How do you turn a $5 million bet into a $15 billion win? That’s the kind of wild story we’re talking about here—think high-stakes deal making, seismic tech breakthroughs, and the evolution of oil and gas from gut-instinct exploration to data-driven science. From a humble start in Wichita to shaping industry giants like 3TEC and Petrohawk, this conversation is packed with insider tales of risks, rewards, and the moments that defined a career at the cutting edge of energy. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy. Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward. Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 0:00 Introduction & Poker Banter 2:14 Getting Started in the Oil Business (1970s) 5:25 Building & Selling 3-Tech 9:06 Early Off-Market Acquisitions & Strategies 13:42 3D Seismic & Technological Advancements 19:08 Founding Petrohawk & the Shale Revolution 24:55 The Haynesville Land Rush 32:12 The Parallel Eagle Ford Play 39:50 BHP Billiton’s $15 Billion Acquisition 45:46 Post-Sale Observations & Management Philosophy 51:07 Pivoting to Private Equity (Pine Brook) 59:08 Working with Portfolio Companies & Challenges 1:02:40 The Future of Shale & International Expansion 1:07:14 Enhanced Recovery & Shale Re-Fracs 1:09:10 Potential New Basins & Final Thoughts https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters
