Local Energy

Peter Brecht and Wade Spear
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Oil and gas podcast with real field experience. WTI markets, drilling, production, oilfield careers, LNG, and energy news — no fluff, just shop talk. Local Energy is hosted by Peter Brecht and Wade Spear. We cover field operations, energy markets, oilfield careers, drilling, production, midstream, LNG, and offshore — with guests from field hands to CEOs, grid operators, and 30-year Chevron veterans. Oil and gas news, career stories, and market analysis from people who did the job — this is your channel. Topics: WTI forecasts, H2S safety, company man roles, oilfield finance, SCADA, Bitcoin o

  1. Inside the Cushing Hub Moving 100 Million Barrels with Corey Brown

    3d ago

    Inside the Cushing Hub Moving 100 Million Barrels with Corey Brown

    Corey Brown takes listeners inside the Cushing Tank Farms in Oklahoma, one of the most important crude oil storage and transfer hubs in the U.S. He explains how the site supports WTI benchmark pricing, how crude is measured and transferred through custody transfer systems, and why commodity traders monitor tank levels, rail activity, and pump heat signatures to track supply in real time. The conversation breaks down the hands-on work of an electrician in a high-pressure oil-and-gas environment. Corey walks through pipeline infrastructure, valves, satellite communications, pigging operations, external floating-roof tanks, and the rigorous inspection and cleaning cycles required by DOT regulations. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes that safety is the foundation of the work — documentation, PPE, H2S monitors, permits, and disciplined procedures are part of the job every single day. Corey also shares what the culture is like at Cushing, how multiple companies operate side by side, and how workers can start with a high school diploma and grow into skilled technical roles through company-sponsored training programs. In this episode, you'll learn: How the Cushing Oil Tank Farms connect to WTI pricing and why traders watch them closelyWhat an electrician does in a tank farm environment, including pressure transmitters, metering devices, and custody transfer systemsHow pigging, floating roof tanks, and tank cleaning keep crude moving safely and efficientlyWhy safety culture, permits, PPE, and H2S monitoring are non-negotiable in oil and gas operationsWhat it takes to build a long-term blue-collar career in oil and gas with training and advancement on-siteTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction03:37 - Family and industry roots04:26 - Tank farm scale and size05:51 - How traders monitor supply07:24 - Electrician responsibilities09:36 - Custody transfer basics12:01 - Safety culture and PPE14:36 - Pigging the pipeline16:24 - Floating roof tanks explained18:34 - Tank cleaning cycle21:15 - Workplace culture at Cushing24:03 - Career pathways in oil and gas25:35 - The day WTI went negative27:55 - Why the system works About Corey Brown:Corey Brown is an electrician at Cushing Tank Farms in Oklahoma, where he supports critical electrical and control systems for crude oil storage and pipeline operations. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the tank farm environment and offers firsthand insight into the safety, regulation, and day-to-day realities of keeping oil moving.

    29 min

  2. May 22

    Unleashing California: How Mike Umbro Is Turning Depleted Oil Fields Into the Grid's Biggest Battery

    California is importing 70% of its oil while shutting down its own refineries. Mike Umbro has been watching it happen from the inside. In this episode, Peter Brecht and Wade Spear sit down with Mike Umbro, founder and CEO of Californians for Energy and Science, to talk about what's really happening on the ground in California's oil patch. They cover the near-standstill in Kern County drilling, the closure of Valero Benicia, the Sable offshore opportunity in federal waters, and Mike's pioneering GEOTES technology that turns depleted oil reservoirs into long-duration thermal batteries. If you work in California oil and gas, energy markets, field operations, or you just like real shop talk from people who care about the industry, this episode is for you. Topics discussed: Activity in Kern County and the economic impact of oil and gasCEQA and California's regulatory environmentThe Sable offshore opportunity in federal watersRefinery closures and what they mean for fuel supplyGEOTES: turning depleted oil reservoirs into thermal batteriesEducating the next generation of energy workersShow Notes: GeoTES Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN6imPjOZe8&t=3s Californians for Energy & Science: https://www.energyandscience.com/ Mike Umbro X: https://x.com/MikeUmbro Mike Umbro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeumbro/ Website: https://localenergy.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@localenergyio Local Energy is an oil and gas podcast hosted by Peter Brecht and Wade Spear, covering drilling, production, field operations, energy markets, oilfield careers, insurance, LNG, power, and the people who actually do the work.

    43 min

  3. May 15

    Offshore Distributed Control System (DCS) with Joey Johnston | Industrial Design Solutions

    Offshore platforms only look like steel and hardware from the outside. Underneath, they run on logic, alarms, timing, and people who understand exactly how the process is supposed to behave. In this episode, Peter Brecht and Wade Spear sit down with Joey Johnston to talk about life offshore, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), safety instrumented systems, startup and commissioning work, and the role control engineers play in keeping platforms running. They talk about why he made the jump from Emerson to offshore work, how DCS logic connects to real equipment, where AI may fit into analytics and monitoring, what people get wrong about offshore safety and environmental discipline, and how Joey is using AI to organize his wine collection. If you work in controls, automation, instrumentation, operations, offshore production, or you just like real shop talk from people who care about the industry, this episode is for you. Topics discussed: Offshore DCS and control systemsIndustrial Design Solutions and mission-critical supportPlatform culture and crew routinesStartup, commissioning, and troubleshootingAI in process control and cybersecurityOffshore safety and environmental disciplineConnect with Joey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephjohnston1/ Industrial Design Solutions: https://idspower.com/ Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht Connect with Wade: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-spear-05995b54 Website: https://localenergy.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@localenergyio Local Energy is an oil and gas podcast hosted by Peter Brecht and Wade Spear, covering drilling, production, field operations, energy markets, oilfield careers, insurance, LNG, power, and the people who actually do the work.

    43 min

  4. May 8

    Wireline, Workovers, and Oilfield X with Tejano Brown

    Nosotros estamos tan de vuelta. Tejano Brown joins Local Energy for a real oilfield conversation about wireline, workovers, the Permian Basin, Oilfield X, and training the next generation. In this episode, Peter Brecht and Wade Spear talk with Tejano Brown, also known as Andy De La Rosa, a manager at Underdog Wireline. They cover his path into oil and gas, what it takes to move from hand to engineer to field service manager, the pressure of running a wireline truck, and why workover operations remain such an important part of the business. They also get into pump down perforating, getting stuck deep in a lateral, reputation in the oilfield, loyalty between operators and service companies, the Midland oilfield community, and how social media can help recruit and teach people who are curious about the industry. If you work in wireline, completions, production, workovers, service companies, or you just like real shop talk from people who care about the industry, this episode is for you. Topics discussed: Wireline career progressionCDLs and getting started in oil and gasUnderdog Wireline's growthPump down perforating and workover operationsGetting stuck in a lateralPermian Basin market signalsService company loyalty and crew retentionOilfield X and recruitingTraining the next generation of handsCharlas and the Midland oilfield communityFollow Tejano on XVisit Charlas Restaurante Connect with PeterConnect with Wadelocalenergy.comFollow on YouTubeEmail your questions Local Energy is an oil and gas podcast hosted by Peter Brecht and Wade Spear, covering drilling, production, field operations, energy markets, oilfield careers, insurance, LNG, power, and the people who actually do the work.

    42 min
  5. Drill Baby Drill, One Year Later: Oil Prices, AI, and the Oilfield

    May 1

    Drill Baby Drill, One Year Later: Oil Prices, AI, and the Oilfield

    One year later, Peter Brecht and Wade Spear are going back to where Local Energy started: Drill Baby Drill. In this anniversary episode, Peter and Wade look back on the first 51 episodes of Local Energy and revisit the same question that kicked off episode one: what does “Drill Baby Drill” actually mean when you’re looking at it from the oilfield? They talk about oil prices, rig contracts, why activity does not always move as fast as the headlines suggest, and how the industry has changed over the last year. The conversation also covers AI in oil and gas, AI-generated music, favorite guests from year one, weird oilfield market indicators like the Raptor Index and audit activity, and what Local Energy should cover in year two. If you work in oil and gas, drilling, production, service, insurance, energy markets, or you just like real shop talk from people who care about the industry, this episode is for you. Topics discussed: Drill Baby Drill one year later Oil prices and drilling activity Rig contracts and operator budgets AI in oil and gas AI-generated music Oilfield market indicators The Raptor Index Audit activity as an industry signal Energy stocks and market volatility Future Local Energy guests and deep dives Operations, wireline, production, and drill bits Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht Connect with Wade: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-spear-05995b54 Website: https://localenergy.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@localenergyio Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0huYDWqFYOjJScHi26l7Q9 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-energy/id1885425019 Email Us: peter@localenergy.com Local Energy is an oil and gas podcast hosted by Peter Brecht and Wade Spear, covering drilling, production, field operations, energy markets, oilfield careers, insurance, LNG, power, and the people who actually do the work.

    22 min
  6. This Cambridge Engineer Says We're Solving the Easy Problem Last | James Macnaghten, Caldera CEO

    Apr 24

    This Cambridge Engineer Says We're Solving the Easy Problem Last | James Macnaghten, Caldera CEO

    Industrial heat causes 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions — and almost nobody's working on the easy part. James Macnaghten is a Cambridge-trained engineer with 20+ patents who shut down his first energy storage company after realizing it's often cheaper to throw renewable energy away than store it. Now as CEO of Caldera, he's converting cheap electricity into industrial steam using recycled aluminum and volcanic rock — and deploying units into hospitals and factories without requiring grid upgrades. James breaks down why the energy world keeps chasing steelmaking and cement while ignoring brewing, food, and pharma. He makes the case for hybridization over going 100% clean, shares why he thinks oil demand is headed for a crash, and questions whether the AI energy boom can survive its own economics. Caldera's first appearance on the show — and our first guest from across the Atlantic. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:57 Meet James Macnaghten 2:52 Have humans landed on the moon? 3:22 Tourists or engineers — which gives more grief? 3:35 20+ patents and what James learned about filing 5:09 From Cambridge to Isentropic to Caldera 7:48 The epiphany: cheaper to throw energy away 9:31 Never use air as a heat transfer medium 15:53 Industrial heat — the overlooked 20% 16:17 Why we're solving the wrong problem first 18:51 Hybridization over 100% clean 20:02 The 1,000-hour rule for surplus renewables 21:04 Caldera alongside factory gas boilers 23:02 Diesel prices and R&D cycles 27:58 GEA's investment in Caldera 29:34 Heat pumps and managing peak demand 31:36 First deployments going into a hospital 33:31 Oil demand crash prediction 35:23 Will the AI energy bubble burst? 37:15 Where to find James Guest links: James Macnaghten — https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-macnaghten-7aaa65a/ Caldera — https://www.caldera.co.uk/ Connect with us: Website — https://localenergy.com Peter Brecht — https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ Wade Spear — https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadespear/ Guest inquiries — peter@localenergy.com

    37 min
  7. Welcome to the Local Energy Podcast

    Apr 23

    Welcome to the Local Energy Podcast

    The oil and gas industry is full of corporate talking points and "green energy theater"—this podcast is the antidote. Most energy content is produced by people who have never stepped foot on a rig. Local Energy is different. We bring you authentic shop talk from the people who actually move the needle: field hands, well-site supervisors, drilling engineers, CEOs, and geologists. From the logistics of 31,000-foot wells to navigating the WTI markets, we dive deep into the gritty reality of how energy actually works. No scripts, no corporate filters—just the raw experience of those who have spent more hours in a wireline truck than they can count. Real Industry Insights: The truth about drilling and production. Career Moves: How to build a life and a business in the patch. Market Realities: WTI, service company survival, and industry downturns. New episodes drop every week. Hit the [+] Follow button to stay updated and leave us a 5-star rating if you’re tired of the mainstream energy narrative.

    1 min
  8. Non-Operated Oil & Gas Assets Explained: Inside Red Stag Resources with Matt Dangel & Richard Ball

    Apr 17

    Non-Operated Oil & Gas Assets Explained: Inside Red Stag Resources with Matt Dangel & Richard Ball

    Two former Chevron professionals walked away from corporate energy to build something different. Matt Dangel (CEO) and Richard Ball (COO) of Red Stag Resources join Peter Brecht to explain how non-operated partnerships actually work — and why their conventional asset expertise gives operators something most non-op partners never offer. Matt holds degrees in petroleum, chemical, and electrical engineering from Texas A&M. Richard is a geologist who worked the San Juan Basin, deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and conventional assets in Angola before spending six years in investment banking on the sell side. Together, they bring complementary buy-side and sell-side deal experience to a market segment most of the industry has overlooked. Topics covered in this episode: What non-operated working interests actually are and how JOAs work Why conventional oil and gas assets are underserved by today's workforce How Red Stag adds technical value beyond just writing checks The difference between conventional and unconventional assets explained Building a pitch deck and raising capital for a non-op fund Career advice for students entering the oil and gas industry in 2030 What happened when WTI went negative on April 20, 2020 The story of how Matt and Richard met at Chevron (and the giant corner office) How complementary skill sets — engineering vs. geology, optimism vs. cynicism — make a partnership work Choosing operators and basins: Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas How data and AI tools are being applied to conventional assets Multivariate testing on wells and the risk of turning too many knobs at once Guest: Matt Dangel, CEO — Red Stag Resources Guest: Richard Ball, COO — Red Stag Resources Website: https://www.redstagresources.com Host: Peter Brecht · Local Energy Podcast Website: https://localenergy.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0huYDWqFYOjJScHi26l7Q9 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-energy/id1885425019 Contact / Guest inquiries: peter@localenergy.com

    30 min
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About

Oil and gas podcast with real field experience. WTI markets, drilling, production, oilfield careers, LNG, and energy news — no fluff, just shop talk. Local Energy is hosted by Peter Brecht and Wade Spear. We cover field operations, energy markets, oilfield careers, drilling, production, midstream, LNG, and offshore — with guests from field hands to CEOs, grid operators, and 30-year Chevron veterans. Oil and gas news, career stories, and market analysis from people who did the job — this is your channel. Topics: WTI forecasts, H2S safety, company man roles, oilfield finance, SCADA, Bitcoin o

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Brecht and Wade Spear
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Peter Brecht and Wade Spear
  • Show Website
    Local Energy