ExxonMobil Teams Up for Hydrogen Pilot in US

November 18, 2025 jasonspiess 0

  US supermajor ExxonMobil and German chemicals giant BASF have announced that they will partner on a methane pyrolysis pilot in the US that would produce so-called “turquoise” hydrogen. While “blue” hydrogen is produced via natural gas in processes that generate carbon dioxide, which has to be captured and stored […]

Crude Bound & Burnin’

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Crude bound and burnin’, loadin’ black gold down the line West to East Texas, makin’ that pipeline shine   Rollin’ outta Midland, sunrise in my glass Big rig hummin’ like a bullet movin’ fast Tank full o’ diesel and a trailer full o’ crude Ain’t no time for stoppin’, I’m […]

Gasoline (The Ghost of Briscoe)

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Gasoline (The Ghost of Briscoe) is a haunting folk ballad that tells the story of a forgotten Texas town swallowed by time and silence. Through vivid imagery, dusty melodies, and a deeply nostalgic tone, the song paints a portrait of Gasoline — once a small but thriving community in Briscoe County, […]

Drill Baby Drill

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

“Drill Baby Drill” is a politically charged, high-energy anthem that celebrates the grit, determination, and even the controversy surrounding America’s oil and gas industry. Rooted in the spirit of old school wildcatters and modern shale revolutionaries, the song blends the rough-neck swagger of country rock with the urgency of a protest […]

West Texas Trouble

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Out in the bone-dry lands of West Texas, where the sun scorches the oil patch by day and the stars stretch endlessly over scrub and shale by night, a certain kind of woman thrives. These are the women of the rig, the ones who grease the valves at dawn, carry […]

Three Sands

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Three Sands is a ghost-town elegy for one of Oklahoma’s most fleeting oil boomtowns. Born on the border of Kay and Noble counties, Three Sands exploded into life when oil was king — then vanished just as fast when the wells ran dry and the schoolhouse closed in 1946. This song […]

Kansas Strong

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

The song Kansas Strong is a heartfelt, narrative-driven song that follows the journey of a young couple who face hardship after being laid off. With two kids and uncertain prospects, they move to Kansas for a fresh start, fueled by resilience and hope. The story unfolds through the father’s perspective, capturing themes […]

Vistra Expands Dispatchable Power Footprint in the Permian Basin

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

In a move underscoring Texas’ growing appetite for reliable, on-demand energy, Vistra Corp. has announced plans to build two new natural-gas-fueled dispatchable generation units in the heart of the Permian Basin, adding 860 megawatts (MW) of capacity to the state’s electric grid. The $ investment—part of a broader $ 2 […]

Energy Sector Shifts From Exploration to Efficiency

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

The global energy sector opened the week in classic contradiction — profits up, patience thin, and politics circling every pipe, turbine, and tank. From Shell’s steady trading gains to a new natural gas storage hub in Louisiana, the world’s appetite for hydrocarbons remains unshaken, even as rhetoric leans green. Yet […]

The Quiet Fuel Driving the Transition

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

While headlines often chase the newest solar field or battery breakthrough, the week’s most consequential energy stories came from something far less glamorous: methane. From the landfills of Iowa to the bus depots of Pennsylvania, this colorless gas — once treated as a nuisance — is quietly being re-engineered into […]

Eggs, Ethics & Energy

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Eggs, Ethics and Energy is a heartfelt country storytelling song sung from a female narrator’s perspective. Set in a small-town café tucked deep in the oil patch, the song paints vivid portraits of working people who gather each morning to share coffee, conversation, and quiet philosophy before another day in the […]

The King of the Wildcatters

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

“The King of the Wildcatters” is a classic country storytelling song that pays tribute to legendary oilman Thomas Baker Slick. Set against the backdrop of the American oil boom, the song chronicles Slick’s bold pursuit of black gold across Oklahoma and Texas. From humble beginnings and ridicule by skeptics, Slick’s determination […]

Yes Virginia, David can slay Goliath

October 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Recent activities by Ukraine against Russian refineries, and the incident at the Chevron Refinery in California, are exposing the vulnerability of major Goliath infrastructures being stationary targets for slaying by the David’s in the world. The misunderstanding of “green” delusionists is treating electricity as interchangeable with materials, as it is […]

Sam Elliott is the New Man in Landman Season 2

August 26, 2025 jasonspiess 0

If the first season of Landman left you with grit under your fingernails and a thirst for more West Texas oilfield grit, hold onto your ten‑gallon hat—season 2 is revving up to blow the roof off. Enter Sam Elliott: The Man, the Myth, the Sheri-dan Sam Elliott, that gravel-voiced legend of the screen, […]

Shale Insights 2025: Erie Set to Host Shale’s Premier Gathering

August 26, 2025 jasonspiess 0

The Bayfront Convention Center in Erie is preparing to welcome one of the most anticipated events on the energy calendar: SHALE INSIGHT® 2025. For the shale industry, the conference represents more than an annual gathering; it’s a convergence point for decision-makers, innovators, and policymakers shaping the future of natural gas in […]

Between Extremes: Terry Etam on Energy’s Middle Ground

August 14, 2025 jasonspiess 0

When Jason Spiess signs onto the Zoom line for another episode of Spiess On Earth, the conversation isn’t about sticking to one fuel or another—it’s about cutting through the noise. His guest, Canadian energy columnist Terry Etam, is no stranger to that noise. Author of The End of Fossil Fuel […]

Astro-Oilology – What’s Your Birth Month Oil Play

August 11, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Welcome to Astro-Oilology, where we mix a little stardust with drilling dust to reveal your true oilfield destiny. Forget zodiac signs — out here, your birth month tells us exactly which oil play fuels your personality. From the sun-baked rigs of the Permian Basin to the frozen iron of the […]

From Gas to AI: How Pennsylvania Is Leading America’s Energy Future

July 23, 2025 jasonspiess 0

  In this lively and thought-provoking episode The Crude Life’s founder Jason Spiess welcomes back leadership coach and energy podcast host Joe Sinnott for a deep dive into the latest developments in energy, innovation, and leadership. The episode opens with humorous reflections on professional dress codes in the oil and gas industry, sparked […]

Kansas Strong Powering Up for the Summer

June 18, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Warren Martin, Kansas Strong, joins The Crude Life with an update on all the recent events and activities involving the Kansas energy industry as well as a discussion on how Martin is changing the conversation with PBS, Dennis Quaid and Glenn Beck. Kansas Strong’s innovative approach to energy education has garnered […]

Sinnott Coaches Executives During Layoffs, Professionals with Start Ups

June 18, 2025 jasonspiess 0

Joe Sinnott, CEO, Witting Partners LLC and the host of The Energy Detox Podcast explains how to manage layoffs, new start ups and professional expectations during times of change. When companies undergo layoffs, the process typically involves strategic workforce reductions aimed at cutting costs, restructuring, or adapting to market shifts. Internally, layoffs disrupt workflows, […]