The journal entries below are excerpted from recent installments of James Wicklund’s “Things I Learned…” newsletter. Anyone Care? A central topic [at a recent industry luncheon] was how the OFS companies survive—with consolidation winning that category—and thrive—a goal that no one seemed to have an answer for. The rig companies spend millions of dollars on […]
The Unintended Consequences of Over-Zealous Regulations
Let’s face it, there aren’t many jobs in Cut Bank, Montana. And of those that do exist, the top-paying ones are jobs in the energy industry, like oil and gas operators and energy service companies. Some of those oilfield jobs involve companies such as Montalban Oil & Gas Company (MOGO), owned by Patrick Montalban. MOGO […]
Permian Oil: The Next Four Years
Fourteen years ago, in 2011, I wrote an article for MarketWatch that described how frac’ing for oil and gas would “change everything” for American energy. Among my assertions was the prediction that the United States would be an energy exporter by 2019. The negative comments on the piece were overwhelming. I was told that I was stupid and naive […]
Hiring and Retention: Everyone’s Challenge
While hiring and talent acquisition and retention have long been issues across all sectors of the American economy, perhaps nowhere do those issues pose such unique challenges as are found in the Permian Basin. And yet these are challenges that have been answered with innovation and energy. Considerable effort has been made over the years […]
Changing of the Guard
Welcome to everyone’s favorite topic in the oilfield: Safety. Said no one ever, lol. It’s easy to make jokes about safety to a non-sensitive safety guy such as myself. However, I have known some safety professionals that had to fill out an incident report for “hurt feelings.” Fortunately, they were all non-recordable. I am going […]
Energized
Along with the economy and immigration, the energy future was a significant decision point in the November election. With votes counted and winners declared in the legislative and executive branches, and the judicial safely conservative for at least two years (the next congressional election cycle), is it now full speed ahead for oil and gas, […]
Permian People February 2025 – Movers and Shakers
February 2025 hiring’s, promotions, and other personnel matters in the nation’s biggest oil patch—or in companies who do business here. Rick Muncrief, 66, has announced his retirement from the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of Devon Energy Corporation, effective March 1. The board of directors […]
Ethics. Still Necessary?
I am on my soapbox this month because I have watched several people in various generations either ignore ethical behavior entirely 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 […]
Rigging Up
The oil patch used to be famous for its behind-the-times mantra: “We’ve always done it this way.” But since the Shale Revolution and the increasing demand for speed, accuracy, and length in the drilling rig sector, that phrase is gone. “How can we do it better today than yesterday?” is the question for everyone. For […]
Legislative Update 2025
89th Texas Legislature, Jan. 14-June 2 57th New Mexico Legislature, Jan. 21-March 22 With the endgame of a balanced budget in mind, Texas and New Mexico lawmakers begin each session with a revenue forecast. Lone Star State On Jan. 13, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released a Biennial Revenue Estimate of $194.6 billion to spend […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- …
- 98
- Next Page »