Biography
Jay is a seasoned geoscientist with over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. His passion for geophysics was deeply influenced by the devastating M7.8 Tangshan Earthquake in 1976, leading him to study seismology as an undergraduate at Beijing University. He later earned a Ph.D. in geodynamics from Cornell University under the guidance of Prof. Turcotte. A side project in basin modeling with Prof. Cathles led Jay to join Exxon Production Research (EPR) in 1991.
During his 16-year tenure at Exxon/ExxonMobil, Jay held various technical and leadership roles across exploration, production, and technology development. In 2007, he joined Hess Corporation, where he held multiple leadership positions within the company’s global E&P operations. His key responsibilities and contributions included: 1) Basin Analysis Technology Manager – Led the development and implementation of Play-Based Exploration (PBE) workflows at Hess, providing the critical technical foundation that supported the company’s successful farm-in to the Guyana Stabroek Block. 2) Central Gulf of Mexico Exploration Manager – Directed exploration opportunity capture, portfolio maturation, and deepwater exploration drilling operations in the Central GOM. 3) Exploration Excellence Manager – Oversaw resource assessment and technical assurance for Hess’s global exploration portfolio, ensuring rigorous evaluation and risk management. Jay’s career provided him with extensive experience in major petroleum provinces worldwide, including the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Canada, South America, the North Sea, and the Middle East.
Since retiring from Hess, Jay has been actively involved in technical consulting and research, with a recent emphasis on natural hydrogen systems in the clean energy sector.
Purpose for joining the Advisory Council
As a member of the advisory council, I strive to provide insights and ideas at the intersection of traditional energy and emerging clean energy solutions, supporting the EAS strategic vision and direction. For instance, advancing geoscience applications in the energy transition space may require deeper integration of soft and hard-rock geochemistry, geomechanics, and sedimentology. Additionally, I value the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with the next generation of earth scientists.