I continue to hear around the Basin that majors are moving a lot of staff to Houston. It is understandable. There are many contributing factors. In the past week, I learned that a nurse and a teacher were leaving for Houston with their newly transferred spouses. Transfers are good if you want to advance and […]
Enverus report says ExxonMobil only major operator to add rigs in past year
ExxonMobil is the leading operator in both U.S. and Permian Basin, and the industry major based in Spring, Texas, is the only top 10 operator to add working rigs in the past year. As of Aug. 22, according to Enverus, ExxonMobil had a weekly average of 37.7 active rigs – down from 39.1 the previous […]
Texas adds drilling rig for first time since May 9, Martin out of top 5 counties
Texas added a drilling rig in the past week for the first time since May 9 – breaking a streak of 16 weeks of declining or flat rig counts. Baker Hughes said as of Aug. 29, there were 241 active rigs in Texas – up 1 in the past week but down 33 or 12 […]
Plains to acquire 55 percent interest in EPIC pipeline from Diamondback, Kinetik
A subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline and Plains GP Holdings agreed to acquire the 55 percent non-operated interest in the EPIC crude oil pipeline held by subsidiaries of Midland’s Diamondback Energy and Kinetik Holdings. The deal announced Tuesday is valued at $1.57 billion, including the assumption of $600 million in debt. The remaining 45 […]
Oxy’s Hollub Named Recipient of Award
WPC Energy announced June 30 that Vicki Hollub, President and CEO of Occidental (since 2016), has been selected as the recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honor bestowed by WPC Energy, in recognition of Hollub’s leadership and contributions to the energy industry. The award will be formally presented during the 25th WPC Energy Congress, […]
The Permian’s Oilfield Services in 2025: Pain Points, Bright Spots, and a Path Forward
After a bumpy first half, the year 2025 has put the Permian Basin’s oilfield services (OFS) sector squarely in the squeeze. Crude and gas prices have softened from 2023–24 highs, leaving exploration and production (E&P) budgets tighter, drilling schedules leaner, and pricing power tilting back toward operators. Yet this is also a cycle of reinvention: […]
TRC Commissioner Applauds Rollback of Greenhouse Gas Ruling
The Trump Administration and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin stated on July 29 that the agency will reverse the 2009 “endangerment finding” that made greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), pollutants subject to agency regulation. This finding provided the legal framework to regulate CO₂ and enabled the Net Zero movement to gain traction […]
Venture Capital Firm Expands to Midland
Fortuna Investments, a leading America-first venture capital firm, announced on July 15 the expansion of its operations into Midland, Texas, where it will build upon its focus on rare earth elements, space infrastructure, and uranium and nuclear energy. Known for its investments in critical, high-growth sectors, Fortuna continues to deepen its national presence—now with a […]
Permian Contributes Over $119 Billion And More Than 862,000 Jobs Nationally
The Permian Basin continues to fuel America’s economy and energy future. The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) released its 2024 Economic Impact Report on July 21, highlighting the region’s essential role in supporting critical government functions such as public education and teacher support, police and fire departments, roadside safety, community hospitals, and universities. The region generated $119 […]
New Texas Oilfield Lab Seeks to Reshore Chem Testing, Supply
Cathedral Holdings, Inc., a U.S.-based specialty chemical distribution group, announced on July 24 its opening a new 5,000-square-foot technical lab and office facility in The Woodlands, Texas. While the space will support multiple specialty chemical companies under Cathedral’s umbrella, it will serve as the official headquarters for Centrium Energy Solutions, the group’s newly launched oil […]