About Us
Our Story
Vertical Petroleum Industries was founded by a real estate and oil investor who was tired of being offered overpriced projects from people who had little to no control over major development decisions. He assembled a team with a trusted operator and geologist to acquire and develop proven shallow vertical fields in northern Texas.
We are driven by values
Dan Sauer, President of Vertical Petroleum Industries LLC
President and CEO of Vertical Petroleum Industries LLC in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Dan has been involved in Capital Funding for both oil and gas projects and for National and International Real Estate Projects for over 20 years. His experience includes 10 years as Director of Funding for projects totaling in excess of $60 million per year. In addition to Dan’s commercial real estate experience, Dan actively manages his personal portfolio of residential rental properties. Dan lives in the Plainview district of Ardmore, Oklahoma with Christie, his wife of 25 years, and their children.
DANIEL SAUER, PRESIDENT
“What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do something remarkable?”
President and CEO of Vertical Petroleum Industries LLC in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Dan has been involved in Capital Funding for oil and gas projects or for National and International Real Estate Projects for over 20 years including 10 years as Director of Funding for projects totaling in excess of $60 million per year. Currently, Dan has partnered with multiple operators, geologists, and field engineers to ensure the success of the Sooner Wells #7 Joint Venture.
Dan and his wife, Christie, have been married for 26 years. They have five children who keep both of them active with school, college and careers. The Sauers live in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
MICHAEL R. VILLALVA, Petroleum Engineer, Owner of EMARVY Resources
Michael has over 20 years of experience in many facets of the oil and gas industry – production, operations, drilling, completions, and reservoir engineering.
He graduated (Magna Cum Laude) from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering. Michael spent the first 9 years of his career with Chevron in Midland, Texas. He has held various positions with corporate and independent producers including Encana, Citation Oil & Gas, and Pioneer Natural Resources.
He has worked on various assets (HTHP, conventional, and unconventional) in the Permian Basin, North and South Texas as well as the Mid-Continent area. During this time, he gained valuable experience in business development, project management, waterflooding, log analysis, and field operations which has allowed him to be well-versed in understanding the full life cycle of oil and gas properties. Michael served as a multi-disciplined engineer where he performed the duties of operations, production, and/or reservoir engineering for various US and international projects.
Currently, Michael provides consulting services in A&D, Production, Operations, Reservoir Engineering and Business Development. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
BARRY HANKS, Geologist
Barry graduated in 1983 with a B.S. in Petroleum Geology and a minor in Biology from Midwestern State University in Wichita County, Texas. Barry is responsible for the following areas:
- Prospect generation, evaluation, and mapping for potential leases
- Choosing drilling locations and development plan for acquired leases
- Evaluating current wells for workover potential, pay behind-the-pipe, etc.
- Wellsite mudlogging, electric log evaluation, completion plans
As a founding principal for BTO Resources, Barry grew the company to over $48 million in 10 years. His professional industry memberships include American Association of Petroleum Geologists and North Texas Geological Association.