Gabriel Collins

Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs

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Biography

Gabriel Collins is the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute. He was previously an associate attorney at Baker Hostetler, LLP, and is the co-founder of the China SignPost™ (洞察中国) analysis portal. Collins has worked in the Department of Defense as a China analyst and as a private sector global commodity researcher, authoring more than 100 commodity analysis reports, both for private clients and for publication.

Collins’ research portfolio is global. His work currently focuses on legal, environmental and economic issues relating to water — including the food-water-energy nexus — as well as unconventional oil and gas development, and the intersection between global commodity markets and a range of environmental, legal and national security issues. His analysis draws from a broad swath of geospatial and other data streams, and often incorporates insights from sources in Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

Collins received his B.A. from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He is licensed to practice law in Texas.

Contact at [email protected] or 713-348-5939.

Recent Publications

Center for Energy Studies | Energy Insights 2024 | Program on Energy and Geopolitics in Eurasia | Report

Reality Is Setting In: Asian Countries To Lead Transitions in 2024 and 2025

Gabriel Collins August 22, 2024

Center for Energy Studies | Working Paper

Ukraine’s Electricity Sector: Urgency and Resilience in a Time of War

Gabriel Collins, Kenneth B. Medlock III August 14, 2024

Center for Energy Studies | Research Paper

Annexation of Taiwan: A Defeat From Which the US and Its Allies Could Not Retreat

Gabriel Collins, Andrew S. Erickson August 1, 2024

Center for Energy Studies | Testimony

Testimony to US-China Economic and Security Review Commission

Gabriel Collins June 20, 2024

Center for Energy Studies | Program on Energy and Geopolitics in Eurasia | Podcast

Baker Briefing: Forces Shaping the Global LNG Market

Gabriel Collins, Steven R. Miles, Edward M. Emmett June 3, 2024

See More Publications

In The News

Center for Energy Studies

October 24, 2023

Baker Institute Energy Fellows Appear on Shale Magazine’s ‘In the Oil Patch’

Center for Energy Studies fellows Steven R. Miles and Gabriel Collins joined Shale Magazine’s ‘In the Oil Patch’ radio show to discuss European gas supply in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Center for Energy Studies

July 27, 2023

Texas Was Made for Pickup Trucks, but an Electric Revolution is Underway. Will Drivers Buy in?

Towing heavy loads may be a problem for new electric pickup trucks fellow Gabe Collins points out. Still, switching to cleaner technologies would be beneficial for work-based truck users who require significantly more fuel than others.

Could Economic Indicators Give an Early Warning of a War Over Taiwan?

Could economic indicators signal China’s intent to go to war? Increased oil reserves would be one of the most useful signs of an impending invasion of Taiwan or another potential conflict, fellow Gabriel Collins told The Economist.

External Publications

“Alaska Geothermal Power Can Fuel U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy,” Foreign Policy, Oct. 7, 2024.
“Is the U.S. Preparing to Ban Future LNG Sales to China?,” Foreign Policy, April 23, 2024.
“Energy as a Strategic Space for China: Words and Actions Point to a Competitive Future,” NBR, February 28, 2024.
“The Taiwan Catastrophe: What America—and the World—Would Lose If China Took the Island,” Foreign Affairs, February 16, 2024.
“China’s Big Gas Bet Raises Questions About Complicity With Russia,” Foreign Policy, June 12, 2023.
“The M1 Abrams Is the Right Tank for the Job in Ukraine,” Foreign Policy, January 24, 2023.
“Ukraine Needs Long-Range Firepower for Victory,” Foreign Policy, January 4, 2023.
“Outlook 2023: America’s Role in Global Gas Security,” Petroleum Economist, November 23, 2022.
“Want to Derail the Energy Transition? Take Fossil Fuels Out of the Mix,” Foreign Policy, January 14, 2022.
“Competition First? Anchoring U.S. Climate & Energy Strategy Amidst Geostrategic Competition With China,” November 15, 2021.
“Can America Trust China to Fight Climate Change? The Debate Over Competition and Cooperation,” Foreign Affairs, July 21, 2021.
“Time to Curb Manufacturing Dependency on China,” China Sign Post, March 24, 2020.
“What if China Ceases to be the Global ‘Oil Consumer of Last Resort?’,” China Sign Post, November 13, 2019.
“Satellite-based Rader Assess CNPC Management of Crude Pipelines,” Oil & Gas Journal, September 2, 2019.
“Shale Is Not Forever: Why America Should Continue Protecting Gulf Oil and Gas Flows,” The National Interest, July 8, 2019.
“The Texas Energy and Water Nexus,” Water Resources IMPACT, July 2019.
“China’s Rare Earth Dominance: How Usable a Weapon?,” The National Interest, June 6, 2019.
“How Misguided Is Congress’ Pending NOPEC Legislation? Let Us Count the Ways [Opinion],” Houston Chronicle, March 15, 2019.
“China’s Oil-backed Loans to Venezuela Appear Headed for a Haircut,” The National Interest, February 10, 2019.
“Here’s How America Can Counter Russia’s Nord Stream-2 Gas Pipeline,” The National Interest, July 31, 2018.
“Don’t Expect Russia to Cut Oil Production Voluntarily,” Forbes, October 19, 2016.
“A Simple Model for Pricing and Trading Produced Water in the Permian Basin,” Texas Water Intelligence, August 17, 2016.
“How Much Can You Sell Brackish Water for in West Texas?,” Texas Water Intelligence, June 27, 2016.
“The Brackish Water Estate in Texas,” Texas Water Intelligence, June 6, 2016.

Presentations

“Gas Geoeconomics Essential to Win the ‘Long War’ In Ukraine — And Asia,” Baker Institute Research Presentation associated with the Baker Institute report on “Winning the Long War in Ukraine Requires Gas Geoeconomics,” Sept. 22, 2022.
“Is China Militarizing Its Oil & Gas Security Policies?” Research Presentation, April 27, 2022.
“Global Energy Transitions: Complex, Massive, and Slow,” Research Presentation presented to Valve Manufacturers Association of America, April 7, 2022.
“A New Strategy For Climate Progress Amidst An Incipient U.S.-China Cold War,” Citizens Climate Lobby, Oct. 11, 2021.
“Clash of the Carbon Titans,” Electrification and Decarbonization: Pathways to a New Energy Future, CES-Baker Botts Annual Energy Summit, Sept. 30, 2021.
“Without Bold Action, Electricity Insecurity will Imperil the Texas Growth Story,” The Energy Fourm, Sept. 14, 2021.
“Over-Ruling the Rule of Capture: What Can Texas Learn From 10 Other States’ Groundwater Law Updates?,” TAGD Texas Groundwater Summit, Aug. 31, 2021.
“U.S. Produced Water Legislation & Regulation Impacts the Energy Transition, Emissions Reductions, and Human Wellbeing,” Oilfield Water Markets 2021 Conference, May 13, 2021.
“China’s Energy Supply and Demand in the 2020s,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, February 26, 2021.
“Energy Poverty and Water-Driven Mortality,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, November 2020.
“Does Thinking About Water as a Commodity Advance Global Water Security?,” 2020 IWC Water Conference Presentation, Nov. 9, 2020.
“Does Thinking About Water as a Commodity Advance Global Water Security?,” 2020 IWC Water Conference Keynote Address, Nov. 9, 2020.
“Global Energy Transition in the 2020s: Managing Externalities Takes Center Stage,” EarthxEnergy: Responsible Energy Acquisition Conference, Oct. 23, 2020.
“Exploring China’s Centrality to the Global Energy System and Environment,” Presentation to SIPES Members, Oct. 15, 2020.
“10 Key Dimensions of a Resilient Global Energy Transition,” Baker Botts-CES Annual Energy Summit, Sept. 30, 2020.
“Pandemic and Price War: Early Energy Market Insights From the 2019-2020 Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak,” China SignPost Research Presentation, March 20, 2020.
“Want an Electric Pickup to Tow Like a Ford F-250? You’ll Need a Battery That Weighs As Much As An F-150 Raptor,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, Jan. 28, 2020.
“The EV Conundrum: High Power Density and Low Energy Density,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, Jan. 8, 2020.
“Global Energy Security Implications of a Potential US Strategic Pivot Away From The CENTCOM AOR,” Baker Institute Working Presentation, Nov. 13, 2019.
“How Produced Water’s Economic Value is Evolving in the Permian Basin,” Shale Play Water Management, Oct. 22, 2019.
“Greater Oilfield Water Infrastructure Connectivity: The Case for a ‘Hydrovascular’ Network In the Permian Basin,” Produced Water Society Conference, Aug. 7, 2019.
“How To Value Oilfield Water Assets as Big Institutional Money Flows Into The Space,” Oilfield Water Connection Conference, June 21, 2019.
“China’s Gasoline Demand Growth: Is Recent Deceleration Near-Term Noise or Early Stages of a Structural Shift?,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, March 2019.
“Permian Oilfield Water Midstream Moves Toward Consolidation and Integration Phase,” PBWIEC 2019, Feb. 21, 2019.
“Trash or Treasure: How is Produced Water’s Economic Value Evolving in the Permian Basin?,” Produced Water Society Seminar 2019, Feb. 7, 2019.
“New Ways of Thinking About Oilfield Water in the Permian Basin,” ShaleTech 2018, Dec. 6, 2018.
“Permian Oil & Gas Production: Is It Becoming Financially Sustainable?,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, Dec. 7, 2018.
“The Permian Oilfield Water Wave: Challenges and Opportunities,” Baker Insititute Research Presentation part of “Revolutions in Energy” conference, Oct. 11, 2018.
“Economic Valuation of Groundwater in Texas,” Presentation to Texas Water Research Network, Sept. 14, 2018.
“The U.S. Contribution to Global Energy Security: Texas Leads the Way,” Greater Houston Partnership’s Energy Council, Aug. 28, 2018.
“What Does it Take to Create a Billion Dollar Oilfield Water Midstream Company?,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, Aug. 9, 2018.
“The United States’ Evolving Role in Asian Energy Security,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, June 13, 2018.
“Bringing the Vaca Muerta Shale Play Fully to Life,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, June 6, 2018.
“Global Energy Shifts: What Naval Security Practitioners Should Know,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, March 5, 2018.
“Valuing Groundwater: A Tricky Business,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, Feb. 23, 2018.
“Putting Produced Water Management into a Global Perspective,” Keynote Address for Produced Water Society Seminar, Feb. 13, 2018.
“Putting The U.S. Shale Revolution in Perspective For An Audience From China,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, Oct. 25, 2017.
“Carter Doctrine 3.0? Military Protection of Gulf Oil & Gas Supplies,” Baker Institute Research Presentation, March 16, 2017.
“How Much Water Does It Take to Produce a Billion Dollars of Economic Output?,” Baker Institute Roundtable Dialogue, March 7, 2017.
“Fundamental Factors That Define Oil and Gas Demand on a Macro Level,” Darcy Partners.