Richard Chuchla

Science

Richard Chuchla

Director of the Energy and Earth Resources graduate program at UT Austin

Richard Chuchla has recently retired from his employment at The University of Texas System (7 year tenure). Between August 2016 and May 2023, he held the title of Director of Energy and Earth Resources graduate program and Lecturer. EER is an outstanding multidisciplinary graduate program with approximately 50 students administered by the Jackson School of Geosciences and supported by the Cockrell School of Engineering, the McCombs School of Business, LBJ School of Public Affairs, Law School and Energy Institute.

• Held appointments in Jackson School of Geosciences, McCombs School of Business and UT School of Law).

• Revitalized the program to prepare students for the energy transition introducing a core curriculum, strengthening the admissions process, renewing the focus on original research, teaching a course on global energy transactions and forming an external advisory committee.

• During his tenure EER students enjoyed exceptional job placement rates with top tier companies.

• In May, 2023 he was awarded the Walters Outstanding Educator Award in the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT.

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Richard retired from ExxonMobil in 2015 as executive with 36‒year career in the extractive industries:

minerals/mining (7), coal (2) and oil and gas exploration and development (27). His career at ExxonMobil included assignments in exploration, development, research, management and as a senior corporate strategic adviser to the ExxonMobil Corporation’s Management Committee and CEO.

• During the first part of his career he led the development and implementation of precious metals exploration strategy (including Carlin, alkalic and other types of gold deposits). In addition he was involved in exploration for base metals in the U. S. He has deep knowledge of ore‒forming processes and hydrothermal systems.

• Developed / led high performing exploration teams resulting in major discoveries in Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, Niger, Sao Tome / Principe and Peru; >1 billion recoverable oil equivalent barrels discovered. Led or participated in opportunity pursuit and resulting negotiations with counterparties including NOCs, government officials and other oil and gas companies.

• Led geoscience effort, coordinated with engineering leadership, in successful initial deepwater development of Kizomba A, Marimba, Girassol, Erha and Jade fields in Angola, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. During this time West Africa deepwater assets became a core part of ExxonMobil's production portfolio.

• Developed and implemented ExxonMobil's integrated global unconventional resources strategy including prioritization of opportunity pursuit and structuring of related activities; coordinated or supported numerous successful pursuits including Neuquen, Magdalena, Horn River, Appalachian basins; participated in screening analysis and initial presentation preceding successful acquisition of XTO. Unconventional resources are now a key part of ExxonMobil's production portfolio.

• Led numerous farm‒in evaluations of discovered opportunities in Brazil including Libra (unsuccessful) and Carcara / Bacalhau (ultimately successful; subsequent drilling supports reserves of over 1 billion barrels of oil).

• Evaluated and presented several corporate acquisition candidates as upstream Senior Corporate Strategic Advisor to ExxonMobil's CEO and Management Committee; contributed to analysis of key strategic topics (fiscal regimes, unconventional resources (incl shale oil/gas), projection of shale oil production growth).

• Recognized as an outstanding leader and teacher (1991 Outstanding Instructor Award at Exxon Production Research Co.).

Main areas of expertise:

• Regional, structural geology and tectonics

• Integrated analysis and assessment of minerals and oil/gas opportunities

• Concept generation

• Structuring and negotiation of international petroleum agreements

• Business analysis

• University level teaching

Richard holds an undergraduate degree in geology from Cornell (1978) and a Masters in geology from UT‒Austin (1981) and many advanced technical and management corporate level courses.