Uncapped with Executive Roustabouts: What's Important and What's Not: Dave McKay on Focusing on the Core Work | Episode 11

In this episode of Uncapped with Executive Roustabouts, Jon Krome sits down with Dave McKay, a veteran upstream leader whose career spans Mobil, Aera Energy, and Hess, where he played a pivotal role in developing some of the industry's most significant unconventional projects. A mechanical engineer by training from the University of Colorado, Dave started his career as an operations engineer in Guymon, Oklahoma, before moving through operations management roles in California and eventually leading Aera's development of the Diatomite Formation, one of the earliest unconventional plays. He later took on the challenge of starting up and managing Hess's Bakken Shale project in North Dakota, serving as vice president of production until his retirement in 2018.

The conversation explores the evolution of unconventional development, where Dave reflects on the tension between manufacturing efficiency and continuous technical improvement. He shares candid insights on the challenges of adapting offshore expertise to onshore shale, the importance of balancing standardization with learning from each completion, and the critical role of operational reliability in maximizing value. Dave also offers a thoughtful perspective on core work in upstream oil and gas, arguing that reservoir knowledge and execution excellence must remain insourced to maintain competitive advantage. He discusses the complexities of contractor alignment, the importance of respect for people in driving quality and safety, and the promise of operations science and project production management in transforming how capital projects are executed.

Listen to the full conversation for a masterclass in leadership, operational discipline, and the enduring principles that separate great upstream organizations from the rest.