Let’s look back to WWII…. By 1944, unemployment was less than 2 percent, and this was the first time women were encouraged to work outside the home. Also, when labor demand is high, wages will rise. Those left behind, much less those on the front line, experienced high levels of anxiety, whether we named it […]
Step Change
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! Stand on a lease road in West Texas long enough and you will eventually see the entire history of the oilfield in one glance: a decades-old pumpjack still stroking, newer equipment tied into older flowlines, temporary gear staged for the next job, and, […]
The Big Three of OFS: How They Fared Q1
The first quarter of 2026 has offered a revealing snapshot of the oilfield services (OFS) sector, as Halliburton, SLB, and Baker Hughes each reported results shaped by geopolitical disruption, shifting capital flows, and an evolving energy landscape. While all three firms delivered respectable profitability—and in some cases beat expectations—the underlying story is one of divergence: between international and North […]
The Basin: Where History Abounds
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! In a past life I spent many years occupied full time in writing/editing/researching about the American West and its people, past and present, and I’m always surprised at how many “crossover” matters I encounter in my present life of writing/editing/researching about the Permian […]
The Yates Field at 100
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! In the long and eventful history of the Permian Basin, few discoveries carry the weight—and the enduring legacy—of the Yates Field. Discovered in 1926, the Yates Field not only transformed a stretch of rugged West Texas ranch land into one of the most prolific […]
Five Real Challenges of Safety
This month we examine the top five enemies of safety and training—aside from lack of follow up, which deserves a category of its own. Complacency How do you measure complacency? Or can you even measure it? You can sometimes recognize it. Is that reliable? Consistent practices in hiring can be one of the most critical aspects of […]
Private Equity Gets with the Times
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! For basically all of the Permian Basin’s previous 100+ years of existence, water and natural gas were mostly nuisances, with water disposed of and gas flared as needed. Gas could occasionally make a little money. My, how things have changed! With the rise […]
Increasing Organizational Success and Employee Engagement
Assigning numbers to theories is the perfect way to present multiple theories of life and leadership. There are various books written by Gary Chapman, including The Five Love Languages, The Five Languages of Apology, and The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. Assigning numbers to theories is the perfect way to present multiple theories […]
Power That’s Portable
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! Grids nationwide and in the Permian Basin are strained, pulled at from every direction. Industry and transportation (electric vehicle charging stations) are a significant growth challenge. And in the wide-open spaces of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, unspooling wire for hundreds of […]
The Over $100 Surprise
As I write these words (2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27), WTI crude stands at $99.48. And note that we are talking WTI here, not Brent. Brent was at $113. And this in a world where, only a few months ago, forecasters were saying we’d be in the $50s range at this time. What a […]