Description
How do you find oil and gas? On episode 5 of The Energy Tailgate, Tanner Foust talks with Chevron’s Vice President of Exploration Kevin McLachlan about why finding new oil and gas resources matters. Then, Emmanuelle Garinet, Director of Exploration, Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa, reveals how explorers decide where to look and how technology is changing the search.
What we cover:
Intro: Meet a modern explorer (0:00 – 2:05)
Why oil and gas exploration matters (2:06 – 4:29)
Looking at the future of energy (4:30 – 5:13)
How explorers find oil and gas (5:14 – 10:02)
What it takes to be an explorer (10:03 – 12:19)
Kevin McLachlan is vice president of Exploration at Chevron, where he leads the company’s worldwide exploration program. He joined Chevron in 2025 with four decades of experience in exploration leadership. In his previous role, Kevin led an exploration organization that was recognized as Wood Mackenzie’s Most-Admired Explorer in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience in international oil and gas exploration, development and production, as well as carbon capture and storage.
Emmanuelle Garinet is director of Exploration for the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa at Chevron, a position she assumed in 2026. She has a track record of delivering high-impact oil and gas discoveries, including the landmark Venus discovery offshore Namibia. Throughout her career, Emmanuelle has also focused on integrating digital technologies and artificial intelligence into geoscience workflows to improve decision-making and business performance.