Leadership Team
"*" indicates members of both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors
Herman G.
Acuña, P.E.*
Herman G. Acuña, P.E., serves as the Chairman and CEO of Ryder Scott, bringing over 35 years of experience in petroleum engineering and project management. He holds both a Master’s (1989) and a Bachelor’s (1987) degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa, with additional training through Exxon-sponsored industry seminars. His technical expertise includes reserves evaluations, integrated reservoir studies, and advanced simulation techniques.
Herman has led high-profile projects across the Middle East, South America, and Central Asia, guiding major clients such as ADNOC and ECOPETROL through complex evaluations. Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, Herman is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and an active member of SPE and AIPN. Since joining Ryder Scott in 1997, he has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, with contributions to training, litigation support, and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiatives.
Eric T.
Nelson, P.E.*
Eric T. Nelson, P.E., serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Ryder Scott, with over 20 years of experience in reservoir engineering and consulting. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tulsa (2002) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas (2007). His expertise spans performance analysis, volumetrics, and material balance techniques for global projects.
Eric has led comprehensive reserves evaluations and audits for clients with assets in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Africa, and offshore Australia. His proficiency in SEC and SPE-PRMS reserves definitions ensures compliance with industry standards. A skilled leader of multi-disciplinary teams, Eric has contributed to high-profile projects, including acquisition and divestiture transactions. He is committed to fostering strong client relationships and advancing operational excellence within Ryder Scott's engineering division.
Tosin
Famurewa, P.E.*
Tosin Famurewa, P.E., is an Executive Vice President & Chief Business Officer (CBO) at Ryder Scott with over 20 years of production, project controls, reservoir engineering, and management experience in operations, asset teams, joint ventures, and consulting environments of the energy business. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and Materials Science/Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley (2000) and a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California (2007). He currently manages global, multi-disciplinary teams evaluating resources for acquisition, divestiture, strategic planning, capital rounds, and regulatory filings.
Tosin’s major clientele includes Chevron, BP, ExxonMobil, ADNOC, ANPG, Sonangol, NNPC, Pemex, Ecopetrol, Seplat, Conoil, Famfa, Shoreline, Green Energy, RSK, Perenco, and Kosmos. A previous Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, Houston Chapter, his leadership continues to drive Ryder Scott’s reputation as a leader in global energy consulting.
Stephen E.
Gardner, P.E.
Stephen E. Gardner, P.E., is a Managing Senior Vice President and Manager of Ryder Scott’s Denver Office, with over 20 years of experience in reservoir and production engineering. He graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His technical training includes expertise in reservoir engineering, reserves evaluation, statistical methods, and unconventional resource evaluation.
Stephen specializes in unconventional reservoirs and resource plays, leading a team responsible for reserves evaluations, economic assessments, and audits. His work in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and other key unconventional plays demonstrates his proficiency in SEC and SPE-PRMS reserves definitions and decline curve analysis. Stephen’s leadership in integrating engineering, geological, and geophysical data has reinforced Ryder Scott’s reputation for high-quality, regulatory-compliant evaluations.
Ali A.
Porbandarwala, P.E.
Ali A. Porbandarwala, P.E., is a Managing Senior Vice President and Group Leader at Ryder Scott, with over 20 years of experience in reserves evaluations, economic assessments, and process audits. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas (2001) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin Executive Program (2007).
Ali specializes in SEC and SPE-PRMS reserves evaluations, advising clients on acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic decision-making. His experience spans upstream and midstream assets, with significant expertise in unconventional shale analysis and probabilistic evaluations. A past President of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, Houston Chapter, Ali’s ability to integrate complex geological, engineering, and economic data has been vital to Ryder Scott’s success in global energy consulting.
Sandeep
Khurana, P.E.
Sandeep Khurana, P.E., is a Managing Senior Vice President and Group Leader of Integrated Services at Ryder Scott, with approximately 35 years of experience in the global oil and gas industry. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Rice University (1990) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi (1987). His expertise spans upstream, midstream, and downstream operations, focusing on resource development, production optimization, and delivering energy products to market.
Sandeep leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated solutions that align technical, commercial, and strategic objectives. He has extensive experience in asset and project management, including development planning, field appraisal, and optimization strategies for conventional and unconventional assets. His work includes deepwater and complex infrastructure projects such as LNG, hydrogen, and ammonia facilities. He has led advisory engagements supporting acquisitions, divestitures, due diligence, and large-scale project execution worldwide.
Corey
Barton, C.P.G.
Corey Barton, C.P.G., is a Managing Senior Vice President and Group Leader of Geosciences at Ryder Scott, with over 15 years of experience in geological and reservoir evaluation across global basins. He holds an MBA from the University of Oklahoma (2023), a Master of Science in Structural Geology from Utah State University (2011), and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Utah State University (2006). His expertise spans onshore and offshore exploration, reserves evaluation, and acquisition and divestiture activities.
Corey leads geoscience teams in evaluating reserves, risks, and investment opportunities, integrating geological, geophysical, and petrophysical data with engineering analysis. He has played key roles in major transactions, including multi-billion-dollar asset acquisitions, and has developed workflows for risk assessment and project valuation. With a strong background in well planning and basin analysis, Corey advises clients on due diligence, reserve certification, and strategic decision-making, supporting projects from individual fields to full basin evaluations.
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