Energy Crue

Send us Fan Mail We break down why technical excellence can fail the moment it becomes people leadership, and what rig culture looks like when trust and accountability replace old-school yelling. We share practical ways to motivate different personalities, stop repeating problems, and communicate better in a digital-first oilfield.  • technical skill not equal to leadership skill  • perfectionism...

Send us Fan Mail We debrief a closed-door operator roundtable on what the oilfield might look like by 2040, from extreme drilling precision to the hard physics that cap “faster and cheaper” promises. We wrestle with public perception, grid reliability, and the real role of AI when mistakes can turn into safety and environmental failures.  • time compression after 2020 and the push to do more with...

Send us Fan Mail In this 2024 Crue Club Operator Roundtable debrief, we break down how an operator gets squeezed by frac sand consolidation and responds by vertically integrating with an in-field wet sand mine to regain cost control. We also unpack the messy field reality, the chemistry traps of produced water recycling, and the bigger lesson: simpler systems often outperform polished “best practi...

Send us Fan Mail We pull back the curtain on a closed-door operator roundtable to show why oil and gas forecasting keeps breaking when the field fights the model. We track how water, power costs, private equity demands, service chain whiplash, and methane rules reshape what “good planning” even means.  • why we started sharing curated operator roundtables through the podcast  • how parent-child we...

Send us Fan Mail We share a raw operator roundtable on extreme extended laterals and the real reasons teams keep pushing beyond three-mile horizontals. We break down the physics, the economics, and the hard calls engineers make when the toolstring, the frac, or the surface plant becomes the limiting factor.  • how “extreme” laterals become routine and why length keeps rising  • surface cost amorti...

Send us Fan Mail The upstream oil and gas business just stopped being a speedrun. We start with a simple image that turns into the defining truth of the moment: trying to push steel through rock at extreme distances is hard enough, but doing it under tight capital and brutal downtime penalties changes the entire strategy.\n\nWe break down what executives are actually saying behind closed doors, st...

Send us Fan Mail We share how a 26-year-old quit a safe job, chose Houston without a car, and built traction through volunteering, TikTok transparency, and face-to-face networking. The core message is simple: action, humility, and consistency still open doors, even in a tough market. • why Houston’s opportunity and story mattered • leaving a stable job to prove grit and possibility • using TikTok...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack what operators and service companies can do to win in a flat market: scale smart, align incentives, fix power constraints with microgrids, and use AI where it actually delivers. We close with a playbook for leaders and individuals to protect culture, sharpen skills, and stay healthy. • industry context at ~$60 oil and consolidation pressure • private operators needing sc...

Send us Fan Mail We share a practical playbook to outperform in a flat oil and gas year by leaning into culture, communication, collaboration, and conversation. Expect clear examples, candid prompts, and simple steps to build transparency, speak to value, and align partners before problems hit. • the four Cs framework for 2026 success • culture as transparency and psychological safety • communicat...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into what authentic collaboration looks like between operators and service companies when “lowest cost” is no longer the winning strategy. A real case shows how early alignment, shared incentives, and trust cut rework and speed execution. • defining authentic collaboration beyond buzzwords  • why low-cost choices backfire and how to avoid rework  • Gavin’s bundling case and...

Send us Fan Mail JP Warren discusses the key takeaways from the August 2025 Crue Club Operator Roundtable led by Dan Ramito of Pickering Energy Partners, focusing on the changing energy, power, and water paradigm for Texas and beyond. • Data centers require massive resources with Texas power needs projected to nearly double from 85 to 150 gigawatts by 2030 • A single hyperscale data center uses 16...

Send us Fan Mail JP Warren and Jim Holmes explore how effective communication and value creation determine career success in the energy industry, from navigating job interviews to surviving industry uncertainty. • Breaking the engineering stereotype by being outgoing and engaging rather than introverted • Differentiating yourself through genuine enthusiasm and clear communication of your value pro...

Send us Fan Mail Trey Lawson shares the story behind Mesa Solutions' heritage connection to T. Boone Pickens' Mesa Petroleum and explains how the company is transforming power generation in the oil and gas industry through relationship-based innovation. • Third-generation oil and gas professional raised in Midland during its transition from a small-town feel to today's boom environm...

Send us Fan Mail The production world presents unique challenges with six-month delayed feedback loops between decisions and results, requiring careful metric tracking and strong communication between office, field operations, and service providers. • Weekly alignment and communication is critical between office, field, and service people • Vendor relationships require understanding both wellhead...

Send us Fan Mail Mike Umbro, founder of Californians for Energy and Science, reveals how California's energy policies are creating economic hardship while potentially increasing global emissions through energy imports. We discuss the urgent crisis facing the state as refinery closures threaten to push gas prices toward $8.50 per gallon. • California currently imports 75% of its oil from forei...

Send us Fan Mail Jeff Krimmel, founder of Krimmel Strategy Group (KSG), shares insights on making better strategic decisions in energy and building a business around data-driven strategy in uncertain times. • Building external networks is crucial for career development, even when internal relationships seem sufficient • Naming your business after yourself makes it easier for professional connectio...

Send us Fan Mail Ryan Walker from Shumaker Advisors joins us to discuss how energy companies can navigate Washington politics and policy changes that directly impact their business operations and profitability. • Pro-energy administration doesn't automatically mean better business conditions for all energy companies • Budget reconciliation process currently threatens tax credits established u...

Send us Fan Mail Energy illiteracy is widespread, creating disconnects between energy expectations and realities, while the imminent convergence of technology and energy sectors creates urgent infrastructure challenges. • Dan Ramito shares his journey from NASDAQ analytics to energy sector expertise • American coal is relatively clean compared to energy alternatives from other countries • Water sc...

Send us Fan Mail Alex McDonald explores how strengthening collaboration and transparency between operators and service providers drives real operational efficiencies in oil and gas. This candid conversation reveals why communication breakdowns are costing companies millions and how building trust-based relationships creates value for both sides. • 40% of operators still choose service providers ba...

Send us Fan Mail Crue Club's innovative operator roundtables are transforming how oil and gas professionals connect, providing a space for genuine knowledge-sharing without solicitation or distractions. • Q1 2024 brought together 71 operators from 41 companies for 25+ hours of focused industry discussions • Workforce reduction remains a key challenge, with the industry now operating with 37%...

Send us Fan Mail JP Warren hosts a knowledge-sharing Energy Crue podcast focused on a Crue Club operator mastermind roundtable discussing critical industry challenges facing oil and gas professionals today. The conversation explores how the industry has reduced its workforce by 37% while increasing production by 47% over the past decade. • Industry experiencing significant workforce reduction desp...

Send us Fan Mail Our exploration of energy policy regulation reveals critically significant insights about the future landscape of natural gas and LNG. Discussions highlight the importance of education and communication as the industry faces various perceptions. We dive into the implications of new technology like frat coke, the realities of obtaining public trust, and the strategic engagement req...

Send us Fan Mail A dynamic interchange on the current landscape for private operators in the energy sector. We discuss strategies for growth, competitive positioning, and the importance of networking to navigate challenges effectively.  • Highlights of the roundtable discussion in Midland • Strategies for focusing on undervalued assets • The critical role of cost management for operators • Importa...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is from our Crue Club Operator Mastermind Roundtable, held in OKC in late January 2025. Jeremy Ensz (VP of Operations Engineering - Ascent Resources) kicked off a roundtable discussion on Extended Laterals: How far could/should we go? We explore extended laterals benefits in production and efficiency while emphasizing the necessity of communication and technology. Mai...

Send us Fan Mail This episode dives into the evolving M&A landscape within the energy sector, particularly focusing on the Permian Basin's potential. We explore key trends in asset deals, the importance of niche strategies for private operators, and how effective networking is essential for securing opportunities in a competitive market.  • Discussion on M&A trends and average asset d...