Meet Jeff Aldrich

Consulting Senior Geoscientist, Sproule & Co-Chair, RMAG 2023 North American Helium Conference

RMAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee is featuring a monthly Member Corner. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about the diverse community of Earth scientists and wide variety of geoscience disciplines that comprise our membership. If you would like to appear in an upcoming column, or if there is someone you would like to nominate, please contact staff@rmag.org

HOW DID YOU END UP INVOLVED IN THE GEOSCIENCES?

I was a physics major at Vanderbilt and had to take a second required science class. I enrolled in Geology 101 and enjoyed it so much that I started taking all the classes that I could and ended up with a double major. I decided to do my graduate work in geology and Texas A&M gave me the best graduate assistance program (employment).

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

Cleaning building sites after school. A housing company wanted someone to sweep the floors, pick up the loose wiring and such, and get the job site ready for the next day’s workers. The architect for the project was the WWII POW known as the “Cooler King”, portrayed by Steve McQueen in the Great Escape. I ended up being able to hang sheetrock, then went on to work in a roof truss factory.

Starting out in the geosciences, I was hired by Pennzoil to work the Gulf of Mexico, first in Development and then in Exploration. Development geologists spent most of their initial year working offshore on well logging jobs while also managing the geological needs of existing producing fields.

WHAT JOBS HAVE YOU HAD DURING YOUR CAREER?

I have worked for 9 companies, including my own, during my career, which is not what I planned nor expected. I always valued loyalty and trying to maintain a good working relationship. However, companies do change executive leadership over time. New leaders often want to chart different courses and, while that can entail a great learning opportunity, it sometimes can mean the new executive wishes to change their team or take the company in a direction that you just don’t see yourself a part of.

During my career I have gone back and forth from exploration to development, from geology to geophysics, from a technical skill position to management and back to a technical role. I have been a Chief Geologist (several times), President, Exploration Manager, VP of Exploration, Partner, Reserve Manager, Head of Exploration, Portfolio Manager, and acting Drilling Manager. Now as a consultant I am a Senior Geoscientist.

WHAT DOES YOUR CURRENT JOB ENTAIL?

My work is extremely varied depending on the clients’ needs. Over the course of a year, I will characterize a reservoir for CCUS storage, evaluate prospective resources of a new helium prospect, and work with a client on revisions to existing reserve and resource reports (oil, gas, and/or helium) based on new wells and pricing. I also might assist a client on a potential acquisition by evaluating a property or prepare expert witness reports in a litigation.

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?

Never stop learning and never stop questioning the status quo. I pushed back on how Pennzoil did its analysis for Gulf of Mexico lease sales and ended up changing the corporate methodology and starting my path to understanding reserves. In the ‘80s Pennzoil asked me to drill the first CBM well in the Raton Basin, which made me learn about CBM and later led me to be an executive in two different CBM companies. In 2007, early on in the shale revolution, I sought out the experts at a 2-day event to learn about how shales could be productive and by 2014 I was teaching classes on Unconventionals for

PetroSkills. Now I am doing more helium evaluations than probably anyone else, something I did not think about a decade ago. I also am working on – and learning about – carbon sequestration and geothermal wells. For those starting out now you really can’t tell what technologies will disrupt your work (I started at Pennzoil with a slide rule) or what resources will demand your attention. However, geologic first principles will still be fundamental.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE ENTERING INTO THE GEOSCIENCES?

Take the time and opportunity to learn how to code (it is the language of future science) and also take some business courses. Fundamental geologic first principles still apply. Whereas computers are great tools, they are just tools for the geoscientist to use if they understand what questions to ask. A computer cannot ask the question, nor understand where to get more data. The geoscientist that (A) has seen the most outcrops [GET TO THE FIELD!] and (B) understands the purpose of the business and the purpose of the question will (C) be the geoscientist » that can best use the tools available to solve the new problems.

I also recommend to anyone starting out (or continuing) that the very best thing that they can do for their career is to both join the local and national professional societies and then volunteer. Join committees and help on conventions or symposiums. It is the best way to get to know fellow professionals and the more you do, the wider your network will be. Most of my jobs have come through my networks and those networks have been built through AAPG and local societies. Get certified, you never know when you might need it, and give talks and posters and papers. These volunteer activities supercharge your career.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?

Staying true to your principles. Over your career you will become known for both the quality of your work and the decisions that you make. Those decisions will be based on your ethics, in which you will need to be rock solid. This ethical grounding will help you weather all the different storms that will come your way.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST RISK YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?

Resigning from a secure job without having another secure position.

WHAT DOES RETIREMENT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN TERMS OF GEOSCIENCE?

Hopefully I can continue to work full time for several more years, then consult part time for as long as I am able. As long as people think that I have something valuable to contribute and it keeps me active, then I will enjoy doing it.

IF YOU COULD VISIT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

Antarctica – the only continent I have not been to.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO?

I have a variety of playlists from Classical Overtures to Jazz to Country and Western; even old Blues. I have so many songs in my different playlists that I have no idea who any of the current artists are.

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

I spend time, or try to, in the Bible every day.

WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST/ MOST DARING THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE?

I was arrested in Area 51.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?

“All models are wrong, some are useful.” George Box, 1976