Matthew J. Ward has over twenty years of industry experience in operations, exploration and corporate leadership. Prior to starting Basin Energy Solutions with Mr. Gimbel and Mr. Clark, Matt oversaw geosciences at Four Corners Petroleum II.

In 2016 Matt was Chief Operating Officer on the team that started Ascent Energy LLC.  Ascent was a private equity backed upstream company that built a 7,500-acre operated position on the New Mexico side of the Delaware Basin. Ascent drilled some of the most productive wells in the eastern potash area of the basin before a successful exit to Matador at the end of 2021.

From 2014 to 2016, Matt was VP of Onshore Exploration of Juneau Exploration where he built the companies' 56k acre position in the East Texas Eagle Ford. During this time Matt had assembled an operating team and drilled five exploration wells.

From 2011 to 2014, Matt was the Senior Exploration Geologist at Fidelity Exploration and Production Company, where he was responsible for directing all the companies’ exploration efforts in the Southern United States. He identified, valued and received BOD approval for a $200 million acquisition. 

Prior to Fidelity, Matt worked for Cabot Oil and Gas for five years, where he identified unconventional opportunities in several basins within Mid-Continent and Permian regions.  He also developed an integrated geological exploration model for the Mississippian Chester Lime and quadrupled the companies drilling locations in the play.

From 2003-2005, Matt worked for Western Gas Resources where he developed an integrated geologic/geophysical model for biogenic Niobrara formation in the eastern DJ Basin. While at Western, he also managed all aspects of the company’s assets on the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Fields, including a $65 million drilling budget.

From 2001 to 2003, Matt worked for Golden Exploration and Production Corp.  He managed all geologic concerns for this $30 million public oil company.

From 1998 to 2001 Matt worked at Sagebrush Companies where he was responsible for prospect generation and field development in several basins in the Rocky Mountains and Mid-Continent.

From 1997-1998 Matt was a Well-Site Geologist for Columbine Logging where he evaluated drilling results on oil and gas wells throughout the Rocky Mountain states.

Matt is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.

Matt received his BS of geological science from Virginia Tech in 1997.