The buildings keep going up in the Permian Basin, as the construction industry does its part to keep up with the boom. By Al Pickett, Special Contributor Brad Henderson said he has told a lot of folks recently, “If you haven’t seen Midland in the last two weeks, you haven’t seen Midland.” Indeed, driving across […]

District 81 State Representative-elect Brooks Landgraf takes over where Tryon Lewis leaves off. Andrews, Ector, Winkler, and Ward Counties get a new voice. By Hanaba Munn Welch Brooks Frederick Landgraf (R-Odessa), representative-elect for Texas House District 81, is a young new star in the Texas political sky. Landgraf, a former oil and gas attorney with […]

Last issue, as part of this series on “The Making of a Well,” we covered prospecting, leasing, site prep—everything that leads to the actual drilling of an oil or gas well. Now comes Part II of our primer on that great invention—actually a family of inventions—the American-made and American-perfected (and Texas and New Mexico mastered) […]

Once a trickle, now a flood. Increased broadband availability and additional features have dramatically expanded automation’s coverage.  By Paul Wiseman, special contributor As recently as four years ago, the number of U.S. wells being monitored offsite was about 20-30 percent, according to Stuart Royal of Wellkeeper. “I would say that number is perhaps even double […]

The pumping unit is an industry unto itself, one that has ridden the ups and downs, ins and outs of the broader oil industry and come through not just intact, but thriving.  By Hanaba Munn Welch Some wells flow; some don’t. Those that do, sooner or later, won’t. A range of strategies and devices work […]

“American Jobs for America’s Heroes” offers employment hope for National Guardsmen seeking to re-enter the job market in places like the Permian Basin. And help for that Basin, that is so much in need of qualified personnel.  By Lana Cunningham Heavy equipment operators. Medical assistance providers. Organizers. Team leaders. Power equipment operators and repairmen. Ability […]

The pump jack has presided over the oil landscape for more than 100 years. In Electra, the “Pump Jack Capital of Texas,” folks know about the historic hardware. And about the difference between a pump jack and a pumping unit. And a whole lot more. By Hanaba Munn Welch Don’t underestimate the power of an […]

This Memorial Day—and, really, every day—know that your local O&G industry includes those who have served their time in foreign fields, paying that price of freedom. Because freedom isn’t free. By Sherry Thomas According to Department of Defense numbers, there were 1,410,224 active U.S. military personnel as of December 31, 2013. Over half a million […]

Will Midland/Odessa become a part of the “Corridor to the Pacific”? It will if more people like Buddy Sipes climb on that train. It’s a big vision for a guy who’s had some other clearly defined aims, most of them in Permian Basin oil and gas. By Al Pickett, special contributor Play it where it […]