Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised

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 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 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, 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 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 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.

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.

In this episode of Oil & Gas Journal’s ReEnterprised podcast, Alex Procyk, Upstream Editor, talks with Allen Sinor, Geothermal Sector Council Manager for The Competency Alliance, about effective geothermal design and drilling for electricity and district heating.

In this ICYMI episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Robert Brelsford, Downstream Editor, dives deeper into the state of California’s recent decision to walk back more aggressive policies governing in-state refiners and what the move potentially could mean in the future for other US states with refineries.

In this second part of a two-part Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Alex Procyk, upstream editor, continues his discussion with Laura Capper about about opportunities and challenges related to produced water in the Permian basin. Procyk and Capper discuss Permian produced water cleanup standards, projects, and goals. Capper is chief executive officer of EnergyMakers Advisory Group and CAP Resources. Capper holds a BS (1983) in electrical engineering with a minor in bioengineering and computer science from Rice University, Houston. She is active with the Produced Water Society and the New Mexico Produced Water Recycling Consortium. References In this episode, Procyk refers to previous podcast episodes. You can find them listed here: Insights: Produced water in the Permian basin (Part I) Insights: Produced water in the Permian basin (Part II) Insights: Permian produced water needs someplace new to go - a discussion with Laura Capper (Part I)

Introducing Then & Now, a new series in the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast lineup. In these episodes, Oil & Gas Journal editors and guests will discuss the many ways in which the oil and gas industry has transformed. In this episode, Laura Bell-Hammer, Statistics Editor, takes listeners on a journey through the dramatic changes undergone by the industry—from early wildcat drilling and gut instincts to today’s data-driven exploration, automated drilling, and predictive production. Bell-Hammer reflects on the legacy of the Journally Speaking column and Oil & Gas Journal, which has documented the industry’s milestones for over 120 years. Blending history, technology, and industry insight, the episode shows how far we’ve come, where we’re headed, and why trusted resources remain essential for the next generation of energy professionals.

In this Market Focus episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Conglin Xu, Managing Editor, Economics, takes a midyear look at the global oil market, noting developments thus far with a look at what may lie ahead. Global crude inventory has been building steadily year-to-date. In an apparent oversupply, price action has a followed the fundamentals. Market sentiment has been shaped by three major forces: escalating macroeconomic uncertainties surrounding the US and China, OPEC+'s evolving production strategy, and political risks amid military conflicts in the Middle East. In short, we are in a market where risks remain high. Barring unexpected disruption or major policy reversal, oil price momentum could continue to drift sideways through this year's third quarter.