Highlight on Ladies in Geothermal – Brittany Gierke
On this particular function on Ladies in Geothermal, we spotlight Brittany Gierke of Fervo Vitality and relentless ardour for drilling and the vitality sector.
The USA Chapter of Ladies in Geothermal has been operating a collection of “Highlight on Ladies” options highlighting the essential position of girls within the geothermal sector. From this collection, we at the moment are function Brittany Gierke, Drilling Engineer at Fervo Vitality.
Robin majored in petroleum engineering at Texas A&M College, the place she additionally earned a minor in geology. Her journey from the oilfields of Chevron to the forefront of geothermal innovation at Fervo Vitality is a narrative of resilience, adaptation, and a relentless pursuit of sustainable vitality options.
Early mentorship
Over her 5 years of college training, Brittany accomplished 4 internships, three of which have been with Chevron. Some of the defining moments of Brittany’s early profession was the mentorship she acquired from Kim McHugh and Jerry Tardivo, distinguished figures in Chevron’s drilling division. These girls offered worthwhile mentorship to Brittany, sharing their experiences and discussing profession growth.
Not solely did their mentorship encourage Brittany to get into drilling, but in addition highlighted the gender disparity within the area. A that point, girls comprised solely 7% of the drilling roles in Chevron.
Ardour for the vitality sector
Brittany’s ardour for vitality continued to develop as she joined Chevron full-time after finishing her training. Engaged on rigs within the Midcontinent Enterprise Unit, she discovered the fast-paced surroundings of drilling and a job the place decision-making had fast, tangible outcomes notably rewarding.
Her work at Chevron included main complicated and groundbreaking initiatives, akin to the corporate’s first horizontal wells within the Permian Basin. The shift from vertical to horizontal wells was a serious development within the trade, and Brittany’s position on this transformation was a key milestone in her profession.
Becoming a member of Fervo Vitality
After a 5-year stint in Chevron, Brittany took on drilling roles in different corporations earlier than a hiatus when she pursued her ardour in regenerative agriculture. Although of a really totally different nature, this position honed her abilities in sustainability and environmental stewardship.
It was not lengthy after Brittany’s ardour for the vitality sector introduced her again to a drilling position. This time, it was for one of many most progressive geothermal corporations as we speak, Fervo Vitality. “It was an ideal marriage between my two passions: drilling wells and sustainability,” stated Brittany.
At Fervo Vitality, Brittany rapidly turned an instrumental determine in efficiency enchancment initiatives, serving to the corporate innovate its geothermal drilling methods. She labored on enhancing drilling fluid testing, wellhead design, and appraisal processes, all whereas adapting her oil and fuel experience to geothermal vitality
Paying it ahead
In her skilled profession and out of doors of it, Brittany is an advocate for collaboration, information sharing, and mentorship, but in addition the significance of self-care and a work-life stability. The Thermal Trailblazers program organized by WING USA has remodeled her strategy to private {and professional} growth, highlighting the worth of collaboration and steady studying.
Brittany sees a brilliant future for geothermal vitality with Fervo taking part in an important position. She believes that the corporate’s collaborative tradition that encourages innovation is vital to driving the vitality transition ahead. The corporate’s core values of collaboration, integrity, and celebrating wins have additionally formed her management.
“Within the subsequent 5 to 10 years, I see Fervo as the most important geothermal energy producer on the planet, working multi-rig, multi-basin, and multinational initiatives,” she asserts. “We’re proving that geothermal is a contender within the vitality transition, not in ten years, however as we speak.”
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