by Bill Price It might seem surprising to see a headline calling attention to a discussion of child labor, and child labor laws—that whole topic seeming like something right out of the 19th century. But child labor is still a topic of discussion, even today, and knowing about it, and about its governance, is […]
The Well That Launched the Permian
Santa Rita #1 was the discovery well that opened what would prove to be the biggest oilfield in America, and what might someday become the biggest in the world. Its story is one that epitomizes what the oilfield is all about. by Bobby Weaver It has been almost one hundred years since the Santa […]
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 […]
PBPA Matters: On Texas and the National Economy
The discussion that follows was the luncheon presentation at the Sept. 23 meeting of the membership of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, held at the Midland Country Club, in Midland, Texas. The proceedings were taped and this is an edited transcript of that event. PBPA President Ben Shepperd: We’re going to hear a conversation […]
From Fresnos to Caterpillars
Dirt Work is the oilfield’s under-appreciated trade, and yet nothing gets done in the Patch until the dirt’s been worked. by Bobby Weaver I’ll never forget the first time I went out on a tanking job. It happened early in the summer of ’55, when we contracted to build a battery of two hi-fives in […]
Outstanding in Their (Oil)Field
We share the following item that was originally published by the Petroleum Museum, the organization that maintains the Petroleum Hall of Fame. The Petroleum Hall of Fame is dedicated to those who cherished the freedom to dare and whose work and service helped build the Permian Basin. The Hall of Fame exists “to honor those […]
Oil Scouts and Landmen: Perceptive, Perspicacious, and Persuasive
Oil scouts and land men have a history that intertwines—and skills sets that have some things in common. by Bobby Weaver The oil and gas industry has always been an extremely competitive field. From its very beginning in Pennsylvania in the 1850s, it was an industry whose practitioners found it necessary to know what the […]
Holding Stuff Together
Welding transformed the oil and gas industry. Electric arc welding and oxy-acetylene have been tools for shaping a world. by Bobby Weaver Welding is one of those trades necessary for the operation of today’s petroleum industry. It is hard to imagine almost any type of oilfield equipment that does not involve welding in one […]
Summaries of Key Oil and Gas Legislation
Prepared for Permian Basin Petroleum Association By Benjamin W. Sebree The Sebree Law Firm PLLC May 29, 2017 SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION OF THE SESSION I. RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS HB 1818 House Author: Gonzales, Larry Senate Sponsor: Taylor, Van Relating to the continuation and functions of the Railroad Commission of Texas. Railroad Commission of Texas Sunset […]
Charting Upwards
Four months into the new Administration, oil and gas—especially Permian Basin oil and gas—are seeing a buildout of infrastructure and a buildup of production and capacity. Read on for coverage of this topic and others in this roundup of recent Basin activity. Xcel Begins Transmission Line Construction crews have started work in southeast New […]
