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EPC Show Part 2 of 3
We’re live from Houston at EPC Show 2026, where alongside the cranes, control systems, and capital announcements, there’s a quieter story playing out: an industry trying to figure out who’s going to build all of this. With over 10,000 attendees walking the floor and a labor market that can’t keep pace with the project backlog, workforce wasn’t a side conversation this year — it was the conversation.

This episode is about the people behind the industry — the ones recruiting them, training them, and just starting out. Kathy Eberwein (Global Edge Group) has spent her career staffing energy projects across 18 countries and has a front-row seat to the shift away from a four-year-degree-or-bust mentality. Sarah O’Donnell (SLB) is on the front lines of that same shift, working alongside Luke Bryan, a Texas A&M student and SLB intern attending his first trade show. And Bronson Burke (Bron & Claude) brings a different kind of people story — three years of building brand and community on the show floor as a headline sponsor, right down to a golf-simulator stunt that got people talking.

We speak with:
Kathy Eberwein — Founder & CEO, Global Edge Group
Sarah O’Donnell — Commercial Manager, Transmission & Gas Process Chemicals, SLB
Luke Bryan — Midstream Sales Intern, SLB
Bronson Burke — Executive Director, Bron & Claude

https://www.globaledgegroup.com
https://www.slb.com
https://www.bronclaude.com

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Sponsored by ABB – Helping industries outrun leaner and cleaner.

Summary
In this episode, Joe Batir interviews Dr. Chris DeArmitt of the Plastics Research Council to explore the facts about plastics, their environmental impact, health concerns, and misconceptions. They discuss how science and data challenge common narratives and what practical steps can truly benefit the environment.

Chapters
00:00 Background of Dr. Chris DeArmitt and the Plastics Research Council
04:36 Why the Plastic Research Council was founded
10:22 Global plastic consumption data and growth rate
19:08 Solutions: deposits, education, and behavior change
22:14 Environmental impact of replacing plastic with other materials
25:36 Health concerns: microplastics and chemical leaching
32:15 PFAS chemicals and their regulation
34:39 The importance of scientific methodology and peer review
36:12 Media misinformation and the importance of facts
39:06 What individuals can do to help the environment
42:43 Final Thoughts

Useful Links
Plastics Research Council: https://plasticsresearchcouncil.com/
Dr. Chris DeArmitt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdearmitt/
Joe Batir’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfbatir/

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In this episode, Mark LaCour and Matthew Bertram discuss how oil field service companies can justify marketing budgets without relying on traditional lead metrics. They explore effective strategies for aligning marketing efforts with sales, understanding financial metrics, and leveraging AI for better decision-making.

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DESCRIPTION
In this episode, Dr. Richard Middleton shares with Host, Elena Melchert, insights into carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). He focuses on software tools that can screen for good CCS candidates around the world, that excel at pipeline routing, and that can optimize a CCS project location.

LINKS

Carbon Solutions Services, Software, and Projects: https://www.carbonsolutionsllc.com/carbon-solutions-services-software-and-projects
Carbon Solutions software website: https://www.carbonsolutions-software.com
Carbon Scout Global home: https://carbonscout.carbonsolutions-software.com
GeoRoutify home: https://www.carbonsolutions-software.com/software/georoutify
GeoStratify home: https://www.carbonsolutions-software.com/software/geostratify
Carbon Scout Global news release: https://www.carbonsolutions-software.com/news/announcement/announcement-2026-07-14-carbon-scout-global-now-available
Carbon Scout Global video series: https://www.carbonsolutions-software.com/case-studies/video-carbonscout-fundamentals-series
Global CO2 Storage paper news release: https://www.carbonsolutions-software.com/news/data-spotlight/data-spotlight-2026-06-29-global-basins-for-storing-co2

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Sponsored by NavVis – Laser Scanning Solutions & Digital Twin Technology

U.S. Gulf lease sale draws $82.7 million in high bids from 16 companies
https://www.worldoil.com/news/2026/8/12/u-s-gulf-lease-sale-draws-82-7-million-in-high-bids-from-16-companies/

Crude Steady as Iran Risks Persist
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/crude_steady_as_iran_risks_persist-12-aug-2026-184362-article/

USA Oil, Gas Workforce Hits Lowest Level in Years
https://www.rigzone.com/news/usa_oil_gas_workforce_hits_lowest_level_in_years-12-aug-2026-184361-article/

Phillips 66, Partners Sanction Texas to Arizona Oil Pipeline Project
https://www.rigzone.com/news/phillips_66_partners_sanction_texas_to_arizona_oil_pipeline_project-12-aug-2026-184357-article/

Alpha Compute plans 1-GW Pennsylvania AI campus powered by Marcellus natural gas
https://www.bicmagazine.com/departments/AI-Infrastructure/alpha-compute-plans-pennsylvania-ai-campus/

Hormuz disruption to stall 2026 LNG trade, demand to rise by 2050, says Shell
https://www.bicmagazine.com/industry/natgas-lng/hormuz-disruption-to-stall-2026-lng-trade-demand-to-rise-by-2050/

The Israeli oil pipeline that could solve the energy crisis
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/israeli-oil-pipeline-could-solve-060000973.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGeQ3cqqERBqge4y6rp7g6GfZyL9M7TmERIZxWKsyCNMw0DjNCudV0ndQO7xQQNNCWNsNyjVNuWhl1EaZzo1Kl4wX3dOMaO8rbe7mF_SCGA_Ijp-_SGqHs7T6q8etlOTVantJsO0RLnAwuOompq_b9qigolFUUFEpev1GHVvZSx7

UK Plans 1,242-Mile Hydrogen Pipeline Network as Gas Reserves Decline
https://pgjonline.com/magazine/2026/july-2026-vol-253-no-7/features/uk-plans-1-242-mile-hydrogen-pipeline-network-as-gas-reserves-decline

MERA Oil enters final stage of site selection for planned US$5 billion refinery
https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/31072026/mera-oil-enters-final-stage-of-site-selection-for-planned-us5-billion-refinery/

EIA: China’s crude oil imports fell in 2Q26
https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/31072026/eia-chinas-crude-oil-imports-fell-in-2q26/

Texas Oil and Natural Gas: Caring for Our Communities
https://www.txoga100.org/caring-for-our-communities

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Don’t forget to ask a question for our next First Friday Q&A. You ask the questions and we answer them.

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The Weekly Rig Count by Baker Hughes https://rigcount.bakerhughes.com/rig-count-overview 

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Explore how Caterpillar is reshaping safety culture across industries, emphasizing leadership engagement, human organizational performance, and proactive risk management. Justin Ganschow shares insights into building resilient safety systems that prioritize both environmental protection and employee well-being, all while debunking common safety misconceptions.

Contact Justin Ganschow via LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justin-ganschow-ms-csp-chmm-5398ab8
Company Website: cat.com

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Sponsored by ABB – Helping industries outrun leaner and cleaner.

Summary
Joe Batir discusses recent developments in solar energy, renewable investments, and innovative funding approaches for energy startups, emphasizing the importance of strategic growth and diversification in the energy transition.

Chapters
01:27 Solar milestone: surpassing 3 terawatts of global capacity
06:16 Total Energies’ renewable acquisitions and sales in Europe
11:12 Robinhood Ventures Fund 2 and energy startup investment
14:17 The need for energy-focused SPACs and diversified funding
17:45 Closing remarks and upcoming industry events

Useful links:
Joe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfbatir/

Solar’s 3 TW milestone: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-03/the-world-crossed-a-major-solar-milestone-no-one-noticed?cmpid=BBD080326_GREENDAILY&utm_campaign=greendaily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=260803&utm_content=7277

TotalEnergies buys Shell Renewable projects: https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/shell-agrees-sell-european-onshore-renewables-unit-totalenergies-2026-08-03/

Join Robinhood here: (note this is a referral link) https://join.robinhood.com/josephb-70b434

About Robinhood Ventures II: https://robinhood.com/us/en/stocks/RVII/

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We’re coming to you live from Houston, Texas at EPC Show 2026, The Energy Projects Conference & Expo built specifically for the people who design, build, and finance the energy industry’s biggest capital projects. With more than 10,000 attendees, 400+ exhibitors, and over $200 billion in active capital projects represented on the floor, this year’s show made one thing clear: the relationship between EPCs and operators is under more pressure and more scrutiny than ever.

This episode is about what happens when a multi-billion-dollar project goes sideways, and who’s left holding the risk. From contracts that get “weaponized” instead of honored, to a supply chain quietly filling up with players who don’t have the balance sheet to back up their bids, to the kind of risk no one can negotiate away – the weather. Joe Versnel (Kiewit) and Eric Ormond (Williams) open up about what it actually takes to keep an EPC and an operator aligned from day one, Jeff van der Merwe (Atkins Réalis) makes the case for bringing program management in before the ink dries, Michael Minnerly (Ebara Elliott Energy) breaks down how to spot a pretender before they cost you a project, and Matt Baker (StormGeo) explains why the forecast might be the most underrated risk tool in the industry.

We speak with:
Joe Versnel — Vice President, Midstream, Kiewit
Eric Ormond — Senior Vice President, Project Execution, Williams
Jeff van der Merwe — Program & Project Management, Atkins Réalis
Michael Minnerly — Manager, Product Line, FCC Expanders & Control Systems, Ebara Elliott Energy
Matt Baker — Meteorologist, StormGeo

https://www.kiewit.com
https://www.williams.com
https://www.atkinsrealis.com
https://www.elliott-turbo.com
https://www.stormgeo.com

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Guest name: Ronald “Chet” Branson
Show Links:

Episode Description:
What happens when a 30-year EHS leader builds his own digital twin… then treats that AI the exact same way process-safety professionals treat critical controls?

In this episode of The Connected Workers Podcast, Ronald “Chet” Brandon (Senior Director of Global Sustainability, Product Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs at Hexion) drops the hype and gets ruthlessly practical. He walks us through the executive knowledge system he created to scale judgment (not just answers), why most organizations are already outrunning their governance, and the non-negotiable rule that AI can never carry accountability for a serious injury, loss of containment, or regulatory violation.

Compliance is the floor. Control reliability is the operating test.

And the human in the loop is not a ceremonial reviewer — it is part of the control system. If you work in oil & gas, chemicals, manufacturing, or any high-consequence environment and you’re being asked to “just add AI,” this conversation is required listening.

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DESCRIPTION
In this episode recorded live at the Offshore Technology Conference 2026, Host, Elena Melchert, interviews John Dabbar, Executive Director of the National Petroleum Council, exploring the council’s role, recent studies, and the future of energy resources including oil, natural gas, and critical minerals. They discuss stakeholder engagement, regulatory challenges, and innovative research at national labs.

LINKS
https://www.npc.org/

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