Energy Midstream & Marketing Program to be held at Oklahoma State University

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Spears School of Business and the Center for Executive and Professional Development at Oklahoma State University is bringing the energy industry a seminar focused on the marketing of natural gas and crude oil in the midstream sector.  

The Energy Midstream and Marketing program will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 4-6, at the Oklahoma State University Student Union.

“We are currently experiencing a dramatic rise in the U.S. midstream sector because of the energy renaissance. This is an excellent time for OSU to offer this new cutting-edge conference to meet the needs of the marketplace,” Betty Simkins, OSU faculty coordinator for the program, said. “This program should be of high interest to any professional desiring to learn more about the midstream sector of the energy value chain, especially those with five years of experience or less.”

The program will give participants an understanding of the steps required for oil and gas to reach consumers and understand potential obstacles facing energy distributers. The supply and demand of energy products and other influential market factors will also be addressed.

Participants will have the opportunity to enhance management skills and improve leadership abilities while learning practical business applications relevant to the energy industry. Networking with valuable industry contacts will be possible for attendees through the seminars and breakfast, lunch and refreshment times.

Jim Duncan, ConocoPhillips Gas and Power chief analyst and commodity market strategist, is the keynote speaker. Duncan has spoken about risk strategies and energy market fundamentals to natural gas producers and end users at conferences and symposiums throughout North America. He is a member of the International Association of Energy Economists and on the Advisory Board of Tulane University’s School of Business and Penn State’s School of Meteorology.

Other speakers are from such companies/organizations as Continental Resources, Devon Energy Corporation, Halliburton, Mustang Fuel Corporation, Oil and Gas Journal, and Sandridge Energy. More than 20 speakers are on the program addressing a broad array of topics.

Simkins, Ph.D. in the Spears School’s Department of Finance, is presenting at the conference. Other OSU faculty presenting in the program are Charlotte Wright, Ph.D. in the School of Accounting; Ken Eastman, Ph.D., interim dean, Spears School of Business; Lee Manzer, Ph.D. in Marketing; Andrew Urich, J.D. in Management; G. Michael Grammer, Ph.D., and Todd Halihan, Ph.D. in Geology, and Clint Aichele, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.

“Over 40 participants are already registered for the program and we are excited about the breadth of speakers and faculty presenting at this multi-day program,” said Julie Weathers, Director of the OSU Center for Executive and Professional Development in the Spears School.

The first day of the program, Dec. 4, will focus on natural gas. Industry experts and OSU faculty will present information on natural gas market opportunities and challenges with a focus on shale plays, natural gas fundamentals and environmental risk framework. There will also be an interactive panel discussing supply and demand of natural gas.

Dec. 5 will bring participants information on midstream and processing. Seminars presented will include midstream and processing supply and demand, financial trends in the U.S. midstream industry and an overview of financial energy contracts.

Speakers will discuss crude oil on the final day of the program. Participants can expect to learn about financial accounting and reporting of environmental costs, crude oil challenges and opportunities in the midstream sector, the risk of oil prices, the risk management of energy and how to manage business relationships and careers.

The OSU Energy Midstream and Marketing Program’s registration fee is $2,095. If three or more people register from the same company then it is $1,920 per person.

To register for the program or to learn more information, go to www.cepd.okstate.edu/openenrollment/energymidstream or call 1-866-678-3933 or 405-744-5208.