Last week, the Energy Workforce & Technology Council hosted the State Department’s four-day Houston Energy Course. 26 U.S. foreign and civil service officers stationed across 13 countries participated in the programs for an in-depth look at the U.S. energy industry.
The course provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the oil and gas industry and the sectors that make up the energy value chain. Throughout the week, participants heard from industry and subject matter experts representing the Baker Institute at Rice University, Baker Hughes, bp, Caterpillar, Cheniere, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, the National Petroleum Council, NOV, Patterson-UTI, Phillips 66, SLB, and TechnipFMC.
Presentations and interactive Q&A sessions gave participants the opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and explore a wide range of topics, including energy security and expansion, technology and innovation, exploration, business development, drilling and well construction, onshore and offshore operations, midstream and refining, and emerging technologies.
The curriculum also included the role of hydraulic fracturing in upstream operations, critical minerals and materials, contract negotiations, liquid and gas pipelines, industry outlooks, and the evolving geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.
Participants toured a land rig at Patterson-UTI and visited technology and manufacturing facilities at Baker Hughes CTI, ExxonMobil’s Center for Operations and Methane Emissions Tracking (COMET), and TechnipFMC’s Hibay and Subsea Controls Lab. These site visits offered a behind-the-scenes look at the technologies, equipment, and operations that support the global energy industry.
The program concluded with a networking dinner that brought together course participants, EWTC Board members and Presidents, presenters from throughout the week, and International Programs Committee Members. During the dinner, EWTC President Molly Determan reflected on the history and impact of the Houston Energy Course and the relationships the course has helped build between government and industry.
EWTC Board of Directors Finance Chair and Oil States President & CEO Lloyd Hajdik followed with remarks on the critical role energy plays in global security and economic growth, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between government and the private sector.
Closing the dinner, Stanley Brown, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, highlighted the value of the Houston Energy Course in giving government officials a deeper understanding of the energy industry and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
Established in 1993, the Houston Energy Course has become a longstanding platform for strengthening relationships and fostering collaboration between the energy industry and U.S. government officials. Over the past 33 years, the program has provided more than 1,000 government representatives with firsthand insight into the energy industry and the technologies, companies, and people that drive it.
The partnership between Energy Workforce and the U.S. Department of State continues to play an important role in equipping government officials with the knowledge and industry connections needed to represent U.S. interests both at home and abroad.
The curriculum for this program, designed by the International Programs Committee in collaboration with academia and Energy Workforce Members aims to facilitate a dynamic exchange of knowledge. The next session is scheduled to take place in March 2027, offering further opportunities for industry and government collaboration.
Thank you to our strategic sponsors Chevron and SLB for their continued support of the course over all these years.
Jessica Santos, Director Government Affairs, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
