Executive Portfolio
Driving Subsurface
Excellence.
20+ years of proven execution in exploration, reservoir characterization, and asset development across conventional, deepwater, shale, and tight-reservoir environments.
5%
Production Increase & <10 Day Cycle Times
~200
Days Well Control Saved
$3M–$6M
Annual Budgets Managed
14 Blocks
Gulf of America Captures
Mission Statement
Resolute belief that superior subsurface knowledge underpins the success of top quartile industry performers.
Combining fundamental geoscience principles with new technologies and integration across transdisciplinary functions is core to premier operation and execution. Committed to continual development of the organization, asset, team, and individual.
Academic Foundation
- M.S. Geology — University of South Carolina (GPA: 3.97)
- B.A. Geology & English Minor — SUNY Geneseo (GPA: 3.88)
Core Technical Domains
Global Basins
Deepwater GoM, Williston/Bakken, Eagle Ford, North Sea, West Africa, Australia.
Reservoir Characterization
Integration of seismic, core, and petrophysical data in conventional and unconventional assets.
Asset Optimization
Economic modeling, NPV evaluation, and resource forecasting to drive strategic capital allocation.
Chronostratigraphy
Development and implementation of global stratigraphic standards unifying international asset teams.
Risk Mitigation
Geohazard ensemble modeling and SWD overpressure prediction to ensure safe drilling.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Bridging geoscience, reservoir engineering, and drilling for unified, executive-level decision support.
Career Progression
2026
Phoenix Energy Houston / DenverVice President Exploration
- Directed asset exploration and development strategies that extended laterals, optimized spacing and completions, increasing production 5% and reducing cycle time to under 10 days.
- Evaluated onshore resources and offshore growth opportunities while advising VP/SVP leadership on partnerships and subsurface strategy.
- Led strategic planning across stakeholder data while addressing H2S and SWD overpressure risks.
2022 - 2025
Hess Corporation Houston, TXSenior Manager Bakken Geoscience
- Led an integrated subsurface organization spanning geoscience, drilling, planning, engineering, and wellsite operations.
- Managed $3M–$6M annual budgets advancing imaging, modeling, simulation, forecasting, and history-match capabilities.
- Evaluated exploration acquisitions, NOJV development, and reservoir opportunities using integrated analysis.
2017 - 2022
Hess Corporation Houston, TXManager Geoscience Development
- Directed technical development programs for early-career and experienced geoscientists.
- Mentored geoscience professionals through targeted development opportunities, supporting technical growth and business needs.
- Presented workforce needs and hiring strategies to VP/SVP leadership for organizational planning.
2014 - 2017
Hess Corporation Houston, TXTeam Leader Reservoir Analysis
- Led sedimentologists, stratigraphers, geocellular modelers, and deepwater reservoir specialists within a multidisciplinary tech organization.
- Established subsurface evaluation strategies, reservoir frameworks, and OOIP assessments across six global regions.
2007 - 2014
Hess Corporation Houston, TXGeologic Advisor
- Advised multidisciplinary teams on biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy.
- Delivered real-time geological insights from field operations to influence operational decisions, cost management, and safety.
2006 - 2007
ConocoPhillips Company Houston, TXRegional Geologist
- Identified, defined, and high-graded exploration opportunities, contributing to successful bids on 14 deepwater Gulf of America blocks.
2001 - 2006
Paleo-Data, Inc. New Orleans, LAStaff Biostratigrapher
- Delivered data-driven stratigraphic interpretations and oil-and-gas targets for major and independent energy companies.
Strategic Leadership
Executing high-value asset development requires navigating uncertainty, incomplete data, and rigorous capital allocation. I utilize a structured 6-step framework to balance risk-reward tradeoffs and ensure alignment from the technical level to the executive suite.
Understand
Define the fundamental geological and business problem.
Assess
Evaluate subsurface data, economic parameters, and risk profiles.
Align
Build consensus across cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Decide
Commit to a strategic direction backed by quantitative analysis.
Execute
Deploy resources effectively and oversee operational delivery.
Measure
Track outcomes against forecasts and iterate based on real-time data.
People & Team Development
Technical excellence is driven by people. I am committed to mentoring talent, fostering transparent communication, and ensuring team members have the technical ownership needed to excel.
- Developed global training programs for 15-20 early-career geoscientists.
- Mentorship actions led directly to 17 individual promotions and asset placements.
- Led talent acquisition with diverse interview teams, ensuring proper representation.
- Ensured proper technical representation for developing geoscientists at senior leadership engagements.
Verifiable Impact & Case Studies
Madison Depletion & Well Control Risk Mitigation
Challenge
Managing subsurface risk and drilling efficiencies in depleted zones.
Action & Leadership
Led strategic planning on optimized drilling locations.
Result
Saved as many as 200 days of well control activities, directly protecting capital and schedule.
Bakken SWD & Geohazard Ensemble Modeling
Challenge
Overpressure zones and geohazards associated with Saltwater Disposal (SWD).
Action & Leadership
Initiated seismic reprocessing and reservoir modeling to history-match/forecast geohazards. Collaborated with drilling/mud engineers on casing & fluid design.
Result
Successfully managed risk and revised budget through predictive overpressure mapping.
Reservoir-Driven Water-Cut Reduction
Challenge
High water-cut during production impacting asset economics.
Action & Leadership
Led an integrated subsurface team combining completion design/intensity with reservoir fluid properties.
Result
Reduced production water cut by up to 20%, significantly enhancing profitability.
Gulf of America Acreage Capture
Challenge
Identifying high-value exploration targets in frontier/deepwater basins.
Action & Leadership
Conducted regional to prospect-scale mapping, volumetric evaluation, and economic assessment presented to VP leadership.
Result
Successful bids on 14 Gulf of America blocks; technical reviewer for 3 Atlantic margin blocks.
Global Chronostratigraphic Standardization
Challenge
Disparate stratigraphic frameworks across international offices hindering global asset evaluation.
Action & Leadership
Developed a unified global stratigraphic standard and centralized digital database.
Result
Reviewed and accepted by 4 international offices and implemented across over 10 asset teams.
Operational Execution & Cycle Time Optimization
Challenge
Need to accelerate development timelines while lifting production.
Action & Leadership
Directed asset exploration/development strategies optimizing spacing, laterals, and completions.
Result
Achieved a 5% production increase and reduced cycle times to below 10 days.
Publications & Technical Authority
Contributions to the geoscience community through peer-reviewed papers, symposiums, and internal technical forums.
Improved Regional Characterization of Bakken-Three Forks Reservoir Integrating Special Core Analysis, Advanced Logs, and Production Using Petrophysics and Geologic Framework
Sushanta Bose; Virginia Smellie; Jeff Hamman; Josh Miller
SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Houston, TX, June 2025
View DOI https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2025-4265255Ensemble Based Reservoir Modeling of Produced Water Disposal Injection Improving Pressure Prediction and Derisking Bakken Development Operations - A Case Study from the Williston Basin
Sushanta Bose; Cayden OneBear; Miguel A. Jakymec; Josh Miller; Will Yancey; Gaurav Sharma
SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Houston, TX, June 2025
View DOI https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2025-4264988Laboratory Measurement of Total Porosity and Fluid Saturations for Unconventional Tight Rocks: Methodologies, Challenges
Min Cheng; Rayvan Watson; Alberto Latuff; Aaron Rodriguez; Peter Kaufman; Josh Miller; Rafael A. Mendoza; Elizabeth Krukowski; Robert Cole
Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts 66th Annual Symposium, Dubai, UAE, May 2025
View DOI https://www.spwla.org/SPWLA/SPWLA/Publications/Publication_Detail.aspx?iProductCode=PJV66N2-2025a4Geochemistry-Based Production Allocation in Bakken-Three Forks Development
Peter Kaufman; Aaron Rodriguez; Josh Miller; Jana Bachleda; Shuangyu Ge; Faye Liu
SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Houston, TX, June 2024
View DOI https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2024-4044682Improved Reservoir Characterization of Bakken-Three Forks Integrating Special Core Analysis and Petrophysics
Sushanta Bose; Aaron Rodriguez; Jeff Hamman; Virginia Smellie; Carlos Miranda; Josh Miller
SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Houston, TX, June 2024
View DOI https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2024-4054738A Reservoir-Scale Correlation Framework Integrating Tectono-Stratigraphy, Seismic, Petrophysics and Biostratigraphy: Case Studies from Tubular Bells, Stampede and Penn State Deep
Josh Miller; Steve Uchytil; Ken Kemp; Bill Kilsdonk
Hess Internal Geoscience Forum, August, 2017
Hess Global Stratigraphic Standard: A United Scheme for Chronostratigraphy
Josh Miller; Dave Pocknall; T.C. Huang; Richard Beaubouef
Hess Internal Geoscience Forum, July, 2013
Executive Inquiry
Available for executive leadership roles, strategic advisory, and subsurface consulting opportunities.
Professional References
Richard Beaubouef
Geologist – RTB Geoscience/Hess
(832) 212-7159
David Pocknall
Geologist – Consultant/Hess
(832) 347-4552
Neil Piggott
VP Exploration - Hess (Ret.)
(832) 729-0148
Sushanta Bose
Geologist - Chevron/Hess
(281) 857-9831
