In 2006, when I first began serving as the president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, many people around the state and nation talked about the Permian Basin like its best days were behind it. Some took joy in writing these obituaries, and some have begun to do so once again. Then, just like now, […]
Q&A with Ben Shepperd
With the PBPA Annual Meeting looming near, we present a question-and-answer conversation with Ben on the meeting to come. Permian Basin Oil and Gas Magazine: It’s already coming back around again! What can we expect in the October Annual Meeting? Ben: We have a full slate of sessions and we’re pleased to have some very […]
Decision by Railroad Commission’s Porter Sparks Candidate Surge
by Ben Shepperd, President, Permian Basin Petroleum Association Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter has decided not to seek re-election. His decision, days before the candidate filing deadline, set off a scramble and we now have seven Republican and three Democrat candidates. We have developed two candidate forums to meet the candidates. One in Austin and […]
A “Threatened” Listing, an Embattled Industry
Last month we were able to close a chapter on one of the most pointed attacks our oil industry has ever withstood. Who would have ever thought that a federal law designed to protect the American eagle would be the choice tool of exploit for men who hate the oil industry? More disturbing was the […]
Opposing Overreach
After several years of non-stop negotiating, analyzing scientific studies, writing comments and never ending meetings and conference calls, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision whether to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as Threatened or Endangered is upon us. I don’t predict the outcome but I can say we have put forth an unprecedented effort […]
Mitigation, CCAAs, and More
This is the month the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is scheduled make the final decision on whether to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as Threatened or Endangered. The PBPA endangered species committee and I have worked constantly for the last fifty years to prevent this potentially devastating decision from occurring. Well, maybe it […]
From the President – February 2014
Injection Wells, NM Legislative Matters, and More Railroad Commissioner David Porter attended a town hall meeting in Azle, Texas, January 2nd, to listen to residents’ concerns regarding earthquakes in Parker County. Late last year, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced that it was sending seismic equipment and staff to Parker County to try to determine […]
From the President: Positive Developments
This year’s PBPA annual meeting was a tremendous success, by all accounts. I want to thank all of you for attending and give a special thanks to our sponsors and speakers. As we heard from both our elected officials and our CEO panelists, the Permian Basin is the place to be economically and should remain […]
Mounting Challenges
Permian Basin activity remains strong throughout the Basin and that makes the work we do here at the PBPA all that much more important. The issues keep coming at us and the Board and I are committed to doing what it takes to keep folks drilling and producing for years to come. PBPA continues to […]
From the President: Worth Your Time
Fall is shaping up as a critical time for our industry, where regulatory policy-making is concerned. Companies are advised to be ready to express themselves on proposed changes when the opportunities arise. As summer rolls on and the Legislature reconvenes for transportation issues, planning is underway in Austin for a series of regulatory and legislative […]