Nathan Wilkens
Interim Subsurface Lead and Core Library Manager
Nathan D. Wilkens is a geoscientist with experience in sedimentology, paleontology, and geochemistry. Nathan attended the University of North Dakota from 1990-1995, studying geology and space studies, then worked as a manager in the semiconductor industry in Phoenix, Arizona. He resumed his studies at Arizona State University, finishing his undergraduate Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Geology in 2002 and a PhD in Geological Sciences in 2008 with a focus on Jurassic paleoecology of eolian interdune deposits. From 2008-2009, Nathan was a full-time Residential Faculty at Mesa Community College and an adjunct faculty at Arizona State University. From 2009-2010, Nathan took a Postdoctoral appointment at Purdue University, studying depositional environments in the Cambrian Mt. Simon Sandstone to support carbon sequestration in the Illinois Basin.
In 2010, Nathan was hired by Shell Oil Company in Houston TX and New Orleans LA where he worked on various projects including field development planning in the Haynesville unconventional play in northern Louisiana, well planning and operations in the Texas Permian Basin, development and well operations in the high pressure/high temperature ultra deepwater Norphlet play in the Gulf of America (GOA), and exploration in the Jurassic Norphlet, GOA Presalt, GOA Sakarn Series, and the Cretaceous Tuscaloosa Formation, as well as being the principal Shell U.S. Field Course instructor teaching courses in the Permian Basin, Book Cliffs, and Moab, UT areas. In 2025, Nathan left Shell and joined the North Dakota Geological Survey.
Email: ndwilkens@nd.gov | Phone: 701-328-7652
Steve Chittick
Senior Subsurface Geologist
Steve Chittick started his career in the oil patch as a seismic field hand in the swamps of Michigan. After graduating with his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Geology from Michigan Technological University, he began working for an oilfield services company in wireline: starting as an operator, then becoming an engineer and then into well log analysis. Steve worked as the Lead Petrophysicist for Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, b.v. in Western Kazakhstan and as the wireline advisor in a rock physics group in the UK.
In the ups and downs of the oil industry, Steve has also worked on Ocean Bottom Cable seismic acquisition, subsurface visualization, and teaching field geology and other university courses. He has worked in Trinidad, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan, Norway, England and the US.
Steve began working for the North Dakota Geological Survey as a Subsurface Geologist in May of 2023. During his time with the NDGS, he has processed data and mapped the Opeche salts in the Williston Basin. Steve is currently doing field work in northeast North Dakota, collecting gravity data to be used in conjunction with an aeromagnetic survey flown previously flown over that area. This data will be used to model the basement / Precambrian geology in the subsurface of eastern North Dakota. The USGS is currently flying a high-resolution aeromagnetic survey over the remaining area of eastern North Dakota not currently evaluated, as part of it's Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (EarthMRI). The Earth MRI program focuses on projects which may aid in the discovery of minerals critical to the United States. Steve will be working with this data to evaluate the basement geology of all eastern North Dakota and its potential for critical mineral exploration.
Email: sdchittick@nd.gov | Phone: 701-777-2389
Ismail Halim Faruqi
Subsurface Geologist
Ismail Halim Faruqi is a subsurface geologist with over 8 years of experience spanning hydrocarbon exploration, carbon capture and storage, and new energy resources. Currently, he focuses on petroleum systems, core-based sedimentology and stratigraphy, and geochemical characterization of underexplored hydrocarbon systems, geologic CO2 storage, and emerging energy resources (e.g., lithium-brine and helium) within the lower Paleozoic interval of the Williston Basin.
Prior to this role, Ismail completed his Master of Science in Energy and Earth Resources at The University of Texas at Austin, where his research focused on geologic CO2 storage resources potential in the Gulf of America Shelf. He previously spent five years as a Geoscientist at Petronas, contributing to various exploration campaigns, including a major oil discovery in Indonesia.
Email: ihfaruqi@nd.gov | Phone: 701-328-6883
Kent Hollands
Senior Core Collections Lead
Kent Hollands began working as a lab technician for the North Dakota Geological Survey in 1985. For the past 37+ years, he has helped industry, faculty, and students worldwide by booking lab space, pulling cores upon request, and cutting rock samples. Additionally, he prepares and facilitates core shipments for industry and core workshops around the U.S.
Kent graduated from East Grand Forks AVTI with a 2-year tech degree in 1984 and more recently received a Certificate in Geothermal Training from Heatspring Learning Institute in 2010. He was promoted to an Engineering Technician position in 2013 and is currently responsible for checking geothermal wells in the eastern 1/3 of the state along with his other duties.
Email: khollands@nd.gov | Phone: 701-777-2857
Jonathan LaBonte
Laboratory Technician
Jonathan LaBonte is a Laboratory Technician with 14 years of experience. He has a background in data management, microscopy, instrumentation, and core analysis. Jonathan is a University of North Dakota graduate.
Email: jllabonte@nd.gov | Phone: 701-777-2286