Is Geothermal the Oil & Gas Industry's Next Big Bet?

In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, hosts Vincent Caruso and Amanda Winter Cassidy dive into the rising momentum behind geothermal energy — and why many in the oil and gas industry believe it's the natural next chapter for their skill set. Join them as they explore actionable insights and emerging technology with Elizabeth Cambre, Business Development Manager for New Energies (lithium, geothermal, and nuclear) at Vallourec. From enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and closed-loop technology to retrofitting old oil and gas wells and the role data centers are playing in accelerating demand, this episode is packed with insight for anyone tracking the next wave of energy infrastructure. 🎧 Episode Highlights [00:00] Introduction to the geothermal boom and today's guest, Elizabeth Cambre. [02:15] Elizabeth's geothermal roots are a family affair spanning a North Dakota geothermal farm, district heating installs, and academic research. [06:00] Her path from fracking engineer in the Middle East to geothermal advocate, and the "aha moment" at the first Pivot Geothermal conference. [10:33] Breaking down the different types of geothermal: hydrothermal, EGS, closed loop, hot sedimentary aquifers, and NEG. [14:00] The opportunity in retrofitting abandoned oil and gas wells into geothermal wells, and the growing industry interest behind it. [17:09] What's actually holding the industry back: not the technology, but capital and de-risking assets. [24:05] Gaining public trust and planning community education [30:00] How AI and public data are being used to identify new geothermal exploration sites (with a nod to companies like Zanskar). [40:00] A look at where the industry could be in 5, 10, and 25 years. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: The technology to produce electricity from geothermal already exists. The real constraints holding back scale are capital, investment, and de-risking subsurface assets, not innovation. Takeaway 2: Oil and gas expertise transfers almost seamlessly to geothermal, especially enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), because both rely on the same drilling and fracking skill sets adapted for higher temperatures. Takeaway 3: Public education is the biggest hurdle for widespread geothermal adoption. Unlike solar or wind, geothermal is "invisible." Most people never see it working, so awareness and community engagement matter as much as engineering. 👤 Guest Spotlight: Elizabeth Cambre, Business Development Manager, New Energies (Lithium, Geothermal & Nuclear) at Vallourec. Elizabeth brings a chemical engineering background and years of hands-on oil and gas experience, including field work as a fracking engineer in the Middle East and multiple roles with oilfield service companies in Houston. Geothermal runs in her family, from her mother's geothermal farm in North Dakota to relatives who've spent careers installing district heating systems and researching well-retrofit technology. Elizabeth is also active in Women in Geothermal, where she spotlights industry pioneers through written profiles. In this episode, she shares how her oil-and-gas background shaped her pivot into geothermal and why she believes the industry is on the edge of a boom. Stay connected: www.vallourec.com www.percheronllc.com Geothermal Unleashed Produced by Speakerbox Media