Welcome to the Excel or Routine Podcast

Explore the frontier of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and energy innovation with the Excel or Routine Podcast. Hosted by EOR consultant Antoine Thomas, each episode dives deep into the technologies, methods, and real-world field applications that drive better oil recovery and smarter decision-making.

Whether you’re an engineer, researcher, manager, or curious mind, this podcast brings you actionable insights and thought-provoking conversations with top experts in the field.

Expect practical discussions on:

  • Polymer flooding and conformance techniques

  • Water shut-off strategies

  • Field implementation challenges and successes

  • Latest EOR technologies and simulations

  • Industry trends and case studies from around the world

🎧 New episodes regularly — dive in, learn something new, and challenge the routine.

Listen. Learn. Apply.

Don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite platform and explore all episodes below.

You can also check our YouTube channel for additional videos and podcasts and navigate the Polymer Flooding Guide for more content or our Academy for training courses.

Table of Contents

Microfluidics with Stuart Kinnear from Interface Fluidics

In this episode of The Excel or Routine Podcast, I chat with Stuart Kinnear, co-founder and CEO of Interface Fluidics. We talk about: What microfluidics is (and why it matters) Real stories from oilfields using new testing tools Polymer floods, frack fluid cleanup, waterflood problems The future of fluid testing in oil & gas and beyond.

Gastón Fondevilla Sancet (CAPSA CAPEX)

In this episode, I sit down with Gastón Fondevilla Sancet, a petroleum engineer & MBA and current Engineering Manager at CAPSA, to explore his journey through nearly two decades of hands-on experience in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), with a special focus on polymer flooding, gels, and surfactants.

Randy Seright - Part 5: Water shut-off and conformance

In this episode, we discuss the basic (yet important) concepts behind water shut-off and conformance technologies. We discuss:

  • differences between conformance and water shut-off
  • Water-cut: How did I decide there was a problem?
  • What did I do to diagnose the problem – the importance of diagnostic
  • When gel treatments apply best
  • Sizing, implementation, success in fractures
  • Conformance technologies: microgels, nanogels, etc

Randy Seright - Part 4 : Polymer Flooding Simulation

In this episode, we discuss simulation of polymer flooding. Are commercial simulators able to predict polymer injectivity? What inputs are required? What are the common mistakes when modeling polymer injection? Why good lab studies are paramount to de-risk polymer injection

Randy Seright - Part 3: Lab tests for Polymer Selection

In this episode, we discuss polymer selection and characterization in the laboratory;

  • What are the critical parameters to consider to select polymers?
  • What are the most relevant test?
  • Rheology & lab studies
  • Coreflooding
  • Oil recovery

Randy Seright - Part 2: Injectivity In Polymer Floods

In this episode, we discuss a topic issue in Polymer Floods: injectivity.

Can it be predicted? What to expect at the start of a project?

Randy Seright - Part 1: introduction

Randy is a renowned expert in the field of Polymer Flooding and Water Shut-Off, and in this episode, he shares his incredible journey and wealth of knowledge.