Vol. 8 No. 10

Members, 

In this edition of The Standard, we’re pleased to share a recap of PBPA’s recent advocacy efforts and engagements, an overview of the New Mexico Special Session and SLO Bonding Revisions, and updates on key conservation initiatives and partnerships. We’re also proud to feature highlights from the 2025 PBIOS—including PBPA’s luncheon recap and the recognition of our president, Ben Shepperd, as the 2025 PBIOS Honoree.

Additionally, you’ll find information on 2026 membership renewals, the official highlight video from our Annual Meeting, and details on upcoming PBPA events. As always, thank you for your continued engagement and support of PBPA’s mission to advocate for and protect the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin.

Important Updates

• Top Hand Award Banquet
• NM Special Session Report
• NM SLO Bonding Revisions
• RRC Announces Remote Public Listening Sessions
• Texans by Nature
• Federal Shutdown Impact at BLM
• 2026 Membership Renewals
• PBPA President, Ben Shepperd, Honored as 2025 PBIOS Honoree
• PBPA Advocacy in Action: Engaging Across the Permian Basin
• Relive the PBPA Annual Meeting
• RECAP: Luncheon at the 2025 PBIOS
• Committee Meetings

Community Events

• Midland College PPDC Courses
• 31st Annual CO2 Conference
• Additional events can be found on the online event calendar!

Regards, 

Ben Shepperd

PBPA President

Join us as we honor the 2025 PBPA Top Hand, Travis Stice of Diamondback Energy, at the Top Hand Award Banquet.

The PBPA Top Hand Award is the highest recognition bestowed by our members—and one of the most prestigious honors in the Permian Basin energy industry. Recipients embody the very best in professional excellence, leadership, and community service.

Event Details
📅 January 29th, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM – Reception
🍽️ 7:00 PM – Banquet Dinner
🎩 Attire: Black Tie Optional

This is always one of PBPA’s most celebrated events, and we anticipate all attendance options will sell out quickly and early. We encourage you to secure your table or seat as soon as possible. 

NM Special Session Report

The New Mexico Legislature conducted a very brief special session at the beginning of October.  The purpose of the session was to deal with potential cuts in federal programs addressing food security and health care as well as an issue addressing declaration of mental competency.  The items on the call from the Governor and the legislation considered during this special session did not directly impact industry. However, PBPA monitored the session throughout.

The session convened at noon on October 1.  The Senate adjourned at 1:19 pm on Oct. 2, and the House concluded their business at 5:15 pm the same day.  At the conclusion, there were five bills passed by both chambers.  Below is a brief synopsis of what was passed:

• HB1-General Appropriations: This bill funded the special session as well as appropriated monies to cover anticipated cuts in the SNAP program, cuts to public broadcasting and various health care programs.
• HB2-Health Care Coverage Changes: Adjusts eligibility requirements for participating in the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange.
• SB1-Health Care Grants & Stabilization: Expands the permissible uses of the Health Care Delivery Fund.
• SB2-Criminal Competency: Provides for Metro Courts to retain jurisdiction of a case where the defendant’s competency is raised.
• SB3-Immunization Rules and Recommendations: Requiring rules for the immunization of children attending childcare programs, public, private, home or parochial schools to be based on the recommendation of the Department of Health or the American Academy of Pediatrics.  This bill did not get the required votes for the emergency clause; therefore, it will not become law until Dec. 31, 2025.

If you have any questions about the above bills, please let us know. As a reminder, the Second Session of the 57th Legislature is scheduled to begin on January 20, 2026, with bill pre-filing beginning on January 2, 2026.  PBPA will begin holding meetings for the New Mexico Legislative Committee we get closer to the 2026 session.

NM SLO Bonding Revisions

In early October, the New Mexico State Land Office (SLO) let us know that they would be proposing revisions to their bonding rule (19.2.100.23 NMAC).  Here is a summary of this proposal: 

• Replaces current rule structure, which SLO argues provides insufficient bond minimums for different categories - $10,000 (single lease bond)/$20,000 (blanket lease bond)/$25,000 (‘megabond’)
• Increases the new minimum bonding requirement to $150,000 per lease
• Provides for heightened bond requirements based on risk categories, including inactive wells, unremediated spills, extremely marginal wells, history of bond claims, and other compliance-related factors
• Allow lessees to bundle financial assurance for multiple leases, with a modest discount available for leases in full compliance with SLO requirements
• Establishes annual report requirement so that lessees are in regular communication with SLO about lease infrastructure, status of operations (e.g., inactive wells, plugged wells, spills), and other conditions that may affect bonding requirements
• Provides for periodic inflationary adjustments as a matter of course, and confirms that individual bonds also may be adjusted based on changes to the  compliance profile or other circumstances that would affect bonding requirements
• Offers downward adjustments to bond requirements in the event SLO gains access to use of Oil Conservation Division plugging bonds in the future
• Specifies which alternative forms of financial assurance are permitted
• Details the mechanism by which SLO files claims against bonds, and the consequences for a lease/lessee if SLO is paid out on a bond
• Explains the prerequisites for the release of a bond
• Provides a phased-in schedule for the implementation of the rule

While the SLO is still finalizing the timeline for this rulemaking, part of that timeline includes industry working group meetings.  Those meetings have now been set and will be held as follows:

Bonding Working Group Meeting – Santa Fe

Wednesday, November 12
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

New Mexico State Land Office, Morgan Hall
310 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Bonding Working Group Meeting – Hobbs

Friday, November 14

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

NMSLO Hobbs Office
914 N Linam St.
Hobbs, NM 88240

Bonding Working Group Meeting – Farmington

Monday, November 17
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
San Juan College
EXACT BUILDING/ROOM TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

We encourage everyone who can to attend these meetings.  We are planning to have PBPA representatives at the meetings in Santa Fe and Hobbs.

RRC Launches Remote Public Listening Sessions

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has announced a new series of remote Listening Sessions designed to enhance public engagement and expand participation in the agency’s regulatory work. These virtual sessions will allow Texans to share feedback and ask questions directly to RRC experts on topics including oil and gas oversight, pipeline safety, and surface mining.

The inaugural session will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. CST, with additional sessions scheduled every other month. Each event will feature an overview of the RRC’s regulatory functions, followed by a live Q&A with agency subject matter experts. Advance registration is required.

PBPA appreciates the RRC’s continued commitment to open dialogue and stakeholder engagement. We encourage members to participate in these sessions to stay informed and ensure the voice of the Permian Basin remains well represented.

🔗 Read more from World Oil

Texans by Nature

PBPA’s collaboration with conservation groups—and the ongoing engagement of our members—remains a top priority. We’re proud to highlight several current initiatives and opportunities that demonstrate the value of restoration and sustainability in the Delaware River Basin and across West Texas.

Delaware River Basin Restoration Project
On August 18, 2025, ConocoPhillips and Texan by Nature (TxN) announced the Delaware River Basin Restoration Project, a long-term effort to improve ecological health and economic resilience in the region. Industry peers, conservation organizations, and landowners in Culberson County and beyond are invited to participate through technical collaboration, co-investment, or land restoration activities.

Planning for this five-year initiative began in 2024, with project site identification continuing through 2025 and implementation extending through 2029. The project comes at a critical time as prolonged drought and reduced water flows increasingly strain West Texas ecosystems and industries dependent on shared natural resources. By combining on-the-ground restoration with data-driven analysis, the effort aims to improve soil health, water quality, and drought resilience—creating a scalable model for conservation that supports long-term productivity and business sustainability.
👉 Read the press release, visit the project webpage, or email programs@texanbynature.org to get involved.

Texan by Nature Conservation Summit
Each year, Texan by Nature brings together leading voices in conservation, business, and community leadership to shape the future of conservation in Texas. The 2025 Conservation Summit will take place on October 21 at the George Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, gathering more than 300 leaders for meaningful discussions and networking.

This year’s sessions will focus on setting measurable goals, implementing impactful programs, and reporting results. Travis Ethredge, Director of Environment & Sustainability at Apache Corporation, will participate in the second armchair discussion of the day, “Implementing Programs & Evaluating Success.”
🎟️ Purchase tickets to attend in person or register to watch the livestream. View the full agenda.

Texan by Nature’s Return on Conservation™ Report
Texan by Nature’s groundbreaking 2024 Return on Conservation™ Report found that conservation investments in Texas can generate returns ranging from 4:1 to 40:1 per dollar invested, highlighting the strong business case for conservation. The report translates complex data into clear, actionable insights that help organizations measure and communicate their environmental and economic impact.
📊 Learn more and explore the Case Maker Tool here.

Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC)
Facilitated by Texan by Nature, the Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC) connects funders with impactful conservation projects. Since its launch in 2021, TxWAC has facilitated more than $5 million in funding.

TxN hosts bi-monthly stakeholder meetings featuring project updates, water policy discussions, conservation tools, and corporate funding priorities. The next meeting is scheduled for November 11.
💧 RSVP here or get involved in project matching.

Texan by Nature Business Members
Through its collaborative model, Texan by Nature makes it simple for businesses to create measurable, mission-aligned impact. Participating companies are recognized globally for their innovative conservation projects that benefit both natural resources and communities. TxN connects businesses to projects, experts, and partners—helping deliver proven Return on Conservation™ results.
🌿 Learn more about Business Membership.

PBPA is proud to support and share the work of Texan by Nature and other partners committed to advancing conservation, restoration, and sustainable resource management in our region.

Federal Shutdown Impact at BLM

For those with operations on federal lands, we want to share the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Contingency Plan for the Government Shutdown, as distributed in September 2025. You can review the full document here:
🔗 BLM Contingency Plan (PDF)

In summary, the BLM plans to furlough approximately 4,000 of its 9,250 employees. As a result, many BLM-administered activities will pause during the shutdown—except for law enforcement, emergency response, and operations necessary for the safety of human life or the protection of property, including fire suppression. Public lands will remain accessible in most cases, though not all services will be available.

The Contingency Plan outlines protocols for both short-term and long-term lapses in appropriations. During a short-term lapse, the plan specifies that:

“In order to protect human life and federal property and address the National Energy Emergency, BLM staff responsible for processing oil and gas permits/leases, coal energy leases, and other energy and mineral resources necessary for energy production will be excepted or excepted on-call, to the extent such plans are necessary to protect human life and federal property. Otherwise, these activities may be considered exempt where associated fees are accepted.”

“Excepted” and “Excepted On-Call” employees are those who regularly perform functions related to the protection of life or property, or who support activities that continue with available funding during a lapse in appropriations. These employees may return to furlough status once those activities are complete.

If any issues arise with BLM operations during the shutdown, please contact PBPA—we will assist however we can.

Please feel free to share this information with the appropriate members of your company.

2026 Membership Renewals

Membership renewal invoices were emailed to the membership on October 16. We want to thank you for your continued support of the PBPA—your membership is vital to our mission of representing and protecting the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin.

To help ensure uninterrupted membership benefits, please review your company information in the PBPA Member Center to confirm your contacts and communication preferences are up to date. ✅

If you haven’t created your Member Center login yet, you can do so on this page.

If you have any questions about your renewal invoice or need assistance accessing your account, please reach out to Christine Dooley at christine@pbpa.info.

PBPA President, Ben Shepperd, Honored as 2025 PBIOS Honoree

We are proud to announce that PBPA President Ben Shepperd was named the 2025 Honoree of the Permian Basin International Oil Show (PBIOS). This prestigious recognition celebrates Ben’s unwavering commitment to the oil and gas industry and his tireless advocacy on behalf of the Permian Basin. Since 2006, Ben has led PBPA with distinction, representing our interests before legislative and regulatory bodies in Texas, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. His leadership continues to inspire and shape the future of our industry.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the PBIOS Board of Directors for this honor. Their recognition underscores the collective efforts of our community and the importance of strong leadership in advancing the interests of the Permian Basin.

PBPA Advocacy in Action: Engaging Across the Permian Basin

At PBPA, we use a variety of advocacy tools to improve understanding of our industry, protect operations, and build support for the Permian Basin. While our primary focus is engagement on legislative and regulatory matters at both the state and federal levels, we also advocate outside of formal sessions, connecting with thought leaders and stakeholders to advance the industry’s interests. In the past month, our advocacy work has included several notable activities:

• September 24: PBPA’s Stephen Robertson presented at the Environmental Partnership’s Permian Basin Workshop, providing updates on recent regulatory activities in Texas and New Mexico. The Environmental Partnership, made up of companies of all sizes in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry, is committed to continuously improving environmental performance. Stephen’s presentation covered rulemakings at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Railroad Commission of Texas, Public Utility Commission of Texas, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, and New Mexico Oil Conservation Division, highlighting potential impacts on operators’ efforts to enhance environmental performance.

• September 25: PBPA helped convene a meeting between several of our members and representatives from the German Embassy, who were eager to learn more about Permian Basin operations, particularly how our production supplies fuels consumed in Europe. We sincerely appreciate Energy Counselor Sophie Hemmer and Deputy Consul General Markus Hatzelmann for visiting West Texas and engaging directly with industry operators.

• September 29: Stephen moderated a panel at the inaugural Permian Power Connection Conference on Game-Changing Oilfield Innovations, leading a discussion with Travis Summering, CEO of ProPower; Dr. Ryan Ezell, FEO of Flotek Industries; and Eyal Aronoff, CEO of Pioneer Energy. The panel focused on recent innovations in the Permian Basin and their impact on power generation and consumption.

• October 1: Stephen presented at the American Association of Professional Landmen’s inaugural West Texas Energy Institute, providing an update on legislative developments in Texas and New Mexico. He highlighted legislation affecting royalty rates in New Mexico and inactive wells in Texas, and discussed potential implications for ownership rights and operations.

• October 7–9: PBPA staff attended the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) Annual Meeting in Santa Fe. These events are excellent opportunities to engage with members, elected officials, agency representatives, and partner associations. In Santa Fe, we had meaningful conversations with members, New Mexico House and Senate members, gubernatorial candidates, agency secretaries, and staff, strengthening relationships that support both our mission and member operations.

• October 15: Stephen presented at a local chapter meeting of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (SIPES), updating attendees on legislative developments in Texas and New Mexico. Topics of particular interest included Texas legislation on inactive wells and initiatives addressing oilfield crime.

Meeting and presenting to organizations across the region allows PBPA staff to share updates on our work, build strategic coalitions, and strengthen relationships essential to advancing future legislative and regulatory efforts. If your organization or event would like to host a PBPA speaker, please reach out to us—we’d be glad to participate.

Relive the 2025 PBPA Annual Meeting

Thank you to everyone who joined us last month for another successful PBPA Annual Meeting. It was an incredible event filled with valuable discussions, meaningful connections, and industry insights that continue to shape the future of the Permian Basin.

We’re excited to share the official highlight video, capturing some of the best moments from the conference. Take a look back at the speakers, sessions, and celebrations that made this year’s event one to remember. 

RECAP: Luncheon at the 2025 PBIOS

On Wednesday, October 22, the PBPA hosted a highly anticipated luncheon at the Permian Basin International Oil Show (PBIOS) in Odessa, TX. Titled "Stronger Together: Regulatory, Legislative & Power Perspectives," the event brought together industry leaders, regulators, and experts for a collaborative discussion on the future of energy production in the region.

Moderated by PBPA President Ben Shepperd, the panel featured PBPA Committee Chairs and Staff:

• Johnny Carlock, P.E., Electrical Coalition Chair at Targa Resources

• Kristin Gragg, Regulatory Practices Committee Chair at G4 Regulatory Solutions

• Michael D. Lozano, Texas Legislative Committee Chair at PBPA

• Mike Miller, New Mexico Legislative Committee at PBPA

The discussion focused on pressing issues such as electrical infrastructure, regulatory challenges, and pertinent legislation. We extend our sincere gratitude to all who attended and contributed to the success of this event. A special thank you to our panelists for sharing their expertise and to the PBIOS team for their continued support in making this gathering possible!

A special thank you to our luncheon sponsors!

Committee Meetings

• Regulatory Practices Committee: 10/30/2025 & 11/18/2025
• Electrical Coalition: 10/30/2025 & 11/20/2025

For more information on these or any of our other committees, please contact Stephen Robertson at stephen@pbpa.info or (432) 684-6345.

MC PPDC provides quality training programs designed to keep oil and gas industry professionals current in their areas of expertise by offering the latest industry updates, as well as providing timely and pertinent educational opportunities. Click the link below for upcoming classes being offered by the MC PPDC in the coming months.

Customized Training Available! For more information contact Midland College PPDC at (432) 683-2832 or cepetroleumtraining@midland.edu

31st Annual CO2 Conference

December 8 - 11, 2025

Midland, TX

Make plans to attend the 31st Annual CO₂ Conference in Midland this December! The event kicks off Monday afternoon, December 8, 2025, with a ¾-day field trip to tour two major $700+ million projects. The conference continues with presentations highlighting the latest developments in the world of CO₂, including updates on the transformative 45Q tax credit CCUS parity provision included in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill. 

For more than 30 years, this conference has brought together the leading CO₂ practitioners from across the country, connecting seasoned experts with emerging professionals to share knowledge and strengthen networks in the CO₂ and CCS fields.

Permian Basin Petroleum Association | 601 North Marienfeld St., Suite 200, Midland, TX 79701