Local Energy

Peter Brecht and Wade Spear
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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. 5d ago

    Subsurface Detective: 40 Years of Reservoir Engineering Secrets with Jim Clark

    A 40-year reservoir engineering veteran breaks down how oil and gas companies actually decide what's underground — and why AI still can't replace the domain knowledge it takes to get it right. Jim Clark, CCS Reservoir Analytics Engineer at JWC3 Resources, joins Local Energy to explain reservoir engineering as detective work, the real economics of carbon capture, and how a $30 billion gas project came down to a single well-log calculation.Jim spent decades working reservoirs from the Gulf of Mexico to deep-water East Africa before moving into CCS (carbon capture and sequestration) analytics. In this conversation with hosts Peter Brecht and Wade Speer, Jim explains why he calls himself a "subsurface detective," walks through the machine learning model he built to predict 20-year gas recovery with 98% accuracy, and unpacks why capturing carbon costs more than storing it. The episode also covers CCS vs. CCUS, well integrity risk for CO2 injection, 45Q tax credits, and the surprising link between data centers and the next wave of carbon storage projects.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro: Meet Jim Clark, 40-Year Reservoir Engineering Veteran01:16 Why a Reservoir Engineer Is a Subsurface Detective03:22 Reading Rock: The Clues Hidden in a Single Core Sample06:13 Before the Bit Drops: How Reservoir Models Get Built Pre-Drill10:21 The Real Signals That Decide When a Well Gets Shut In13:57 The $30 Billion Well: Inside a High-Stakes East Africa Decision19:38 Why AI Still Can't Replace Domain Knowledge21:26 Building an AI Reservoir Advisor to Train Engineers Faster24:40 Prompt Engineering, Hallucinations, and Trusting the Machine27:42 CCS vs CCUS: The Difference Almost Everyone Gets Wrong30:53 The Real Reason Carbon Capture Costs $100 a Ton32:18 Old Wells, New Risk: Why Well Integrity Matters for CO2 Storage36:06 The 45Q Tax Credit Math Behind CO2 Flooding38:20 Data Centers, Green Power, and the Next CO2 Storage Boom41:41 Career Advice: What Jim Would Tell a Future Reservoir EngineerKEY TOPICSReservoir engineering fundamentals and the "subsurface detective" mindsetUsing core samples and pressure data to infer reservoir boundariesBuilding simulation models before and after drillingMachine learning models that predict 20-year well productionWhy domain knowledge is irreplaceable when using AI toolsPrompt engineering and avoiding AI hallucinationsCCS vs CCUS definitions and how they actually differThe true cost breakdown of carbon capture, including the $100-a-ton benchmarkWell integrity risk for CO2 storage in aging wellbores45Q tax credits, CO2 flooding, and enhanced oil recovery economicsHow data center power demand is reshaping CO2 storage opportunitiesCareer advice for aspiring petroleum and reservoir engineersLINKS & RESOURCESConnect with Jim Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-clark/JWC3 Resources: mentioned at 00:19 as Jim's current company (CCS/reservoir analytics)BoodleBox (AI platform with academic knowledge bank, mentioned at 26:49): https://boodlebox.aiABOUT THE PODCASTThe Local Energy Podcast explores the people, technology, risk, and stories behind the oil and gas industry. Hosted by Peter Brecht, the show features conversations with operators, engineers, service providers, entrepreneurs, and energy professionals working across upstream oil and gas, insurance, technology, and local energy markets.Local Energy Podcast: https://localenergy.com/Connect with Peter Brecht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrechtConnect with Wade Spear: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-spear-05995b54Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@localenergyioListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0huYDWqFYOjJScHi26l7Q9Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-energy/id1885425019

  2. Jul 7

    What Well Logs Miss About Shale Reservoirs: Petrophysics and the Next Oilfield Breakthrough with Galen Dillewyn

    What do well logs miss about shale reservoirs? Galen Dillewyn from NuTech joins the Local Energy Podcast to explain petrophysics, reservoir intelligence, water cut prediction, AI in oil and gas, and why the rock still controls everything. In this episode, Peter Brecht sits down with Galen Dillewyn, Vice President of Business Development at NuTech, for a practical conversation about how operators understand what is really happening underground. Galen shares lessons from his wireline days, why "seeing rock" matters more than just reading curves, how NuTech thinks about movable fluids versus bound fluids, and why the Permian, Eagle Ford, Barnett, Woodford, and other shale plays still have more to teach the industry. They also get into AI tools for oilfield workflows, old-school wireline knowledge, California oil and gas, carbon capture and Class VI permits, pore space questions, helium, produced water, and what keeps Galen optimistic about the future of oil and gas. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Meet Galen Dillewyn from NuTech 01:24 From Wireline Engineer to Reservoir Intelligence 04:39 Why You Have to See Rock, Not Curves 05:57 The Rock Controls Every Oilfield Decision 07:23 NuTech's Approach to Movable vs. Bound Fluids 09:13 Where Reservoir Data Really Comes From 12:20 When the Data Does Not Say What You Want 15:50 How Production Data Changes the Model 16:18 The Eagle Ford Lesson Nobody Believed 17:25 Predicting Permian Water Cut from Logs 20:11 California Oil and the Resources We Can't Reach 21:51 Why Tier Two and Tier Three Rock Gets Harder 24:25 Petrophysics vs. Basic Log Analysis 28:19 How AI Is Helping Technical Oilfield Work 30:26 Why Every Shale Play Needs Regional Context 33:25 Carbon Capture, Class VI Permits, and Pore Space 39:05 Why Oil and Gas Still Has Opportunity KEY TOPICS Petrophysics and shale reservoir analysis Well logs, wireline data, and rock interpretation Movable fluids vs. bound fluids Permian Basin water cut and produced water Eagle Ford, Barnett, Woodford, Wolfcamp, and Delaware Basin lessons AI tools for oilfield data workflows Carbon capture, Class VI permits, and pore space California oil and gas development How operators de-risk drilling decisions Why oil and gas still has long-term opportunity LINKS & RESOURCES NuTech: https://www.nutechenergy.com/ Connect with Galen Dillewyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galen-dillewyn-42b06314/ ABOUT THE PODCAST The Local Energy Podcast explores the people, technology, risk, and stories behind the oil and gas industry. Hosted by Peter Brecht, the show features conversations with operators, engineers, service providers, entrepreneurs, and energy professionals working across upstream oil and gas, insurance, technology, and local energy markets. Local Energy Podcast: https://localenergy.com/ Connect with Peter Brecht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht Connect with Wade Spear: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-spear-05995b54 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@localenergyio Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0huYDWqFYOjJScHi26l7Q9 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-energy/id1885425019

  3. Jun 30

    From Refinery Floor to Fuels Compliance: A 30 Year Oil & Gas Career with Brian Davis

    Brian Davis has spent 30+ years in oil and gas, working across refinery operations, instrumentation, maintenance, turnarounds, yield accounting, and now fuels compliance.In this episode of the Local Energy Podcast, Brian joins Peter Brecht and Wade Spear to explain what actually happens inside a refinery, how crude oil becomes gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products, and why refinery work is still one of the best career paths for people willing to work hard and learn on the job.Brian breaks down refinery turnarounds, crack spreads, crude assays, yield accounting, fuel blending, summer vs. winter gasoline, renewable volume obligations, and the importance of hands-on experience in oil and gas. He also shares how he started as a laborer one week after high school and built a long career through instrumentation, operations, night school, and field experience.If you’re interested in refinery careers, oil and gas jobs, fuels compliance, energy policy, or how the downstream side of the industry really works, this conversation is packed with practical insight.Chapters:00:00 Meet Brian Davis00:57 Refining, Marketing, Transportation, and Fuels Compliance01:36 Starting in a Refinery After High School04:18 What Instrumentation Techs Actually Do05:36 Why Refineries Need Turnarounds07:02 What Is a Fluid Catalytic Cracker?07:53 Crack Spreads, Crude Assays, and Refinery Yields09:36 Yield Accounting, DCS Data, and Mass Balance11:23 Can Refineries Shift Toward More Jet Fuel?12:40 Cushing, Tank Data, and EIA Reporting15:04 Planned vs. Actual Refinery Output15:39 California Refinery Closures and Supply Risk18:58 Cap and Trade, Fuel Blends, and State Markets20:25 MTBE, Ethanol, and Fuel Chemistry22:29 Summer Blend vs. Winter Blend Gasoline24:47 Career Advice for Young People Entering Oil and Gas28:28 Knowledge Transfer and the Next Generation30:07 Brian’s Clean Joke Rule and a Possible Part TwoKey topics:Refinery careersFuels complianceRenewable volume obligationsInstrumentation technician workRefinery turnaroundsYield accountingCrack spreadsCrude oil assaysSummer and winter gasoline blendsOil and gas career adviceEnergy policy and refinery operationsLinks:Local Energy: https://localenergy.com/Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0huYDWqFYOjJScHi26l7Q9Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-energy/id1885425019About Local Energy:The Local Energy Podcast highlights the people, careers, technology, and real-world stories behind the oil and gas industry. We talk with professionals across the energy sector to better understand how the industry works, where it is headed, and how the next generation can build meaningful careers in energy.

  4. Jun 23

    The Pipe Whisperer: How a 30-Year Wireline Veteran Became the Oil Field's Best-Kept Secret

    John Baez doesn't make sales calls. He doesn't need to. After 30 years of solving stuck pipe, running plasma cutters at 15,000 PSI, and building a reputation one clean cut at a time — operators across the Permian Basin wait 12 hours for him to show up. That's what uncommon sense looks like in the oilfield. In this episode of Local Energy, Peter Brecht and Wade Spear sit down with John Baez — known across the industry as the Pipe Whisperer — to talk wireline, fishing operations, free point technology, and what it actually takes to become the guy people call when no one else can solve it. What we cover: How John built a 30-year career in wireline and downhole fishing operationsThe mentor who taught him to think, not just executePlasma cutters, thermite technology, and making cuts no one thought were possibleRunning 5 wireline contracts independently and cutting out the middlemanBuilding a remote free point software system with his son using DiscordWhy reputation in the oilfield travels faster than any sales call ever couldShow Notes: Apex Digital FreepointLocal Energy WebsiteYouTube Channel with Video InterviewsContact / Guest inquiries: peter@localenergy.com Local Energy is the oil and gas podcast for people who actually work in the industry. 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. No corporate talking points. Just shop talk with people who've done the work. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

    The Pipe Whisperer: How a 30-Year Wireline Veteran Became the Oil Field's Best-Kept Secret

  5. Jun 16

    How an A&M Walk-On Became a U.S. Olympian (And a Permian Basin Production Engineer)

    What does it take to balance a career as a Production Engineer in the Permian Basin with the rigorous demands of being a U.S. Olympic bobsledder? In this episode of the Local Energy podcast, hosts Peter Brecht and Wade Spear sit down with Boone Niederhofer to discuss his incredible journey from a walk-on wide receiver at Texas A&M to competing on the world's biggest stage. Boone shares the "accidental" story of how he got into bobsledding, the intense training regimen required for a five-second explosive push, and how the discipline of elite athletics translates directly to optimizing production in the oilfield. We dive deep into the technical side of his work in Midland—discussing plunger lifts, gas lifts, and the current state of activity in the Midland Basin—while also exploring the importance of faith, family, and building a network before you need it. Whether you're interested in the mechanics of an Olympic bobsled or the day-to-day challenges of a production engineer, this episode offers a unique perspective on what it means to be "local energy." Connect with Boone Niederhofer Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/boone_saw⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/boone-niederhofer-12a726139/⁠Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: Did we actually land on the moon?01:11 - Discovering Boone through "Oil and Gas Twitter"01:18 - The Training Regimen: Linear vs. Lateral athleticism03:10 - Mechanics of a Bobsled Run: The 50-meter mark and loading03:47 - Team Roles: Driver, Side Pushers, and the Brakeman05:11 - BMW and the aerodynamics of bobsled design05:32 - The Path: Texas A&M Walk-on to Petroleum Engineering07:59 - Starting a career at Wild Horse Resources and the 2019 downturn08:49 - The "Accidental" Tryout: From the oilfield to Team USA09:49 - Competitive Circuit: World Cup vs. Olympic Qualification12:03 - Balancing world-class competition with a career in engineering12:54 - Career Transitions: Finding a supportive employer in the Permian14:48 - What does a Production Engineer actually do?16:35 - Technical Deep Dive: Plunger lifts, gas lifts, and optimization18:24 - Transferable Skills: Athletics, Consistency, and Work Ethic20:15 - The "Blue Collar" nature of the Permian Basin22:45 - Pressure Management: High-stakes engineering vs. Olympic starts28:32 - Current Midland Activity: Economic opportunities in a high-price environment31:18 - Advice to Younger Self: Networking and genuine connections32:41 - Faith, Family, and the future of Boone's bobsled career34:10 - Final thoughts and where to connect About Local Energy Local Energy is an oil and gas podcast with real field experience. We cover WTI markets, drilling, production, oilfield careers, and energy news—no fluff, just shop talk. Hosted by Peter Brecht and Wade Spear. Enjoyed the episode? Please follow the show and leave a review on Spotify to help us grow the community!

    How an A&M Walk-On Became a U.S. Olympian (And a Permian Basin Production Engineer)

  6. Jun 9

    How Rugby Built an Oil & Gas Career: Leadership, Risk-Taking and Community in the Energy Patch

    Why does Australia raise more revenue on beer taxes than its massive gas exports? What You'll Learn: The Australian Energy Tax Paradox: Why independent Senator David Pocock is calling out the government for making more revenue on beer taxes than offshore gas exports.US vs. Australian Royalties: How onshore mineral rights and oil and gas royalty calculations differ between the United States and Australia.The Legend of Bass Strait: How a single geologist in the 1960s discovered a legacy oil field that fueled a nation for over fifty years.Corporate to Craft Brewery Pivot: The step-by-step feasibility process Sean Hanrahan used to launch Platypus Brewing and transition to his new 2.5-acre community hub, The Oasis.The Global Rugby Brotherhood: Why the values of sacrifice, camaraderie, and dedicated club facilities make rugby the ultimate networking fraternity.Episode Summary: In this episode of the Local Energy Podcast, host Peter Brecht and retired pro rugby athlete Maceo Brown sit down with Sean Hanrahan, a former Australian minerals and oil & gas executive who successfully pivoted to become a prominent Houston entrepreneur. The conversation explores the deep, unexpected connections between global energy markets, professional sports, and community building. We dive into the current political and economic landscape of Australian oil and gas. Sean explains how Australia, despite being a prolific net exporter of LNG to Asian markets, is facing a massive populist shift led by independent Senator David Pocock — who revealed that the Australian government collects more tax revenue from beer than from its multi-billion-dollar gas exports. Sean contrasts this with the Norwegian tax model and explains how royalty structures differ between the competitive US onshore market and Australia's conglomerate-dominated offshore plays. Finally, Sean shares an exclusive look at his next venture: closing Platypus Brewing's physical restaurant to launch The Oasis by Platypus, an expansive 2.5-acre community-centric hub in Houston designed to unite families, young professionals, and the city's passionate amateur rugby community. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Moon Landing Debates02:45 - Why Australian Energy Executives Gravitate to Houston05:37 - Sponsoring the Houston SaberCats & Pro Rugby Sacrifices12:13 - Sean's Global Oil & Gas Exploration Career13:55 - Overview of Australian Oil & Gas Resources18:21 - The Beer Tax vs. Gas Export Revenue Controversy22:55 - US vs. Australian Onshore Royalty Structures26:56 - David Pocock and the Rugby-to-Politics Pipeline30:42 - Transitioning Platypus Brewing to The Oasis Hub40:53 - Hardwired Lessons on Building Community SpacesGuest:Sean Hanrahan is a former global minerals and petroleum executive who managed international exploration portfolios for one of Australia's largest natural resource conglomerates. In 2015, he transitioned into hospitality, founding Platypus Brewing in Houston, Texas, and serving as the beer sponsor for the MLR's Houston SaberCats. He is currently developing The Oasis by Platypus, a 2.5-acre, community-centric craft-beer and sports hub. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn and visit Platypus Brewing & The Oasis.

    How Rugby Built an Oil & Gas Career: Leadership, Risk-Taking and Community in the Energy Patch

  7. Jun 2

    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.

    Inside the Cushing Hub Moving 100 Million Barrels with Corey Brown

  8. 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.

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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
    2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Peter Brecht and Wade Spear
  • Show Website
    Local Energy