Whiting Petroleum Announces Retirement of COO Brown

Whiting Petroleum Corporation

today announced the retirement of James T. Brown, Whiting's President and Chief Operating Officer effective June 17, 2014. Mr. Brown joined Whiting in 1995 as a consulting engineer and subsequently served as Operations Manager, Vice President of Operations and Senior Vice President of Operations. In January 2011, he was elected President and Chief Operating Officer. James J. Volker, Whiting's Chairman and CEO, commented, “Jim Brown helped build Whiting into one of the premier operators in the Williston and DJ Basins. In addition, Jim's leadership resulted in an exemplary environmental and safety record over his tenure. We thank Jim for his many contributions and we wish Jim and his family all the best.” Effective June 17, 2014, Whiting announces the promotion of Rick Ross to Senior Vice President, Operations from Vice President, Operations. Also effective June 17, 2014, Whiting announces the promotion of Pete Hagist to Senior Vice President, Planning from Vice President, Permian Operations. Rick Ross and Pete Hagist join Mark Williams, Senior Vice President, Exploration and Development, at the Senior Vice President level. James J. Volker, Whiting's Chairman and CEO, will assume the additional position of President effective June 17, 2014. These officers will collectively assume responsibility for the duties previously overseen by Mr. Brown. As Senior Vice President, Exploration and Development, Mark Williams is responsible for the company's upstream activity and capital budget, overseeing its efforts in identifying, quantifying and developing unconventional oil reservoirs. During his 30 year tenure he has led Whiting's efforts in the discovery and development of the Bakken in North Dakota and the Niobrara in Northeastern Colorado. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in geology from the University of Utah and a Master's Degree in geology from the Colorado School of Mines. His primary areas of technical expertise include sedimentology, stratigraphy, hydrocarbon systems, geophysics and petroleum economics. He has published and served in leadership positions in the AAPG, RMAG, SEG and SEPM. As Senior Vice President, Operations, Rick Ross's responsibilities will continue to include supervision of all Whiting's operations in the Williston Basin Bakken/Three Forks play and Redtail DJ Basin Niobrara prospect. Rick held various technical and managerial positions with Amoco Production Company from 1982 through 1999 and with Whiting since 1999. He has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry including extensive experience in the Rocky Mountains and Mid-Continent. Rick graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a BS in mechanical engineering. He is the past Chairman of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, a state trade group representing the North Dakota oil and gas industry. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado. As Senior Vice President, Planning, Pete Hagist's responsibilities will include oversight of our Environmental Health and Safety department and management of all Whiting operations in the Permian Basin including the North Ward Estes CO2 project near Monahans, Texas. He has more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and 17 years of experience managing secondary and tertiary recovery operations. Prior to joining Whiting in 2005, he held management and professional positions with Kinder Morgan CO2 Company and Pennzoil Exploration and Production Company. Mr. Hagist holds a Bachelor's Degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and is a Registered Professional Engineer.