Robert A. Hefner III, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Robert, professionally a geologist and geophysicist, graduated in 1957 from the University of Oklahoma. He trained with Phillips Petroleum and worked briefly for his family at The Hefner Company before founding The GHK Company in 1959. Under Robert's guidance, the privately owned GHK Company pioneered deep natural gas exploration in the Anadarko Basin. The firm’s operations led to most of the technological innovation necessary to drill and produce the world’s deepest and highest pressure natural gas wells, including many world records. In the late 1980’s he led the GHK exploration team’s analysis of the geologically and geophysically complex Ouachita fold and thrust belt that in 1997 resulted in the discovery of the Potato Hills Field – at the time one of the largest onshore natural gas discoveries in recent decades. More recently Robert has led GHK to the use of horizontal drilling and completion technologies for the development of tight oil and gas reservoirs in the Anadarko Basin. In the 1970's and 1980's, Robert appeared frequently before Congressional committees testifying on energy matters. He has written and published numerous energy articles and in 2009 his ground-breaking book The Grand Energy Transition was published by John Wiley & Sons. A documentary - The Grand Energy Transition - was released in April 2012. Robert continues his active management role at GHK, as well as serving on the International Council at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Singapore’s International Advisory Panel on Energy. He is a member of the Royal Geographical Society, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Association of Professional Landmen, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists. Robert was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame – the state's highest honor – in November 2010.

 

Terry R. Barrett, General Counsel

Terry is a Partner with the McAfee & Taft law firm in Oklahoma City that has represented GHK since the 1960s. Terry has worked with GHK since the early 1970s and has been general counsel since 2003. He received a B.B.A. in petroleum land management and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1967 and 1973, respectively. He has specialized in oil and gas law, advising on a multitude of issues including land, contracts, tax, litigation, environmental and other concerns within the oil and gas industry. His experience and expertise in the field of natural resources law has earned him inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. Prior to entering law school, Terry was a landman for Mobil Oil Corp. for a year, continuing this position on a part-time basis for two years during his law school studies. He is a member of the Oklahoma County Bar Association, the Oklahoma Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Federal Energy Bar Association and the American Association of Petroleum Landmen.

 

Jim joined GHK in 1980 as Data Processing Manager, was appointed Controller in 1992, and in 2005 was named Manager of Special Projects. In 2010 he was named General Manager of GHK. Jim also oversees the Hefner family interests, managing all non-GHK business, as well as supervising all data processing functions. Jim attended both Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University from 1964 until 1969 while working for Conoco in computer operations. He then managed several data processing and accounting departments, including four years as supervisor of programming for Texas International Petroleum. Jim is a member of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association.

 

Eric joined GHK in July 2003 as chief geophysicist. He received his B.S. degree in geophysical engineering from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology in 1991. Eric was with Phillips Petroleum Company, now ConocoPhillips, from 1991 to 2003, working domestically and internationally – in Angola, the former Soviet Union, China and in the U.K. North Sea – as a geophysical specialist in both exploration and development, with an emphasis on AVO analysis, forward modeling and inversion, advanced imaging and seismic data processing. Eric is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Geophysical Society of Oklahoma City. In 2011, Eric became a consulting geophysicist for GHK.

 

Greg joined GHK in 1998, as Exploration Manager and supervisor of drilling, completion and production operations. Under his supervision, GHK successfully drilled and produced a total of 83 wells, including 46 successful wells in the complex overthrust Potato Hills natural gas field, accounting for the development of over 1/3 of a trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves in Potato Hills, where the company drilled and operated 53 wells that included 4 horizontal wells completed between 2000 and 2001. Greg received B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from Oklahoma State University in 1970 and 1972, respectively. He was a staff exploration geologist with Cities Service Oil Company from 1972 to 1974, exploring in the Mid-Continent area and the Appalachian Basin. In 1974, he established an operating exploration and production company, the PCX Corporation that from 1974 to 1997 actively explored and developed natural gas and oil properties throughout Oklahoma and Texas – primarily in the Anadarko Basin. Greg was responsible for prospect generation and supervision of all drilling, completion and production operations for hundreds of wells with depths ranging from 3,500 ft. to 24,500 ft. Greg has extensive experience in deep, over-pressured drilling operations, completions and production. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Oklahoma City Geological Society, the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

 

Dan joined GHK in 2012 as Manager of Trading and Investments. He received his B.S. degree in international politics from Georgetown  University's School of Foreign Service in 1999 and his MBA from Columbia Business School in 2005. Dan was formerly with UBS Investment Bank in New York, where he was an associate director of their oil and gas analytical team, with responsibilities for valuations and financial models, trading recommendations, research notes, and maintaining oil and natural gas forecasting models. Prior to UBS, Dan was vice president of finance with PBT Capital Partners LLC, and an associate in the energy investment banking group with TBC Capital Markets. He holds several FINRA series licenses.

 

Nick joined the company in 2007 as Chief Investment Officer for Hefner Interests. Nick has a broad banking background, predominantly in traditional investment banking, as well as four years of investment multi-asset class derivative structuring/distribution. He was with The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) from 1998 through 2007 and from 2006 to 2007 was their Head of Wealth Solutions, Global Banking & Markets.

 

Wade joined GHK in 2011 as Land Manager. He received his B.S. Degree in zoology/biology from the University of Oklahoma in 2002 and his Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2007. Wade was previously a Senior Landman with EOG Resources Inc. in Texas, leading many acquisitions and divestitures; he also drafted various types of development agreements and advised on regulatory issues. Prior to EOG, Wade was General Counsel/Landman with The Hodges Companies/Coyote Petroleum in Fort Worth, and a Landman with Brigham Land Management LLC. He is a Member of the American Association of Professional Landmen and the State Bar of Texas.

 

Greg joined GHK in 1990 as an exploration geoscientist interpreting geological and geophysical data in the structurally complex Ouachita fold and thrust belt. His exploration work was instrumental in drilling the discovery well in the prolific Potato Hills natural gas field. He also worked on numerous international projects, including GHK Colombia Company’s oil and gas discovery in the Eastern Cordillera fold and thrust belt in Colombia, South America. Greg received B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from Emporia State University in Kansas in 1982 and 1984, respectively. He has attended several industry schools on fold and thrust belt interpretation. He has 29 years experience, beginning in 1982 as a wellsite geologist in the Mid-Continent area. Prior to joining GHK, he worked with Phillips Petroleum and several independent exploration companies. Greg is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists and the Oklahoma City Geological Society. In 2010, Greg became a consulting geoscientist for GHK.

 

Darren joined GHK in 2004, as Operations Manager, supervising drilling, completion and production operations. In 2010 Darren formed his own independent consulting firm but remains under contract with GHK to supervise operations. He has worked in the gas and oil industry for some 30 years. Darren commenced his career in his family oilfield wireline company – operating in the Appalachian area – before attending the University of Oklahoma where he received a B.S. degree in petroleum engineering in 1990. He then joined Texaco, where he held various positions from 1990 to 2001. During his tenure he was responsible for domestic and international drilling, completion, production and reservoir activities in numerous areas including the Rocky Mountains, the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent area, Poland and Kazakhstan. In 2001 Darren joined Devon Energy, where he was responsible for exploration and production activities in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. Darren is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Association of Drilling Engineers.