Ryan Zurkuhlen

“Working in a family-run oil and gas business isn’t easy.” (It’s a delicate balance of tradition and innovation.) Here are 3 strategies I’ve learned to thrive: 1. Cultivate patience Navigating complex family dynamics takes time. Success in a family business isn’t rushed—it’s earned. 2. Earn respect Prove your worth through your work, not just your name. The best way to lead is by example. 3. Stay flexible The oil and gas industry is dynamic. Flexibility isn’t just a skill—it’s a survival tool. Every challenge comes with opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally. What’s your top tip for thriving in a family business? #FamilyBusiness #OilandGasSuccess

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These are the hardest decisions a shareholder has to make; Mr. Brian C. Cornell, CEO and Chairman of the Board for Target, you are relieved of duties. I expect you to immediately vacate your office and forego any severance benefits. You cannot increase guidance and then fail miserably the very next quarter. Share price has dropped more than 21% today. Demonstrates you don’t have a clue as to what is happening at Target. Were you busy at golf outings? Enjoying a two month cruise around the world? A three month silence retreat? You cannot increase inventory and sell less. I had a salesman once who called himself a peddler, he understood the business much better than you. You just can’t perform like this and remain in your position. Any working American who performed their job like you the past several months would be unceremoniously fired. So please clean out your desk by the end of the day. Your entire team responsible for these horrible actions should follow you out the door. Board, I can help you find someone in middle management who can perform better. They will better understand proper inventory levels and can easily have financial personnel in place to give better guidance. Brian, is your child currently handling these duties? What were you thinking? Knuckleheads running corporate America. The Knucklehead emeritus returning to the White House in January. I’m going to be busy!!!!

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The Heat Is on in More Ways Than One It’s not just the blistering temps making life uncomfortable in the Permian these days. Not while record volumes have producers sweating bullets to move more of their residual gas to downstream markets. Not while pipelines inch closer to maximum capacity. And certainly not while demand for natural gas will only continue to grow to feed more LNG plants, meet rising NGL export levels, and power the booming industry of AI data and crypto mining centers now putting electrical grids on notice. Nope. All things considered, the summer’s heat is a mere pesky mosquito compared to the bite—and pressure—Permian producers face juggling these challenges amid dirt-cheap gas prices while Permian midstreamers weigh their investments in new pipeline growth projects. Reese Energy Consulting today is following the latest from the Permian and what’s now the final countdown to welcome startup of the 580-mile Matterhorn Express. And the Matterhorn matters in a huge way to help decongest gas takeaway constraints by flowing up to 2.5 BCFD from West Texas to the Katy area outside of Houston. Sweet music to the ears, no doubt. At least until the end of next year. In the meantime, five other pipeline projects await FID to bring added headache relief to the nation’s second-largest gas producing basin, although most could take up to two years to build. They include Targa Resources’ Apex, Energy Transfer’s Warrior, Kinder Morgan, Inc.’s expansion of its Natural Gas Pipeline of America system, ONEOK’s expansion of its West Texas NGL Pipeline, and Moss Lake Partners’ DeLa Express. What do you think? Learn more about REC and our natural gas and midstream consulting services at https://lnkd.in/ebXT2mS. Learn more about our online natural gas training courses at https://lnkd.in/g_jDyx_Y. #Pipeline #transmission #midstream #naturalgas ##reeseenergyconsulting

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ExxonMobil reported third-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, driven by a 40-year high in liquids production, despite lower oil and gas prices and weak refining margins. The company posted earnings of $8.61 billion, down 5% year-over-year, with earnings per share at $1.92, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.87. While overall profits declined due to lower industry refining margins, strong production growth from assets in Guyana, the Permian, and Pioneer helped offset these losses. Chairman Darren Woods highlighted the quarter as one of Exxon's strongest in a decade. Other major oil companies also noted weak refining impacts, but Exxon and Chevron benefited from record production levels.

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Natural gas negative pricing is not an associated gas curtailment tool. In the event of major drop in electricity demand, negative pricing can prove effective in curtailing exports of power to the grid. Negative prices set in this case are a function of the marginal cost of electricity generation in following of an approved generating stations merit order with solar assigned the lowest negative price in the absence of fuel charges.  In the case of crude oil, negative pricing was experienced in the US in April of 2020 where West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil traded at a negative WTI futures contract price. This action was initiated following a sharp fall in crude oil demand and persistent supplies resulting in low available oil storage capacity.  In this case, the expected negative price would have been a function of the value of remaining available oil pipeline and storage capacity. Today’s $85 oil price is driving increases in US oil production. Along with stagnant gas demand, bringing online drilled but uncompleted wells, limited natural gas storage capacity, and shortage of natural gas processing and pipeline capacity, crude oil supply increases is resulting in surplus associated natural gas.  As in the case of oil price negative pricing, the expected negative price is a function of the value of remaining available natural gas storage and pipeline resources.   While revival of natural gas demand due to weather and economic activity can help address the lower demand for US natural gas, negative pricing of natural gas remains poorly suited to address surplus associated natural gas.  The higher profit margin crude oil receives has lead oil and gas firms to downplay investments in natural gas gathering, processing, and grid expansion. While natural gas negative pricing can be used as an instrument to adjust gaps in associated gas demand and supply, enforced policies need to be in place to ensure adequate planning and expansion of associated gas gathering, processing, pipeline capacity, and storage to realize continued reduction of US upstream carbon footprint and the elimination of methane emissions and flaring of associated gas.   

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LNG: A Critical Transition Fuel bridging to a more Sustainable Future. As we navigate the challenges of 2024, the U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export sector faces uncertainty, especially following recent court decisions. However, LNG remains a vital transitional fuel in the movement toward sustainable energy. For examole, transitioning from coal and high-emission fuels is essential for reducing carbon emissions and slowing climate change. LNG offers a practical alternative, potentially cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 69% when replacing coal-fired power plants, all while ensuring reliable energy supply. In addition, advances in gas turbine technology continue with some projections that energy efficiencies above 80% may be achievable. By integrating LNG into a steuctured energy strategy, we can reduce reliance on more polluting fuels, foster a healthier environment, and begin to transition to a more sustainable future. Prioritizing LNG initiatives and natural gas infrastructure will pave the way for a thriving energy landscape that benefits our people, our planet, and the economy.

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I never thought about being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Until THAT day. Growing up, my science classes always had a pretty equal female-to-male ratio. Even in college, chemical engineering was 50:50. So, when I entered the workforce, I just did what I always did: I worked hard. But soon, I noticed a discrepancy. Despite my hard work and results, I wasn't getting bonuses like my male peers. It wasn’t until my third year when a high-ranking mentor sent me articles about the wage gap that I realized the inequality. I never thought about it until THAT day. Coming out of college, students make the same amount. But as people advance into management roles, the wage gap grows. It was hard for me to accept that some people saw me differently in the workplace. So, I knew I had to make a change. I realized I have a lot of value to offer, and it was up to me to take control of my career. That’s when I decided to transition from the corporate world to owning my own business. I want to work with and lead other high performers who want to tackle exciting projects. For me, the best way to ensure I have a seat at the table is to build my own table. The best way to ensure I’m paid fairly is to be the one cutting the check. 😁 Be the change you want to see. I’d love to hear from you about your experience. How do you navigate these issues in your industry?

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Second line of below quote is a perfect example for #estimation/#Budgeting world. One has to be careful and make all efforts to get most accurate estimates. But at the end all has to remember word is a "#Estimate" and not the "Actual". Even after issue of "IFC" drawing we have to issue "As-built". So how can we expect estimate before start of project will be so accurate as Actuals at end of Project? Only thing can help to minimize the gap between estimate and actual is to start with #estimate and find a way to meet estimate during #execution !

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Gastech 2024 provides an opportunity to discuss potential ways to drive measurable progress towards a lower-carbon future. Our VP of Hydrogen, Austin Knight, talks about how hydrogen fits into the picture. 👇 Learn more about #Gastech here: https://lnkd.in/gT8Dm6ke

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Congratulations to Phillips 66 on the closure of its Los Angeles Basin Refinery and pushing back on the insane regulatory environment coming out of California today. Phillips 66 recently announced plans to close its 650-acre oil refinery complex near the Port of Los Angeles by the fourth quarter of 2025. This decision comes shortly after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law aimed at mandating excessive gasoline storage at refineries. The law empowers the state to require oil refiners to maintain a minimum inventory of fuel to prevent supply shortages that can drive up prices at the pump. What’s next? Mandating ranchers to have extra cattle around for beef prices to stay low? Making car dealers have a minimum number of each car model on the lot at all times? Give me a break. This move raises important questions about the direction of California's energy policy. The Wilmington refinery, along with a nearby complex in Carson just five miles away, has a significant production capacity—up to 85,000 barrels of gasoline and 65,000 barrels of diesel per day. The closure of this facility, which has been operational for 105 years and employs around 600 workers and 300 contractors, will lead to an 8 percent reduction in the state’s already strained refining capacity. Governor Newsom has argued that the new legislation is essential for protecting Californians from price gouging by gas companies. While it's true that California often faces some of the highest gas prices in the country, it's worth examining the broader context. We all know that these high costs stem from the state's heavy taxation and regulatory environment, which places significant financial burdens on fuel prices. Not corporate greed per Newsom. With the impending closure of this refinery, Californians will soon find themselves grappling with even higher gas prices. The loss of 8 percent of the state's refining capacity could exacerbate an already challenging situation. As residents prepare for potential increases at the pump, it’s crucial to hold accountable the real culprits, the elected officials whose policies contribute to these rising costs. In summary, as we move forward, it's essential for Californians to critically assess the implications of such decisions on their daily lives and the broader economy. The future of fuel prices in the state may hinge on finding a balance between regulatory measures and the realities of supply and demand. Come see how we do it in Texas and the South where gasoline prices are the cheapest in the nation because of fair taxation treatment. Don’t blame those greedy oil companies. Some day you will wish you hadn’t run them out of the state…. #godblesstexas #phillips66 #california #gavinnewsom #oil #gasoline #thepermianfuelsamerica https://lnkd.in/gDDxZF2w

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America's oil industry has transformed from a marginal player to a competitive force against OPEC, now acting as a net exporter of petroleum and significantly contributing to the economy. After a period of investor skepticism due to a global oil glut, the U.S. has improved productivity through the continuous drilling of wells and learning from each operation. Projections indicate that U.S. oil production is set to increase by 600,000 barrels per day in 2025, driven by enhanced well productivity. Over the past decade, productivity in the oil and gas extraction sector has nearly tripled, outpacing growth in many tech industries. This surge in productivity has sparked debates among economists about the role of technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, in driving these gains. US productivity growth has been a big topic of debate among economists, many of whom wonder how much the recent jump is being driven by artificial intelligence and to what extent AI will affect it in the future. America’s oil resurgence over the past decade was a different kind of technological breakthrough, the combination of drilling horizontally through layers of shale and then fracturing, or fracking, the rock with blasts of water, sand and chemicals to extract hydrocarbons. Initially, shale drilling was considered more expensive and less sustainable than conventional methods, but advancements have challenged these assumptions, leading to robust output from regions like the Permian Basin. https://lnkd.in/gmKcGETV

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