We’re coming to you live from Houston, Texas at EPC Show 2026, The Energy Projects Conference & Expo built specifically for the people who design, build, and finance the energy industry’s biggest capital projects. With more than 10,000 attendees, 400+ exhibitors, and over $200 billion in active capital projects represented on the floor, this year’s show made one thing clear: the relationship between EPCs and operators is under more pressure and more scrutiny than ever.
This episode is about what happens when a multi-billion-dollar project goes sideways, and who’s left holding the risk. From contracts that get “weaponized” instead of honored, to a supply chain quietly filling up with players who don’t have the balance sheet to back up their bids, to the kind of risk no one can negotiate away – the weather. Joe Versnel (Kiewit) and Eric Ormond (Williams) open up about what it actually takes to keep an EPC and an operator aligned from day one, Jeff van der Merwe (Atkins Réalis) makes the case for bringing program management in before the ink dries, Michael Minnerly (Ebara Elliott Energy) breaks down how to spot a pretender before they cost you a project, and Matt Baker (StormGeo) explains why the forecast might be the most underrated risk tool in the industry.
We speak with:
Joe Versnel — Vice President, Midstream, Kiewit
Eric Ormond — Senior Vice President, Project Execution, Williams
Jeff van der Merwe — Program & Project Management, Atkins Réalis
Michael Minnerly — Manager, Product Line, FCC Expanders & Control Systems, Ebara Elliott Energy
Matt Baker — Meteorologist, StormGeo
https://www.kiewit.com
https://www.williams.com
https://www.atkinsrealis.com
https://www.elliott-turbo.com
https://www.stormgeo.com
Brought to you on OGGN, the largest and most listened-to podcast network for the oil and energy industry.
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