Operator Spotlight: Continental Resources

SPEAKER:
Aaron Chang, Vice President, Anadarko Basin, Continental Resources 

Operator Spotlight: XCL Resources

Blake McKenna, President and COO, XCL Resources

A Deep Dive into the Delaware Basin: Franklin Mountain Energy Makes its Mark in New Mexico

Franklin Mountain Energy is a Permian pure-play private, with over 30,000 net acres in Lea County, New Mexico. The company was formed in 2018 through a series of transactions in southeastern New Mexico and today is one of the largest private operators in the Delaware Basin. Since its inception, Franklin Mountain has drilled more than 130 wells and produces on average 50,000 boe/d. Some of the insights from this operator session will include:

• The unique history and creation of Franklin Mountain       
• Insight into how non-traditional capital formation has driven operational success and excellence in execution   
• Discussion on Franklin Mountain’s execution strategy and philosophy
• The company’s view on the current Permian landscape

SPEAKER:
Audrey Robertson, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Finance, Franklin Mountain Energy

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

SPEAKER:
Matthew Bernstein, Senior Analyst, Rystad Energy

Networking Break

Perspectives From an M&A and Investment Leader 

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

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

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

The Future of Natural Gas and Market Valuations

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

Primer on Power Generation, Opportunities and Challenges in Texas

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

Networking Luncheon

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

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

Liberty Resources operates more than 90 wells from approximately 100,000 net acres in the Bakken and Three Forks formations in North Dakota. 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

SPEAKER:
Mark Pearson, President and CEO, Liberty Resources

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

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

Operator Session: Surge Energy  

SPEAKER:
Linhua Guan, CEO, Surge Energy America

Networking Break

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?

SPEAKER:
James West, Senior Managing Director, Evercore

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

AI-led Geological Assessments: Helping Make Capex Decisions 

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.

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

Risk Mitigation: Data Protection in the World of AI

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.

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

AI Applications for Emissions Reductions

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.

SPEAKER:
Larry Denver, Senior Director, Digital Operations, Baker Hughes

What’s Next? A Look at Future Uses and Applications

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

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

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

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
• Benefits and challenges of developing their own water midstream operations

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

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

SPEAKER:
Mark Patton, President Hydrozonix
 

Lithium Extraction: Getting More Out of Produced Water

Rapidly increasing demand for lithium—used in energy storage—is driving innovation to new methods of sustainable extraction from produced water. The upside: no new wells are required, and lithium extraction can be a source of revenue for producers. Some of the key takeaways in this session will include:

• Where lithium extraction operations make sense in the Permian Basin
• Cost analysis: How much does it cost, and what is the return?
• Realizing the market value of mineral extraction from produced water
• Insight into entry into lithium extraction

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

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

SPEAKERS:
John Durand, Vice Chairman, XRI