Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! Usually, all the industry news is about the major operators, and sure, they are influencers and market makers. Beyond the spotlight, however, are a host of hard-working independent producers. Working together, independents actually produce about 83 percent of U.S. oil and 90 percent […]
“Back” to the Future!
Welcome to this month’s edition of Safety. Each year, regardless of anyone’s job description, whether white collar or blue collar, back injuries rank among the most prevalent suffered in the workplace. Each year there are more than two million back injuries. Eighty percent of adults suffer a back injury sometime in their lifetime, whether at […]
Finding Funding
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! In a time of extensive mergers and acquisitions (M&A), momentum reversals in energy transition, and other industry turmoil, oilfield service companies (OFS) looking to finance fleet upgrades or expansions face some headwinds. The good news is there are still many workable options available. […]
Ethics—Is It Still Necessary?
I am on my soapbox this month because I have watched several people in various generations either ignore ethical behavior or ignore it until they were reminded of the “right” way to do things. My question is: are there consequences for being unethical in 2025? Remembering the truth will always be easier than remembering the […]
Beyond the Bubble—An Environmental Reality Check
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! While there will always be pollution associated with hydrocarbon production, the Permian Basin is on the forefront of many technologies and operational practices that are reducing emissions at scale—innovations that often lead the way globally, even amid intense scrutiny. The Environmental Landscape: Hard […]
How Low Can Crude Oil Go?
The dip we’ve seen this past fall and winter in prices was “prophesied” some months previous. But has it been as bad as advertised—and what should Permian Basin decision-makers watch next? As January 2026 winds down, West Texas Intermediate (WTI)—the benchmark that matters most to Permian Basin operators and service firms—has certainly been soft, but […]
Oil production of about 500,000 b/d in U.S. offline Thursday in winter storm
London-based consulting firm Energy Aspects said Thursday about 500,000 barrels per day of crude oil remained offline in the U.S. because of winter storm Fern. U.S. oil production was forecast for 13.76 million b/d in January by U.S. Energy Information Administration, putting current outages at 3.6 percent of total output. Reuters said most of the […]
Outlooks, Forecasts, Earnings, and BBQ
Crystal Ball. Morgan Stanley put out their overview [late November] of the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas outlook in reference to 2026 intentions and activities. Some of their comments: Preliminary 2026 messaging from U.S. E&Ps points to flat oil production for –2 percent lower spending year over year, reflecting further efficiency gains, while majors continue to plan […]
Worth Passing On
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! This being a brand new year, what better occasion to pause and soak up some words of wisdom? The following bit was a list shared on a Facebook page, but it seems apropos for sharing in this space. May the coming year bring […]
Refrac Attack
Click here to listen to the Audio version of this story! It’s a tale as old as the pumpjack itself. Picture this: a well in West Texas, deep in the Permian Basin, that’s been pumping for years. Paint peeling, the sun taking its relentless toll. At first it flowed hot and heavy, but over […]