Operator Session: Apache

For over 30 years, Apache Corporation has maintained a significant position in the Permian Basin. In recent years, the company has made notable capital efficiency improvements, enhancing returns while delivering strong oil volume growth. The company’s well performance speaks for itself, with top-tier well results and best-in-class productivity improvements in both the Midland and Delaware Basins.   

Performance improvements have been driven by differential development planning and execution and substantial drilling efficiency gains. The company developed a proprietary neural network to identify and simulate hundreds of development scenarios with a goal of optimizing NPV per section and per well capital efficiency.  

With the increased sophistication of its approach and proven impact to project economics, the company recently expanded its position in the Basin with the April 2024 acquisition of Callon Petroleum. This strategic acquisition will allow Apache to apply its unconventional technical expertise and proprietary workflows to drive further improvement and value creation on the newly expanded Permian position.

MODERATOR:
Jordan Blum, Editorial Director, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
John Christmann, CEO, Apache

SPONSORED BY:

Expanding the Uinta: XCL Resources

An EnCap Investments portfolio company, and an evolution of Rice Energy, XCL Resources focuses on cube development of the Uinta Basin from 45,000 net acres. In this operator session, you’ll hear more about:

• Updates on new production benches with increased density 
• Results of 3-mile lateral wells
• Cost competitiveness versus the Permian Basin
• Expanding crude oil markets outside of Utah

MODERATOR:
Eric Stevens, President and Chief Operating Officer, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

SPEAKER:
Blake McKenna, President and COO, XCL Resources

SPONSORED BY:

Details of Permian Success Story: Private Equity-Backed Delaware Basin Producer Reveals its Post Consolidation Plans

Backed by Post Oak Energy Capital, UpCurve Energy was formed in 2015. The core team of ex-ConocoPhillips colleagues focuses on leveraging technology and innovation to develop and operate more than 20,000 acres in the Delaware Basin. In this session, you’ll hear from top leadership from UpCurve as they share insight, including:    

• A snapshot of the company’s Permian Basin acreage and perspective on M&A
• Production plans for 2024 and beyond     
• The company’s perspective on adopting and implementing new technologies
• The role of private equity in today’s market landscape

MODERATOR:
Jordan Blum, Editorial Director, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Zach Fenton, CEO, UpCurve Energy 

SPONSORED BY:

Shale 4.0: Analyst Perspective on the new Era of Consolidation

This new era of unconventional oil and gas development has seen record-breaking M&A and rapid consolidation. Meanwhile, producers are generating free cash flow and returns for investors. But after several megadeals, where will E&Ps turn to next? In this session from a leading market analyst, you’ll hear more about::

• After several megadeals, where will E&Ps turn to next for consolidation?
• What valuation multiples reveal about the types of deals in the market
• How shareholder sentiment changes have influenced operator strategy
• The impact of consolidation on Lower 48 output in the years to come

MODERATOR:
Brian Walzel, Senior Editor, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Matthew Bernstein, Senior Analyst, Rystad Energy

SPONSORED BY:

Morning Networking Break

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Perspectives From an M&A and Investment Leader 

MODERATOR:
Darren Barbee, Senior Managing Editor, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Stephen Trauber, Managing Director, Chairman and Global Head of Energy and Clean Technology, Moelis

SPONSORED BY:

Perspective on Policy: An Outlook on Federal Regulations of Natural Resources

In 2023, the U.S. became the largest energy producer of any country in history. But with shifting policies and the emergence of new regulations, how does the U.S. retain that claim? In this roundtable discussion, policy experts will discuss:

• Potential emerging regulations and how to be prepared
• What regulations might be necessary to ensure market fairness and stability
• Perspectives on regulations of new energies and new emerging markets
• An analysis of supply and demand and the energy security landscape

MODERATOR:
Deon Daugherty, Editor-in-Chief, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
James Dolphin, Partner, Environmental, Kirkland & Ellis

SPONSORED BY:

Financing Trends in the Unconventional Development Industry

MODERATOR:
James Wicklund, Managing Director, Parks Paton, Hoepft & Brown (PPHB) 

SPEAKERS:
Michael Bodino, Managing Director, Texas Capital
Russell Weinberg, Managing Director and Founder, Energy Capital Solutions
Stuart Weinman, CEO, Total Sand Solutions

SPONSORED BY:

Primer on Power Generation, Opportunities and Challenges in Texas

MODERATOR:
Brandon Schwertner, CEO, Priority Power

SPEAKER:
Sam Siegel, Vice President, Wholesale Strategy, Vistra Corp.

  SPONSORED BY:

Networking Luncheon

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Investor Insights into Upstream Consolidation and Capital Allocation

Rapid consolidation has shaken up the oil and gas industry, with more deals sure to be on the horizon. But what types of companies could be targets? Meanwhile, producers continue to generate free cash flow and increase dividends. How are those strategies impacting capital allocation? In this discussion with an industry thought leader, some of the key topics will include:

• Insight to what Kimmeridge believes is still the early days of upstream consolidation    
• Perspective on producer capital allocation and the debate around special dividends
• A reassessment of the role of natural gas in the energy transition and the implications for gas equities

MODERATOR:
David Deckelbaum, Managing Director, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Cowen

SPEAKER:
Mark Viviano, Managing Partner and Lead Portfolio Manager, Kimmeridge Energy Engagement Partners

SPONSORED BY:

Right-sizing in the Bakken & Three Forks: Liberty Resources

Liberty Resources recently transacted on more than 100 operated well and 85,000 net acres. In this operator session, some of the key insights you’ll hear will include:

• What’s next for Liberty Resources and for the industry in the Bakken?
• Results of the company’s 3-mile laterals and completion optimization technologies
• The latest on the company’s EOR projects
• How Liberty Resources sees the current A&D landscape

MODERATOR:
Jordan Blum, Editorial Director, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Mark Pearson, President and CEO, Liberty Resources

SPONSORED BY:


 

Averting the Next Energy Crisis: Finding New Talent for the Industry 

Recent industry reports are finding what many already know: Finding enough—and the right kind—of new talent for the oil and gas industry is becoming increasingly challenging. As the oil and gas industry continues to find its way amid the Energy Transition, finding that talent is critical to sustained success. Some of the key topics covered in this session will include:

• Identifying the challenge: Understanding the reasons for the talent shortage
• Getting in at the ground floor: Ways the industry can enhance the prospects of a career in oil and gas
• Finding the right talent: Identifying the leaders of tomorrow in a competitive hiring environment
• Retaining talent: What needs to be done to make sure your workforce stays competitive and motivated

MODERATOR:
Brian Walzel, Senior Editor, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Molly Determan, President, Energy Workforce and Technology Council

SPONSORED BY:

Operator Session: Surge Energy  

MODERATOR:
Chris Mathews, Senior Editor, Shale/A&D, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Linhua Guan, CEO, Surge Energy America

SPONSORED BY:

Morning Networking Break

 SPONSORED BY:

Service Costs and Availability Amid a Volatile Market

With operators tempering production growth estimates, instead focusing on returning cash to shareholders, what does that mean for the service industry? 2024 could see more readily available frac crews and rigs with potential discounts. Key takeaways from this discussion will include:

• The impact of rig counts on service pricing
• The consolidation effect: What does it all mean for the service industry?
• Where are the bottlenecks in services, and how are they overcome?
• Where can value be found in service offerings?

MODERATOR:
Jennifer Pallanich, Senior Editor, Technology, Hart Energy

SPEAKERS:
David Reid, Chief Technology Officer, NOV
James West, Senior Managing Director, Evercore

SPONSORED BY:

Opening Session: AI in the Oilfield Transforming Oil and Gas Production

MODERATOR:
Jordan Blum, Editorial Director, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Sebastian Gass, Chief Technology Officer, Quantum Capital Group

AI-led Geological Assessments: Helping Make Capex Decisions 

MODERATOR:
Nissa Darbonne, Executive Editor-at-Large, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Troy Ruths, Founder & CEO, Petro AI

Case Study: Artificial Lift Optimization and Predictive Maintenance

The session will present case studies including pumping unit optimization to recover lost production, ESP failure prediction, and increasing natural gas production by optimizing plunger lift setpoints.

MODERATOR:
Jennifer Pallanich, Senior Editor, Technology, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Drew Laviage, Director of Product and Customer Experience, Ambyint

Operationalizing Drilling AI: It's Still All About the People

MODERATOR:
Jennifer Pallanich, Senior Editor, Technology, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
William Fox, General Manager, Corva Drilling

Networking Break

Charting a Course from Data Abundance to AI Fruition

You have the data, but what do you do with it? This session will explore strategies for data monetization, overcoming data discrepancies, employing AI for data refinement and translating data into operational solutions with measurable ROI.

MODERATOR:
Jordan Blum, Editorial Director, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Lonnie Smith, President and Co-Founder, Turnco

Practical Applications of AI in Upstream Oil and Gas Business

Koda Resources presents three practical use cases for AI. Covering field operations, drilling analytics and planning, and back office infrastructure, see how a small operator from Denver has utilized AI.

MODERATOR:
Nissa Darbonne, Executive Editor-at-Large, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Evan Rynearson, SCADA Engineering Manager, KODA Resources

Case Study: Predicting Well Performance and Production Optimization 

In this session learn how one North American oil and gas company recently integrated its operations for well optimization to achieve double-digit incremental net recovery over base volumes and an annualized incremental margin improvement of $6 million-plus using an automated field production solution.

MODERATOR:
Jennifer Pallanich, Senior Editor, Technology, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Chris Elliott, Global Leucipa Sales and Commercial Leader, Baker Hughes

AI Applications in Asset Management

MODERATOR:
Jordan Blum, Editorial Director, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Sammy Haroon, President & CEO, AlphaX Decision Sciences
Mo Saadat, Managing Director, Upstream Portfolio, Accenture

Opening Session: The State of Produced Water and Market Overview

The Texas Permian Basin produces more than 168 billion barrels of produced water per year. With some analysis estimating that half of that amount is recycled for hydraulic fracturing process, that still leaves an enormous amount of produced water—and a sizeable challenge—to either properly dispose of or find new uses for. In this Produced Water Market Overview, you’ll hear more about:

• The current state of produced water in the Permian Basin and the challenges facing the industry
• What solutions exist in reusing, treating and recycling produced water
• Meeting future demand in water-challenged West Texas
• The latest on produced water injection policy and regulation

MODERATOR:
Brian Walzel, Senior Editor, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Steve Coffee, President, Produced Water Society

Beneficial Reuse: New Uses for Produced Water 

There is increasing interest, and opportunities, in beneficial reuse of produced water outside of the oil and gas industry. New uses for treated produced water can now be applied in irrigation, municipal uses, agriculture and industrial sectors. Key takeaways from this session will include:

• Treatment processes for beneficial reuse
• What industry is leading the race in produced water reuse, and which industries are emerging
• How to connect your produced water operations with the right industries
• Cost analysis of reuse versus recycling

MODERATOR:
Rob Bruant, Director of Product, B3 Insight

SPEAKERS:
Michael Dunkel, Energy, Water and Carbon Advisor, Tetra Tech
Duane Germenis, President, Intelligent Water Solutions

Operator's Perspective on Water Midstream 

Different oil and gas producers take different approaches to water management, access, transportation and disposal. With so much water being moved around West Texas, ensuring water access, treatment and disposal operations are key to maximizing cost efficiencies. This producer perspective session will highlight:

• The state of the water midstream industry in the Permian Basin
• Current challenges in water acquisition, and possible solutions
• Insights on costs on recycling, reuse and disposal

MODERATOR:
Deon Daugherty, Editor-in-Chief, Hart Energy

SPEAKERS:
Joe de Almeida, Director, Water Strategy and Technology, Oxy
Jonathan Kiesewetter, Global Production - Facilities Engineer, ConocoPhillips

Sustainable Water Management in the Midland Basin 

Formed as a joint venture between Diamondback Energy and Five Point Energy, Deep Blue is the largest independent water infrastructure platform in the Midland Basin. Deep Blue has permitted disposal capacity of approximately 2 million barrels per day and 65 million barrels of water storage. The project also includes extensive water recycling capabilities. In this session, here more about:

• Water management challenges facing producers in the Midland Basin
• How new infrastructure is helping producers secure enough water for fracking operations
• Disposal, reuse and recycling: Cost analysis
• Available capacity and growth opportunities

MODERATOR:
Brian Walzel, Senior Editor, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Scott Mitchell, CEO, Deep Blue

Networking Break

Environmental Policy Regulations in Produced Water Management 

Oilfield produced water practices have seen a multitude of regulations, both nationally and regionally. Understanding what you can—and cannot—do with produced water is key not only to operational success, but also maintaining a social license to operate. In this session, you’ll learn more about:

• Reductions of allowable volatile organic compounds in produced water in New Mexico
• Applied emissions factors on produced water resulting from COP 28
• The latest on regulatory frameworks from the Texas Railroad Commission
• Insight into produced water disposal policies designed to curtail induced seismicity

MODERATOR:
Sandy Segrist, Senior Editor, Gas & Midstream,, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Mark Patton, President Hydrozonix
 

Induced Seismicity: Insights on Challenges and Policies

WIth induced seismicity in West Texas an ongoing concern, regulators have placed restrictions on disposal options. Knowing the latest policies and mandates are key to efficient water disposal operations. In this discussion, hear more about:

• Induced seismicity trends in and around the Permian Basin
• The latest on disposal mandates and regulations
• Where to find available disposal capacity and what to know before you store produced water
• Discussion on seismicity mitigation strategies

MODERATOR:
Deon Daugherty, Editor-in-Chief, Hart Energy

SPEAKER:
Kelly Bennett, Co-Founder and CEO, B3 Insight

Water Treatment for Reuse and Recycling

Identifying alternatives to produced water disposal is not only environmentally responsible, it’s also smart business. With the recycling costs continuing to shrink, more alternatives to disposal are economically feasible. Key takeaways from this session will include:

• Cost analysis of water recycling vs. disposal
• Recycling options in the Delaware and Midland basins
• Trends and analysis of water reuse and recycling across the Permian Basin

MODERATOR:
Brian Walzel, Senior Editor, Hart Energy

SPEAKERS:
John Durand, Vice Chairman, XRI
Dan Montgomery, Executive Vice President - Operations, Bison Water Management
Michael Neese, Vice President, Operations and Project Development, Fidelis New Energy