning and installation

(g)                Site supervision of drilling, completion, fracing, facility installation, pipeline installation and general operations

(h)                Completion design

(i)                  Frac design and selection

(j)                  Onsite technical supervision of fracture stimulations

(k)                Reserve and economic studies

(l)                  Geological studies

(m)              Area statistical trend studies

(n)                Extensive literature searches and information compiling and indexing on the current Bossier activity

(o)                Development of an extensive historical database for production, completion and stimulation data on Bossier wells

(p)                Development of analytical techniques for analyzing database information to predict optimum criteria for specific program parameters

 

 

JES Qualifications to Support a Bossier Sand Program

 

            The JES Bossier Support Team is led by John Garvey, Petroleum Engineer, who has recently had extensive experience from actual well-site supervision to involvement in all facets of the current Bossier activity.  Mr. Garvey has assembled a team of experienced technical and site-specific professionals with actual hands-on experience in the current Bossier activity.  The objective of this support team is to supply the current operators with a personalized program, tailored for the specific needs of each individual company.