Special Events
NEXT GEN WILDCATTER PANEL
Jeffrey Allen, Moderator
I grew up in the oil and gas industry and have a deep passion for its people, processes, and uniquely American spirit. With many successful projects behind me, I’ve built a strong reputation as a hard-working scientist, consultant, liaison, and project manager.
Bringing the right people and investment opportunities together requires rigorous vetting and close supervision. These skills have helped me earn trust across the industry.
I’m especially proud of a project in San Patricio County, Texas, where I raised $6 million from 21 individual investors through careful coordination. Another highlight was leading exploration in Idaho’s Snake River Basin. As one of the few recognized experts in hydrocarbon exploration in Idaho, our team successfully produced and delivered the state’s first commercial hydrocarbons to market—a major win for all involved.
I’m also passionate about early education and literacy, actively supporting organizations like Real Men Read and Maps in Schools.
I frequently speak at conferences and private clubs across the United States and welcome invitations for public speaking opportunities. Please feel free to contact me to discuss potential engagements.
Jonathan (Jon) R. Rotzien is a contemporary scientist and business owner and has leddeepwater stratigraphy and reservoir characterization consulting and technicalcompetency training on most oil-producing continents. Rotzien previously served BP,Devon, Shell and Hess in a variety of roles primarily in offshore, deepwater oil and gasexploration, appraisal and research.
Rotzien received a BA degree in Geology, cum laude, from Colorado College inColorado Springs. As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, hestudied sedimentary geology in the Stanford Project on Deepwater DepositionalSystems (SPODDS) research group at Stanford University in Stanford, California,where he earned a PhD in Geological and Environmental Sciences in 2013.
As a business owner and scientist, Rotzien has participated in oil and gas exploratory todevelopment drilling, mapping expeditions, technical competency training and globalconsulting and served as lead geologist in about one-third of those ventures. Hespecializes in mapping sedimentary environments and the practical applications tosedimentary basin analysis, working with diverse industry teams on many aspects of exploration and production.
Matt Boyce, PhD, holds a B.S. and M.S. in Geology from the University of Arkansas and a PhD from West Virginia University, with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry as a geologist and petrophysicist specializing in exploration, development, and appraisal of unconventional and conventional assets. He began his career observing the early 2000s discovery of a major unconventional play (Fayetteville Shale) under advisor Dr. Walter Manger. His PhD work included early Marcellus Shale exploration, producing influential petrophysics/geology studies and a modified Archie equation for unconventionals. At ExxonMobil, he evaluated and operated wells across numerous US and international unconventional basins, contributing to global expansion efforts, while also working on conventional plays. At Southwestern Energy (SWN), his contributions helped maximize production and exploration in key basins. He co-invented a patented method (US 3005657A1) for enhanced unconventional porosity determination using core NMR, published as SPE paper 194484, which revealed in-place volumes 2-3 times higher than prior estimates. Matt continually pushes technical boundaries, particularly in NMR applications for oil and gas. With a passion for learning, exploring, and creating new business, he founded EPOCH Consulting LLC in 2018 and, in 2022, an operating company, Organic E&P. Since 2022, Matt has acquired and produced 80 wells in South Texas with a focus on continued exploration. He is also actively involved in new exploration plays in Alaska with Burgundy Xploration on the North Slope.
Dr. Sumit Verma is a geophysicist specializing in seismic interpretation, seismic attributes, seismic inversion, and the integration of seismic and well-log data for subsurface characterization. His academic and industry experience spans more than 15 years and includes research and exploration projects in North America and internationally.
Dr. Verma’s expertise relevant to this course is focused on interpreting deepwater depositional systems from seismic data and linking seismic observations to geological interpretation. His work has included the application of seismic attributes, petrophysical analysis, seismic reprocessing, and quantitative interpretation to characterize complex depositional and structural features in the subsurface. His research on the North Slope of Alaska has examined deepwater depositional systems and submarine slide blocks using 3D seismic attributes, petrophysical data, and integrated seismic interpretation. He has also worked on seismic characterization of deepwater turbidite channels in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand.
Dr. Verma contributed to the Elsevier volume Deep-Water Depositional Systems: Science, Discovery and Applications through a chapter on seismic, rock physics, and image-log analysis workflows for deepwater systems. His broader publication record includes more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous conference papers addressing seismic interpretation, seismic attributes, seismic inversion, machine learning, reservoir characterization, and subsurface geophysics.
Patrick McCullough is a third-generation oilman and petroleum geologist with more than 25years of experience generating conventional oil and gas prospects. He holds a bachelor's degree in Geology from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. At Hunt Oil Company, Abaco Operating, and Suemaur Exploration, Patrick generated prospects in the Gulf of Mexico, East Texas, and South Texas that led to the discovery and development of sizable hydrocarbon reserves. His approach is rooted in sound geology. He integrates subsurface mapping, well control, and seismic interpretation to identify conventional traps and understand risk before drilling. He works with both proprietary and public seismic data and favors prospects with clear analogs and meaningful upside. Patrick founded Emerald Bay Exploration to bring that same discipline to investors. He structures each prospect as a turnkey participation, so partners know their costs up front and can take a working interest in a well without operating it themselves. His partners include individual investors, family offices, and industry companies. Patrick is a member of AAPG, the Houston Geological Society / Corpus Christi Geological Society, and lives in Austin, Texas.
Andrew Pepper is a petroleum geologist with 45 years experience. With a Bachelor’s in Geological Sciences at Leeds University, UK, he joined BP in 1981, obtaining international experience working in Pakistan, China and Indonesia; a four year spell at the research lab provided the basis for his specialization in Petroleum Systems. He moved to Hess in 2003 as Chief geologist and latterly Director of New Ventures; and to BHP Billiton on 2012 as VP of Geocience and VP of Unconventional Exploration. In 2015 he set up This is Petroleum Systems LLC based in Texas, USA as a vehicle for research, learning and consulting in the field of Petroleum Systems Analysis.In 2023 he was invited as Adjuct Professor at the Unversity of Houston.
Andrew Muñoz is a multifaceted geoscientist with over a decade of experience. His background spans geophysics, geology, and data science, with experience across major US unconventional resource basins. Beginning his career at Newfield Exploration, Andrew honed his skills in basin evaluation and geoscience operations, eventually building data science and geophysical workflows that drove significant expansion of core development areas, including the Uinta and SCOOP/STACK plays.
In 2019, he joined Ensign Natural Resources as the company's sole geophysicist, leading multidisciplinary projects and spearheading the development of cutting-edge analytics tools that supported a $3.4 billion asset sale. His contributions drove significant asset growth and positioned Ensign as a technology leader among small- to mid-sized operators.
In 2023, he joined 4cast as Chief Operating Officer, where he led the development of innovative oil and gas valuation software and now continues to serve as a technical advisor. He now works as a geophysics consultant, prospector, and investor, focused on conventional exploratory prospects along the Gulf Coast, combining subsurface expertise with modern data-driven methods to unlock overlooked opportunities.
Hunter is a business strategist and geologist with over a decade of experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in deal structuring, commercial strategy, and negotiations. As Vice President of Carr Resources, Inc., his ability to integrate financial and geological insights allows him to identify high-value opportunities and execute successful transactions and commercial development to drive asset growth.
With a Master’s in Petroleum Geology from the University of Houston and a Bachelor’s in Geology from the University of Georgia, Hunter combines technical expertise with commercial insight to navigate the complexities of the oil and gas market.
Beyond his work at Carr Resources, Hunter serves as President of the East Texas Geological Society (ETGS) and the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (GCAGS), fostering collaboration and innovation within the industry. Additionally, he is the Vice Chairman of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers (TAEP), where he advocates for independent energy producers and helps shape industry policy in Texas and nationally.
Hunter married the love of his life, Jackie, and together they find joy in raising their two children, Sophia and Harrison. His hobbies include traveling, golf, hunting, and shotgun sports.
Dr Carl Watkins
Director of Global Business Development
Viridien Earth Data
Carl Graduated with a PhD in geology from Oxford Polytechnic, working on the sedimentology, palaeogemorphology and basin fill of the North Pyrenean Basin in SW France. He joined Robertson in 1991 and worked as a sedimentologist, reservoir geologist and explorationist before moving into senior management roles, including acting as the director of Business Development, Sales and Multiclient. Carl continues to find ways to keep his technical expertise sharp and currently works for Viridiens Earth Data (formerly the MultiClient and New Ventures) Group with responsibility for business and technical project development across the global geological portfolio and in support of Viridiens seismic and non-seismic businesses.
Reece Lonsert
Richard Denne
