Click here to listen to the Audio verison of this story! In 2024, Rystad’s Vice President/North America Oil and Gas Matthew Bernstein spoke at a conference where he said the oil industry was entering “Shale 4.0,” reaching a mature and long-term industry view that had been lacking before. Similar to a child pressing through […]
“Pressure Control” in Sales and Safety
When I first was asked if I wanted to be in the safety profession, I politely said heck no. I had numerous reasons for not wanting the role, so I gracefully declined. Safety records—ours, and those of other companies like ours—were becoming an issue with customers in operations. We did not meet the standards or […]
Stimulating Conversations
Click here to listen to the Audio verison of this story! The shale revolution 20+ years ago opened a new era of production for the United States and the Permian Basin in particular—while still leaving the vast majority of the oil in the ground. Over the years, engineers have worked on opening up […]
Keeping the Pipeline Flowing
Click here to listen to the Audio verison of this story! Liquids emitted by oil wells are by nature harsh and corrosive in most cases. That includes the crude oil and the associated water. Between paraffin buildup and corrosion breakdowns, the oil industry must constantly fight to keep the liquids flowing and inside the infrastructure. […]
Back to the Beginning: Training
Welcome back to everyone’s favorite topic—safety! I say that because most of the people that read anything about safety are safety people. Some people in operations will glance through safety articles on the chance there may be something new or a new rule or ruling from OSHA, MSHA, EPA, NIOSH, FMCA, or—if they operate in […]
Making Information Technology Work
Click here to listen to the Audio verison of this story! “Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit.” —C. William Pollard, author and former CEO of ServiceMaster (1938-2025) “Knowledge […]
The Permian’s Oilfield Services in 2025: Pain Points, Bright Spots, and a Path Forward
After a bumpy first half, the year 2025 has put the Permian Basin’s oilfield services (OFS) sector squarely in the squeeze. Crude and gas prices have softened from 2023–24 highs, leaving exploration and production (E&P) budgets tighter, drilling schedules leaner, and pricing power tilting back toward operators. Yet this is also a cycle of reinvention: […]
Forklifts and Lift Training
Each year this particular topic—safe operation of forklifts—is overlooked by too many, to the detriment of the everyday worker. There are numerous people who are accustomed to operating a forklift. However, there are significantly fewer people formally trained and certified in forklift operations. This fact in and of itself illustrates a huge gap. Due to […]
Artificial Lift That Thinks for Itself
Click here to listen to the Audio verison of this story! In today’s data-driven oil field, having a system that manages and accurately interprets that data, in as close to real time as possible, is now a basic necessity. NOV and Lufkin are both using advanced systems to better manage production at various stages of […]
Getting Grounded on the Seismicity Issue
Click here to listen to the Audio verison of this story! Is Induced Seismicity a punk band or a geologic event? If you said, “Geologic event,” you’d be correct. If you guessed, “Punk band,” please let us know which clubs you’ve been visiting. You are sitting at home in Midland, and you hear a […]
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