Spotlight on Women in Geothermal – Brittany Gierke, Fervo Energy

The USA Chapter of Women in Geothermal has been running a series of “Spotlight on Women” features highlighting the important role of women in the geothermal sector. From this series, we are now feature Brittany Gierke, Drilling Engineer at Fervo Energy.

Click here to read the full “Spotlight on Women in Geothermal” feature on Brittany Gierke.

Robin majored in petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University, where she also earned a minor in geology. Her journey from the oilfields of Chevron to the forefront of geothermal innovation at Fervo Energy is a story of resilience, adaptation, and a relentless pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.

Early mentorship

Over her five years of university education, Brittany completed four internships, three of which were with Chevron. One of the most defining moments of Brittany’s early career was the mentorship she received from Kim McHugh and Jerry Tardivo, prominent figures in Chevron’s drilling division. These women provided valuable mentorship to Brittany, sharing their experiences and discussing career development.

Not only did their mentorship inspire Brittany to get into drilling, but also highlighted the gender disparity in the field. A that time, women comprised only 7% of the drilling roles in Chevron.

Passion for the energy sector

Brittany’s passion for energy continued to grow as she joined Chevron full-time after completing her education. Working on rigs in the Midcontinent Business Unit, she found the fast-paced environment of drilling and a role where decision-making had immediate, tangible results particularly rewarding.

Her work at Chevron included leading complex and groundbreaking projects, such as the company’s first horizontal wells in the Permian Basin. The shift from vertical to horizontal wells was a major advancement in the industry, and Brittany’s role in this transformation was a key milestone in her career.

Joining Fervo Energy

After a 5-year stint in Chevron, Brittany took on drilling roles in other companies before a hiatus when she pursued her passion in regenerative agriculture. Though of a very different nature, this role honed her skills in sustainability and environmental stewardship.

It was not long after Brittany’s passion for the energy sector brought her back to a drilling role. This time, it was for one of the most innovative geothermal companies today, Fervo Energy. “It was a perfect marriage between my two passions: drilling wells and sustainability,” said Brittany.

At Fervo Energy, Brittany quickly became an instrumental figure in performance improvement initiatives, helping the company innovate its geothermal drilling techniques. She worked on enhancing drilling fluid testing, wellhead design, and appraisal processes, all while adapting her oil and gas expertise to geothermal energy

Paying it forward

In her professional career and outside of it, Brittany is an advocate for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mentorship, but also the importance of self-care and a work-life balance. The Thermal Trailblazers program organized by WING USA has transformed her approach to personal and professional development, highlighting the value of collaboration and continuous learning.

Brittany sees a bright future for geothermal energy with Fervo playing a crucial role. She believes that the company’s collaborative culture that encourages innovation is key to driving the energy transition forward. The company’s core values of collaboration, integrity, and celebrating wins have also shaped her leadership.

“In the next five to ten years, I see Fervo as the largest geothermal power producer in the world, operating multi-rig, multi-basin, and multinational projects,” she asserts. “We are proving that geothermal is a contender in the energy transition, not in ten years, but today.”

Past Women in Geothermal highlights: