The Energy Pipeline

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

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

Natural gas demand is being reshaped in real time.
 
Live from Houston during CERAWeek 2026, Energy Pipeline Podcast host Josh Lowrey sits down with Karen Harbert, President and CEO of the American Gas Association, to break down what’s behind this shift.
 
From powering nearly 187 million Americans to supporting LNG exports and global allies, Harbert explains why natural gas remains a strategic advantage—and how infrastructure, permitting, and long-term demand are redefining the energy landscape.
 
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:37 Houston and Rice Memories
02:18 What Is AGA
04:11 Gas Back in Demand
08:29 Energy Poverty and Fertilizer
10:39 Why Energy Realism Matters
13:46 Pipeline Politics in States
16:11 AI Driving Energy Demand
18:05 Security Case for AI Race
19:46 Why CERAWeek Works
20:15 Houston Energy Comeback
20:55 Middle East Data Center Boom
21:39 Build Baby Build LNG
22:39 Will Gas Prices Rise
24:57 Permitting Reform Fight
27:45 Energy Evolution Not Transition
29:16 AI Demand And Emissions
30:01 Methane Cuts Best Practices
31:52 Serving 189 Million Customers
34:43 Capital Markets And Ratings
37:25 Closing Thanks And Where To Find
37:41 Utility Workers First Responders

Recorded live in Houston, Josh Lowrey sits down with Tyler Rice, Pressure Control Sales Manager at Caterpillar SPM, to break down how frac operations are evolving.
 
They cover the shift from labor-heavy sites to linear pressure systems that cut connections by 80%+, improve safety, and reduce rig-up time from days to hours. Tyler also dives into post-2020 efficiency gains, continuous pumping, cost improvements, and what’s slowing adoption in some regions.
 
01:17 Colorado Talk and Mountain Adventures
02:49 Moving to Midland During the Downturn
05:26 Breaking Into Oil and Gas in 2006
07:23 From Field Hand to Commercial Role
08:22 Surviving 2020 and the Tech Shift
10:47 Caterpillar Innovation and Long View
12:37 Linear Pressure Control Explained
17:18 Safety Efficiency and Better Jobs
19:38 Customer Value Pitch
20:22 Simul Frac Scaling Up
21:22 Field Experience Matters
22:40 Automation Before AI
24:13 Perpetual Pumping Plan
26:51 Permian Economics Proof
27:51 Regional Adoption Curve
29:15 Global Tech Rollout
31:33 Safety And Clean Ops
34:34 Remote Controlled Future
38:58 Wrap Up And Where To Find

What’s really behind Nabors’ comeback? It’s not just better rigs.
 
Live from the Thrive Energy Conference 2026 at Daikin Park, Josh Lowrey talks with Brett Schellenberg of Nabors Industries about how automation is changing the game.
 
Faster iteration beats perfect tech
Knowing when to cut losses matters
Open platforms unlock real scale (with partners like Halliburton and Schlumberger)
 
Meanwhile, growth is shifting, away from North America and toward markets like Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
 
00:00 Live From Thrive
00:17 Meet Brett Schellenberg
01:15 40 Under 40 Talk
02:52 From Roughneck To Sales
04:12 Rig Tech Then Now
05:44 Fail Fast Learn Faster
08:01 Killing Your Baby
09:03 Nabors Legacy And Acquisitions
11:28 Reinvention And Innovation Bets
15:59 Brand Power Story
17:00 Caterpillar And Product Thinking
18:50 Tech And AI Tease
19:26 Rig Automation Highlights
19:57 Razor Pipe Handling Lessons
21:24 Open Rig App Ecosystem
21:49 Vertical Integration Edge
22:57 North America Rig Outlook
24:47 Tier Two Acreage Debate
26:37 International Footprint Growth
29:26 Argentina Tech Adoption
31:49 Travel And North Africa
32:24 Phone Safety Callout
34:16 Career Advice And Mentors
37:34 Wrap Up And Shoutouts