Bio Details

Mr. Downey worked for Shell Oil Company, an integrated energy company, from 1957 to 1987. In 1977, he moved to Shell Oil’s International Exploration & Production business and became Vice President of Shell, and then President of Shell Oil’s newly-formed international subsidiary, Pecten International, retiring in 1987. Mr. Downey joined ARCO International in 1990 as Senior Vice President of Exploration, becoming President of ARCO International and then Senior Vice President and Executive Exploration Advisor to ARCO. Mr. Downey retired from ARCO in 1996.

He serves on the board of TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd., an international oil and natural gas company. Mr. Downey was a founder and director of Foundation Energy, a company that purchases and operates producing oil and natural gas properties. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was an elected fellow of the Geological Society in London. Mr. Downey was past President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (“AAPG”) and has served as Bartell Professor and Chief Scientist – Sarkeys Energy Center at the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Downey was the 2009 recipient of the AAPG’s Sidney Powers Medal, which is the highest honor awarded by the AAPG. He was active in several scientific organizations and served on the board of Berkeley Earth, a non-profit organization.

Mr. Downey received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry in 1952 at Peru State College in Nebraska. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea and the Philippines, then enrolled at the University of Nebraska, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956 and a Master of Science degree in Geology in 1957.

Mr. Downey previously served on Matador Petroleum Corporation’s board of directors. He served as a special advisor to the Board since our inception in July 2003 and served as chair of the Board’s Prospect Committee.