Recollections of the old “Fort Worth Spudder” and other early-day portable drilling machines. This photo shows what appears to be a stripped-down framework of an old Fort Worth Spudder. See other photos for comparison. by Bobby Weaver Probably the most recognizable imagery related to the oil field is a towering derrick. That was especially true […]
Texas, New Mexico Legislatures Underway
PBPA Tracking Industry-Related Issues By Julie Anderson So many issues. So little time. Playing defense here. Coordinating offense there. Monitoring, testifying, convincing. When it comes to the New Mexico and Texas legislative sessions, the game plan is complex partly because the issues are layered, much like the stacked multi-pay zones that permeate the Permian. Wheels […]
Gray Skies, Sunny Mood
Those words were the theme of the 2018 Permian Basin International Oil Show, and they summed up the mood nicely. By Jesse Mullins ODESSA, TEXAS—For three full days—the entire run of the 2018 Permian Basin International Oil Show—the rains fell and the drizzle drizzled and the mists mystified. Such was the weather that huge crowds […]
Maker’s Marks
At places like ADS (Air Drilling Solutions) and Henry Pumps—manufacturing kinds of places—the race is to the swift and the battle is to the strong. If, that is, we think of “swift” as streamlined and “strong” as adaptable. By Paul Wiseman How does a Scottish Highlander end up in Midland, Texas, presiding over a company […]
The 83rd Legislature in Retrospect
Note: At the end of this article, there are Q&A’s with legislators about the legislative session. As the smoke clears on the recently concluded legislative session, Texas’ oil and gas interests can be relieved that nothing too damaging found passage. Still, questions remain and certain issues linger. If there are two things that West Texans […]
Legislative Sessions
With the start of a new year, elected officials in Texas and New Mexico can begin digging into legislative issues instead of election infighting. Unlike previous years when the energy industry came under fire in both states concerning regulations or the commission that regulates its activities, 2013 is a year when experts are predicting relatively […]