HOUSTON, Feb. 8, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Azura Energy Systems, Inc. (Azura) announced today that Curtis D. Burton, age 50, has been named the company's Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Burton will be responsible for managing the company's strategy, as well as oversight of the company's operations. The appointment was effective February 1, 2006.
Burton, a 27-year marketing and operations veteran, has experience spanning 10 countries and a wide range of business settings.
"I am excited about my new role as CEO and the vision of the new company we have formed," said Curtis D. Burton, Chief Executive Officer, Azura. "In addition to management of day-to-day operations, a significant focus for me will be development of innovative new technologies, systems and products to position Azura at the forefront of our industry's efforts to lower operator's costs in finding and producing energy. Azura is lean and nimble and can provide our clients with rapid product delivery and superior service. When this is coupled with the high impact technologies that we will bring to the land and deepwater markets of the industry, you can be certain that Azura is poised to be a pace-setter for the industry."
In 2005, Burton co-founded Nautilus Marine Technologies. The focus of the company was development of new and innovative subsea technologies for the deepwater oil and gas industry. Azura was formed as the result of a three-way merger between Nautilus, Superior Wellheads, Inc. (a provider of land wellhead, valve and tree systems) and Gilmore Valves, a historic provider of controls components to the drilling industry.
Prior to his association with Nautilus Marine Technologies, Burton held a number of increasingly responsible marketing and operating positions with Grant Prideco, Total Offshore Production Service, Texaco, Seaflo Systems and Sedco Hamilton Production Systems. Burton started his career as a Downhole Design Engineer with Otis Engineering Corporation.
Burton is recognized by the oil and gas industry as a primary "mover" of the industry into the deepwater frontier. He was the Co-Founder of DeepSTAR, Texaco's visionary and revolutionary deepwater development process. He has been acknowledged by numerous major oil companies for his "first of its kind" designs and innovative solutions to challenging technical problems. Burton participated in the development of the industry's first artificial intelligence estimating and cost design program known as SEAPLAN.
Burton earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas in 1979. He has been a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas since 1987. Burton is a member of the National Ocean Industries Association.
Azura is a new company that will build on established product lines and infrastructures of Superior and Gilmore with new products and services, including an innovative and cost-saving subsea tree that has been developed by Nautilus. It will focus on the manufacture and sale of wellheads, trees and valves for the land and subsea markets.