Ben Dotson
Contact Information
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Ben Dotson
(304) 685-5968
Description
Theodore Roosevelt said, "Do what you can with all you have, wherever you are." This mindset has
stuck with me throughout my 10+ years of geoscience experience developing new inventory and
optimizing existing assets. As a Geophysicist who works hand in hand with geologists, drilling engineers, and
reservoir engineers, I always depend on my geophysical workflows to ensure that my team is maximizing our
wells' productivity with the lowest amount of money spent.
For many unconventional basins, shale development is "lather, rinse, and repeat," but the high
structure zones of the Northeast Appalachian and Eastern Haynesville basins are anything but simple.
I thrive working in complicated areas, not unlike those found in the Gulf of Mexico's reservoirs or the Permian
basin’s various benches. I have a proven history of maximizing land positions despite large structures that I
believe will help your company successfully pursue the best reservoir placement possible.
While many geophysicists and geoscientists get caught up in the processes and maps, I pride myself
in my ability to communicate with team members at all levels, from field personnel, drilling engineers,
landmen, and reservoir engineers to the COO. I make a point to explain why a piece of data or outcome
affected results and how it could impact the company. I focus my efforts and work on what aligns best with the
company and its objectives. Some of my career highlights include:
• Identified opportunity to grow an acquired asset with no value. Generated a development plan,
convinced management to drill a lateral, and led the team that sold asset for $127MM (5x multiplier).
• Provided highly detailed interpretations of both 2D and 3D seismic as geophysical support for over 145
wells over five different formations and three different basins.
• Improved Southwestern Energy’s cost-per-foot metrics within the Marcellus by increasing completable
lateral well length by 40% through detailed structural mapping of the target formations and utilizing
seismic attributes to predict faults and sub-seismic fold structures. Our max drill lateral well was 22,359
lateral feet (PA lateral length record).
I look forward to discussing with you about career opportunities and how I can add value to your organization.
Sincerely,
Ben Dotson
Industry
E&P
Location
Houston
Experience
Southwestern Energy (Expand Energy) 2015 to 2024
Staff Geophysicist 2023-2024
● Identified opportunity to grow an acquired asset with no value. Generated a development plan, convinced management to drill a lateral, and led team that sold asset for $127MM (5x multiplier).
● Led Utica Point Pleasant exploration team testing the far limit of Utica Point Pleasant development in Northeast PA.
● Improved cost per foot metrics within the Marcellus by increasing completable lateral well length 40% through detailed structural mapping of the target formations and utilizing seismic attributes to predict faults and sub-seismic fold structures. Our max drill lateral well was 22,359 lateral feet (PA lateral length record).
● Increased well count by 8 within an untested area of SWN’s Haynesville and Mid-Bossier acreage by combining seismic interpretation of the Smackover formation with a depth model to prove 7 sections of the northern fault zone were prospective.
● Reduced drilling NPT by identifying channel sands in the Haynesville-basin shallow zones through edge detection and curvature attributes.
Senior Geophysicist 2019-2023
● Improved drilling efficiencies and frac hit mitigation in Tioga County Marcellus Shale by applying various seismic attribute analysis.
● Conceived and led multi-operator microseismic acquisition that improved our completions designs, positively affected production, and lowered overall costs.
● Negotiated and licensed 80mi2 of spec 3D and +90mi of spec 2D seismic data
● Evaluated 4 A&D opportunities within SWN’s Northeast App Division on both the sale and buy side to determine the best investment opportunities for Southwestern Energy.
Geophysicist 2015-2019
● Supported 3+ rigs over PA and OH development areas simultaneously.
● Enhanced completion designs to maximize well production for 10 wells in our tier-two acreage using cased hole logging on lateral wells to create an optimized completion design, targeting like stress zones and perforating in high permeability sections within the frac stage.
● Mapped Trenton Limestone using a combination of eight 3D surveys and 50+ 2D lines to create a regional understanding of potential inventory opportunities within Utica Point Pleasant in PA & NY.
Halliburton Landmark Geographics 2012 to 2015
Geology and Geophysics Consultant
● Member of the ConocoPhillips DecisionSpace Geoscience Deployment team, converting multiple business units to DecisionSpace using classroom training, one-on-one mentoring, and bespoke workflow creation.
● Increased clients’ efficiency by leveraging Landmark’s software.
● Produced video workflows, demos, and small classes to improve clients’ understanding of DecisionSpace Geosciences.
● Helped major oil companies, such as ConocoPhillips, Murphy Oil Corp., Eni SPA, Maersk Oil, and Cobalt Intl. Energy, meet project goals through onsite mentoring and support.
Skills
+10 years of geophysics and geology experience developing new inventory and optimizing existing assets to maximize cash flow and grow reserves.
Provided geophysical support for over 145 wells over five different formations and three different basins.
Planned 18 wells as a led development geologist, including an exploration well and delineation well.
Proficiency in interpretation, inversion, and attribute modeling on both 2D and 3D seismic in multiple basins on multiple seismic interpretation software.
Education
Masters of Science in Geology from West Virginia University 2013
Bachelor of Business Marketing from West Virginia University 2009
Minor: Geology