George Solich, CEO of FourPoint Energy, Honored as ‘Wildcatter of the Year’

DENVER – Western Energy Alliance will honor George Solich of FourPoint Energy and LongPoint Minerals, with the Wildcatter of the Year award in recognition of his achievements in business and community service. Solich has demonstrated unparalleled success across several oil and natural gas basins in the western United States while having a great impact on his community. As the 38th recipient of the Wildcatter award, he will be formally celebrated by leaders in the oil and natural gas industry at the Wildcatter of the Year gala on Saturday, November 4th.
 
“George Solich embodies everything the term Wildcatter stands for. He’s been a bold and successful risk taker for decades. What sets George Solich apart is his unparalleled vision for opportunities and ability to navigate through challenges that limit others,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “George is always thinking bigger and better. He has left his unique mark on the community through his drive to help students achieve greater success. He understands starting out with nothing and the challenges to overcoming what seem like insurmountable obstacles as a young person. His personal story drives his dedication to helping students tackle financial challenges and obtain an education that unlocks their future.”

Solich has 39 years of oil and natural gas industry experience in the domestic and international upstream and midstream sectors. He began his career as a petroleum landman with Apache Corporation in 1984 and held several positions in the company before accepting the position of vice president, acquisitions and divestitures with HS Resources, Inc. in 1997, where he coordinated over $500 million in transactions in just three years.
 
In 2000, Solich formed Cordillera Energy Partners, which he ultimately sold to Patina Oil & Gas Corporation for $245 million in 2003. In 2004, he formed Cordillera Energy Partners II and sold it in 2008 for $1.025 billion. Cordillera Energy Partners III was capitalized in 2007, and in 2012 merged with Apache Corporation for $3.1 billion.
 
In 2013, Solich launched his fourth enterprise, FourPoint Energy, a private exploration and production company. With his team, he entered the minerals space and launched LongPoint Minerals in 2016, focusing on the acquisition of mineral and royalty interests. In 2018, FourPoint Energy and Double Eagle Energy Holdings III formed a joint venture, DoublePoint Energy, a pure-play Midland Basin company with Solich serving as executive chairman. In April of 2021, DoublePoint Energy sold to Pioneer Natural Resources Company for $6.4 billion.
 
Solich served on the Alliance’s Board of Directors from 1998 to 2012. In 2013 Solich was inducted into the All-American Wildcatters. He serves on the Advisory Board for the J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities at University of Colorado at Denver; the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee for ACE Scholarships; and the Board of Directors of the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation. Solich received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado in 1983 and a Master of Science from the University of Colorado-Denver in 1991.
 
About the Wildcatter of the Year Award
The title Wildcatter of the Year is reserved only for the most prominent leaders in the western oil and natural gas industry whose entrepreneurial and exploratory spirit have contributed significantly to America’s energy security and the betterment of society. The term “wildcatter” originates from the 1880s when independent speculators ranged across the West in hopes of discovering new or unproven oil reserves. The Wildcatter of the Year is not only a leader in industry, but a role model in the community as well, demonstrating leadership both on and off the oilfield.

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