Technical Team

James Follis
Drilling Manager

James Follis has served as Drilling Manager for TransAtlantic Petroleum since 2014. Mr. Follis is responsible for and oversees all drilling operations.

Mr. Follis has been in the oil and natural gas industry since 1989 and has served as Vice President of Operations for Longfellow Energy since 2007. Prior to joining Longfellow Energy, Mr. Follis served in several managerial operational roles for over 18 years with Riata Energy, Inc. and Lariat Services. He managed Riata’s operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Kentucky and assumed the role of Vice President of Operations in 2000. In his career, he has drilled more than 475 wells.

Javier Gonzalez
Operations Manager

Javier Gonzalez was appointed Operations Manager in June 2019. Mr. Gonzalez's primary responsibilities are to support the efficient and safe drilling operations of TransAtlantic Petroleum's assets. He has previously held the Operation Manager role in Turkey responsible for the safe and efficient operation and development of TransAtlantic Petroleum's assets in Turkey, Bulgaria, and the region as well as manage the local technical teams

Prior to joining TransAtlantic, Mr. Gonzalez served in several managerial and technical roles in Drilling, Completion, and Production Operations at Occidental Petroleum, Shell E&P, and Schlumberger. He has worked in the Permian Basin, South Texas, Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Mr. Gonzalez holds a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Tulsa and a M.B.A. degree from the University of Houston.  He is also an active member of the SPE.

Geology

Burc Umul
Senior Geoscientist

Burc Umul has served as Senior Geoscientist for TransAtlantic Petroleum since 2012. Mr. Umul's responsibilities  include exploration and development projects in Southeast Turkey, with special focus in Mardin Cretaceous prospects and Selmo Field projects.

Prior to joining TransAtlantic Petroleum, Mr. Umul took over as Head of Geology Department at Thrace Basin Natural Gas Company (TBNG) from 2008 to 2012 and served as the Exploration Team Leader upon TransAtlantic Petroleum's acquisition of Thrace Basin Natural Gas Company (TBNG). From 2002 to 2008, Mr. Umul was Site Geologist at TBNC. Mr. Umul began his career as a Geological Engineer at a local surface investigation company in Turkey in 1997.

Mr. Umul holds a B.S. degree in Geological Engineering from Hacettepe University and is a member of AAPG and the Turkish Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Business Development, Land and Regulatory

Noah M. Mitchell 4th
Director

Noah M. Mitchell 4th is Director of TransAtlantic Petroleum. He provides leadership company-wide, with an emphasis on capital allocation and corporate strategy.

Prior to his work with TransAtlantic Petroleum Mr. Mitchell served as the Director of Business Development for Viking Services, a leading EMEA oilfield service company. He was also the Founder of Viking Coil Tubing, where he served as the company’s President prior to its sale to Warburg Pincus.

In addition, Mr. Mitchell currently serves as a Partner of Longfellow Energy, LP.

Mr. Mitchell holds a B.S. degree from Southern Methodist University.