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Vitol, ATX Form New E&P; Focus on Delaware, Williston Basins

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   |    Monday,February 07,2022

Vitol and the management of ATX Energy Partners LLC are pleased to announce the formation of VTX Energy Partners LLC.

Gene Shepherd, CEO of VTX Energy Partners stated, “Our team has been focused over the last 12 months on building a large asset position in one of the established U.S. lower 48 basins. We are ecstatic to partner with Vitol on this effort, from both the standpoint of their access to capital and the highly developed insights and expertise their organization brings in commodity markets, including all activities immediately downstream from our drilling, completion and operational activities.”

Ben Marshall, Head of Vitol Americas said, “The VTX partnership underscores our continued interest in growing our upstream portfolio in the U.S. Lower 48. The team has a remarkable track record and we are excited about their prospects for repeating prior successes. VTX will complement Vencer Energy, our existing upstream partnership in the Midland Basin.”

About VTX

VTX will seek to acquire, develop and operate large-scale upstream assets in established U.S. lower 48 basins. The Company will target opportunities with established production and development profiles, including those in the southern Delaware Basin and the Williston Basin, where the management team has demonstrated a track record of success.

Management Team

Gene Shepherd, CEO

• Gene had 20 years of financial and operational experience in the energy industry before serving as Chief Financial Officer of Brigham Exploration Company from 2002 until its sale to Norway-based Statoil ASA in December 2011. Earlier in his career, he served as Integrated Energy Managing Director for the investment banking division of ABN AMRO Bank, where he executed merger and acquisition advisory services and capital markets transactions for energy companies. He had a similar focus in his role at Prudential Securities Incorporated, Stephens Inc., and Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. Prior to his stint in the financial services industry, he worked for more than four years as a petroleum engineer for Amoco Production Company and the Railroad Commission of Texas. At the University of Texas at Austin, Gene is a member of the Executive Council of Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law & Business and the Engineering Advisory Board of the Cockrell School of Engineering, where in 2017 he was awarded the school’s Distinguished Engineering Graduate Award. He has also served on various nonprofit boards, including KIPP Austin Public Schools, the Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and Trinity Center. Gene earned his bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering in 1981 and his MBA in 1986, both from The University of Texas at Austin.

Erik Hoover, President & COO

• In his career, Erik has served as an integral member of management teams pioneering advancements in drilling techniques and midstream infrastructure systems that created lucrative opportunities in previously uneconomic plays and maximized overall profits and efficiency. Notably, as Operations Manager at Brigham Exploration, his involvement was crucial in developing the optimal drilling and completion formula that unlocked previously untapped economic potential in the Williston Basin. Erik continued to make successful strides in the industry as Director of Operations at Statoil ASA, following their acquisition of Brigham Exploration Company, before bringing his experience and expertise to Brigham Resources, LLC. As the Executive Vice President of Operations, Erik built Brigham Resources operations department from the ground up. He assembled a skilled team that continuously raised the bar for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and innovation in the Southern Delaware Basin. Erik graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in Petroleum Engineering.

Graham Bayley, CFO

• Graham Bayley is a founder and the Chief Financial Officer of VTX Energy Partners, LLC. He has served in roles of increasing responsibility at ATX in corporate finance and strategy, business development, operations, fundraising, and investor relations. Prior to joining ATX in 2018, Graham started his career in investment banking in the Global Banking and Markets group at Scotiabank in Houston, focusing on M&A, A&D, capital markets, and strategic advisory services across the energy industry. Graham graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts from the Plan II Honors Program.

Richard Winchester, EVP of Land

• Richard Winchester is a founder and currently serves as EVP of Land for VTX Energy Partners, LLC, with over 32 years of experience in various land and business development roles. Richard served as EVP of Land for ATX Energy Partners, LLC from August 2017 through December 2021. Prior to joining ATX, Richard spent over 12 years at Hilcorp Energy Company in roles of increasing responsibility, including Sr. Business Development Manager, Land Manager of Texas and Northeast US, Land Manager of New Ventures, and Division Landman. The majority of Richard’s prior experience came through Devon Energy and Conoco, where he provided land and commercial expertise for exploration and asset teams in south Texas, the Texas Gulf Coast, and the Permian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexico. Richard earned his bachelor degree in Petroleum Land Management and MBA from the University of Oklahoma.