Geology Then and Now

story by KELSEY STREMEL photography by KELSEY STREMEL and ZACH WOLF

What would you tell a current or future FHSU Tiger student? “Be curious. Find out. Ask questions. There’s joy in learning — whether you use it or not,” Curt Longpine said.

Fort Hays State University alum Curt Longpine is FHSU Foundation Board of Trustees Chair and co-owner of DaMar Resources in Hays. A native of Hays, Curt has been in the oil and gas industry since graduating high school. He’s seen the oil and gas industry change over the years with prices rising and falling in a cyclical rhythm, not unlike the motion of the oil pumpjacks that dot the northwest Kansas landscape.

Curt got his start in the hot and dusty Kansas oil and gas industry after high school, going immediately to work upon graduation. But after a couple of years of long hours and low pay, he decided to pursue a degree and expand his earning potential. He enrolled at Fort Hays State University while continuing to work part-time.

“After two lackluster years in high school and two years in the patch, I had forgotten how to learn,” said Curt. “Even though it was one of the hardest things I ever did, Fort Hays taught me how to learn again. Once you know how to learn, you can learn for life.”

Logan Behr graduated in May 2018 and is now a geologist for New Age Oil LLC. He shared a similar story of his start in the oil patch. He had a friend already working in the oilfield from his hometown of St. John, Kansas, and decided to work with him. Enjoying the fast pace and being outdoors, he decided to “go with it and make a career in geology.”

In his freshman seminar class, Logan took a self-evaluation quiz that was supposed to help predict his readiness for college. However, when Logan received a 25% percent chance of success result on the self-evaluation, he was devastated — until his instructor at the time, Dr. Joey Linn, said, “That’s a bunch of BS.”

“Those words gave me motivation like you wouldn’t believe,” Logan said in a 2018 letter to Dr. Linn. “You gave me confidence that I could graduate. You even gave me a graduation tassel to keep me focused on that goal. This past May, I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, a minor in Business Administration, and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. That graduation tassel still hangs on my wall as a reminder of all the opportunities I have, because you invested in me.”

During Logan’s college career, he had the opportunity to intern with Curt at DaMar Resources and begin expanding his industry experience filing and mapping cards that the company received by-weekly from the state. It was a tedious task but the perfect hands-on learning opportunity for a college student.

“Curt was always trying to show me new things and broaden my horizons throughout my time there,” Logan said. “He’s one of the people who helped expose me to many different experiences outside the classroom and helped me to excel and stay on track to be successful in the field.”

Curt has mentored geology students for more than 15 years. He helps acquaint them with the industry and find their niche while appreciating the many diverse opportunities available. Careers in oil and gas require knowledge of physics, math, chemistry, and business.

“I tell all my mentored students to diversify their education and industry experience,” Curt said. “There’s a lot of facets to the industry and there might be 40 vendors involved in a well and each is a specialist in their own area. Do as much as possible to make yourself valuable, and set yourself apart from everyone else.”

Diversification in the industry is essential for finding your career niche, making yourself more appealing to investors and partners, adapting to rapidly changing technology, and necessary to surviving the economic booms and busts. “Oil and gas is a highly cyclical industry,” Curt said. “Students should diversify their education and experience so they enjoy the good times while preparing for the downtimes,” lessons that could apply to many industries today.

When oil prices take a downturn, they create an economic ripple felt throughout rural communities and the state of Kansas. Oil exploration requires the expertise and contribution of electricians, large equipment specialists, plumbers, truckers, administrative specialists, attorneys, and those that make the technology and assets needed from exploration through refinement and marketing. Kansas ranks 10th in the Nation in oil and gas production. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 118,000 Kansas jobs rely on the oil and gas industry, generating 3 billion dollars annually.

These jobs pump billions into local economics. Whether the industry is up or down has an impact on local business, including retail and food and service that support the families working in oil and gas. Oil and gas annually contribute $2 million directly to education in Kansas and $1.4 billion in local and state tax revenue.

Curt has seen the ebb and flow of oil production in Kansas over the years and experienced how technology has evolved to minimize financial risk. In 1984, it cost approximately $152,000 to drill and complete a well. Today, that cost is around $370,000 to complete the same task amplifying the importance of technology and risk management.

“Early in my career, exploration was show holes, dip points, and a single point seismic reading,” Curt said. “Explorations at that time were 10-20% percent successful. One of the biggest changes over my career was the 3D seismic technology which wouldn’t have been possible without the advancement of supercomputers.

Now a must in exploration, 3D seismic technology has led to exploration success rates over 50%.”

Technology, education, experience, and mentorship have all helped shape Curt’s and Logan’s careers. Advancements that mitigate risk and well-rounded knowledge of sciences and business played a significant role in their success. Another quality they each share is an internal fire to put in the hours and hard work needed to achieve.

“Hard work is one of those qualities you can’t put a price on,” Curt said. “I tell those that I mentor that at some time in your career, you’re going to have to work your butt off. Don’t think of it as a burden, though, but an advancement. That work ethic separates a good career from a mediocre one.”

Both Curt and Logan tested their work ethic and program knowledge as seniors in the geoscience program during the transformative experience of the FHSU Department of Geoscience Field camp. “That was the most valuable experience,” Curt said. A two-week intensive field experience all on-campus geology majors share where they can put their knowledge and skills to work in real-world scenarios. They both can share stories of long hours in the hot summer sun, mapping, and then coming back to a canvas tent and pouring over their field findings.

“You were out there with the core people you went through classes with, and you experienced so many different things over those weeks,” Logan said. “That’s an experience I won’t forget.”

Hands-on experience like field camp helps to distinguish FHSU petroleum geology majors in the workforce. “Experience makes the difference,” Logan said. “I feel great that people recognize FHSU is a working kid college. My parents didn’t send me off to an expensive school, and I was better for it. My experience helped me in the job search, and even in a down year, I was able to explain what I knew and what value I could bring to the business.”

Even with the cyclical nature of oil and gas, no one could have foreseen the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and a worldwide decline in petroleum demand. When combined with demands for green energy resources and misconceptions of the oil industry, what does this mean for the future of geology careers?

While no one holds a crystal ball, Logan, Curt, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics all forecast continued growth and opportunity in the industry. The BLS anticipates between 7-14% growth, faster than the average for all occupations, in geoscience and hydrologists through 2029.

“There’s a lot of opportunity out there,” Logan said. “Smaller companies and start-ups begin making their mark in a downturn, and I see a lot of opportunity in geology. That’s what we’re working toward and preparing for.”

Curt shares in this positive attitude about the future of oil and gas. “I believe hydrocarbons will always be in an ebb and flow demand because the hydrocarbon molecule is so versatile,” Curt said. “It will be a slow evolutionary change, but there’s going to be a continued need for diverse energy sources, and hydrocarbons will have a role in that future.”

An evolving future, hard work, hands-on experience, supportive mentorship; sounds like a recipe for success in any major, not just geology. But according to Logan, one more thing is required for any FHSU student–resilience.

“You got to have a thick skin,” Logan said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been shot down by this or that, and you have to be able to handle rejection. I’ve spoken with lots of people about doing different things, and you may get nine no’s before you get that one yes. You have to learn how to use that for motivation to try harder.”