At the annual, SUPER DUG Conference & Exhibition 2024 in Fort Worth last week, Texas energy executives weighed in on the progress of the energy transition. Photo by Lindsey Ferrell

Woven in between reflections on the most active consolidation market in recent history, an underlying theme emerged from Hart Energy’s SUPER DUG Conference & Exhibition 2024 in Fort Worth last week. Executives, investors, and analysts conveyed admiration for the emissions reductions achieved across the shales while continuing to meet the growing demand for natural gas.

However, concern for continued investment echoed this praise, as many expressed the need for increased investment to support a world of flourishing population, economics, and technology.

Marshall Adkins, head of energy for Raymond James, shared an analogy demonstrating the energy demand impact from advancements in technology, most notably those sprouting from the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence. Adkins explained that a minimal whole-home generator consumes about 8,500 watts of power; to keep air conditioning, the washing machine, and garage door working results in a pull of approximately 14,000 watts. One single chip from NVIDIA requires that same 14,000 watts plus another 150 percent power for cooling, totaling approximately 35,000 watts — about the same as would completely power an average home as if there were no disruption in supply.

While this volume of power consumption seems hefty, consider that NVIDIA sold over half a million chips in a single quarter last year, and the effect starts to multiply exponentially. And while development of solar and wind power sources will replace most, if not all, of the current energy produced from coal, the stability of the power grid relies predominantly on the continuous stream of natural gas. That is, if the stream of investment into developing and expanding natural gas continues to grow in parallel.

Reflecting on the expectation from public and private investors, as well as upcoming talent, to embrace meaningful advancements in ESG, Will Van Loh, CEO of Quantum Energy Partners, shared the business benefit of greener practices.

“Switching your frac fleet from running diesel to natural gas, we saved one of our companies in the Haynesville half a million dollars per well and reduced GHG by 70 percent. Make a bunch of money and do good for the environment – (that’s a) pretty good deal,” Van Loh told Hart Energy’s editor-in-chief for Oil & Gas Investor, Deon Daugherty.

For decades, the industry has pursued increasingly eco-friendly habits, but the requirements of ESG reporting make it more visible to the rest of the world. Permian Operators, which produce almost half of all US daily oil volume, cited specific strides made in reducing emissions and operating more cleanly during their respective presentations:

  • Leadership from Diamondback Energy spoke about adopting the use of clear drilling fluids in lieu of oil-based mud, resulting in faster drilling times and cleaner operations. The technique came along with the acquisition of QEP Resources in 2021 and reflects the company’s commitment to remaining humble in its pursuit of more efficient and more environmentally beneficial methodologies.
  • Nick McKenna, vice president of the Midland Basin for ConocoPhillips praised their Lower48 team for reducing gas flaring by 80 percent since 2019 while also increasing the use of recycled water over 3x in that same 5-year horizon.
  • Clark Edwards, senior vice president of Development for BPX, cited achieving 95 percent electrification of their Permian well set as of the end of 2023. Building and installing their own microgrid – a practice repeated by numerous operators throughout the Basin, where public infrastructure lags far behind private entity needs – added enough megawatts to their operation to allow BPX to run drilling rigs completely independent of an already strained public grid.

In addition to reducing diesel usage, flaring, and dependence on the public grid for electricity, water management stays a top economic and ecological concern for shale operators all over the United States. While a compelling case of "have and have-not" dominated the shale water business over the last decade-plus, savvy operators increasingly embrace a mindset that water disposal should remain a choice of last resort. Companies like WaterBridge, a Joint Venture with Devon Energy, and Deep Blue, a joint venture with Diamondback Energy, help bring clean and recycled water to areas with shortages, both in and outside of the industry.

As Kaes Van’t Hof, president and CFO of Diamondback Energy, said, “The Midland Basin is now recycling as much water as it possibly can. Eventually it’s going to be about, ‘Water going downhole into a disposal well is the last option.’ Can you recycle it? Can you bring it somewhere else, evaporate it? We’re starting start some early de-sal[ination] tests in the Spanish Trail near the airport. Eventually, can we tell the story that we sell freshwater back to water the golf courses of Midland?”

The Energy Transition steams ahead, but pragmatic observations remind us that oil and gas make up approximately 60 percent of the energy supply today – a volume not easily replaced by any other source completely in the next few years. However, the overwhelming support for delivering the best barrel with the lowest carbon intensity possible permeated Hart Energy’s SUPER DUG Conference & Exhibition 2024.

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7 must-attend Houston energy transition events in May 2025

On the Agenda

Editor's note: May is here, and there's a full slate of must-attend energy transition events this month. Mark your calendars for these top events, including OTC 2025, CHARGE North America, and more.Please note: this article may be updated to include additional events.

May 5-9 — OTC 2025

Offshore Technology Conference 2025 will cover the the theme of "Waves of Innovation," covering offshore energy excellence." The premier five-day conference willhighlight the groundbreaking advancements in offshore energy, showcasing the industry's relentless drive for innovation. As global energy needs evolve, the "Waves of Innovation" theme reflects OTC’s commitment to sustainable, cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of offshore energy.

Industry leaders will come together to explore new frontiers in offshore energy, emphasizing the operational efficiency, environmental responsibility, and technical excellence required to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s energy landscape.

The Opening Ceremony kicks off Monday, May 5 at 9 am. The event continues at NRG Park through May 9. Click here to register.

May 12-15 — Enverus Evolve Conference

Staying ahead of the curve in the energy sector is critical. This conference is designed to equip energy leaders with foresight in the energy market, providing cutting-edge technological know-how, sessions and networking opportunities industry leaders, and offering practical guidance on how to apply technology to solve big problems.

This event begins May 12 at Hilton Americas Houston. Click here to register.

May 12-13 — Carbon Hub Annual Meeting

The fifth-annual Carbon Hub Annual Meeting will bring together industry, academic, and research leaders at the forefront of the energy and materials transitions. Attendees will have access to thought-provoking discussions and opportunities to connect with innovators across the field. The full agenda has yet to be released, but featured speakers include David Hatrick, Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Innovation, Huntsman Advanced Materials; Luca de Rai, Vice President, Research & Development Energy, Prysmian Group; and Dhaval Shah, General Manager, Corporate Technology & Innovation, SABIC.

This event begins May 12 at Rice University. Click here to register.

May 20-21 — Geothermal Transition Summit North America

This two-day summit serves as the meeting point for the geothermal and oil and gas industries and will focus on geothermal energy, including scaling plants and navigating state regulations. The event promises 50 expert speakers, 15 tech demos, and access to eight networking events featuring approximately 250 industry decision makers.

This event begins May 20 at Norris Conference Centers - Houston CityCentre. Click here to register.

May 27-28 — 6th American LNG Forum

Join LNG industry professionals, innovators, and policymakers to discover groundbreaking technologies that are driving the future of liquified natural gas. Topics will include market dynamics and decarbonization strategies, offering attendees the chance to connect, learn, and become part of the LNG revolution.

This event begins May 27 at the Westin Galleria Houston. Click here to register.

May 28-30 — CHARGE North America

This intimate, immersive experience is tailored to forward-thinking energy professionals. The conference includes hands-on interactive workshops led by top strategists; real-world case studies; and insights from leading speakers on resilient branding, consumer expectations, and climate action. Attendees will engage in panel discussions on sustainability and energy diversification and enjoy exclusive networking opportunities with global executives and innovators.

This event begins May 28 at The Ion. Click here to register.

May 29-30 — 5th Annual American Hydrogen Forum

Connect with hydrogen industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers at the American Hydrogen Forum. Discover groundbreaking technologies and strategies focusing on hydrogen fuel cell technology, hydrogen energy, and low-carbon hydrogen solutions.

This event begins May 29 at the Westin Galleria Houston. Click here to register.

Solugen names Houston founder as new president of energy and water

new leaders

Houston-based biochemical producer Solugen has hired chemical industry veteran James Begeal as its new president of energy and water.

In his new position, Begeal leads the commercial strategy for the energy and produced-water sectors, “bringing our innovative chemistry directly to leading oil and gas operators, accelerating revenue growth, and deepening our commercial pipeline,” Solugen said in a news release.

Begeal has more than 25 years of experience in the chemical industry, including roles at oilfield technology company Baker Hughes and chemical company Clariant. In 2016, he co-founded NexGen Chemical Technologies, a Cypress-based provider of alternative natural-gas sweeteners. Begeal served as chief operating officer and chief technology officer at NexGen, which was acquired by League City-based Foremark Performance Chemicals in 2023. He then joined Foremark, which was acquired by investment firm CC Industries in 2024.

Begeal is no stranger to Solugen, having previously served as a company advisor.

“James is a builder — he knows what it takes to launch, scale, and win in this space,” says Solugen CEO Gaurab Chakrabarti. “We’re excited to have him bring that same builder’s mindset to Solugen as we double down on delivering solutions that meet our customers’ toughest challenges.”

The company also recently named Carlos Diaz as its new VP of strategy and international business. Diaz worked for 18 years at Baker Hughes and will lead Solugen's commercial expansion efforts into Latin America and beyond, according to a company representative.

Solugen, founded in 2016, raised $357 million in a series C venture capital round. The 2021 round catapulted Solugen into the unicorn category, meaning the private company is valued at more than $1 billion.

Weatherford partners with Abu Dhabi-based AI company to boost efficiency

eyes on ai

Houston-headquartered oilfield service company Weatherford International announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AIQ, an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence company, to develop innovative solutions for the energy sector.

"We are excited to partner with AIQ to bring innovative, AI-driven solutions to the oil and gas industry,” Girish Saligram, president and CEO of Weatherford, said in a news release. “This strategic partnership allows us to deliver cutting-edge technologies that empower our customers to maximize their operational efficiency, enhance automation, and reduce costs. By combining our strengths, we are leading the way in helping operators modernize their workflows and achieve greater success in today's rapidly evolving energy landscape.”

The collaboration aims to use Weatherford's software and hardware solutions with AIQ's AI-driven systems. Weatherford and AIQ hope this union will significantly enhance operational efficiency across global oil and gas facilities, help operators to optimize their production workflows and reduce downtime.

The companies have developed the new Modern Edge Integration, which will combine AIQ's AI technology with Weatherford's Modern Edge program. It will enable operators to scale their work processes.

In addition, Weatherford's Universal Normalizer will work with AIQ's capabilities to combine operational and financial analysis. Customers will also now be able to procure software needs via a comprehensive industrial SaaS platform with the WFRD Software Launchpad, which can eliminate the issues associated with managing multiple systems and vendors, and provide a single point of access for all Weatherford and partner-built applications.

"This partnership marks another step in AIQ's mission to build partnerships that accelerate the deployment of impactful AI systems across the energy value chain,” Magzhan Kenesbai, Acting Managing Director of AIQ, said in a news release. “By integrating our advanced AI-driven tools with Weatherford's energy-specific technology, we are driving greater efficiencies to the industry through the development of scalable, automated applications. Together, we are set to empower operators to optimize their workflows, reduce downtime, and achieve unparalleled operational excellence.”