EOG Resources Wildcatting Veteran Billy Helms to Retire

New-play developer EOG Resources President Lloyd W. "Billy" Helms Jr. plans to retire May 31 after joining the company via a predecessor in 1981.

A Texas Tech petroleum engineering graduate, Helms is among the pre-1986-oil-bust generation to begin a career in oil and gas before a blight on energy-studies enrollment that ended with new U.S. shale career opportunities at the turn of the century.

Before being named EOG president in 2021, while additionally serving as COO, Helms led the E&P division as executive vice president from 2013 to 2017.

Previously, he ran EOG’s Canadian operations from Calgary and held engineering and acquisition roles.

He will depart the EOG board with more than 230,000 EOG shares and options, according to an EOG proxy statement filed in March.

"Billy has been a champion of utilizing innovation to constantly improve the company throughout his more than 40-year career with EOG," said Ezra Yacob, chairman and CEO.

"He encourages employees to pursue innovative ideas and creative solutions that utilize in-field technology, information technology and new processes to drill better wells for lower cost, more safely and with lower emissions.

“We're incredibly grateful to Billy for his leadership and for his contributions to EOG's culture of continuous improvement. We wish Billy the best as he and his wife pursue the next phase of their lives."