From $5M to $15B with Dick Stoneburner

How do you turn a $5 million bet into a $15 billion win? That’s the kind of wild story we’re talking about here—think high-stakes deal making, seismic tech breakthroughs, and the evolution of oil and gas from gut-instinct exploration to data-driven science. From a humble start in Wichita to shaping industry giants like 3TEC and Petrohawk, this conversation is packed with insider tales of risks, rewards, and the moments that defined a career at the cutting edge of energy.

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0:00 Introduction & Poker Banter
2:14 Getting Started in the Oil Business (1970s)
5:25 Building & Selling 3-Tech
9:06 Early Off-Market Acquisitions & Strategies
13:42 3D Seismic & Technological Advancements
19:08 Founding Petrohawk & the Shale Revolution
24:55 The Haynesville Land Rush
32:12 The Parallel Eagle Ford Play
39:50 BHP Billiton’s $15 Billion Acquisition
45:46 Post-Sale Observations & Management Philosophy
51:07 Pivoting to Private Equity (Pine Brook)
59:08 Working with Portfolio Companies & Challenges
1:02:40 The Future of Shale & International Expansion
1:07:14 Enhanced Recovery & Shale Re-Fracs
1:09:10 Potential New Basins & Final Thoughts

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