# Lewis Dutel

> Lewis J. Dutel is a Houston-based mechanical engineer, inventor, and emerging-technology commercialization executive. After work on deepwater and ultra-deep drilling technologies, he co-founded VIA BioFuels in 2023 to commercialize yeast-produced aromatic molecules for aviation fuel, gasoline blends, and chemical feedstocks.

- **Role:** CEO & Co-Founder at VIA BioFuels
- **Organizations:** VIA BioFuels, UltraDeep Energy Company, Shell, Greentown Labs, SOSV IndieBio
- **Education:** BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- **Known for:** Co-founded VIA BioFuels in 2023., Named inventor on multiple oilfield technology patents and applications., Co-authored an industry article on dilution-based dual-gradient drilling for ultra-deep wells.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
- **2006-2014** — Was named as an inventor on oilfield technology patent filings and grants involving tar-sand separation, flare-gas metering, and hydrocarbon-well completion.
- **Before 2023** — Worked on a Shell innovation team focused on deepwater solutions.
- **2022** — Served as CEO of UltraDeep Energy and presented the company's dual-gradient drilling technology.
- **2023** — Co-founded VIA BioFuels in Houston and joined SOSV's IndieBio SF 14 cohort.
- **2024** — Participated for UltraDeep Energy in an ARPA-E workshop panel on technological challenges in superhot geothermal.
- **2025** — Published a LinkedIn article proposing Sargassum as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and petroleum-free chemicals.

## Achievements

- Co-founded VIA BioFuels in 2023.
- Named inventor on multiple oilfield technology patents and applications.
- Co-authored an industry article on dilution-based dual-gradient drilling for ultra-deep wells.
- Led UltraDeep Energy as CEO and represented the company at an ARPA-E superhot geothermal workshop.
- Led VIA BioFuels through SOSV IndieBio SF 14 and membership in Greentown Labs.

## Latest updates

- **2025-06** — Published 'The Future of Aviation Fuel is Floating in the Atlantic - The Sargassum Solution' on LinkedIn.
- **2025-02** — Announced VIA BioFuels' selection as one of ten international startups, and the only U.S. startup, in the Agventure Downunder program connected to evokeAG 2025.
- **2024-10** — Participated in an ARPA-E workshop panel on technological challenges in superhot geothermal as a representative of UltraDeep Energy.

## Links

- Website: https://viabiofuels.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-dutel

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/lewis-dutel
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-22