Executive Management
Executive Management
Malone Mitchell 3rd | Chairman of the Board
Malone Mitchell serves as Chairman of the Board for Viking Services. Mr. Mitchell’s responsibilities include strategic planning, financial oversight and management training. Mr. Mitchell brings 30 years of industry experience to this position with “In-Field” and Executive Management experience in all aspects of Oil and Gas Services. Mr. Mitchell has succeeded over the past three decades by maintaining a conservative capital structure, entering into projects with a long-term outlook, applying modern technologies, and attracting and retaining top employees. Mr. Mitchell remains active in the oil field service business through Viking International which operates integrated oilfield services in Eastern Europe, Northern Middle East, and North Africa, Viking Drilling which operates 12 rigs in Midcontinent of North America, and Viking Coil Tubing. Mr. Mitchell also owns a significant stake in HWD Drilling, which focuses on drilling horizontal wells throughout the United States. Mr. Mitchell spends a considerable amount of time annually traveling in order to be an interagal on sight presence in Viking Services.
In 1985, Mr. Mitchell founded Riata Energy, an oil & gas company, with $500 in capital. Within the first five years, Riata Energy acquired 14 smaller oil producers and completed its first successful well. In the early 1990’s, Riata expanded geographically through the purchase of assets in the Piceance Basin of Colorado and the Permian Basin of West Texas. The company implemented a vertically integrated strategy, which increased Riata’s focus on oilfield services and midstream to increase flexibility and reduce costs. Through asset purchases from several major oil and gas companies in 1991, Pakenham field was established. After drilling or re-entering 34 wells, Riata sold Pakenham field to Chevron for $97.5Mm in 1994. In 1995, Riata acquired 200,000 acres of prospective acreage in the Pinon Field and Ouachita Overthrust of West Texas. Soon after, Riata became the sole operator in the area through a purchase from FINA.
Riata began Oilfield Servise Operations in 1987. In 1997, Riata purchased its first drilling rig through Lariat Services. Over the subsequent few years, Riata expanded its rig fleet to increase exploration and development. Additionally, Riata acquired and built-out gathering systems and treating plants through its midstream services subsidiary, ROC Gas Company. In 2003, Riata purchased an initial interest in PetroSource, an integrated CO2 Company. In 2005, Riata began development of its Piceance Basin acreage. In July 2006, Tom L. Ward, co-founder of Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) acquired a controlling stake in Riata Energy for $500 million, and became the largest shareholder. Mr. Mitchell sold the majority of his remaining shareholding subsequently in 2008 and 2013.
In November 2006, Riata Energy purchased National Energy Group for $1.5 billion from an entity controlled by Carl Icahn. National Energy Group’s core assets overlapped with Riata’s core properties. Soon after, Riata’s SandRidge (NYSE: SD) Energy became the company’s new name.
In December 2006, Mr. Mitchell resigned from daily management at Riata/SandRidge. From 1985-2006, Mr. Mitchell built Riata Energy into one of the largest privately-held energy companies in the United States. Riata’s key milestones included:
(1) ’06 Revenue and EBITDA of approximately $388m and $93m, respectively (2) 1 TCF in proved reserves (3) 300 miles of gas gathering pipeline (4) Greater than 34,000 horsepower of gas compression (5) Owned or operated 43 drilling rigs (6) Operated for Exxon, Chevron, Conoco, BP, Occidental, amongst others (7) Largest privately-held drilling company in the U.S. and during 2006, Riata completed approximately one well per day (8) At one point, Riata Energy owned and operated the second largest under-balanced drilling company in the world (9) Executed the largest farm out agreement in Exxon’s history, covering approximately 200 square miles, which committed Riata to drilling 25 wells per year
With a background in Agriculture, Mr. Mitchell and his family own ranches and mineral interests through Longfellow Ranch Partners. Mr. Mitchell’s E&P efforts are carried out through Longfellow Energy and TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd (NYSE:AMEX/ TAT).Mr. Mitchell also has business interests in South America, through Laco Management and North America through Dalea Investments.
Mr. Mitchell graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Mr. Mitchell has been generous with his time and money. In August 2008, Mr. Mitchell gave Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business its largest donation and regularly returns there to speak to students. Mr. Mitchell has also established the charitable Pinon Foundation, which serves needs in West Texas, particularly focused on health and education issue areas.
Dustin Guinn | Chief Executive Officer
Dustin Guinn serves as Chief Executive Officer of Viking Services in which he has acted in this capacity since June of 2011. Mr. Guinn’s primary responsibilities include operational and strategic management focusing on the growth, deployment and profitability of assets in Turkey, Northern Iraq, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and other strategic countries within the Middle East, North Africa, as well as Central and Eastern Europe. Mr. Guinn has extensive experience in transactional mergers and acquisitions involving both entity and asset purchases as well as the integration of those acquisitions. Mr. Guinn has been intimately involved in the growth of Viking, in terms of financial, operational, structural, and reporting and management growth since its inception in 2008.
Prior to assuming the responsibilities of CEO in 2011 Mr. Guinn served as President of Viking International and Viking Geophysical in which he leveraged his financial background and experience to focus on the continued development of operational efficiencies, reporting implementation, profitable asset deployment accountability focusing on ROI metrics. Mr. Guinn was integral in the procurement and negotiation of many of Viking’s key long-term, ongoing service contracts and MSA’s that Viking currently enjoys. Mr. Guinn has also served in a number of capacities within Viking such as CFO, Treasury Manager and Financial Analyst, which have allowed for the opportunity to have a balanced and well-rounded understanding of the business.
Mr. Guinn graduated, with honors, from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance, during which point and time he competed in both track and field and football (Three Year Starter as Tight End) and earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from West Texas A&M.
Rob Dunn | President of Geophysical Services
Robert Dunn serves as Viking Services President of Geophysical. Mr. Dunn’s responsibilities include continuous strategic alliances with IOC/NOC’s ranging from preferred service providers to overall project management focusing on the frontier regions to the mature basins. Mr. Dunn has developed a dynamic team of field management employees to industry experts in geophysics encompassing over 21 years of industry expertise and experience.
Mr. Dunn brings a vast level of experience to Viking Geophysical having acquired seismic data in all types of landscape, both land and shallow water based, with an in depth knowledge base of mountainous terrain.
In Mr. Dunn’s experience within the geophysical industry he has held positions ranging from operations supervisor to technical manager. Mr. Dunn has played a pinnacle role in the development, promotion and field testing of new and emerging seismic technologies and was instrumental in the successful launch of wireless acquisition technology in Turkey. Mr. Dunn continues to development new emerging geophysical processes to assist the industry in safe and operationally efficient practices.
Mr. Dunn holds several technical certifications from the industries leading equipment manufactures. In addition to a technical background Mr. Dunn is a member of the following organizations. Society of Geophysicists/EAGE and American Chamber of Commerce.
Charles 'Randy' Arnold | President Drilling Services
Randy Arnold serves as Viking Services President of Drilling Operations. His responsibilities include developing and refining the drilling operations division from the ground up, including the continuous improvement and development of all aspects of Management Systems, Safety, Marketing, Administration and Operations. Mr. Arnold joined Viking Services in 2011 as Vice President / Country Manager, Iraq, where his responsibilities included the development and growth of Viking’s operations in Northern Iraq. Mr. Arnold has over thirty-nine years of worldwide experience in all phases of drilling contractor management, with emphasis on “hands-on” operations having started in the industry at an entry level position of Assistant Driller Trainee in the UK and Norwegian offshore sectors of the North Sea. Mr. Arnold worked upwards through all key rig positions, culminating in promotion to Offshore Installation Manager. He was subsequently promoted and transitioned into the shore-based management side of operations, where he continued to advance through various senior management positions in the industry.
Mr. Arnold brings with him exceptional planning, team building, and management skills with a demonstrated ability to resolve difficult operational problems and manage and execute complex projects and operations both on and offshore. He has a proven ability to work with multi-national and multi-cultural work forces, having worked in or been resident in, over seventeen different countries, including North and South America, the UK and Europe, the Middle East, Russia, West Africa, China and Southeast Asia. Most recently, Mr. Arnold served in the capacity as Director of International Operations with Nabors Drilling International where he was employed for fifteen years. Prior to that, he served in various senior management and operations positions with major Drilling Contractor and Operators in various countries world-wide, including Sedco, Tenneco, Wilrig and Atwood Oceanics.
Mr. Arnold attended Southern Methodist University majoring in Mechanical Engineering, followed by Drilling Technology Studies at University of Texas Petroleum Extension in Odessa, Texas. He also holds industry certifications of USCG Master, Mobil Offshore Drilling Units, MMS Certified Well Control Instructor and UK Offshore Installation Manager.
Dewitt H. (Dee) Edwards | President Completion Services
Dee Edwards joined Viking in February 2013 as President of the Completions Division. His responsibilities include the strategic growth and development of core Viking services including fracturing, acidizing, cementing, wireline, rentals, well testing, underbalanced drilling and directional drilling. He brings over 33 years of energy service operations and executive management experience. Mr. Edwards also has thorough knowledge and experience with all aspects of corporate finance, strategic planning, SEC reporting, mergers, divestitures and acquisitions.
Prior to joining the Viking team, Mr. Edwards most recently held the position of Vice President of Boots & Coots, a Halliburton service. In this capacity, he led the global operations and integration of the product service line with over 4,500 employees and operations in over 40 countries including strategic locations in North Africa, West Africa, Middle East, Eurasia, Asia Pacific, US and Latin America.
Prior to the acquisition of Boots & Coots by Halliburton in 2010, Mr. Edwards spent 12 years as an officer of Boots and Coots holding positions as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial officer and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Edwards began his career with Halliburton Energy Services in 1979 where, during his career, he progressed from an entry level position as an equipment operator to area manager.
Noah M. Mitchell 4th | Director of Business Development / Investor Relations
Noah Malone Mitchell 4th serves as the Business Development and Investor Relations Director for Viking Services. Mr. Mitchell’s primary responsibilities include the research and evaluation of new ventures as it relates to potential customers, partners, and geographic opportunity. Noah also serves as President of Viking Coil Tubing, an oilfield service company primarily operating in the Permian Basin. Mr. Mitchell 4th is currently establishing Viking Services London Branch and resides there. Noah keeps a demanding travel schedule internationally in order to meet with investors, customers, and employees on site.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Mitchell 4th was Operations Manager for Viking Oilfield Services based out of Istanbul, Turkey. In this capacity he oversaw Viking Services expansion into Turkey, North Iraq, and Poland. Mr. Mitchell was also responsible for oversight of the operational and financial performance of the company.
Mr. Mitchell graduated from Southern Methodist University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with emphasis on Petroleum Geology. While attending SMU Noah was director of the Energy Club.