Tom Sellers

Nominated by: Stephen Shaffer, Special Assistant, Leasing Division, Offshore Minerals Management

Tom Sellers is currently a Conoco Oil Company State Government Relations office in Austin, Texas. Prior to his relocation to Texas, he was a Federal Relations Representative with the Dupont/Conoco offices in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Sellers has taken extraordinary steps to help educate people about the regulatory or economic complexities of exploring for oil and natural gas on the Nation’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton, Tom Sellers of Conoco Oil Company, and Acting MMS Director Thomas R. Kitsos

Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton, Tom Sellers, and Acting MMS Director Thomas R. Kitsos

When Mr. Sellers was in the Washington Office, he developed a simulated OCS drilling game. Over the years, hundreds upon hundreds of congressional staff, MMS staff, OCS Policy Committee members have participated in this game. The objective of the game is to teach participants of the many regulatory steps and economic questions that must be addressed before an oil and gas concern bids on an offshore lease. The game has proved to be an effective tool for educating policymakers about OCS oil and gas development.

To further demonstrate the value of the oil drilling simulation game, Mr. Sellers traveled to China with MMS officials in 2000 to present the game to Chinese government officials.

I am honored to nominate Mr. Tom Sellers for the Corporate Leadership Award for his efforts toward informing policymakers around the world about the oil and gas industry.