In this episode of the Let’s Clear the Air energy podcast, hosts Adam Murray and Andrew Parker sit down with Thomas Kalb, a veteran oil and gas investor and industry leader, to unpack the dynamic world of the energy sector, zeroing in on the midstream segment, which is often overlooked and taken for granted. Tom, who was founding director of the Center for Midstream Management & Science at Lamar University, shares insights drawn from more than four decades in the oil and gas business.
The conversation kicks off with Tom explaining midstream’s critical role transporting and storing oil, gas, and other energy products. He emphasizes the urgent need for greater awareness and education about this segment, which is vital for the industry’s smooth operation, for powering economic growth, and for facilitating nearly every aspect of modern life. Despite its importance, the midstream is chronically underrepresented in academia.
Adam, Andrew and Tom engage in a conversation of the energy transition, spotlighting the massive investments pouring into renewable energy and the challenges and opportunities they present. He draws a compelling analogy with NASA’s Mercury and Apollo programs to illustrate how substantial R&D spending fuels groundbreaking innovations that are sometimes not directly related to the original investment. This leads to a thought-provoking discussion on potential moral hazards of large public investments. Tom urges listeners to look closely at rapid energy transition projects, to question motives and incentives, and to consider the broader societal impact.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of energy, as it sheds light on the crucial midstream segment and its potential to drive forward-looking innovations. Tune in for an insightful journey through the energy landscape, guided by a leading industry expert!
In this episode, the hosts get Tom’s thoughts on:
- The importance of the midstream sector
- Addressing misconceptions and pushback in academia
- Bridging the gap between academia and the midstream industry
- The impacts and efficacy of attempts to impose rapid energy transition
- Cool innovations in the midstream sector
Thomas Kalb Bio
Thomas Kalb was the inaugural Director of the Center for Midstream Management and Science at Lamar University, serving in that role from April 2020 to June 2024. After four decades in the oil and gas industry as an executive, investor, financial advisor, and petroleum engineer, Tom built the Midstream Center into a bridge and partnership between Lamar University and the midstream industry, promoting and leading practical research and technology development, knowledge transfer and workforce training relevant to the midstream sector.
During his career, he was involved in many upstream and midstream projects and founded, secured funding and managed two oil & gas investment companies. He either started or was a founding member of the oil and gas investment businesses of GE Capital, AIG Financial Products and Freepoint Commodities. Under Tom’s leadership, Lamar University established the Midstream Information Pathfinder, which serves as a clearinghouse of midstream research papers, and made the university a key partner with midstream companies and organizations, including GPA Midstream Association.
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