ExxonMobil and Abu Dhabi

The main house on the ranch reflects a blend of
Spanish, Mexican and South Texas architecture.
days,” he says. Now retired and
living with his wife in Kingsville,
Ketcham has fond memories of
the King Ranch and the many
people who worked there with
him, including Rex Tillerson,
current Chairman and CEO of
Exxon Mobil Corporation.
Morris Foster, retired president
of ExxonMobil Production
Company, and Jim Sandy, U.S.
Production operations manager,
took the lead in negotiating the
new lease. Like Tillerson, Foster
and Sandy both spent parts of
their early careers working with
the King Ranch.
“Because of the high activity
of exploration and production,
many past and current members
of the company’s management
earned their spurs here,”
Ketcham says.
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A good fit
One key to long relationships is
understanding what the other
person needs. Many employees
of the South Texas operations
are lifelong residents of the area,
so they’re familiar with the challenges
of ranch life.
“That’s one reason we get
along so well with the local
King Ranch people,” says Clay
Powell, senior field superintendent.
“I was raised in a ranching
family that lived just 20 miles
from here, so I know what
ranchers need and understand
how to do things right.”
An example is that when it’s
time to abandon a well – shut
down a piece of equipment –
ExxonMobil restores the land to
its original state.