American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2015 - 90

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ConventionCoverage: Colorado Oil & Gas Association

Modern Engagement Takes
New And Old Strategies
By Dan Larson
Special Correspondent

DENVER-With a political landscape
that is never settled, the industry must
pull out a few new rabbits while staying
with the strategic hat that has proven the
right fit, say leaders of a state trade group.
"With prices where they are, we always
must look for ways that connect cause
and effect," said Dan Haley, addressing
the annual convention of the Colorado
Oil & Gas Association for the first time
as its president.
Haley joined COGA in June and told
members he hadn't stopped for a breath
since.
"What we do impacts the lives of our
families, our communities, and our neighbors across the globe," he continued.
"We must communicate that in such a
way that our story gets through. Connecting with our communities is imperative
at any time, but essential today, given
what is happening in the market and in
our city halls."
COGA's annual meeting nearly filled
a banquet room, Nov. 11 at Denver's
Marriott City Center Hotel. Recognition
and expressions of gratitude for America's
service men and women were raised by
Haley and other speakers during the
event. Official association business included electing new and returning members to the COGA Executive and Advisory
Director boards.
Officers elected for 2015-16 are Chair-

man Brad Holly of Anadarko Petroleum,
Vice-Chairmen Bart Brookman of PDC
Energy and John Mummery with BP,
Secretary Curtis Rueter of Noble Energy,
and Treasurer Rich Frommer with Great
Western Oil & Gas.

Flagship Association
COGA now counts 333 companies on
its member roster and is seen as the "flagship trade association in Colorado and
across the United States," commented
new Chairman Holly during his inaugural
address.
"As chairman," Holly said, "my duties
are to foster and promote the beneficial,
efficient, responsible and environmentally
sound development, production and use
of Colorado's vital oil and gas resources."
The industry has always understood
the value of innovative approaches to
the many challenges it faces, Holly noted.
"We will work to create thoughtful policies, and authentic and transparent engagement with stakeholders, and to represent the best interests of the industry,
the state of Colorado, and its people," he
vowed.
The industry today faces challenges
that are known and unknown, Holly said.
"As your chairman, I enthusiastically
embrace the opportunity to positively influence the outcome of those challenges
and keep COGA at the forefront as we
find solutions," he promised.
Holly, who is senior vice president of
operations for the Rocky Mountain region

It is important for Americans to understand the complex and historical
relationships among Middle Eastern
governments and people, former U.S.
Ambassador Christopher Hill tells
the Colorado Oil & Gas Association.

90 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

at Anadarko, was a member of the Oil &
Gas Task Force convened by Governor
John Hickenlooper in September 2014
to review and recommend policies for
managing the conflicting interests of oil
and gas developers in the Niobrara and
growing suburban communities along
Colorado's Front Range.
After the task force issued nine recommendations in February (AOGR, April
2015, pg. 44), the Colorado Oil & Gas
Conservation Commission held a series
of public outreach meetings during the
summer. Commission staff issued draft
rule revisions for two of the recommendations in October and scheduled rulemaking hearings in October and November.
COGCC Director Matt Lepore advised
commission members at the end of the
November two-day hearings that they
should plan for at least two additional
days of hearings in December before a
possible vote on the changes, according
to published reports.

Staying On Course
In his six months as association president, Haley has seen a tremendous shift
as companies react to the "new reality,"
he said. "In many ways, the industry is a
victim of its own success," he remarked,
adding, "Today, we have half the number
of rigs running in Colorado as one year
ago. Production is up and demand is
down."
As the COGCC's rule making attests,
regulations affecting the industry will
continue to evolve, opponents will continue
to oppose, and the spotlight will remain
fixed on oil and gas despite the difficult
times many companies are going through,
Haley observed.
"Through this changing landscape,
our mission remains the same: efficiently
support responsible oil and gas development across Colorado through advocacy,
education, coalition building, and community engagement," Haley declared.
"COGA's strategy remains the same because it works."
The association will employ several
new tactics in support of its strategy, he

American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2015

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