Episodes

  • What’s Really Inside a Barrel of Crude Oil? | Ep 13

    What’s Really Inside a Barrel of Crude Oil? | Ep 13
    Jul 2 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com Most people think a barrel of oil is just gasoline waiting to happen. The reality is far more fascinating. In this episode of Refining Reality, Brian and Bill unpack one of the most fundamental questions in the energy industry: what actually comes out […]
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • Location, Location, Refining: The Hidden Edge | Ep 14

    Location, Location, Refining: The Hidden Edge | Ep 14
    Jul 8 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com What if the future of refining looks completely different from the past? In this episode of Refining Reality, Brian Pieri and Bill Shanahan explore one of the most overlooked forces in the energy industry: location. From the first oil refineries in Pennsylvania to […]
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Why America Imports Oil While Exporting It | Ep 12

    Why America Imports Oil While Exporting It | Ep 12
    Jun 24 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com The United States produces nearly 14 million barrels of oil per day, imports more than 6 million barrels, exports almost 6 million barrels, and refines over 16 million barrels daily. So what’s really happening? In this episode of Refining Reality, Brian and Bill […]
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Crack Spreads, Refining Margins & Market Chaos | Ep 11

    Crack Spreads, Refining Margins & Market Chaos | Ep 11
    Jun 17 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com What happens between a barrel of crude oil and the gasoline in your car? More importantly, why are refinery margins exploding while oil prices remain relatively tame? In this episode of Refining Reality, Brian and Bill break down one of the most misunderstood […]
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Nitrogen Without the Truck: Refining’s Hidden Safety Play | Ep 10

    Nitrogen Without the Truck: Refining’s Hidden Safety Play | Ep 10
    Jun 10 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com In this episode of Refining Reality, Bill and Brian sit down with Brett Rogers of Purity Gas to unpack one of the least glamorous but most critical molecules in refining and energy operations: nitrogen. From tank blanketing and pipeline preservation to refinery safety, […]
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • How Refineries Find Problems Without Shutdowns | Ep 9

    How Refineries Find Problems Without Shutdowns | Ep 9
    Jun 3 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com The refinery isn’t broken… it’s trying to tell you something. The question is whether you can see it before it costs millions. In this episode of Refining Reality, hosts Brian Pieri and Bill Shanahan sit down with Fabio Pires from Tracerco to uncover […]
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • AI in Refining: Transforming Industry with Data and Innovation | Ep 8

    AI in Refining: Transforming Industry with Data and Innovation | Ep 8
    May 27 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com This episode explores the impact of artificial intelligence in the refining and petrochemical industries, emphasizing its benefits, limitations, and practical applications like predictive maintenance and process optimization. Key Topics: – AI’s role in refining and petrochemical industries – Predictive maintenance and downtime reduction […]
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Refining Reality: Inside the $1 Million Per Hour Refinery Failure Problem | Ep 7

    Refining Reality: Inside the $1 Million Per Hour Refinery Failure Problem | Ep 7
    May 13 2026
    Sponsored by Tracerco – Direction, Measurement and Diagnostics SolutionsLearn More at tracerco.com Artificial intelligence is storming into refineries and petrochemical plants like a caffeinated intern with access to every spreadsheet ever created… but there’s a catch. AI is only as good as the data feeding it. Garbage in, garbage out… just faster and with more […]
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins