The Real Deal Landman Show

Andrew Keck of Paloma Resources once moved a landowner's house to make room for a drill-site road. He also took a Cadillac Escalade as part of a New Mexico acreage deal.

Drew and Jerris open with homemade show t-shirts and a call for production and marketing help. Andrew, Senior Vice President and General Legal Counsel at Paloma Resources in Houston, started as a broker with Vernon Smith and Dudley, then worked surface and rights-of-way for Anadarko in Pennsylvania and Hess in Ohio. Since 2015 he has helped Paloma build multiple private equity-backed companies from zero acres. He also covers the sale of Paloma Permian, how he uses AI every day, and what technology still can't replace in land work.

In this episode:
• How a private equity operator builds acreage from nothing, sells it, and starts again
• Why Pennsylvania and Ohio landowners reacted so differently to drilling
• The road deal that moved a family's house, and the acreage trade that came with an Escalade
• Where AI already saves time in due diligence and land admin, and where title judgment still needs people
• Career advice for new landmen as the industry faces a generational gap

Chapters:
00:00 Custom T-Shirts, Office Studio Upgrades & RDLS Hiring Call
05:35 Introducing Andrew Keck: UCO Bronchos to Tulsa Law School
08:26 Early Broker Days: Vernon Smith, Dudley Land & The Marcellus Shift
10:44 Anadarko, Rig Food & Surface Rights in Pennsylvania vs. Ohio Utica
15:36 Joining Paloma Resources & The Private Equity Build-and-Sell Model
23:30 Aptitudes for PE vs. Corporate Land & Advice for New Landmen
29:24 Landowner Dogs: Winning Friends with Bacon & Escaping in the F-150 Bed
32:41 Out-of-the-Box Deals: Moving a House & The 1,100-HP Escalade
38:10 Selling Paloma Permian, Due Diligence & Launching Paloma Permian 2
41:56 Implementing AI in Land Admin, Legal Contracts & Document Scrubbing
44:41 Why Relationships & Title Subjectivity Can't Be Replaced
48:22 Open Offer for New Mexico Acreage & Show Wrap-Up

Links:
Paloma Resources: https://www.palomaresources.com/
Andrew Keck on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-keck-jd/
Have acreage in New Mexico? Andrew's contact information is on the Paloma website above.

The Real Deal Landman Show is hosted by Jerris Johnson and Drew Hopkins.

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RealDealLandman
All episodes and platforms: https://realdeallandman.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realdeallandman

If this episode helped you, rate the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or subscribe and comment on YouTube. It helps other land professionals find us.

Bring the show to your conference or event: https://realdeallandman.com/contact

#Landman #OilAndGas #PermianBasin

This episode kicks off with Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson breaking down the new baseball rule changes that are making games faster than NBA matchups. The conversation gets back on track when guest Jon Taylor reveals his past life as guitarist for a 1990s cover band called Modern Art, which toured the college circuit playing 250 shows a year and closing with Nine Inch Nails.

Beyond his rock-and-roll roots, Jon is the Co-Founder of Blue Hawk Energy Solutions. Drawing on his background in media production and Bitcoin mine optimization training, Jon explains how Blue Hawk is facilitating transactions between oil and gas operators with stranded natural gas assets and digital compute developers. The episode walks through the exact physical setup at a wellhead mining site (reciprocating generators, transformers, CCAN containers, ASICs, and Starlink links) and contrasts small-scale stranded gas Bitcoin mining with large-scale AI powered land and data center development. Jon offers sharp insights on fixed-price gas contracts versus Waha hub volatility, navigating the overinflated "wedding tax" on AI data center land, cutting through broker noise to connect real buyers and sellers, and delivering his elevator pitch for turning lost energy into revenue.

Learn more about Blue Hawk Energy Solutions: BluehawkBTC.com
Connect with Jon Taylor on LinkedIn.
Email Jon directly: [email protected]

Follow The Real Deal Landman Show on LinkedIn for video snippets, industry news, and job postings!

Key Takeaways:

• Blue Hawk: Facilitating deals that convert stranded, flared, or undervalued natural gas into digital compute power.
• Wellhead Bitcoin Architecture: Monetizing off-grid gas using reciprocating generators, transformers, CCAN containers, ASIC miners, and Starlink satellite connectivity.
• Bitcoin Mining vs. AI Data Centers: Bitcoin mining targets small, off-grid stranded gas (125–300 MCF) that lacks fiber or water. In contrast, AI data centers requires much larger "powered land" packages with grid ties, fiber, water, and midstream pipeline redundancy.
• Gas Price Stability vs. Waha Volatility: Fixed-price contracts provide long-term certainty for miners, whereas negative Waha pricing creates market uncertainty and hidden operational costs.
• Navigating the "Wedding Tax" & Broker Noise: Data center hype has inflated land prices overnight. Success relies on bypassing multi-layered brokers to bring verified buyers and sellers into the same room.

Timestamps & Chapters:

• 00:00 Spring Training Baseball, Stadium Vibes & MLB Rule Changes
• 07:41 Milwaukee Life & The '90s Cover Band Era (Modern Art)
• 13:20 Jon Taylor’s Background & Founding Blue Hawk Energy Solutions
• 16:55 Physical Anatomy of a Wellhead Bitcoin Mining Pad
• 20:29 Small-Scale Bitcoin Mining vs. Large-Scale AI Powered Land
• 24:20 Bitcoin Market Cycles, Fixed Gas Pricing & Waha Volatility
• 30:26 Overinflated Land Values & The AI "Wedding Tax"
• 33:13 Cutting Through Broker Noise & Aligning Operator Expectations
• 45:49 The Elevator Pitch & Show Wrap-Up

Drew and Jerris happened to both be in Arizona at the same time for the annual conference of the National Association of Lease and Title Analysts. They also had the opportunity to sit down with Ryan Fitzgerald, CEO & Co-Founder of GreenFlare Technology.

They explored the operational complexities of Bitcoin mining alongside oil and gas activities, the importance of location, and climate's impact on mining operations. The conversation covers the challenges of setting up and managing data centers, the complexities of handling royalties in the oil and gas industry, the competitive landscape of Bitcoin mining and AI-centric data center projects, and the future of GreenFlare's operations.

Connect with Ryan Fitzgerald on LinkedIn and learn more about GreenFlare Technology at https://www.greenflaretech.com/

Takeaways

• Bitcoin mining alongside oil and gas activities has operational complexities but is worth pursuing.
• Locations significantly impact Bitcoin mining operations. Portable data center solutions are complex and risky, requiring careful planning and coordination.
• Royalties in the oil and gas industry are handled through gas purchase agreements, but the emergence of AI-centric data centers presents new challenges and opportunities for compensation.
• GreenFlare is additionally focused on AI-centric data center projects, leveraging existing powered land sites and fuel contracts.
• The conversation highlights the complexities of setting up and managing data centers, the competitive nature of the Bitcoin mining and AI-centric data center market, and the future direction of GreenFlare's operations.

Chapters

• 00:00 The NALTA Convention in Chandler, Arizona
• 02:21 Ryan Fitzgerald's Journey and ASU's Business Program
• 04:16 Transition to Land Work and Bitcoin Mining
• 13:40 Operational Complexities of Bitcoin Mining
• 17:01 Impact of Location and Climate on Mining Operations
• 23:35 Challenges of Portable Data Center Solutions
• 25:27 Handling Royalties in the Oil and Gas Industry
• 28:15 Competitive Landscape of Bitcoin Mining and AI-Centric Data Centers
• 35:25 Future of Green Flare's Operations

If you were going to have three movies with you on a deserted island, what would they be?

We promise you won’t be able to guess Drew’s top pick, but we’re so glad we have it recorded. 

As for more valuable lessons, the Real Deal Landman Show was pleased to host Rhett Reeves, Manager of Corporate Development at Riverbend Energy Group. Rhett shares his journey in the oil and gas industry, highlighting the importance of adaptability, persistence, and building relationships. He discusses industry trends and the impact of AI, and offers practical advice for landmen and industry newcomers, especially during a difficult job search. 

Some of Rhett’s tips for ongoing success:

• Leverage online resources, such as LinkedIn and job boards for job hunting.
• Build relationships through local chapters and industry events.
• Stay current with industry trends, including AI and technology.
• Develop your own tools and online presence to stand out.
• When it gets tough, stay persistent. 

Connect with Rhett Reeves on LinkedIn, and learn more about Riverbend Energy Group at https://www.riverbendenergygroup.com/

Kyle Reynolds is the Immediate Past President of the American Association of Professional Landman. He is also about to become an inaugural member of the “Real Deal Landman Eats.”

The former landman royalty takes a breath after his presidency and speaks with Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson about what he learned from his interactions with the 11,000+ AAPL members across the United States. Among the important issues discussed were the speculated impacts of AI and stagnant day rates. What seems certain is that the profession will undergo changes that will create numerous opportunities to evolve and engage in a broader spectrum of land and energy. It’s also guaranteed that Kyle will continue to be a leader, a friend to the industry, and a fan and adventurer of interesting eats. The next time you see Kyle, introduce yourself, shake his hand, and thank him for a job well done.

RDLS continues to grow! Be sure to follow on LinkedIn for landman job postings, industry news, and shameless plugs for the show. 

Recent episodes of the Real Deal Landman Show have emphasized the innovative technological landscape, including AI, data centers, and fractional investment opportunities in oil and gas assets.
(If you enjoy geeky, tech discussions, be sure to check out past episodes.)

To get the greatest effectiveness out of your AI initiatives, it’s important to have clean data. The StackDX platform is comprehensive and offers numerous features, but what many customers appreciate is the value it adds to the data they already own. 

In the first truly international episode, Jerris joins Kyla Lawson of Stack Technologies in Calgary to talk about farming, career beginnings, building and selling EnergyLink, and now, the proliferation of StackDX in North America.

Connect with Kyla and Stack on LinkedIn and learn more about the platform at StackDX.com 

So many listeners of the Real Deal Landman Show work in the oil and gas industry, yet how many own assets themselves? The RDLS welcomes back Tim Pawul (previously on Episode 20) and introduces Chip Simmons and Adrian Macias of Tokenized Energy. 

Recent episodes have explored many thoughts about artificial intelligence, data centers, and the rapidly approaching future of the landman profession. This conversation builds on those concepts, arguing that technology has now made it possible for anyone to start building a portfolio of oil and gas investments with a smaller initial contribution than you might think.
After you watch or listen to the full episode (and subscribe, of course), be sure to check out https://tokenizedenergy.com/ to learn how to further your journey as a real deal landman… or geologist… or engineer… or HR rep… or… 

Disclaimer: The information discussed on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and may not reflect current market conditions. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your individual situation.

In case you needed more proof that Drew Hopkins is the main attraction on the Real Deal Landman Show, this episode introduces another fascinating aspect of his life: catfish noodling. Watch the full episode video and see a picture of the biggest monster (literally) that he has caught.

We were pleased to have Jake Anderson of PV Case with us. Jake and his team built an incredible product for scouting and identifying sites for renewable energy projects. It has scaled worldwide and has incorporated critical attributes for data center development. And for those who have been following the jaw-dropping numbers about data centers, Jake offers cautionary wisdom to question what we see in the headlines.

Contact Jake at [email protected] and take a look at the PVCase Prospect tool: https://pvcase.com/prospect. 

RDLS just hit 1K followers on LinkedIn! Follow us there for video snippets, random theme songs, industry news, and landman job postings.

Takeaways

• Renewable Energy Site Selection
• Data Center Expansion Data Center Development
• Energy Grid Challenges

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Noodling Stories
• 06:09 Jake Anderson's Background and Company Journey
• 16:36 Site Selection for Renewable Energy
• 24:32 Impact of Renewable Energy Pullback and New Use Cases
• 31:42 Data Center Development

Well more than a month after it’s over, this seems like the perfect time to share our NCAA March Madness predictions. Note that Dagen Boyd, Co-founder of Firm.App, called it perfectly.

Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson hear Dagen's story and his experiences with evolving, innovative technology, particularly how AI can revolutionize owner relations and customer service in the oil and gas industry and continue to impact other roles and workflows in operations.

If you're fascinated by the capabilities and ongoing impacts of artificial intelligence, this is an episode you'll enjoy.
Follow Dagen Boyd on LinkedIn and learn about Firm.App.

Chapters

• 00:00 March Madness
• 06:04 The Development of Firm.App
• 28:27 The Role of AI in Owner Relations
• 42:05 The Evolution of Job Roles with AI
• 53:38 The Future Impact of AI

This episode of The Real Deal Landman Show kicks off with Drew Hopkins talking about his experiences at MLB Spring Training. (He didn't make any of the teams.)
It goes on to introduce Brendan O'Donnell of the Pittsburgh-based Houston Harbaugh law firm and feature a discussion on oil and gas law, data centers, and lease agreements. Brendan has the opportunity to provide legal representation for landowners in oil and gas matters. He is experienced with complicated title and royalty issues, and he has recently introduced an interesting concept about a loophole that might exist in co-locating data center development with oil and gas operations.

Read "The Colocation Loophole" as part of "The Oil and Gas Addendum" blog on the Houston Harbaugh website at hh-law.com.

Find and connect with Brendan on LinkedIn.

As a reminder, this episode in no way constitutes as legal advice.

Takeaways

• Oil and gas law
• Data centers and oil and gas operations
• Lease agreements and royalty clauses

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Real Deal Landman Show
• 05:36 Recording Across Three Time Zones
• 10:48 Title Issues and Historical Oil and Gas Law in Pennsylvania
• 19:13 The Co-Location Loophole and Data Centers Impact on Oil and Gas Operations
• 26:43 Potential Litigation and Future Implications of Oil and Gas Law
• 37:55 Negotiating Oil and Gas Leases and Preventing Legal Issues