Atlas Energy Resources declares the appointment of Tommy L. Thompson to the position of Vice President, Horizontal Drilling. Mr. Thompson's primary responsibilities will include the oversight of Atlas Energy's horizontal drilling efforts, particularly in the Marcellus Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Mr. Thompson comes to Atlas Energy with 30 years of experience in drilling engineering, including horizontal and extended reach drilling. Most recently, Mr. Thompson was with Wagner & Brown, where he managed the vertical and horizontal drilling operations in the Woodford Shale in eastern Oklahoma. Prior to Wagner & Brown, Mr. Thompson worked for Occidental Petroleum for over 28 years, where he eventually led drilling operations in the Permian Basin of western Texas, Ecuador and Qatar. Mr. Thompson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana Tech University.

"We are thrilled that Tommy has joined Atlas as a senior member of our operating team," stated Richard D. Weber, President and Chief Operating Officer of Atlas Energy. "He is a proven manager of large scale horizontal drilling programs and is the perfect complement to our already deep bench of talent. Tommy is already making contributions, most notably in our horizontal development of the Marcellus Shale."

Tags: Atlas Energy Resources