The Energy Pipeline

Hosted by Josh Lowrey

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136

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Energy Pipeline, powered by Upright Digital and sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, is hosted by Josh Lowrey. Each week, the show explores the conversations shaping today’s oil and gas industry from operations in the field to innovation, technology, and long-term sustainability. Featuring insights from industry leaders and decision-makers, The Energy Pipeline dives into the challenges, opportunities, and tools driving progress across the energy value chain, and how the industry continues to evolve in a rapidly changing world.

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September 2, 202645 min

Paul Dunn on The Future of Carbon Capture | Ep.136

Capturing CO2 is only half the challenge. On The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey sits down with Paul Dunn, Chief Engineer, Low Carbon Solutions at Caterpillar, to explore the technology, economics, and future of carbon capture. Dunn explains Caterpillar’s thermal swing adsorption approach, compares it with other capture technologies, and revisits a 2019 field demonstration. He also discusses 45Q tax credits, carbon monetization in Canada, demand from AI data centers, and a Solar Turbines technique that doubles CO2 concentration while cutting exhaust flow in half. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:12 Meet Paul Dunn 01:05 Rhode Island Vs Houston 03:07 Paul’s Engineering Path 06:06 Carbon Capture Options 08:41 Thermal Swing Breakthrough 11:56 Prototype And Acquisition 13:39 Caterpillar Business Model 16:08 Carbon Capture In 2026 17:25 CO2 EOR Explained 20:18 Books And Practicalities 21:32 Where Will CO2 Go 23:06 45Q Credit Gets Real 24:11 Bipartisan Support for CCS 25:35 Canada and Paris Monetization 27:16 From Theory to Deployment 30:23 AI Data Centers Demand Power 33:44 Biggest Barrier: Storage Sites 36:12 Caterpillar Approach Thermal TSA 37:06 Gas Turbine CO2 Concentration Trick 41:01 Scaling Inside Caterpillar 44:53 Wrap Up and Where to Find Them

August 5, 20261 hr 2 min

Building Energy Events with Mark Immekus | Ep.135

What separates a good event from a day attendees will never forget? On The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey sits down with Mark Immekus, President of Events at Upright Digital, to discuss his journey through oil and gas, media and the evolution of O&G industry events. Mark shares how he helped grow the DUG conferences, navigated industry downturns and COVID-19, launched the Thrive Energy Conference, and how he has built memorable experiences by focusing on customer experience, attention to detail, and long-term relationships. 00:00 Podcast Returns 00:43 Meet Mark Immekus 02:10 Why Mark Matters 03:36 Handball to Houston 09:21 Breaking Into Events 11:55 Crisis and Hart Energy 13:58 Building DUG Powerhouse 20:30 Deals Made on Show Floor 23:10 COVID and New Chapter 32:15 Launching Thrive Blueprint 34:30 Building Thrive Fast 35:11 Why Its Called Thrive 37:05 Thrive 2021 Breakthrough 39:55 DEP Barbecue Takes Off 40:50 Ranch Chaos And Rainout 43:42 Camaraderie Over Trade Shows 44:58 Exclusive No Soliciting Rules 47:59 Caterpillar Booth Strategy 50:58 Obsessing Over Details 54:55 Team Culture And Praise 57:51 Post Event Self Critique 01:00:39 Bands Riders And Wrap Up

July 21, 20261 hr 0 min

The Future of Energy Leadership with Stephen Preng | Ep. 134

What does it take to find the leaders shaping the future of energy? On The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Caterpillar Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey sits down with Stephen Preng, Consultant and Practice Leader of Global Energy Services at Preng & Associates, to discuss executive search, talent strategy, and the future of leadership in the energy industry. Preng shares how Preng & Associates has built its reputation through deep industry expertise, retained executive search, and a rigorous evaluation process. He also explores leadership trends across oil and gas and power, the impact of AI-driven energy demand, the "great crew change," and the qualities that define exceptional leaders in today's evolving energy landscape 00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:11 Preng Global Reach 03:34 Not Just Recruiters 06:57 Stephen’s Career Path 09:37 Why Companies Outsource 10:49 Networking at Conferences 13:05 Research Team Insights 16:18 Hottest Talent Markets 17:49 Great Crew Change Debate 20:43 Assessments and Culture Fit 27:09 AI in Executive Search 30:01 Defining Great Leaders 30:46 Servant Leadership Traits 31:48 Leadership In Different Markets 32:45 Books And Influence Lessons 35:05 Transferable Success Debate 37:04 Culture Clash In Energy 40:33 AI And Power Shift 43:46 Leaders Who Inspire 52:07 Preng Firm Differentiators 54:44 Favorite Placement Story 59:03 Wrap Up And Where To Find

July 8, 202658 min

Richard Rodriguez on Cyber Resilience, AI Governance & the Future of Data Centers | Ep. 133

How can companies stay resilient in the age of AI? On this episode of the Energy Pipeline Podcast, sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, Josh Lowrey sits down with Richard Rodriguez, Founder & CEO of ClearSync Solutions, to discuss cyber resilience, AI governance, cloud strategy, and the growing demand for data centers. They also explore why many data center projects fail and how AI can help organizations make faster, smarter decisions. 00:00 Welcome and Sponsor Intro 00:28 Studio Banter and Watch on YouTube 03:04 Why Richard Matters 04:14 NOV Days and Early Career 07:40 Acquisitions Spark Tech Shift 10:08 Rubicon Oilfield Rocket Ship 13:35 ClearSync Launch After COVID 14:35 Cybersecurity Rescue Story 16:55 What ClearSync Actually Does 25:08 Cyber Resilience Explained 25:49 AI Adoption and Governance 28:07 Cloud Costs and Strategy 31:34 Convergence Moment in Energy 32:45 AI and Peptides Banter 33:34 Data Center Build Blueprint 35:21 From Land to Cooling 39:41 GPUs and Supply Reality 41:33 Is AI a Bubble 43:36 AI Agents for Operations 49:09 Bridging Business and IT 53:38 Governance and Data Readiness 56:37 Wrap Up and Where to Find

June 24, 202651 min

Marshall Dodson on Authentic Leadership, Industry Cycles, and AI in the Oilfield | Ep. 132

What does it take to rebuild and reposition an oilfield services company in one of the industry’s most challenging markets? On The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey sits down with Marshall Dodson, President and CEO of Key Energy Services, to discuss the company’s transformation, strategic focus, and vision for the future. Dodson shares how Key Energy is returning to its core strengths, navigating industry cycles, leveraging technology to improve safety and preserve institutional knowledge, and building a culture focused on excellence, authenticity, and long-term value creation. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:22 Authentic Leadership 02:55 Work Ethic and Loyalty 05:03 What Key Energy Does 07:11 Focus on Being the Best 10:15 Cycles and Survival 14:14 Violence of the Market 16:43 Early Signs of an Uptick 18:44 Recovering More From Wells 21:49 Boots on the Ground CEO 23:48 Meeting Employees in Midland 25:15 Mystery Shopping Hiring 26:26 Safety Tech Not Big Brother 27:43 Cameras Deliver Results 30:08 Future of Well Servicing 33:33 AI Demand and Energy 35:51 AI Bubble Economics 39:06 Ask Bob Safety AI 42:49 Automation Versus Economics 43:58 Culture and Career Reps 49:39 Wrap Up and Farewell

June 10, 202652 min

Molly Determan and Tim Tarpley on The Energy Challenge Behind the AI Boom | Ep. 131

Can America Meet the Energy Demand Surge? In this episode of The Energy Pipeline Podcast, sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey sits down with Molly Determan and Tim Tarpley, Presidents at EWTC, to discuss how AI, data centers, and industrial growth are reshaping energy demand. The conversation covers energy infrastructure, permitting reform, workforce evolution, energy security, and what it will take to power the next generation of growth. Tune in for an insightful look at one of the biggest challenges facing the energy industry today. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 02:02 Understanding EWTC Organization 05:35 Advocacy and Lobbying Efforts 07:49 DC Fly-Ins Experience 10:40 Personal Stories Matter 13:16 EWTC's Industry Impact 17:23 Collaboration and Committee Work 19:49 COVID Response and Support 20:44 Tariffs and Current Challenges 21:44 Venezuela Market Opportunities 23:38 State of Energy Workforce 25:30 AI and Data Centers 27:18 Energy Demand and AI 27:51 The 100 Gigawatt Challenge 29:05 Balancing Focus and Awareness 30:11 Permitting Reform Explained 30:59 Pipeline Capacity Constraints 31:53 State Level Barriers 33:11 New York NIMBYism Story 35:27 Shifting Energy Security Mindset 36:22 Value of EWTC Membership 38:36 Digital Workforce Evolution 40:52 EWTC Events Overview 41:44 Committee Events and Conferences 44:20 June 17th Energy Forum 45:49 Leadership Forums and Networking 47:29 Exciting Times in Energy 48:07 Reflecting on COVID Era 49:27 Consistency and Legacy 51:50 Closing Remarks

May 13, 202638 min

Dallas McCauley & Nathan Getschel on Natural Gas-Powered Frac Operations | Ep. 130

What does it take to run a 100% natural gas-powered frac fleet? On The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Caterpillar Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey sits down with Dallas McCauley, VP of Canadian Operations, and Nathan Getschel, Director of Asset Management and Manufacturing at Step Energy Services, to discuss the deployment of Caterpillar’s NGX gas management solution and the shift toward natural gas-powered frac operations. They explore diesel displacement, equipment logistics, reliability, and the real-world challenges of executing new technology in the field. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:20 Meet The Guests 01:56 Calgary Plus 15 04:21 Asset Management Role 06:00 Sponsor And Setup 07:56 NGX Overview 10:50 Power Density Logistics 14:15 Data Monitoring Automation 15:46 Step Growth Merger 17:11 Canada Market Outlook 18:13 Calgary Energy Revival 19:10 AI Peptides Data Centers 19:54 Natural Gas Powers Growth 20:46 Being First With Tech 23:22 Field Pride And Culture 29:11 What Customers Value 31:00 Gas Ops Misconceptions 34:47 Defining Success And Wrap

May 6, 202645 min

Matt Rayson on Autonomy & Digital Oilfield Solutions | Ep. 129

Cutting 100M gallons of diesel isn’t a future goal; it’s already happening. On The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Caterpillar Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey speaks with Matt Rayson, Director Product Manager at Caterpillar Inc. Rayson explains how Caterpillar is evolving from equipment to integrated, outcome-driven solutions—leveraging connected assets, predictive maintenance, and autonomy to improve safety and reduce downtime. He highlights innovations like connected valves that reduce red-zone exposure, dynamic gas blending saving over 100M gallons of diesel annually, and fully natural gas-powered frac systems. 00:00 Show Welcome and Guest Intro 00:29 Podcasting Nerves and Live Intros 02:17 Matt’s Cat Career Journey 03:34 Caterpillar Culture Worldwide 05:06 Customer Problems and Service Focus 06:56 Digitizing Iron and Predictive Maintenance 08:51 Tech Talk Tesla to Oilfield Autonomy 10:11 Automation Examples Valves and Gas Blending 13:57 Measuring Impact 100 Million Gallons 16:19 How Cat Chooses New Products 18:24 Customers Getting Louder and AI Shift 20:29 US vs Europe Economics and Emissions 23:17 What Matters Most 24:42 Customer Solutions Focus 25:31 Gas Mechanical Frac 27:33 Systems Not Parts 29:53 Grid Tie Explained 31:32 Five-Year Roadmap 32:24 Emissions And Gen 3 35:53 Culture And Factories 38:38 Dealers Secret Sauce 40:50 OTC 2027 Predictions 43:13 Wrap Up And Contact

April 22, 20261 hr 0 min

Chris Combs on AI Power & Grid Constraints | Ep. 128

AI is rewriting the rules of power. Live from Upright Digital Studios in Houston, The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey sits down with Chris Combs, COO and co-founder of Electric Gen, to break down the energy demands behind the AI boom. From the Marine Corps to Schlumberger and power startups like Evolution Well Services, Volta Grid, and now Nitrogen, Combs shares a firsthand view of how the industry is evolving. They cover: • The rise of gigawatt-scale data centers • Grid constraints and slow interconnection timelines • Why behind-the-meter power and microgrids are gaining ground • Key factors in site selection and power technology 00:00 Welcome and Banter 01:24 Caterpillar Podcast Setup 02:03 Chris Background and Evolution 06:38 From VoltaGrid to Nitrogen 09:54 Data Center Power Boom 11:44 Why AI Changes Everything 20:00 Nuances of Data Center Power 23:22 Oilfield Mindset Advantage 28:04 AI Uses 12x Power 30:38 Grid Limits and Key Questions 31:47 Grid Can’t Keep Up 32:28 PPAs and Onsite Power 33:34 Curtailment and Grid Support 34:26 Brownouts Are Back 36:00 Data Centers Eat Demand 37:58 Picking Data Center Sites 39:30 Behind the Meter Explained 40:56 Turbines vs Recips Reality 44:48 OEM Partnerships and Supply 45:29 Energy as a Team Sport 49:53 AI Is the New Internet 52:35 Five Year Energy Forecast 56:33 Scar Tissue Advice 59:22 Wrap Up and Contact

April 15, 202632 min

Chris Berrie on Powering AI & Behind-the-Meter Energy | Ep. 127

AI is driving a power surge and reshaping how energy gets delivered. Recorded at the 2026 EWTC Annual Meeting in Tucson, The Energy Pipeline, sponsored by Cat Oil & Gas, host Josh Lowrey speaks with Chris Berrie, Senior Sales Manager at Caterpillar Oil & Gas, about the surge in AI-driven data center demand. They cover: • Grid constraints and rising power needs • The shift to behind-the-meter solutions and microgrids • Cat Oil & Gas technologies like gas generation and Dynamic Gas Blending 00:00 Welcome to Tucson 00:40 Meet Chris Berrie 02:49 EWTC Roles and Committees 05:36 International Career Journey 06:37 Caterpillar in Oil and Gas 08:16 Power Demand and Data Centers 11:30 Behind-the-Meter Solutions 13:01 Cat Oil & Gas Expertise and Legacy 15:14 Legacy of Excellence 16:45 Customer-Back Innovation 17:35 DGB and Drilling Gains 18:17 Power Access Decisions 19:35 DGB Explained Simply 20:16 Full Gas Completions 22:39 Optimizing Site Energy 24:02 Dealers and One Team 25:27 Infrastructure vs Tech 27:24 AI Demand and Timing 29:09 EWTC Committee Work 31:35 Wrap Up and Thanks