2014 AGI Critical Issues Forum: Meeting Agenda

Meeting Agenda

November 19

8:00-8:30 - Registration

8:30-8:45 - Introduction and Welcoming Remarks

8:45-10:00 - Keynote Address, Dr. Scott W. Tinker, Director, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, and State Geologist of Texas

10:00-10:30 - Break

2014 AGI Critical Issues Forum

The development of unconventional natural gas resources in the last decade has reshaped the energy mix in the U.S. Decisions that are being made now – often in sectors that may not have an obvious connection to gas production – will determine the energy mix over the coming decades.

AGI Critical Issues Forums

2014 Critical Issues Forum: America's Increasing Reliance on Natural Gas: Benefits and Risks of a Methane Economy

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The development of unconventional natural gas resources in the last decade has reshaped the energy mix in the U.S. Decisions that are being made now – often in sectors that may not have an obvious connection to gas production – will determine the energy mix over the coming decades. The 2014 Critical Issues Forum, entitled America’s Increasing Reliance on Natural Gas: Benefits and Risks of a Methane Economy, reflected the strong interest and concerns associated with the development of natural gas resources. The two-day event was held at the Forth Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 19-20, 2014.

The Forum examined the 5- to 30-year outlook for the development of a natural gas-dominant energy sector in North America and discussed the associated benefits and risks. Presentations highlighted our current understanding of the interrelated geological, environmental, and economic aspects of natural gas development and stimulated discussion on two overarching questions:

Is a natural gas-dominant economy achievable in North America?
Would a natural gas-dominant economy be desirable?

Forum Sponsorship support was provided by the Geological Society of America, the Society for Sedimentary Geology, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and The Geological Society

For more information about the Forum, please visit the 2014 Critical Issues Forum home page.

2014 Forum: Selected Clips

2014 AGI Critical Issues Forum: Final Report

That all of these activities — integral to our daily lives — require energy won’t come as news to anyone. But the amount of energy needed to fuel our way of life is often under-appreciated, and rarely do we give much thought to where the energy that drives modern life is sourced. Even with great advances in efficiency, total energy use today in the United States is twice what it was 50 years ago, and globally we trail only China, which has a population more than four times as large.

New Report Identifies Possible Next Steps in U.S. Energy Development

Scientific and technologic advances related to hydraulic fracturing have dramatically increased the supply of U.S. oil and gas; because of this, a methane economy – in which natural gas provides the leading share of primary energy consumption – is now a possible scenario for U.S. energy development.

Berry H. (Nick) Tew, Jr.

State Geologist of Alabama and Oil and Gas Supervisor, Geological Survey of Alabama and State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama
Moderator, Session 4: Drivers of and barriers to natural gas development in North America

Dr. Nick Tew has served as Alabama’s State Geologist and Oil and Gas Supervisor since 2002. In these capacities, he directs the Geological Survey of Alabama and the staff of the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama. Nick is President of the American Geosciences Institute and he previously served as President of the Association of American State Geologists, Vice-Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and Chairman of the U.S. Department of the Interior Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee. He also serves on the National Petroleum Council and is a Fellow in the Geological Society of America.

Randy Randolph

Vice President, Southern Gas Association
"Politics & Public Opinion: The Natural Gas Conundrum"
Download presentation slides
View presentation on YouTube

On December 1, 2008, Randy joined the Southern Gas Association as a vice president.

After retiring from Cinergy in 2005, Randy formed Double R Associates and began providing energy management advisory services.

From 1997 to 2005, Randy worked in various executive capacities at Cinergy Corp but most recently as VP, Gas Distribution Operations.

In 1995-97, Randy provided independent energy management and natural gas supply and marketing consulting services.

From 1993 to 1995, he served as VP Gas Resources for Transok and was responsible for gas acquisition, marketing, transportation and energy risk management services.

Over 17 years with The Williams Companies, he served in many capacities including President of Williams Energy. During those years he directed the operation of gas pipelines, marketing, natural gas liquids and energy trading.

Randy received BS and BBA degrees from the University of Texas and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

David Pursell

Managing Director, Head of Securities, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.
"Natural Gas Thoughts"
Download presentation slides
View presentation on YouTube

Dave Pursell serves as Managing Director and Head of Securities at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Dave is responsible for TPH’s analysis of global oil & gas markets, including inventory and price forecasts, supply/demand modeling and rigcount/production relationships. He was past Chairman of the IPAA Supply committee and sits on the Investment Committee of TPH Partners LP, TPH’s private equity division. Dave is a board member of private energy companies Oxane Materials and Unconventional Gas Resources. He was a Founding Partner of Pickering Energy Partners, the predecessor to TPH. Prior to that, he was Director of Upstream Research at Simmons & Company, International and spent eight years as manager of petrophysics at S.A. Holditch & Associates, now a division of Schlumberger. He gained operational experience with ARCO Alaska, Inc., conducting field engineering and operations. He holds a BS and MS in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University.

L. Renee Orr

Chief, Office of Strategic Resources, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
"The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and offshore natural gas resources"
Download presentation slides

Renee Orr has more than 25 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. She is a senior executive on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management leadership team. As the Chief of the Office of Strategic Resources, Ms. Orr oversees development and implementation of the Nation's offshore oil and gas and marine mineral leasing programs. She also oversees the assessment of offshore oil and gas resources as well as ensuring that the Nation receives fair market value for these valuable assets. She completed the Department of the Interior's Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in 2001.

American Geosciences Institute

forum