Forensic Accounting Expert for Oil & Gas Case

An accountant with extensive oil and gas industry experience was needed to review overhead costs in consideration of an oil and gas exploration lease. This was an accounting dispute being brought to arbitration by the non-operating company of certain oil wells against the operating company of those wells, charging that overhead costs were excessive or non-applicative in accordance with 1) their oil and gas exploration lease and 2) the rules of COPAS, the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies.

IMS ExpertServices™ was asked to locate a forensic accounting expert with the following qualifications; 1) experience negotiating accounting disputes for oil and gas operating agreements 2) understanding of how the operator calculates many types of overhead common to this type of agreement 3) familiarity with COPAS rules. The expert would be called upon to opine on what constitutes excessive overhead within the context of this provision of the COPAS

Economics & Finance Expert

This forensic accounting expert holds a BA, a Masters of Professional Accounting and a PhD in Accounting, Finance and Economics. She is currently professor of Accounting at a large Midwestern university and works as the Director of International Petroleum Programs. She is a respected author and speaker on topics relevant to the oil and gas industry. She is an experienced expert witness, having been engaged for other oil and gas industry cases including the largest commercial litigation in Australian history. IMS Reference #1213810

Oil & Gas Industry Expert

This forensic accounting expert has over 21 years of oil and gas accounting experience. Approximately 13 years were with oil and gas producers involving financial reporting, accounting system conversions, tax schedule preparation, and revenue accounting. Her recent experience has focused on joint interest auditing and she has performed contract compliance audits of numerous oil and gas operators for properties located domestically and abroad. This expert has held an Accredited Petroleum Accountant certification since its establishment by COPAS in 1996. IMS Reference #2339880