First Offshore Well in Texas, Methane-Detecting Satellites & CERAWeek Houston
Plus Exxon & Mobil Agree to Merge, Gulf Coast Carbon Connect and BP Appoints First Chief Methane Officer.
Welcome to Petro Playback, your daily energy flashback and industry pulse check. Each day we rewind to key moments in oil and gas history, spotlight the petroleum-based products we take for granted, and surface the science that keeps energy innovation moving forward.
From the wildcatting roots of rural America to today’s carbon-conscious partnerships, this segment connects the dots between legacy and leadership. Whether you’re on the rig, in the boardroom, or tracking futures on the screen, Petro Playback delivers the context, headlines, and insights powering tomorrow—one barrel at a time.
🛢️ HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS – JULY 18
1936 – First Offshore Well in Texas, The Tidelands zone near Galveston sees its first successful offshore oil well, marking the birth of the Gulf’s offshore industry and prompting new regulations on coastal drilling.
1970 – First U.S. Commercial LNG Plant Starts, On July 18, the Cove Point LNG terminal in Maryland began operations, becoming the nation’s first commercial-scale liquefied natural gas plant and launching the country’s journey into global LNG trade.
1999 – Exxon & Mobil Agree to Merge, On this date, Exxon and Mobil finalize their historic $81 billion merger—the biggest energy deal ever at the time—creating ExxonMobil and redefining the landscape of global oil giants.
🧴 PETRO PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – Tennis Balls
Most tennis balls use a rubber core and felt made with petroleum-derived nylon and acrylic fibers. The pressurized core holds gas thanks to vulcanized rubber (another petroleum byproduct). Your Wimbledon serve relies on hydrocarbon chemistry under pressure.
🔬 DID YOU KNOW? OF THE DAY – Methane-Detecting Satellites
Today’s satellites use infrared sensors to detect methane leaks across entire oilfields—offering 24/7 monitoring from space. This real-time transparency helps companies meet ESG targets, reduce emissions, and avoid regulatory fines.
🌾 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT – Madison Parish, Louisiana
With its rich shale reserves and access to the Mississippi River, Madison Parish supports river-barge crude transport, pump stations, and storage terminals. Its rural workforce maintains hundreds of miles of pipelines—proving that strategic logistics don’t need city limits.
🤝 PUBLIC‑PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT – Gulf Coast Carbon Connect
Industry partners and the Texas Legislature are coordinating on the Gulf Coast Carbon Connect, a PPP to build CO₂ pipeline infrastructure connecting industrial hubs and Gulf export terminals. Led by Chevron, Valero, and NRG, it’s poised to become one of the nation’s largest carbon hubs.
💬 PROFESSIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Our job is to deliver energy on time, safely, reliably—and with increasing responsibility.”
— Darren Woods, CEO, ExxonMobil
In a complex and evolving energy landscape, Woods sums up the balancing act: production, protection, and progress.
🛢️ OIL & GAS EVENT SPOTLIGHT – CERAWeek Houston (Aug 19–21)
One of the energy industry’s premier gatherings, CERAWeek returns to Houston’s NRG Center August 19–21. This year’s edition features:
Keynote: Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Director, on “Transitioning While Sustaining Supply”
Major Sponsors: Shell, Chevron, Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, Baker Hughes
Highlights: Live plenary debates on carbon pricing, virtual reality well-site demos, clean-tech pitch competition, and the annual Energy Week gala
CERAWeek is a must for C-suite executives, policy leaders, and tech innovators—the stage where strategy meets scale.
🔝 TOP PETRO‑POWERED HEADLINES – JULY 18
U.S. Natural Gas ETF Hits Record High Amid Heatwave,
LNG exports, power demand, and crypto mining have pushed prices to seasonal peaks—benefiting producers and igniting investor interest.
Chevron to Invest $500M in Gulf CO₂ Pipeline,
Chevron announced plans to co-fund a new Gulf pipeline as part of the Gulf Coast Carbon Connect project—marking a major milestone in regional decarbonization.
BP Appoints First Chief Methane Officer,
BP’s new CMO will lead methane reduction programs across operations and joint ventures—signaling rising corporate focus on emissions accountability.
🧭 FINAL THOUGHTS
July 18 reminds us that the energy landscape is built from legacy infrastructure—and continuously shaped by innovation. From offshore wells to LNG breakthroughs, methane satellites to carbon hubs—the future depends on the blend of past reliability and future readiness.
Keep the lines strong, the data sharper, and your strategy ahead of the curve.
Petro Playback prepared and written by Jason Spiess. Spiess is an multi-award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, producer and content consultant. Spiess, who began working in the media at age 10, has over 35 years of media experience in broadcasting, journalism, reporting and principal ownership in media companies. Spiess is currently the host of several newsmagazine programs that air across a 22 radio stations and podcasts worldwide through podcast platforms, as well as a combined Substack and social media audience of over 500K followers. Connect with Spiess on LinkedIn
Everyday your story is being told by someone. Who is telling your story? Who are you telling your story to?
Email your sustainable story ideas, professional press releases or podcast submissions to thecontentcreationstudios(AT)gmail(DOT)com
CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL PARAMOUNT + DISCOUNT LINK
Paramount+ offers its subscribers a plethora of quality content.
From instant classic films to banger TV shows like 1883 and Tommy Boy, there’s no shortage of entertainment to explore.
How about Dexter Resurrection? It’s getting fabulous reviews.
Start Streaming Today!
CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL PARAMOUNT + DISCOUNT LINK
