Many self-labeled "fractivists" say drilling ruins drinking water and farms think the fictional disaster spun in the Matt Damon vehicle "Promised Land" and makes no sense, since it's possible to quickly transform our society to one that's powered by clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar.

WSJ: Celebrity 'fractivists': True advocates or NIMBYs?

They hope to restructure some of the debt and rationalize the drilling to create a self-sustaining company where operating cash flow is sufficient to run 20-25 rigs full time in the Mississippian where SandRidge has drilling rights on over 2 million acres.

FORBES: Tom Ward Of SandRidge Energy: Another CEO That's Got To Go

Quiet and intense, O'Neill described himself recently as a "free-ranging, self-admitted maverick, " but he's also a wonk, drilling down into the details of a problem personally until he finds what he wants.

CNN: Turnaround Guy