American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2024 - 65

SpecialReport: Permian Basin Playmakers
Permian Basin Groups
Prepare For Long Future
By Investing In Infrastructure
By Colter Cookson
May estimates by the U.S. Energy
Information Administration show that
the average Permian Basin drilling rig
contributes 1,386 barrels of oil and 2,536
Mcf a day to U.S. supplies. That is a
testament to advances in drilling efficiencies,
completion designs and artificial
lift systems.
It's also a reflection of the Permian
Basin's people, who are renowned as
hardworking problem-solvers. But the
resource beneath their feet is so vast that
even they only can hope to unlock its full
potential by convincing talented people
from elsewhere to make their homes in
the Permian Basin.
" One economic study estimated that
by 2040, the Permian Basin would need
to bring in 190,000 workers to maintain
production, " says Tracee Bentley, president
and chief executive officer of the Permian
Strategic Partnership. " As the population
expands, we need to make sure the basin
continues to be a place where people
want to live. Studies suggest that will require
transformative progress in four
areas: healthcare, education, workforce
development and road safety. "
Many of these studies come from the
PSP itself, which formed in 2019 when
several oil and gas executives began discussing
the workers they would need in
the short term and in the decades to
come. As of early June, the group consists
of 31 producers, service companies and
universities (Table 1).
" We use a unique model focused on
public-private partnerships, " Bentley describes.
" We take contributions from our
members and partner with federal and
state organizations, philanthropic groups
and local communities to get the transformative
effect the Permian needs. "
That approach works well, Bentley assures.
" We have spent $160 million in our
communities, but we have leveraged that
$160 million into more than $1.5 billion
in collaborative investments, " she reports.
" Partners are more excited and willing
" As the population expands,
we need to make sure the basin
continues to be a place where
people want to live. Studies suggest
that will require transformative
progress in four areas: healthcare,
education, workforce development
and road safety. "
Tracee Bentley
President and CEO
The Permian Strategic Partnership
to be part of a huge project when communities
have skin in the game, " she
says. " When we ask for federal or state
dollars and can say, 'Here are the investments
we are already making, and here
is what we are willing to do with support,'
they can see how important the issue is.
They also know their contributions will
go further when they are not doing the
entire lift alone. "
Road Safety
One of the most immediate concerns
is road safety. " Our studies show that
the Permian Basin has some of the most
dangerous roads in the country. At times,
we even average a fatality a day, " Bentley
says. " We are working with the departments
of transportation in Texas and
New Mexico to prioritize Permian roads.
To date, we have helped bring in $800
million to upgrade outdated roads that
were never designed for the traffic they
see today. "
Driver training also is vital, Bentley
says. " Many local truck drivers do not
have a commercial driver's license, " she
notes. " We have partnered with Odessa
Community College to expand its truck
driving academy so companies can employ
more certified drivers, which should make
roads much safer. "
In the Permian's rural areas, responding
to accidents often falls to volunteers with
limited funds, Bentley adds. She says
the PSP is helping equip these first responders
with jaws of life and the other
life-saving tools.
As the region's population expands,
the PSP predicts the need for doctors
will grow. " Early on, we partnered with
Texas Tech University, which has one
of the country's strongest rural family
health programs, to expand doctor residency
programs, behavioral health fellowships
and surgery residencies, " Bentley
relates. " By allowing people from
the Permian Basin to study locally, we
hope to increase retainment. "
Early indicators suggest that strategy
is working, Bentley shares. " We are starting
to see people from the doctor residency
programs look at opening their own practices
or joining one of the hospitals here
in the Permian, " she illustrates.
To support mental health, the PSP has
worked with private donors and the Texas
legislature to fund the first regional behavioral
health center, Bentley continues.
When it is complete, the center will have
200 beds capable of serving patients from
Texas and New Mexico.
" We have also partnered with the University
of Texas Permian Basin to expand
its nursing program and licensed behavioral
health programs, " Bentley adds. " We hope
to mitigate the nursing shortage and see
more counselors and practitioners out of
their program that will be ideal candidates
for the new behavioral health center. "
Workforce Development
The Permian Basin also needs more
HVAC technicians, plumbers and electricians,
Bentley mentions. She says the
PSP has helped an Austin-based group
called Skillpoint Alliance bring its training
programs to the Permian Basin.
Those programs have had life-altering
effects in East Texas, Bentley says. She
explains that they remove many of the
barriers to pursuing a trade by training
people quickly, paying them during training,
and guaranteeing graduates a job.
JUNE 2024 65
American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2024

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