Permian Basin Oil and Gas Stewardship Conference marks fourth year
AgriLife Extension program set for Aug. 5 in Kermit
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, [email protected]
Contact: Caleb Eaton, 432-943-2682, [email protected]
KERMIT –The Permian Basin Oil and Gas Stewardship Conference, now in its fourth year, is set from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Aug. 5 in Kermit.
The multi-county Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program will be at Jerrie’s Café, 247 W. U.S. Highway 302.
“We’ve seen lots of changes in ranching and in the oil and gas industry over the four years we’ve held this program here in the Permian Basin,” said Caleb Eaton, AgriLife Extension agent in Ward County. “And although the price of oil and steers is a lot lower now than when we first started this educational effort, our region is still very much in the business of producing oil and beef.”
Dena Floyd, AgriLife Extension agent in Winkler and Loving counties, said this year’s program will be steeped in a positive light.
“This year we want to look at success stories between agriculture and the energy industry,” she said. “So even as both markets soften there are plenty of opportunities for success still available.”
Floyd will speak on Ranch Safety for Oil and Gas Operators. She will be followed by Dr. Monty Dozier, AgriLife Extension Southeast regional program leader at Bryan, who will present Alternative Waters for Hydraulic Fracturing. Dozier will share the results of a study in the Eagle Ford Shale on using alternative waters for energy use and how those same practices could be implemented in the Permian Basin.
The keynote luncheon speaker will be Commissioner Ryan Sitton of Houston, Railroad Commission of Texas.
The final program speaker will be Dr. Katie Lewis, Texas A&M AgriLife Research soil scientist at Pecos. Her presentation, Ag Use of Recycled Produced Water, will deal with a project conducted on the research station at Pecos last year using recycled water to irrigate cotton.
Individual registration is $30. RSVP by July 29 to the AgriLife Extension office in Winkler County by calling 432-586-2593 or email [email protected]. The fee includes lunch.
Participating counties are Ward, Andrews, Winkler, Loving, Andrews, Ector, Crane and Reeves.
