• Inaugural “Government Service” award bestowed upon Dr. Helms at Western Energy Alliance’s annual Wildcatter of the Year gala
• Helms honored for his role in establishing the regulatory climate that protects the environment while enabling one of the largest expansions of oil and natural gas in history
• He joins the 39^th Wildcatter of the Year, Steve Struna, in top billing for the black-tie gala

DENVER – Western Energy Alliance will honor Lynn Helms, Ph.D., the recently retired director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, in recognition of his 26 years of achievement enacting a regulatory climate for oil and natural gas that enabled the Bakken shale revolution, bringing prosperity to the state and its citizens while enabling the United States to become the world leader in energy production. He will be formally celebrated by leaders in the oil and natural gas industry at the Wildcatter of the Year gala on Saturday, November 2^nd in Denver, Colorado.

The inaugural Government Service award recognizes a policymaker, regulator, or industry leader whose exemplary service and commitment to fostering collaboration between industry and government has led to meaningful policy that helps provide abundant, affordable energy for all.

“Dr. Helms couldn’t be more deserving to be the inaugural recipient of our Government Service award,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “Not only the State of North Dakota, but any company who’s drilled a well in the Bakken and every farmer-turned-millionaire mineral owner, owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Helms. The entire nation should likewise be grateful. He delivered a stable regulatory climate that protects the environment while enabling the Bakken shale revolution that has led to lower prices for consumers, hundreds of billions in economic wealth for the nation, and greater security in the world. He’s also had an impact on regulations across the country as a leader in the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact commission.”

Lynn started out in the industry as a roughneck working holidays and summers during college at the South Dakota School of Mines, and then worked as an engineer and asset team leader on projects from Abu Dhabi to Alaska, Texas to Wyoming. He also holds Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Petroleum Engineering from the University of North Dakota. In July 1998, he brought his world-wide petroleum experience to Bismarck to work in state government, ultimately serving as the Director of the Department of Mineral Resources, from which he retired this July.

During his tenure, North Dakota’s average daily oil production increased from just over 99,000 barrels per day to an all-time high of 1.5 million in 2019, from just over 3,000 wells to 21,000. He’s navigated sticky regulatory issues with skill, from strengthening fracking and underground storage oversight to increasing gas capture to a record high of over 3.2 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day.

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