Petroleum Economist Podcast

Welcome to the latest podcast series launched by Petroleum Economist: 'What’s up with oil?'   How can oil prices get back to where they were before the Middle East crisis with all those barrels lost? And are we already heading for a glut before we have fully shaken off the risk of a physical shortage? We examine these fundamental conundrums.

Welcome to another episode of a new podcast series launched by Petroleum Economist: 'What’s up with gas?' We are not out of the woods yet with regards to the US-Iran conflict, with resolution still not assured. In the meantime, we look at what the disruptions mean for Qatar's long-term role in the LNG space.

Welcome to another episode of ‘What’s up with gas?’, a podcast series by Petroleum Economist covering key developments happening in the natural gas space.  The global energy crisis is deepening, with no tangible progress in US-Iran peace talks that could end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. We examine how key import markets in Europe and Asia are faring, and whether the EU can still deliver...

In this episode, Charles McConnell, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy, discusses the evolution of carbon capture, utilization,and storage (CCUS), its market dynamics in the U.S. and Europe, and the future of energy transition investments. Insights include the importance of monetizing CO2, industry decarbonization strategies, and technological innovations in monitoring and reporting.

In this episode, we discuss the implications of the Hormuz blockade on the European gas market and beyond. Europe was already facing supply insecurity after a cold winter, and the blockade and a thinly veiled threat by Putin to halt remaining gas flows are piling on further pressure.

In this podcast, Petroleum Economist is joined by Matthew McManus to discuss how energy sanctions have become one of Washington’s most powerful diplomatic tools. Matthew is a visiting fellow at the National Center for Energy Analytics and a former senior US State Department official with more than three decades of experience working on international energy and economic policy.

More than three decades after the UNFCCC was signed, the energy transition’s global contribution to slowing the overall increase in CO2 emissions has been inconsequential. US energy expert and former US government adviser Stephen D. Eule tells Petroleum Economist’s Saniya Garyali that despite a plethora of new laws, rhetoric and money spent, decarbonisation goals are still as far away as ever.

In 2026, what will define success in the oil and gas industry? In this podcast, industry experts Jorge Herrera and Aneel Bhandari examine the need to master cost control, risk visibility and operational discipline in a year that will squeeze margins and push asset productivity to the foreground. On the technology side, AI and digital twins are moving beyond back-office support to drive real-time d...

Denise Hamilton joins Rachel McGhie, conference director, WGLC to follow up from her electric keynote at WGLC 2025 in October. In this podcast they discuss why connection, communication and community are the skills leaders need most right now.

Next year could be pivotal for the oil & gas industry, as long-standing challenges in maintenance and asset management come back into focus. Many operators still face fragmented systems, limited visibility across engineering, safety and maintenance and difficulty linking day-to-day activities with business goals. In this episode, Gemma Fornes and Dennis Filthaus from Octave (formerly Hexagon) ...

Dennis Jol, CEO, AIQ, discusses the transformative role of AI in the energy sector, particularly in optimizing operations and enhancing sustainability. He highlights AIQ's collaboration with ADNOC and other global partners to develop innovative solutions that redefine industry roles and improve efficiency. The discussion also touches on the future of AI in oil and gas, emphasizing the potential fo...

Welcome to the first episode of a new podcast series launched by Petroleum Economist: 'What’s up with gas?' The series will cover the key developments happening in the natural gas space. In this episode, we discuss sanctions on Russian energy and specifically the US position on ongoing purchases of Arctic LNG 2 cargoes by Russia, the EU’s bold plan to eliminate Russian energy use and the outlook f...

In this episode of the WGLC Podcast Series: Empowered to Lead, host Rachel McGhie speaks with Melissa Gould of the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT-US) about the vital role women are playing in subsea technology, offshore energy, and the blue economy. Melissa shares how SUT’s Women in Industry initiative is building inclusiveness, encouraging participation, and inspiring the next generation...

In this episode of the WGLC Podcast Series: Empowered to Lead, Rachel McGhie speaks with Lamé Verre, co-founder of Lean In Equity & Sustainability. Lamé shares her journey as an advocate and changemaker, the gaps she saw in representation across the energy and sustainability sectors, and how her platform is driving progress for women—especially women of color. Together, they explore why equity...

Middle East gas could provide an economic and more sustainable energy option especially in terms of meeting local demand, Crystol Energy CEO Carole Nakhle tells Petroleum Economist’s Paul Hickin. She warns against oversimplifying energy debates around peak demand, explains the evolutionary role of OPEC and talks about the importance of diversifying Middle East economies not just regional energy mi...

OPEC+ spare capacity is much lower than the market consensus and US shale will also struggle to add extra supply in the second half of 2025 providing upside risk to oil prices, according to Emily Ashford. The Standard Chartered energy analyst tells Petroleum Economist’s Paul Hickin that while tariffs, trade and geopolitics add bearishness, much has been priced in and may be offset by a supply side...

Oil and gas can and should coexist with renewables, and policymakers must be aware of the risks to energy access, affordability and sustainability from sometimes ill-judged efforts to tackle climate issues and demonise energy companies, argues Amy Miller. The PRAGMA CEO tells Petroleum Economist’s chief economist Paul Hickin that it’s important to appreciate every country has a unique energy journ...

In the debut episode of the WGLC Podcast Series: Empowered to Lead, Conference Director Rachel McGhie sits down with Lauren Levicki Courville, President of Dress for Success Houston, to explore what empowerment looks like for women navigating economic independence, career growth, and leadership. Lauren shares the incredible work of DFS Houston—an organisation that has impacted close to 50,000 wome...

In this episode, Petroleum Economist sister title Hydrocarbon Processing spoke with Nav Sharma, Director of Product Management, Cybersecurity, Honeywell, on safeguarding assets from cyber attacks. This includes behavioural analytics and deception technologies, and what a truly proactive cyber defense system looks like in OT environments to protect vital infrastructure

The energy transition is a false narrative that has caused vast sums of government money to be wasted warns Mark Mills, executive director of the National Center for Energy Analytics. The US energy thinktank leader talks to Paul Hickin, chief economist of Petroleum Economist, about how Jevons paradox is a pivotal energy paradigm and the crucial role of hydrocarbons in meeting electrification needs...

While oil demand is weakening and OPEC+ is bringing back barrels, a lack of non-OPEC supply—especially as US shale sputters—will likely see an oil market revival in 2026, says EnergyRogue.com’s Brian Pieri. Petroleum Economist’s chief economist, Paul Hickin, and Brian also explain why betting against OPEC is a fool’s errand. 

Petroleum Economist explored the nexus of supply and demand fundamentals and the power of sentiment with Tamas Varga, a top oil analyst at PVM Oil Associates. With the IEA and OPEC unable to find a consensus on the oil outlook and many moving parts to tariffs, geopolitical risk, OPEC+ barrels and US production, a more nuanced approach to market direction may be required. 

Petroleum Economist talked to Dr Ian Palmer, solar space scientist turned oilfield engineer, about his book How Oil and Gas Companies are Pivoting Toward Climate Change, covering carbon capture, net-zero targets, batteries and the future of fossil fuels.

Petroleum Economist sat down with Neil Quilliam to explore how Saudi Arabia is balancing oil market management, growing its gas and LNG sector and developing its renewables strategy. Neil is involved with SRMG Think, Azure Strategy Consulting and Chatham House and explains how the Kingdom’s near and long term energy vision fits with its plans to diversify its economy.

Part 2 of Petroleum Economist’s global refining analysis focuses on the Asia-Pacific region. This episode details major initiatives that are leading to additional capital expenditures for refining capacity additions, including the ability to satisfy domestic fuel demand, higher biofeedstock blending, increasing SAF production, the inclusion of petrochemical units in existing refining infrastructur...