The Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast addresses issues facing the petroleum industry in a way that highlights its transformation in light of the energy transition to a net-zero carbon future, as well as the ongoing evolution to a more inclusive and equitable society. With in-depth perspectives from OGJ editors and guests from all facets of the business, the podcast will explore and discuss the ways operators, service companies, and their employees from this historically very traditional industry are working through and finding solutions to these more progressive, nontraditional issues.
Drawing on two recent Oil & Gas Journal commentaries, this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast explores why Iraq is once again pursuing alternative pipeline routes through Syria and Türkiye, how expanded export options could strengthen the country's economic resilience, and why these developments matter not only for Iraq, but for global energy markets. We also examine whether Iraq's growing development ambitions are beginning to diverge from the production constraints imposed by OPEC, and what that could mean for the organization and the broader oil industry. The discussion incorporates recent reporting on Iraq's agreements with US companies and renewed efforts to revive westbound export infrastructure, placing today's headlines into a broader strategic context. Rather than focusing on day-to-day geopolitical developments, the episode takes a step back to consider the long-term implications for producers, investors, pipeline operators, and energy policymakers. References Hormuz closure emphasizes Iraq’s need for a second oil export route Reassessing Iraq's OPEC membership in light of national development priorities Iraq signs 48 deals with US companies during PM’s visit to Washington Iraq eyes Türkiye, Syria pipeline to curb Strait of Hormuz reliance
The rapid expansion of AI data centers in West Texas is creating a major water demand challenge, prompting industry interest in treating and reusing the Permian basin’s vast volumes of produced water as a potential cooling-water source. In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Alex Procyk, upstream editor, reviews the potential. Produced water is extremely saline—often far saltier than seawater—making conventional desalination expensive, but emerging technologies, including systems that use data-center waste heat to drive treatment processes, could improve economics while generating valuable byproducts such as lithium and other minerals. Large-scale adoption will depend on proving treatment costs at commercial scale, establishing clear permitting pathways, developing new business agreements between energy and data center operators, and effectively managing disposal and seismicity risks associated with concentrated waste streams. References Insights: Permian produced water needs someplace new to go - a discussion with Laura Capper (Part I) , OGJ Insights: Permian produced water needs someplace new to go - a discussion with Laura Capper (Part II ), OGJ Insights: Produced water in the Permian basin (Part I) , OGJ Insights: Produced water in the Permian basin (Part II) , OGJ Insights: What’s next for Permian basin electrification? , OGJ The Permian’s Next Boom Has a Water Problem , Produced Water Society Ranchers are watching the data center boom with growing concern , AGDaily
Despite a slowdown in headline deal values this spring, upstream mergers and acquisitions remain active beneath the surface. In this ICYMI episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Mikaila Adams , managing editor, examines data from Enverus and Rystad Energy detailing international and North American upstream deal markets in 2025 and into 2026. The discussion explores how pricing uncertainty widened the gap between buyers and sellers, creating a temporary pause rather than a collapse in market activity. The episode also looks at where capital continues to flow and what those trends reveal about the industry's direction. From North American consolidation led by the Devon Energy–Coterra Energy merger to continued interest in gas-weighted assets tied to Gulf Coast LNG exports, the analysis highlights the forces shaping today's upstream M&A landscape. It also considers the likelihood of additional divestitures, private equity activity, and asset sales as companies refine their portfolios, pointing to continued dealmaking momentum even in a more volatile market. References Devon, Coterra joining forces to create 1.6 million boe/d shale titan https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/companies/news/55354563/devon-coterra-joining-forces-to-create-16-million-boe-d-shale-titan Ovintiv to divest Anadarko assets for $3 billion https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/companies/news/55358241/ovintiv-to-divest-anadarko-assets-for-3-billion Mitsubishi to enter US shale gas business through Haynesville asset acquisition https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/companies/news/55344199/mitsubishi-to-enter-us-shale-gas-business-through-haynesville-shale-acquisition Shell to expand Canadian operations with $16.4-billion acquisition of ARC Resources https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/companies/news/55373597/shell-to-expand-canadian-operations-with-164-billion-acquisition-of-arc-resources US upstream M&A hits $38 billion in 1Q26 before volatility temporarily pauses the market https://www.enverus.com/newsroom/u-s-upstream-ma-hits-38-billion-in-1q26-before-volatility-temporarily-pauses-the-market/ International upstream M&A stuck at historic low https://www.enverus.com/newsroom/international-upstream-ma-stuck-at-historic-low/ Upstream deal value falls 83% as oil price uncertainty widens the buyer-seller gap https://www.rystadenergy.com/insights/upstream-deal-value-falls Iran war impact on global oil markets https://www.ogj.com/IranWar
In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Head of Content Chris Smith talks with Woodrow Winchester III, manager of University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering Petroleum Extension (PETEX). PETEX is a continuing education program for oil and gas professionals across the industry’s upstream, midstream, downstream, and health, safety & environment (HSE) segments. It offers a combination of instructor-led training in a variety of settings—including bespoke on site courses—and self-study e-learning programs covering topics from exploration and well control to refining and transportation. During the conversation, Chris and Woodrow talk about the evolution of PETEX’s mission over its decades of operation, Rig School (the star of its current lineup), and the program’s approach to emerging energies such as hydrogen. The two also consider the continued role of in-person training and knowledge-housed-in-humans in the face of an ever-expanding universe of artificial intelligence. Resources https://petex.utexas.edu/ www.linkedin.com/company/utpetex/ https://www.facebook.com/UTPETEX/ Email for questions, instructors, or company inquiries: execed@petex.utexas.edu
Strait of Hormuz disruptions are tightening global oil and LNG markets, with recovery expected to remain slow even if conflict eases. Ongoing security risks, damaged infrastructure, and constrained shipping capacity are limiting exports, while clearing waterways and restoring normal tanker flows could take months. Recovery will vary across Gulf producers. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are better positioned due to stronger domestic supply chains, while Iraq and Kuwait face delays tied to reliance on imported equipment and foreign expertise. Global shortages of specialized energy components are expected to further extend timelines. The result is a sustained global supply deficit, with inventories declining and limited response from non-OPEC+ producers, keeping market conditions tight well into 2026.
The 1973 Oil Embargo broke forecasting models that weren't built to absorb it. The shale revolution rewrote supply elasticity assumptions entirely. And as of April 2026, the US exported more crude oil than it imported for the first time since World War II. In this Then & Now episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, OGJ Statistics Editor Laura Bell-Hammer connects those data points into a 50-year story about how oil and gas forecasting has been continuously rebuilt by the forces it failed to anticipate—and what that means for reading the market today.
In this ICYMI episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, downstream editor Robert Brelsford explains why the technical content he encounters at one refining conference delivers real value. He highlights content that includes candid case studies, targeted training, and practical insight focused on delayed coking, FCC, and sulfur recovery operations.
In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, upstream editor Alex Procyk delivers an in-depth technical and commercial overview of Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale play, one of the world’s largest unconventional oil and gas resources—and one that continues to punch below its weight in total production. Procyk argues this is less a reflection of rock quality and more a result of development pace, infrastructure, and operational complexity. He also outlines why Vaca Muerta’s location—far from geopolitically sensitive supply routes—could make it increasingly important in global energy markets. Why Vaca Muerta matters now Despite resource estimates rivaling or exceeding major US shale plays, Vaca Muerta produces only a fraction of their total output. Procyk argues this is less a reflection of rock quality and more a result of development pace, infrastructure, and operational complexity. With major pipeline projects under way and LNG export capacity taking shape, Vaca Muerta may be poised to play a much larger role in global oil and gas supply. From the episode “On a per‑well basis, Vaca Muerta is one of the most productive unconventional plays on the planet.” “It’s a massive resource, but it hasn’t really been pushed yet.” “The geology isn’t uniformly great—but where it’s good, it’s very good.” “Managing risk versus reward isn’t a flaw in the process—that’s engineering.” “Vaca Muerta is about as far away from the Strait of Hormuz as you can get, and that matters.”
In this Market Focus episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Conglin Xu , managing editor, economics, takes a look into the LNG market shock caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the sudden loss of Qatari LNG supply as the Iran war continues. Xu speaks with Edward O’Toole , director of global gas analysis, RBAC Inc., to examine how these disruptions are intensifying global supply constraints at a time when European inventories were already under pressure following a colder-than-average winter and weaker storage levels. Drawing on RBAC’s G2M2 global gas market model, O’Toole outlines disruption scenarios analyzed in the firm’s recent report and explains how current events align with their findings. With global LNG production already operating near maximum utilization, the market response is being driven by higher prices and reduced consumption. Europe faces sharper price pressure due to storage refill needs, while Asian markets are expected to see greater demand reductions as consumers switch fuels. O’Toole underscores the importance of scenario-based modeling and supply diversification as geopolitical risk exposes structural vulnerabilities in the LNG market—offering insights for stakeholders navigating an increasingly uncertain global gas landscape.
In this Then & Now episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Managing Editor and Content Strategist Mikaila Adams reconnects with Deborah Byers, nonresident fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies and former EY Americas industry leader, to revisit a set of questions first posed in 2017. In 2017, the industry was emerging from a downturn and recalibrating strategy; today, it faces heightened geopolitical risk, market volatility, and a rapidly evolving technology landscape. The conversation examines how those earlier perspectives have aged—covering oil price bands and the speed of recovery from geopolitical shocks, the role of US shale relative to OPEC in balancing global supply, and the shift from scarcity to economic abundance driven by technology and capital discipline. Adams and Byers also compare the economics and risk profiles of shale and offshore development, including the growing role of Brazil, Guyana, and the Gulf of Mexico, and discuss how infrastructure and regulatory constraints shape market outcomes. The episode further explores where digital transformation—particularly artificial intelligence—is delivering tangible returns across upstream operations, from predictive maintenance and workforce planning to capital project execution. The discussion concludes with insights on consolidation and scale in the Permian basin, the strategic rationale behind recent megamergers, and the industry’s ongoing challenge to attract and retain next‑generation talent through flexibility, technical opportunity, and purpose‑driven work. A focus on operational excellence - 2017 In 2017, Adams sat down with Byers—who was then a managing partner in Ernst & Young's Houston office and led the Southwest Transaction Advisory Services and the firm's US energy practice—to talk about her 30-year career with EY and her view of the industry going into 2017. Take a look back and review the interview that spurred the podcast.
In this bonus episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Head of Content Chris Smith is joined by Jim Krane , the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Fellow in Middle East Energy Studies and Center for Energy Studies Lead for Energy and Geopolitics in the Middle East at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The two discuss the regional political forces shaping the Iran war so far, exactly how vulnerable the Strait of Hormuz is, and—shifting inland—what’s in it for the Kurds.
In this Then & Now episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Laura Bell-Hammer examines how US crude oil imports have evolved from structural dependence in the mid-1990s to today’s model of strategic grade optimization. Using historical and current data, the episode traces how refinery configuration, shale-driven production growth, regional pipeline integration, and shifting geopolitics reshaped US trade flows over three decades. From OPEC’s dominant role in 1995 to Canada’s system-critical position today and the reemergence of Venezuelan barrels under evolving sanctions policy...this episode explores how long-cycle capital investment and policy decisions continue to influence refinery economics and supply strategy.
In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Head of Content Chris Smith updates the evolving situation in Venezuela as the industry attempts to navigate the best path forward while the two governments continue to hammer out the details. The discussion centers on the new legal frameworks being established in both countries within the context of fraught relations stretching back for decades. Want to hear more? Listen in on a January episode highlighting industry's initial take following the removal of Nicholas Maduro from power. References Politico podcast Monaldi Substack Baker webinar Washington, Caracas open Venezuela to allow more oil sales
In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Alex Procyk , Upstream Editor, recaps four recent technical papers shaping today’s upstream decisions. He looks at how lightweight and ultralight proppants are influencing fracture performance and gravel-pack stability, why updated data show the Marcellus continuing to expand without signs of productivity loss, and how airborne monitoring offshore Angola is exposing gaps in reported methane emissions. The episode is a practical walkthrough of what the latest research means for completion design, resource expectations, and environmental oversight. Article references If you’d like to dig deeper, the full articles are available with your membership on OGJ.com . Marcellus assessment shows continued expansion [Free - Members Only] New assessment suggests substantial Appalachian shale gas resources [Premium] Lightweight proppants improve completion [Free - Members Only] Airborne Angolan methane monitoring reveals discrepancies [Free - Members Only]
In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas ReEnterprised podcast, OGJ Head of Content Chris Smith talks with Bob Crossen, Vice-President of Content Strategy for the Water and Energy Groups of Endeavor Business Media, about the latter’s first trip to the world’s largest oil and gas trade show: Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC). Conference themes discussed as they relate to the year ahead include the shift from automation to autonomy, AI, the energy addition, and sustainability.
In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Oil & Gas Journal Head of Content, Chris Smith, talks about the issues shaping what happens next in Venezuela now that Nicholas Maduro has been removed from power. An oversupplied crude market, deep infrastructural needs, and in-country political uncertainty are only a few of the problems to be addressed. But there are also opportunities, particularly if progress can begin quickly. This episode was based on and expanded from an OGJ article written by Conglin Xu , Managing Editor - Economics.
In this, the final Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast episode of 2025, Mikaila Adams , managing editor, along with a team of OGJ editors, walks readers through content that most captured readers’ attention throughout the year. In this episode, you’ll hear short recaps of this year's most-read content from OGJ.com...shared in our editors’ own words...with thoughts to carry into 2026. Give it a listen...you don't know what you may have missed! References Laura 2024 Worldwide Reserves/Production tables 2025 Worldwide Reserves/Production tables Conglin 2025 Forecast & Review webinar 2026 Forecast & Review webinar ( REGISTER TODAY! ) Geert Aethon president: Natural gas needs to top $5 to spur Haynesville investment Mikaila TGNR adds East Texas gas assets in $525-million deal with Chevron Chris Venture Global withdraws Delta LNG from pre-filing to focus on Plaquemines expansion Alex Shell starts oil production from deepwater Gulf of Mexico Whale development Shell designed Vito development for present deepwater economics Chevron Anchor pioneers 20K subsea development
In this Market Focus episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Conglin Xu , managing editor, economics, takes a look at the growing oversupply in global crude markets and the shift now underway as fundamentals begin overtaking sentiment and geopolitics as the primary price driver.
In this Then & Now episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Statistics Editor Laura Bell-Hammer takes listeners on a journey through three decades of oil-market transformation. Bell-Hammer looks back at the mid-1990s, when US production was believed to be in irreversible decline, fast-forwarding to today’s record production highs powered by shale technology, deepwater advances, and new global producers. From the Permian basin to Brazil’s presalt and Guyana’s meteoric rise, this episode reveals how technology reshaped the world’s supply map.
This Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast examines the rapidly growing power demands in the Permian basin region and the implications for operators, utilities, and adjacent industries. OGJ Editor-in-Chief Chris Smith interviews Will Kernan, Power Solutions Strategy Manager for Caterpillar Oil & Gas, on why electricity demand has surged by multiple gigawatts since 2021 and why traditional reliance on the grid is no longer sufficient to ensure timely project development and stable operations. Kernan outlines how accelerating electricity demand from both oil and gas operations and new industrial entrants—particularly data centers—has strained transmission capacity, driving greater interest in on-site natural-gas-fired generation and microgrid models. The episode closes with a look at major grid-expansion proposals under consideration in Texas, their long lead-times, and how distributed generation, waste-gas utilization, and field-scale microgrids will shape a more flexible and resilient power ecosystem for the Permian in the years ahead.
