How a Houston Oilman Confounded Climate Activists and Made Billions

Jeffery Hildebrand, little known outside Houston, has built a multibillion-dollar empire by buying cheap oil assets and maximizing profits. Hilcorp Energy aims to increase production by 40% to 500,000 barrels of oil a day by 2026.

July 11, 2023 . 8:50 PM

1 min read

Jeffery Hildebrand, little known outside Houston, has become one of America's largest independent drillers by buying cheap assets and squeezing out oil and profit.
Hilcorp Energy aims to increase production by 40% to 500,000 barrels of oil a day by the end of 2026.
Hilcorp has become a natural clearinghouse for big oil companies looking to unload aging wells that may leak methane.
Hilcorp has reduced greenhouse gas emissions and cut methane emissions by 35% since 2019.
Hildebrand's success comes from his ability to identify underperforming assets on other companies' books.