AI Power Surge: Can Natural Gas Keep Up with Demand?

AI is driving a new wave of power demand. But where will the energy come from?

At the Daniel Energy Partners Thrive Conference, Oilfield 360 Podcast hosts David de Roode and Victoria Beard-Queen sit down with Jason Downie, Managing Partner of Tailwater Capital.

Jason shares his perspective as an energy private equity investor and why natural gas and midstream infrastructure will be critical as AI, LNG exports, and reshoring drive the next phase of energy demand.

00:00 Why Oil Still Matters

00:54 Podcast Sponsors

01:59 Live From Thrive Conference

02:30 Nuclear Plus Gas Takeaways

03:39 Meet Jason Downey

04:10 Why Tailwater Name

05:09 Fly Fishing Banter

05:45 Jason Energy Origin Story

07:49 DLJ To Hicks Muse Path

10:54 Energy Thesis And 2003 Shift

12:05 Private Equity Explained

13:07 Tailwater Strategy Three Legs

14:35 Portfolio And Midstream Model

18:18 Bullish Themes E&P LNG AI

26:21 Texas Power Demand Surge

30:36 Structural Demand Pull Wrap

31:27 Replacement Depletion Math

32:21 Raising a PE Fund

33:39 Treat Investors as Partners

35:30 Giving Young Talent Rope

38:21 Service and Salesmanship Club

41:02 Solo Africa Hunt Reflections

46:03 Tailwater White Space

47:35 Water and Infrastructure Opportunities

51:51 Career Advice for Your 20s

54:59 Wrap Up and Where to Follow

From humble beginnings fixing pumps to building a water giant, how did Schmitz do it?

On the Oilfield 360 Podcast, hosts David de Roode and Victoria Beard Queen sit down with industry legend, John Schmitz, CEO at Select Water Solutions.

John shares how buying distressed or forgotten assets during downturns shaped his growth, and why water is becoming one of the most strategic parts of the oilfield, among many other great stories and shared insights from his years in the energy industry - Upstream, Midstream and Downstream.

00:54 Podcast Sponsors

01:59 Welcome And Upcoming Events

02:59 Meet John Schmitz

04:25 Early Career And First Company

06:35 Surviving The 80s Crash

08:02 Buying Companies In Downcycles

13:51 Midstream And Upstream Expansion

15:27 Private Equity And Going Public

24:17 Life After Complete Energy

26:55 Family Support And Marriage

28:33 Giving Back In Cook County

32:36 Meeting Harold Hamm

32:54 Save Domestic Oil Fight

33:53 Partners In Complete

34:46 Why Harold Matters

35:25 What DEPA Does

36:59 US Energy Advantage

38:23 Industry Turnaround Story

40:55 More With Less

42:45 Family Office And Kids

43:16 Select Origin Story

46:17 Water To Recycling Shift

48:39 Pipelines And Networks

51:42 Efficiency By The Numbers

53:25 Ranch Life And Longhorns

55:01 Stark Ranch History

01:00:19 Mentors And Advice

01:03:02 Romania And Global Expansion

How do you turn a startup launched during a downturn into a major oilfield technology success story?

On this episode of The Oilfield 360 podcast, hosts David de Roode and Victoria Beard Queen sit down with Neal Lux, CEO of Forum Energy Technologies (and TV Star - Landman appearance), to discuss his path from co-founding Global Tubing to leading FET today.

Lux shares insights on scaling a coil tubing startup, the Smart Taper innovation that improved weld fatigue life, and how technologies like subsea robotics and remote ROV operations are shaping the future of oilfield services.

00:00 Why Oil and Gas Matters

00:36 Podcast and Sponsors

03:48 Meet Neal Lux

04:54 From Consulting to Maverick

07:55 Joining a Risky Startup

11:30 Global Tubing Early Struggles

13:37 Culture and Innovation

15:29 Coil Tubing Explained

17:54 Smart Taper Breakthrough

19:13 Designing for Long Wells

21:16 Beyond Intervention Use Cases

23:22 Partnering with Operators

25:33 Why They Bought Eagle

26:12 Joining the Forum Family

27:04 Leadership Under Chris

27:49 COVID Debt Turning Point

28:32 What FET Does Today

30:17 FET 2030 Growth Plan

33:10 Landman TV Cameo

37:02 Subsea Robotics Innovation

39:38 Lessons From Mistakes

41:52 Life Outside Work

45:13 CEO Reality Check

48:34 Investor Story and Value

50:21 NYSE Texas Listing