#43. Loren Singletary on AI Power Demand, Iran Risk & Deepwater

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 growth00:00 Welcome and Banter00:56 Geopolitics Driving Oil01:23 Strait of Hormuz Risks03:20 Politics and Price Targets04:15 Oil Price History05:12 Forecasting and Boone07:09 Gas Demand Surge09:30 Pipelines and Permitting12:27 All of the Above Energy13:30 SMRs and AI Timing14:34 NOV Leadership Shift15:05 Deepwater Returns16:13 Rigs and Day Rates17:16 Where to Drill Next19:21 Geoscience Breakthroughs20:46 Evolution of Drilling Tech21:37 Consolidation And Completion Science22:28 Automated Rigs And Bigger Hookloads23:51 Automation Versus Robotics24:38 Safety Driven By Operators25:29 Rig Supply Dayrates And Discipline28:02 Bananas And Water Disposal Earthquakes31:06 Treating Produced Water Economics32:55 Power Crunch Data Centers And Coal34:14 Ohio Mega Gas Plant And Scale36:04 2026 Risks Gas Prices And Saudi Capacity41:43 Wrap Up And Thanks