Oilfield Electrification Technology Podcast

In this season finale, recorded live at HFTC, Shane and Jim review the fantastic technologies and people we've had the opportunity to meet during season 1. We also discuss with NOV and GD the trend towards electric fracking and the future of even higher horsepower pumps in the industry.

In this episode, hosts Shane and Jim talk with Simon Palacio, an engineer and construction specialist at Burns & McDonnell, about the challenges of planning and constructing infrastructure for oilfield electrification. They discuss the increasing demand for electricity in the oil and gas industry, creating a need for more reliable and dispatchable generation sources. Simon explains the concept of rotational inertia and its importance for frequency stability on the grid, highlighting the limitations of renewable energy sources like solar panels for handling transient loads. They also discuss the impact of policy and regulations on the industry, including the EPA's rules and procedures that reduce reliable energy sources by up to 10-20%. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the complex engineering and policy issues shaping the future of oilfield electrification.

In this bonus cross-over episode from World Oil Deep Dive, we talk with attendees, speakers, and key players at the Oilfield Electrification Technology Conference to learn about critical new technologies and trends in oilfield electrification. The technologies and presentations at this conference show a strong trend toward electrifying oilfield operations.

If you've ever wondered about good uses for used wind turbine blades you'll want to listen to this episode. Shane and Jim speak with Brent Mulliniks from Eco Hydroflow about closed-loop recycling of produced water using industrial waste to generate gas to generate electricity for the process. This is next-level technology that shows how our industry is making changes that will provide for our future energy needs while having a minimal impact on the environment.

We speak with subject matter experts from Burns and McDonnell about common mistakes they see when planning your electrical grid. We discuss the upcoming demand for electricity in Texas due to the growth of electric fracing and other factors, such as Bitcoin mining and EV penetration. In addition, the conversation covers the potential strain on the power grid and the need for new power sources, including renewables and natural gas generation.

In this episode, recorded live on the shop floor at Joliet Electric Motors (JEM) in Joliet, Illinois, Tim Tibbot, Shane, and I talk about the evolution of electric motors for the oilfield and the state of the oilfield electrification market today. We also get a verbal tour of the machine shop and learn about the history of JEM and its partnership with Hitachi. 

Shane and I discuss the use of hydrogen in the upstream with Trevor Keeney from RPT Alliance. RPT Alliance engineers, designs and executes energy projects, so Trevor has a front-row seat to the energy transition. Most large operators want to include hydrogen in their oilfield operations energy mix. It's a sure way to lower overall emissions and improve ESG ratings. We discuss the different ways hydrogen is currently being used in the oilfield and how we will produce and use hydrogen in the oilfield in the near future. 

Using field gas to power turbines for generating electricity is an ESG double play that many operators are incorporating into their oilfield electrification. In this episode, we speak with Rusty Bonnett, the VP of Global Operations at Relevant Power Solutions, about his extensive turbine experience and how gas-powered turbines make complete oilfield electrification possible and affordable. 

There's a lot that goes into an EEC; Switchgear, Motor Control Centers, Transformers and Variable-frequency drives. In this episode we discuss the different options operators have and important factors to take into account when constructing ECCs with Michael Hertsenberg, the Senior Vice President of Electrification at Volta. This episode is full of useful information for operators working on electrifying their oilfield operations. 

Our guest for this episode is John Fischer, President of National Service Alliance, a Quad Plus Company. We discuss the brains of oilfield electrification networks, system control and integration. Like most topics in oilfield electrification it's more complex and interesting than you'd think. This episode will give you a good overview of what it takes to control microgrids in the oilfield.Special thanks to Joliet Electric Motors for sponsoring this podcast series. If you have any specific questions on running electric motors in the oilfield, please contact Shane Hackenberg at shaneh@jolietelectricmotors.com

Our guest for this episode is George Jackson, Executive Vice President and Justin Lippmann, West Texas Sales Manager from Life Cycle Power. We discuss Microgrids in detail. What they are, how they work and ways to power them. If you are interested in using electricity in the oilfield you’ll enjoy this. If you have questions for George Jackson feel free to email him at gjackson@allianceogp.comSpecial thanks to Joliet Electric Motors for sponsoring this podcast series. If you have any specific questions on running electric motors in the oilfield, please contact Shane Hackenberg at shaneh@jolietelectricmotors.com

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Ron Sickels, the VP of Business Development at Relevant Power Solutions. We go through a thorough overview of all the technologies involved in creating, distributing, and using electricity in the oilfield. Each of the following episodes will go deeper into the topics mentioned here. If you're interested in using electricity in the oilfield you’ll enjoy this. If you have questions for Dr. Ron Sickels feel free to email him at dr.ron@rfsfuel.comSpecial thanks to Joliet Electric Motors for sponsoring this podcast series. If you have any specific questions on running electric motors in the oilfield, please contact Shane Hackenberg at shaneh@jolietelectricmotors.com