As Aera embarks on a journey to develop carbon capture and storage and other innovative technologies to reduce carbon in its own operations, it keeps producing the safe, reliable, and responsibly produced oil and gas California needs to thrive. Aera’s Chief Operating Officer Ted Witt ensures teams put the health and safety of people and the environment first while they’re innovating for the future.
Witt oversees Aera’s production operations including environmental health and safety, field operations, engineering, geosciences, reservoir, production, drilling, development, construction and maintenance. He’s been with Aera since its inception in 1997, most recently serving as Aera’s senior vice president – operations.
“Aera and its employees are committed to doing the right thing to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone and the environment around us,” Witt says. “We are focused on safely and efficiently running operations – providing much needed energy to California – while also working together to improve and transform as needed to build long-term success for the communities where we operate.”
Witt began his career as a facilities engineer at Shell in Bakersfield in 1990. He joined Aera when it was formed in 1997 and has held increasingly responsible operations leadership roles before being named chief operating officer.
Witt was born and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Even though he grew up in Tennessee, he has always enjoyed living in California and is proud to have spent his career at Aera.