Can the energy system keep up with AI power demand, and rising geopolitical risk?

Live from Daniel Energy Partners’ Thrive Event at Houston’s Daikin Field, Energy Espresso host Jim Wicklund sits down with Loren Singletary, Vice President-Global Accounts and Investor Relations at National Oilwell Varco, to break down oil price uncertainty tied to Middle East tensions and the Strait of Hormuz, the coming surge in U.S. gas demand, and the infrastructure challenges standing in the way.

They also explore deepwater’s comeback, LNG market shifts, and why pipeline bottlenecks, especially out of the Marcellus, could shape the next phase of U.S. energy growth

00:00 Welcome and Banter

00:56 Geopolitics Driving Oil

01:23 Strait of Hormuz Risks

03:20 Politics and Price Targets

04:15 Oil Price History

05:12 Forecasting and Boone

07:09 Gas Demand Surge

09:30 Pipelines and Permitting

12:27 All of the Above Energy

13:30 SMRs and AI Timing

14:34 NOV Leadership Shift

15:05 Deepwater Returns

16:13 Rigs and Day Rates

17:16 Where to Drill Next

19:21 Geoscience Breakthroughs

20:46 Evolution of Drilling Tech

21:37 Consolidation And Completion Science

22:28 Automated Rigs And Bigger Hookloads

23:51 Automation Versus Robotics

24:38 Safety Driven By Operators

25:29 Rig Supply Dayrates And Discipline

28:02 Bananas And Water Disposal Earthquakes

31:06 Treating Produced Water Economics

32:55 Power Crunch Data Centers And Coal

34:14 Ohio Mega Gas Plant And Scale

36:04 2026 Risks Gas Prices And Saudi Capacity

41:43 Wrap Up And Thanks