Energy 101: We Ask The Dumb Questions So You Don't Have To

Digital Wildcatters
  • 3.0 (4)
  • HOW TO
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Energy 101 with Julie McLelland and Jacob Stiller. Join us on our mission to help raise the world's energy IQ.

  1. 2D AGO

    How Dead Oil Fields Became Clean Energy Goldmines

    Prabhdeep Sekhon, CEO of Eclipse Energy, breaks down the hydrogen rainbow and why it doesn't tell the whole story about cost, carbon intensity, and water use. From farm boy in Canada to petroleum engineer in the Bakken to clean tech founder, Prab explains how his team is using microbes to eat leftover oil in abandoned fields and produce hydrogen without water, turning billion-dollar liabilities into clean energy assets. He walks through their first-of-a-kind California project that hit 40% hydrogen production, the West Texas deployments coming next, and why co-locating data centers in oil fields solves both the molecule transport problem and the cooling water challenge. They discuss hitting $0.50 per kilogram hydrogen by 2028, why natural gas isn't going anywhere, and how oil and gas companies are actually paying them to figure out the future of their abandoned reservoirs. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Prab's journey from farm to petroleum engineer03:15 - Skills oil and gas taught him for clean tech08:26 - Energy pragmatism and decarbonization economics10:30 - Breaking down the hydrogen rainbow14:01 - Green hydrogen costs and water intensity15:53 - Gray and blue hydrogen trade-offs17:55 - Natural and geological hydrogen potential21:14 - Eclipse's approach to the problem24:17 - Eating oil with microbes for hydrogen26:20 - California first-of-a-kind project results28:41 - Field operations walkthrough32:10 - Hydrogen use cases and volumes36:01 - Cost parity with natural gas38:07 - Data centers solve the transport problem43:03 - Path to commercial scale by 2028https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    46 min

  2. 6D AGO

    The Insane Engineering of Deepwater Oil Production

    Austin Draughon spent nine years at BP keeping Gulf of Mexico wells producing tens of thousands of barrels per day from floating platforms in 6,000+ feet of water. He breaks down why offshore is ten times more expensive, takes ten times longer, and involves ten times more people than onshore drilling, from robots tightening bolts on the seafloor to the ice problem that can kill a well in eight hours. Jacob and Julie learn why you can't just build 6,000-foot concrete pillars, how Christmas trees got their name, and what happens when asphalt buildup shuts down a 10,000 barrel per day well worth the energy consumption of Montana. Plus: helicopter crash training, North Slope darkness, and why AI's best trick is turning 35-page documents into the one sentence you actually needed. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Gulf of America officially renamed01:41 - Nine years producing offshore Gulf of Mexico wells02:59 - North Slope Alaska: darkness and extreme cold survival05:06 - Production engineer managing 12 high-stakes offshore wells07:11 - Asphalt buildup can kill a 10,000 barrel per day well09:13 - Building technology to predict well failures early11:03 - From Excel spreadsheets to cloud-deployed Python scripts12:07 - Dry tree versus wet tree subsea completions explained18:19 - Wildcat exploration: finding elephants to justify $30B platforms20:09 - Blowout preventers and seafloor robots with little hands23:11 - Five-mile flowlines connecting subsea wells to platforms24:23 - Onshore takes weeks, offshore takes 90+ days minimum26:29 - Automation levels on offshore drill ships29:00 - 300+ people living on floating production facilities32:06 - ROV operators controlling robots like video games34:16 - Why offshore wells produce 1,000x more than stripper wells36:16 - Pushing spaghetti four miles to hit a four-foot target37:47 - Hydrate ice problem: eight-hour clock before well dies39:08 - North Sea waves versus Gulf of America conditions41:15 - Helicopter crash training at the YMCA pool44:17 - AI's killer use case: many to one summarization46:26 - Narrative layers surface buried statistics automaticallyhttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    49 min

  3. FEB 4

    The Real Reason Your Electric Bill Is Absurdly High

    Texas electricity is way more complicated than flipping a switch. Brittany Devlin from DOB Ai breaks down the deregulated energy market where customers can actually choose providers and save serious money, but most people just overpay out of laziness. From how the grid physically works to why your AC destroys your summer budget, she explains the whole pipeline. The real hack? Like energy aggregation companies that negotiate contracts for you, breaking deals when better rates appear. Plus: why unplugging appliances matters, how battery storage is fixing solar's sunset problem, and the truth about those "free nights and weekends" billboard scams. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - From nano photonics to energy risk management02:22 - Aviation business intelligence mirrors energy markets04:15 - Flight pricing tricks you shouldn't try07:33 - Deregulated Texas electricity explained08:15 - Why those billboard energy deals are sketchy09:14 - Fixed rate contracts beat variable pricing10:29 - How aggregators find cheaper electricity plans12:08 - The Griddy lawsuit and contract regulations13:06 - No monopolies: you can switch providers anytime15:28 - Energy Ogre cuts bills in half for $10/month18:10 - How contract switching and negotiation works22:12 - The power grid is literally all connected24:58 - Power to Choose website limitations27:31 - Energy mix and the renewable integration29:19 - California's duck curve problem hits Texas31:03 - Battery storage: use it or lose it technology32:25 - AI data centers and grid infrastructure36:31 - Natural gas fueling most Texas electricity38:01 - Why correlation between gas and electricity prices weakened40:12 - Complex gas contracts and pipeline capacity43:14 - Did deregulation actually help consumers?44:13 - Rapid fire tips to lower your electricity bill48:55 - Smart meters track usage every five minutes51:12 - Insulation and weatherstripping matter more than you think52:36 - Three story homes are wildly inefficienthttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    57 min

  4. JAN 26

    How Chemicals Prevent Billion Dollar Well Failures

    Brandon Wamsley from Flatirons Chemicals joins the show to explain how the $100 billion oil and gas chemical industry actually works - from killing bacteria that sours wells to keeping pipelines from corroding in minus 58 degree North Dakota winters. He shares his journey from laying tile in construction to becoming a field technician in Williston during the Bakken boom, where people literally camped in tents chasing oil field opportunities. The conversation breaks down why chemicals are cheap insurance for producers, how bacteria creates hydrogen sulfide downhole, what H2S scavengers actually do, and why the industry churns through chemical providers every 2-3 years in an expensive honeymoon cycle that Flatirons is trying to disrupt with AI-powered solutions. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 Why chemicals are essential to oil and gas production03:45 Brandon's construction background and move to North Dakota08:01 Williston during the Bakken boom and tent cities11:19 Learning the chemical industry from the ground up14:08 Meeting mentor Ed and his 40 years in midstream18:01 Frack chemicals and evolving completion designs22:03 How bacteria contaminates wells and creates H2S27:11 The stream analogy for disrupting formations31:24 Turning wells on to production and artificial lift36:03 Midstream chemicals and H2S scavengers explained40:12 Innovating the chemical procurement process with AI45:09 Houston meetings and vertical integration strategy48:16 Life back in Colorado after two years in Willistonhttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    50 min

  5. JAN 20

    Inside America's First 100% Renewable Diesel Program

    Joe Natale from Knight-Chemstar joins the show fresh off pulling off something pretty remarkable in Massachusetts - successfully running the first 100% renewable diesel pilot program for commuter rail locomotives in the country. He breaks down the wild logistics of moving renewable diesel from Midwest producers to New England, why heating oil is basically diesel's cousin, the bacon grease problem that happens when biodiesel gets cold, and why drop-in fuels make way more sense than ripping out all our infrastructure for electrification. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 Joe's background from terminal operator to renewables08:08 Development of Providence biodiesel rail terminal14:06 Winning and executing the MBTA renewable diesel pilot20:21 Sustainable aviation fuel distribution strategy25:04 Breaking down fuel types: ethanol, diesel, heating oil33:00 Northeast heating oil versus natural gas infrastructure38:15 Renewable diesel logistics and clean heat standards43:35 Drop-in fuels versus full electrification51:05 Cloud point and the biodiesel gelling problem55:33 Future of sustainable aviation fuel and incentiveshttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    1h 2m

  6. JAN 12

    Why Small Teams Beat Big Companies

    Building startups turns into a rapid fire philosophy session on founders, culture, money, and why velocity beats speed when Jacob asks the dumb questions we all think about. Collin McLelland of Collide breaks down how real companies get built, why talent density matters more than headcount, how power, AI, and energy collide, and what actually keeps teams motivated when the grind gets real. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 Cold open and founder mindset03:00 Why founders matter more than CEOs06:00 Startup ideas and power generation10:00 Storytelling and clarity over time15:00 Culture, motivation, and communication19:00 Building a high velocity company25:00 Hiring, pay, and talent density31:00 Remote work and office culture38:00 Work ethic, burnout, and holidays44:00 Money, capital, and long term bets https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    53 min

  7. JAN 6

    The Forgotten Science That Made Shale Possible

    Trying to make geophysics cool again, and honestly Peter Duncan from MicroSeismic, Inc. makes it easy. We bounce from a bear encounter in Newfoundland to why geophysicists are basically treasure hunters with pricey toys, then land on the simple difference between seismic and microseismic, why sound travels so freakishly well through rock, and how listening to tiny underground pops helps fracking and now geothermal get smarter without wrecking nearby wells. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. https://www.microseismic.com/2026-forum/00:00 Panel shoutout and event mention00:23 Peter’s back, making geophysics cool02:12 How he became a geophysicist07:18 Bear story in the field11:34 Geophysics shows up everywhere14:22 Geologist vs geophysicist basics23:13 Sound waves, earthquakes, and why seismic works26:05 Seismic vs microseismic explained28:11 Microseismic and geothermal’s comeback40:57 What MicroSeismic actually does in the field45:34 Frac hits and protecting neighboring wells48:52 Wrap-up and round three tease https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    52 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    The Insurance Industry That Quietly Runs Energy

    Growing up in New Zealand somehow turned into mud logging the Aussie desert, rigging up deepwater tech in the Gulf of Mexico, geosteering off Scotland, helping figure out nuclear waste storage in Swiss clay, and finally landing in subsurface risk and insurance where “nothing moves without coverage” starts to make way more sense. Jacob asks the dumb questions, Rodney Garrard from Arch Insurance International answers with real world stories, and the conversation ends on a pretty grounded idea: energy realism beats wishful thinking. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 0:00 Zurich check in + quick disclaimer01:10 Rodney’s origin story in New Zealand geology03:55 Mud logging in the Cooper Basin desert days08:00 Houston and early deepwater Gulf of Mexico work10:30 UK offshore, Rosebank, and geosteering life14:20 Rotations, family life, and Norway years17:00 Switzerland nuclear waste storage in clay, granite, salt24:00 Pivot into insurance and subsurface risk work27:00 What “energy insurance” actually does, CCS examples37:10 Europe’s energy realism and the grid wake up call40:50 Writing, energy density, and “Energy Transition 2.0” https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    45 min
See All (60)

Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Energy 101 with Julie McLelland and Jacob Stiller. Join us on our mission to help raise the world's energy IQ.

Information

More From Digital Wildcatters