UW Students Learn about Life Cycle of an Oil Well with Continental Resources

University of Wyoming students recently participated in a comprehensive field trip, hosted by Continental Resources, to a drilling and production site in Wyoming.

The immersive experience provided future engineers, geologists, lawyers and energy professionals with an end-to-end view of an oil well’s operational life cycle, from initial permitting through production and reclamation.

The event was organized through the Student Chapter of Energy Resources (SCER), which promotes opportunities to actively engage with industry.

Students in the School of Energy Resources (SER), the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and the College of Law spent a full day observing active operations northeast of Douglas.

Continental Resources experts guided the students through various stages, including the spudding, well completion activities, and the long-term production and maintenance phases. The focus of the tour was to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application, emphasizing the complex planning logistics, cutting-edge technology, and rigorous safety and environmental protocols used in modern energy development.

“The Powder River Basin is an integral part of Continental’s future, and partnerships like this with the University of Wyoming are an important way to invest in the next generation,” says Jake Hunter, director of the Powder River Basin for Continental Resources. “These students represent the future of our industry, and we’re proud to help connect what they learn in the classroom to the real-world applications that keep energy production safe and innovative.”

While the trip was primarily dedicated to upstream exploration and production, it also provided some insight into the essential midstream and downstream activities. These included transportation, business planning and financial forecasting, all vital and heavily regulated aspects of energy development.

“This was a very unique opportunity to conceptualize the entire value chain,” says Lars Quinlivan, a senior from Cheyenne majoring in energy resources management and development with a concentration in professional land management. “We have learned that a well can remain in production for decades, but the earlier and later stages are often the most crucial for understanding the full scope of the industry. It was enlightening to see one company’s dedicated work throughout the state from start to finish.”

The field excursion also demonstrated how successful project execution requires a blend of many areas of expertise. Students met with professionals from varied backgrounds, all with unique and essential skills for the process.

“We are so thrilled that students from different UW colleges participated in this really significant opportunity,” says SER Academic Director Kami Danaei. “This aligns with SER’s mission to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of energy and reinforce UW’s commitment to providing high-impact, experiential learning opportunities that ensure workforce readiness upon graduation.”

About Continental Resources

Continental Resources is the largest privately held oil and natural gas producer in the United States and a leader in America’s energy renaissance. Based in Oklahoma City, Continental is the largest producer in in the SCOOP and STACK plays of the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, and one of the largest producers in the Bakken play of North Dakota and Montana. The company also has significant positions in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Permian Basin of Texas.

With a focus on the exploration and production of oil, Continental has unlocked the technology and resources vital to American energy independence and the nation’s leadership in the new world oil market. In 2025, the company will celebrate 58 years of operations. For more information, visit www.CLR.com.