Scott Kidwell
Thank you to all those who sponsored or attended the PBPA Annual Meeting at the end of September. We were thrilled to welcome back everyone to an in-person meeting, and it was so great to see so many of you. There were too many faces that I hadn’t seen in person for quite some time, but the Annual Meeting was a great remedy for those ills!
One theme seemed to run through every presentation and panel discussion at this year’s meeting. And, it was fitting that the last panel discussion of the day between myself, Tim Dunn, and Ken Beattie of CrownQuest Operating, rounded this theme into a thought-provoking and hopefully action-inducing question for us all: Are we stranding value?
The Permian Basin, and really our world, has had quite a tough go of it over the last two years. As our president Ben Shepperd mentioned during his report, we’ve gone through price wars, a pandemic, possible prorationing, and policy initiatives at both the federal and state levels targeting our industry. However, there was great optimism felt throughout the room in late September. Instead of discussions about missed opportunities of the past, or what we may have lost, the focus was on making sure we were taking advantage of the opportunities in front of us and… not stranding value.
Chairman Wayne Christian of the Railroad Commission of Texas talked about the benefits of our industry, particularly as it relates to powering Texas, and its nearly 1,000 new residents that arrive on a daily basis, into the future. Jason Isaac with Life:Powered described the importance of our industry, and discussed pathways we could take to strengthen messaging about that importance to our neighbors, elected officials and policy makers. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick maintained that what we do in the Permian Basin and how we have fought through hard times, is the epitome of who Texas is. The afternoon Emerging Technologies in Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) panel contended that most of our companies had been working to improve ESG before the acronym ever existed and would keep working to always improve their processes, policies, and treatment of the environment, employees, and communities.
But, the question remains, are we stranding value? Are we doing enough to take advantage of the opportunities before us? We could ask those questions about our work lives, our personal lives, and even our involvement with the PBPA. When you are beaten and bruised like we have been, it can be easy to settle for the path of least resistance, but why settle when there is a greater future to fight for? Why settle when we’re here to lend a helping hand?
While we are greatly appreciative of those who were able to support and attend the recent Annual Meeting, there were still many other faces and voices missing in the crowd. We are only as strong as our membership, and while you all have taken more than your fair share of lumps over the last two years, we are primed as individuals, as an industry, and as an association to rise to even greater heights. That is, if we’re willing to take advantage of the opportunity. I’m asking you to do just that. Take advantage of your opportunity to strengthen the voice of the Permian Basin. Join a PBPA committee, engage on the issues that impact your right to operate.
We’ve all learned the lesson that you aren’t defined by being knocked down, but by how many times you get back up. Our industry has been knocked down, but PBPA is here to pull you back up as many times as you’re willing to rise up off the mat. We won’t stop fighting to protect your rights to operate in the greatest producing basin in the world. We won’t stop fighting for a better life for those around the world—one with clean water, clean air, and reliable, affordable energy. Are you ready to make sure you aren’t stranding value in this fight for our way of life? If so, give us a call. We know the task ahead of you, and we’re here to lend a hand.