Innovation has always been at the heart of the oil and gas industry and in particular here in the Permian Basin. No sector has been as dynamic over the last few years as water management. As the President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association I know how important water use has been for operators across […]
It Takes a Special Type of People
This January will bring the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and its members one of our biggest challenges in our 60-year history. In both Texas and New Mexico, we will begin legislative sessions where preparations are still ongoing as to how members of each Legislature, their staffs, and the public will be able to engage with […]
Getting Our Story Told
Now that Election Day has passed and most races have been called, we have a much clearer picture of what 2021 will look like. Energy and the environment were leading topics in races around the country. One thing that became abundantly clear during this election season is that our industry has been used to highlight […]
Standing up for our Side
After wrapping up our annual meeting and hosting important leaders like New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, former Speaker Tom Craddick, and Chairman Drew Darby, we have to thank all of those involved in participating and making it such a grand success. Our sponsors, registrants, and panelists were part of something […]
Rule-Making Requires Effort, and PBPA Plays a Part
This has certainly been a difficult first half of 2020 for oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the subsequent economic destruction that followed, those across the region have seen great economic challenges. However, economic volatility is not new in our industry and I am certain […]
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 […]