Prairie Operating names Patton to succeed Owen as CFO

Prairie Operating Co., Houston, has promoted Gregory S. Patton to chief financial officer, effective Apr. 1. He succeeds Craig Owen, who is retiring after more than 30 years in the energy industry. 

Patton joined Prairie last year as executive vice-president of commercial development. He holds over 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Prairie, Patton served as senior vice-president of corporate development and finance at Great Western Petroleum and as chief financial officer at Trigger Energy. 

Prairie Operating’s assets and operations are concentrated in the oil and liquids-rich regions of the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) basin, with a primary focus on the Niobrara and Codell formations. The company recently signed a deal to add to its oil-weighted production through a $603-million acquisition from Bayswater Exploration and Production and a $94.5-million deal last year with Nickel Road Operating LLC (OGJ Online, Feb. 7, 2025; Jan. 12, 2024).