Tellurian Inc. on Sept. 22 named energy and financial industry veteran James D. Bennett as a new independent board member to the company’s board of directors.

Tellurian James Bennett headshot
James D. Bennett

“Tellurian adds both upstream and investment bench strength to our already robust board with the addition of James,” commented Executive Chairman Charif Souki in a company release.

Bennett is currently a board member and executive chairman of Tapstone Energy Inc., a privately held independent oil and gas company operating in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma and Texas.

Previously, he served as president and CEO of SandRidge Energy Inc., another oil and gas producer focused largely in the Midcontinent region. He has also served as a managing director first at GSO Capital Partners then at White Deer Energy.

“He brings over 30 years of experience which will be invaluable as we focus on enhancing our Haynesville upstream position,” Souki added.

As of first-quarter 2021, Tellurian held about 9,704 net acres in the prolific Haynesville Shale gas basin, with 21 company-operated wells and a company-owned gas gathering system. The assets are 95% HBP and 90% operated, allowing Tellurian to control the pace of development for its multiyear drilling inventory, according to the company website.

Based in Houston, Tellurian intends to create value for shareholders by building a low-cost, global natural gas business, profitably delivering natural gas to customers worldwide. The company’s portfolio of natural gas production, LNG marketing and trading, and infrastructure includes a roughly 27.6 mtpa LNG export facility and an associated pipeline.