Events

Speaker: Mark Linroth, Director of Technical Services, Kinder-Morgan, Inc.

Title of Seminar: "The Intersection of the Energy Industry with the General Public"

Abstract: Until recently the interactions of the general public with the energy industry were mostly limited to refueling at the gas pump. With the rise of unconventional oil and gas fields which are now moving into non-traditional areas, tension between the producers and the general public was bound to increase. In Colorado, the Northeastern U.S., the Barnett Shale near Ft. Worth, and, notably, Oklahoma the industry is finding itself in close contact with the public who are not at all enthusiastic about the changes that resource development is bringing to their communities. Among these changes are increased traffic, noise and emissions, and in certain areas earthquakes triggered by the injection of wastewater. This last is perhaps the most far-reaching and controversial and will be the focus of much of this discussion. Constructive engagement, not dismissal or denialism will be required if we are to have access and be allowed to operate in and near populated areas. Examples of both constructive and counter-productive interactions between the industry and the public, with lessons for the future will be presented.

Biography: Mark Linroth is currently the Director of Technical Services for Kinder-Morgan, Inc. Prior to joining Kinder-Morgan he worked as an independent engineering consultant specializing in the design and optimization of well completions and field development plans. He has taught various industry courses in fracture treatment design and treatment analysis. He began his career with Gulf Oil in the Permian Basin and subsequently went on to work on reservoir development and secondary recovery project plans for several international oil companies, including Sonatrach and Pemex. He has over 30 years working both independently and for a major oil company. He has a BSc. in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.