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In this episode, Mark LaCour and Matthew Bertram explore the transformative impact of AI on sales, marketing, and reputation management. They discuss how data governance, AI tools, and strategic insights are reshaping industries and what businesses need to do to stay ahead. And they have a little fun with Mark explaining why he sold his original company modalpoint to Matt, even though he swore, he would never do it.

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Sponsored by Qumulo – Any Data. Any Location. Total Control.

Neste episódio, os especialistas do setor Carla Lacerda e Hélder Waiandt discutem o setor energético brasileiro, as inovações tecnológicas e as oportunidades de colaboração entre o Brasil e os Estados Unidos. Eles exploram como a BRATECC apoia as empresas, os avanços na tecnologia offshore e o futuro da energia no Brasil.

In this episode, industry experts Carla Lacerda and Hélder Waiandt discuss Brazil’s energy sector, technological innovations, and opportunities for collaboration between Brazil and the United States. They explore how BRATECC supports companies, advances in offshore technology, and the future of energy in Brazil.

Principais Tópicos

Key Topics

Carla Lacerda: Presidente da Câmara de Comércio Brasil-Texas (BRATECC) desde dezembro de 2024 e pesquisadora não residente no Centro de Estudos Energéticos do Instituto Baker da Universidade Rice (nomeada em maio de 2026). Aposentou-se em 2021 como presidente da ExxonMobil Brasil, onde supervisionou o portfólio de atividades de upstream da empresa no Brasil por aproximadamente 20 anos. A ExxonMobil detém mais área líquida de exploração na costa do Brasil do que qualquer outra empresa internacional. Ela foi nomeada “Personalidade do Ano” da BRATECC em 2018 e foi a primeira mulher a ocupar o cargo de presidente da BRATECC.

President of the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce (BRATECC) since December 2024, and Non-Resident Fellow at the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies at Rice University (appointed May 2026). She retired in 2021 as President of ExxonMobil Brazil, where she oversaw the company’s upstream portfolio in Brazil for approximately 20 years. ExxonMobil holds more net exploration acreage offshore Brazil than any other international company. She was named BRATECC Person of the Year in 2018 and was the first woman to serve as BRATECC president.

Hélder Waiandt: Vice-presidente da BRATECC desde dezembro de 2024 e fundador e diretor sócio da UPTEC Solutions, empresa especializada em manutenção de ativos industriais, inovação e entrada no mercado entre o Brasil e os EUA. Radicado em Katy, no Texas, Hélder atua ativamente na comunidade empresarial Brasil-Texas desde 2012, com mais de 5.000 seguidores no LinkedIn e um longo histórico em discussões sobre cadeia de suprimentos e transição energética.

Vice President of BRATECC since December 2024 and Founder & Partner Director of UPTEC Solutions, a company focused on industrial asset maintenance, innovation, and Brazil-US market entry. Based in Katy, Texas, Hélder has been active in the Brazil-Texas business community since 2012, with over 5,000 followers on LinkedIn and a long track record in supply chain and energy transition discussions.

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Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics Solutions
Learn More at tracerco.com

Most people think a barrel of oil is just gasoline waiting to happen. The reality is far more fascinating.

In this episode of Refining Reality, Brian and Bill unpack one of the most fundamental questions in the energy industry: what actually comes out of a barrel of crude oil after it enters a refinery?

From gasoline and diesel to jet fuel, asphalt, petrochemicals, lubricants, propane, and even lipstick ingredients, the conversation explores how a single 42-gallon barrel becomes more than 45 gallons of valuable products through the refining process. Along the way, they explain processing gains, crude quality differences, refining economics, and why understanding barrel composition is critical for traders, refiners, engineers, and energy consumers alike.

The discussion also dives into crack spreads, refinery profitability, product demand, and why not all crude barrels are created equal. If you’ve ever wondered how crude oil becomes the fuels and materials that power modern life, this episode breaks it down in a practical, entertaining way.

Show Notes
A Barrel of Oil Isn’t What You Think

Most consumers never use crude oil directly.

We don’t fill our vehicles with crude oil. Airplanes don’t burn crude oil. Ships don’t consume crude oil. Instead, crude oil serves as the raw material that refineries transform into dozens of products that power transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and daily life. As Brian explains, crude oil is more like wheat than bread. It’s the starting ingredient, not the final product.

What’s Inside a Typical U.S. Barrel?

A standard barrel contains 42 gallons of crude oil, but refining creates approximately 45 gallons of finished products because of processing gains and density changes during refining.

Typical product yields include:

45% Gasoline
26% Diesel Fuel
9% Jet Fuel
5% Heating Oil & Tractor Fuel
4% Natural Gas Liquids (Propane & Butane)
3% Bunker Fuel & Residual Products
2.5% Petrochemical Feedstocks
2% Asphalt
1.5% Lubricants & Waxes
2% Other Specialty Products
Why Refineries Produce More Than 42 Gallons

One of the industry’s biggest misconceptions is that 42 gallons of crude should equal 42 gallons of products.

Brian and Bill explain how processing gains occur because refined products generally have lower densities than crude oil. As hydrocarbons are separated and transformed through heat and refining processes, the resulting products occupy more volume than the original crude feedstock.

Understanding the Crack Spread

The episode also explores one of the most important metrics in refining economics: the 3-2-1 Crack Spread.

This benchmark estimates refinery margins by assuming three barrels of crude oil are converted into two barrels of gasoline and one barrel of diesel. While simplified, it provides insight into refinery profitability and market conditions. During the discussion, Brian notes how refining margins surged following disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz situation, dramatically increasing the value created through refining.

Why Crude Quality Matters

Not every barrel produces the same product mix.

Different crude oils contain varying hydrocarbon compositions, resulting in different yields of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, petrochemicals, and other products. This variation is one reason refiners carefully select feedstocks and why crude quality remains a major driver of refinery economics.

Key Takeaways

Crude oil itself is rarely consumed directly

A 42-gallon barrel can yield approximately 45 gallons of finished products

Gasoline and diesel account for more than 70% of a typical U.S. barrel

Processing gains occur because refined products are less dense than crude oil

Crack spreads provide insight into refinery profitability

Crude quality directly impacts product yields and refinery economics

Modern life depends on far more than gasoline from a barrel of oil, including plastics, lubricants, asphalt, petrochemicals, and industrial products

Featured Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tracerco.

Tracerco helps refiners and petrochemical operators see inside their operating units without shutdowns or interruptions. Their diagnostic technologies provide real-time visibility into towers, reactors, separators, desalters, FCC units, heat exchangers, and other critical assets, allowing operators to identify issues, optimize performance, reduce downtime, and improve profitability. Their advanced scanning and monitoring technologies help facilities make better decisions with confidence while maximizing production efficiency.

Learn more at:

Tracerco: https://tracerco.com/

Connect With Us

Hosted by:

Energy Rogue®: https://energyrogue.com/

Subscribe for weekly conversations on refining, commodities, energy markets, technology, and the forces shaping the global energy industry.

Stay curious. Understand the barrel. Understand the market.

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In the world of Oil and Gas conferences, none has such a historic Texas legacy as the Offshore Technology Conference. Join me, your host Ben Seligson, as we interview folks from all over North America navigating the evolving oil and gas industry at the OTC conference. In Part 1, we speak with:

Carl Cole – Cheetah Oilfield Services
Tim Graves – Managing Director at ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
David Smith – Black Pearl Technology
Alex Dove – August Electronics
Brett Rogers – Purity Gas
Sarah Kern – Energy Innovation Capital

https://cheetahoilfield.com
https://www.asme.org
https://blackpearltechnology.com
https://www.aeicm.com
https://puritygas.ca
https://www.energyinnovationcapital.com

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Sponsored by IFS – Purpose-built industrial AI

DESCRIPTION
In this episode, Elena Melchert interviews Brian Mandelbaum, Vice President at Black & Veatch, about the future of LNG, floating LNG technology (FLNG), and the critical role of energy in global development. They explore the technical, economic, and geopolitical aspects of LNG projects, risk management, and the evolving energy landscape. Recorded in person at 2026 CERAWeek by S&P Global

LINKS
Fuels and Natural Resources | Black & Veatch

Floating LNG | Black & Veatch

PRICO®: Proven LNG liquefaction for onshore and floating, modular solutions | Black & Veatch

LNG Industry on FLNG: a Black & Veatch perspective | Black & Veatch

Water | Black & Veatch

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Deirdra speaks with Heather Exner-Pirot, Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, about the current defining moment for Canada’s resource sector. The two discuss the global “rupture” reshaping energy and commodity markets, Canada’s growing focus on critical minerals and energy security, the case for pipelines and metallurgical coal, and why stronger coordination with allies like Australia could help Canada turn resource strength into geopolitical advantage.

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Sponsored by Magney-Grande – Your ESP Longevity Experts

You probably know what a transformer is.

Or at least you think you do.

Maybe it’s that gray can hanging from a power pole. Maybe it’s a giant machine inside an electrical substation. Maybe it’s a robot that turns into a semi-truck and fights alien wars.

One of those answers is more relevant to the electrical grid than the others.

In the very first episode of Watt The Frack Is…?, Kaden dives into the surprisingly fascinating history of the transformer, from the early days of electrification and the War of the Currents to the modern power grid that keeps our lights on.

Learn how transformers use electromagnetic induction to raise and lower voltage, why they’re absolutely essential for transmitting electricity over long distances, and what would happen if every transformer on Earth suddenly vanished.

Turns out one of the most important inventions in human history is basically a carefully engineered collection of copper wire and magnetism.

And somehow that’s enough to power modern civilization.

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In this episode, Thomas shares with Mark Lacour and Matthew Bertram insights on transforming small businesses, especially family-run operations, through structured systems, sales, and marketing strategies. Discover how to build sellable, scalable businesses and leverage data and AI for growth.

Thomas Rechtien
https://www.rechtienconsult.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-rechtien/

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Sponsored by Ericsson – Driving oil and gas forward with seamless connectivity.

This episode of Digital Doers features Casey Thames sitting down with Sameer Shah, Lead Telecommunication Engineer at Bechtel, for a conversation about the critical infrastructure that powers modern energy facilities but often goes unnoticed: telecommunications.

Drawing on nearly two decades of experience supporting LNG, petrochemical, refining, and industrial projects around the world, Sameer shares how communications systems have evolved from isolated, analog networks into the digital backbone of today’s connected operations. The discussion explores how improved connectivity has transformed the way operators, technicians, and engineers access information, make decisions, and safely manage increasingly complex facilities.

Rather than focusing solely on technology, Casey and Sameer examine the real-world impact these advancements have had on the workforce. From replacing clipboards and paper documentation with connected mobile devices to enabling real-time access to engineering drawings, data, and operational information from anywhere in a facility, the conversation highlights how connectivity has fundamentally changed the way work gets done.

The episode also explores the challenges of delivering telecommunications infrastructure across multi-billion-dollar energy projects. Sameer shares lessons learned from working on some of the world’s largest LNG and petrochemical developments, discussing the importance of standardization, interface management, and collaboration across engineering disciplines to successfully execute projects at scale.

As the conversation looks toward the future, Casey and Sameer discuss emerging technologies such as private LTE, 5G, fiber networks, and low-earth-orbit satellite communications, and how these tools could further improve reliability, reduce installation complexity, and expand connectivity across industrial environments.

As with many conversations on Digital Doers, the discussion extends beyond technology itself and focuses on the people using it. Whether improving safety, enabling better decisions, or helping teams operate more effectively, the episode explores how connectivity has become one of the foundational elements of modern energy infrastructure.

Host

Casey Thames
Host, Digital Doers

Guest

Sameer Shah
Lead Telecommunication Engineer, Bechtel

Website: https://www.bechtel.com

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Sponsored by ABB – Helping industries outrun leaner and cleaner.

Summary
In this episode, we explore the intricacies of product and service line development, paradigm shifts in energy transition, and the role of art and cognition in innovation with Kailey Euceda of Acorders. Discover how to navigate the valley of death in tech innovation and rethink traditional scaling strategies.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:58 Art and Innovation: The Connection
07:03 Understanding Product Line Development
09:57 Paradigm Shifts in Energy Transition
13:00 Problem Discovery and Market Fit
17:01 Scaling Challenges and Paradigm Disruption
21:58 The Valley of Death in Innovation
27:00 Role of AI in Innovation Processes
30:03 Big Picture: Future of Energy and Resilience
33:52 Geothermal and New Energy Technologies
36:01 Final Thoughts and Wrap-up

Kailey’s Book Recommendation: The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb – https://a.co/d/0dbCfQN2

Useful Links:
Kailey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kailey-euceda/
Joe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfbatir/

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