Pipeline October 2025 by Society of Petroleum Engineers Permian Basin

SPEPERMIANBASINSECTION

Courtesy of Chevron —Photo by: Kyle Bible

CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

Matthew Farris Regional Sales Manager, Patina Energy

The first official day of fall has arrived, and so far, the outlook feels promising. Early October forecasts call for high temperatures hovering around 90°F after a typical, warm Midland summer, not a bad way to begin the season.

As a Houston native, I can’t help but tie this time of year to baseball. I’ve been a lifelong Astros fan, and over the past nine years, I’ve had the privilege of watching my team make the playoffs season after season. Say what you will about the improprieties that have cast shadows over an otherwise remarkable era, but following the Astros has been a source of excitement for my family and I. Just a month ago, they were sitting atop the American League West, and with the schedule ahead, it looked as though the team would cruise into October once again. Then, as baseball so often reminds us, a few curveballs came across the plate. Suddenly, the Astros were fighting for their playoff lives. And before we could catch our breath, two other teams sealed their fate, and just like that our playoff hopes were over.

There’s something to learn here. Baseball, much like life and business, rarely follows a straight line. One moment, everything seems to be moving in the right direction. The next, momentum shifts, and what seemed certain quickly unravels. Our industry has faced a similar reality these past two years. Disruption has become the norm, and many of us have been forced to adapt in ways we hadn’t anticipated. Career plans have shifted. Families have relocated. And across the board, tough decisions have had to be made.

Consider the organizational changes at the majors. ExxonMobil led the way with significant restructuring, Chevron is wrapping up a comparable effort, and ConocoPhillips is just beginning theirs. For professionals across the Permian Basin, these moves have been true curveballs forcing us to rethink assumptions, adapt strategies, and, in some cases, completely recalibrate.

But just like in baseball, when one season ends, the work of preparing for the next begins immediately. For teams that miss the playoffs, there’s no time to linger too long on disappointment. Front offices begin evaluating rosters, strategizing trades, and setting a course for the future. In our industry, the same process is underway.

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CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

Yes, restructuring brings disruption, and yes, it reshapes relationships both internally within companies and externally across the industry. We’ve already seen colleagues move on to new employers, new roles, and new cities. Here at the SPE Permian Basin Section, we’ve had to replace several leadership positions, from Study Group Chairs to the Chairman’s seat itself the very role through which I came to serve. Change is not easy, but it is an inevitable part of the cycle.

What matters most is how we respond. Resilience is the quality that carries us forward. Paired with entrepreneurship and the willingness to take calculated risks, resilience is already creating new opportunities. Across our region, new operators are beginning to emerge, sparking the start of another cycle.

Though the calendar says fall, this moment feels more like Spring Training. Teams may look a little different or completely different but there is a sense of anticipation and energy about what lies ahead. Long before any trophies are awarded, there is hard work to be done. It requires persistence, grit, and the belief that, despite setbacks, the next season holds promise.

And when that first pitch comes in April, I, for one, plan to be ready.

Stay Connected: Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming events and take advantage of these valuable networking and learning opportunities. Coming up, we have an exciting opportunity, hosted by our Young Professionals group. This month, our YP group will be hosting a panel discussion that features some pretty heavy hitters within our industry; Aaron Hunter, VP Delaware Basin – ConocoPhillips; Matt Mathis, Central Midland Basin Operations Manager – Exxon; Shankar Annamalai, Reginal Director – ChampionX; and Rowdy Stilwell, Operations Manager – McClure Oil. Additionally, SPE Permian Basin has partnered with the Bermian Basin International Oil Show (PBIOS) to host a Symposium on Wednesday, October 23rd. More details on our events calendar are coming soon!

Warm regards,

Matthew Farris

2025-2026 Chairman

SPE Permian Basin Chapter

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October2025-

Test Your Professional Petroleum Engineering Knowledge!!

Question from “Petroleum Engineering PE Licensure Examination Practice

Question Bank” by Olumayowa O. Famodimu, SPEC, P.E.

Question (64):

The simplest method used in calculating well trajectory in directional drilling is the?

(a) Azimuthal method

(b) Minimum curvature method

(d) Tangential method

Difficulty Level: Easy

NCEES Topic/Sub-topic: Drilling Engr. / Directional drilling

Comment: The simplest method used in calculating well trajectory in directional drilling is the Tangential method.

Answer & Reference(s): (D): Page 363 - 365. Applied Drilling Engineering, Bourgoyne, et al. (1986)

Question (32):

According to ASME B31.4 what should be the internal wall thickness of a pipe with a nominal size of 4.0 (O.D of 4.5 inches) schedule 80?

(a) 0.147 inches

(b) 0.237 inches

(d) 0.337 inches

Difficulty Level: Easy

NCEES Topic/Sub-topic: Facilities Engr. / Selection of piping to accommodate flowrate, total pressure drop considerations

Comment: The first hurdle in getting this question right is to know that table 5.3 presented on page 166 of the reference guide applies to ASME B31.4. Strong familiarity with the reference guide will help you know exactly where to go with this very easy question.

Answer & Reference(s): (D): Page 166. SPE Pet. Engineering Certification and PE License Exam Reference Guide, Ali Ghalambor, Ph.D., P.E. (2022 Update)

Question 5:

A positive skin factor indicates / is indicated by?

(a) A downward curvature of the hall plot in a waterflood surveillance tool

(b) A reduced pressure drop near the wellbore

(d) A flow restriction

Difficulty Level: Easy

NCEES Topic/Subtopic: Reservoir / Well testing

Comment: A positive skin indicates an additional pressure drop or flow restriction. An upward curvature on the hall plot indicates a positive skin and downward curvature indicates a negative skin (stimulation)

Answer & Reference(s): (D): Page. 31 Well Testing, Lee., et al (1982)

Question (31):

Which compound / device would you use in dehydrating the gas feedstock that is just about to enter a turbo-expander in an NGL recovery plant?

(a) Silica gel

(b) Molecular sieve

(d) Membrane separation

Difficulty Level: Hard

NCEES Topic/Sub-topic: Facilities Engr. / Gas conditioning and treatment

Comment: Molecular sieves are able to remove water vapor from natural gas to extremely low concentrations. It is typically used just before a turbo expander or similar equipment. Other methods of dehydration are solid-desiccant adsorption, refrigeration, & membrane permeation.

Answer & Reference(s): (B): Page 197 – 198, 223 & 226 Petroleum Engineering Handbook Vol III (Facilities and Construction Engineering) by Kenneth E. Arnold et al

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Midland College PPDC

PPDC Courses

Midland College PPDC

221 N. Main Street  Midland, TX 79701 (432) 683-2832

https://mcce.midland.edu > Oil & Gas Training

Petroleum Land Basics: Becoming LandWise

Instructor: Ralph R. Lea

October 7-9, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $895, Out of State: $920

Introduction to Oilfield Operations

Instructor: Albert Garza

October 14-15, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cost: $625, Out of State: $650

The Basics of Crude, Gas and NGL Contracts/Marketing for the Non-Marketing Professional

Instructor: Michael J. Banschbach

October 14, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $450, Out of State: $475

Advanced Crude, Gas and NGL Contracts/Marketing for the Marketing Professional

Instructor: Michael J. Banschbach

October 15, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $550, Out of State: $575

Petroleum Geology for Non-Geologists

Instructor: Paul Pausé

October 20-23, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cost: $1,835, Out of State: $1,860

TIBCO Spotfire for Oil & Gas Professionals - Beginner Course

Instructor: Bryan McDowell

October 20-21, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $500, Out of State: $525

Earth Science Teacher Education – Online

Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Dodge

October 21, 2025 to March 2, 2026

Cost: $1,000, Out of State: $1,025

Managing Sucker Rod Lift Well Failures

Instructor: Albert Garza

October 22, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $550, Out of State: $575

Python for Oil & Gas Professionals - Beginner Course

Instructor: Bryan McDowell

October 22-23, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $500, Out of State: $525

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Exec. Officers

Chairman Matthew Farris matthew@patinaenergy.com

Secretary Vince Doczy Vince.Doczy@conocophillips.com

Vice-Chairman Jordyn Helfrich Jordyn.helfrich@conocophillips.com

Membership Jennifer Pinnick JPinnick@chevron.com Chevron

CO2 Conference Pam Boring Pamela.Boring@bakerhughes.com Baker Hughes

Community Relations CoChair George Martinez george.martinez@propetroservices.com ProPetro Services, Inc.

Community Relations CoChair George Marin george.marin@flex-chem.com Flex-Chem

Golf Tournament Jeanette Reyes jreyes1@diamondbackenergy.com

Marketing and Newsletter Josie Hastings JHastings@diamondbackenergy.com

General Board

Past Chairman Tyler Yancey Tyler.t.yancey@exxonmobil.com

Member at Large Gustavo Gonzalez GGonzalez@odsep.com

Programs Co-Chair Amanda Scott amanda@zencortools.com

Diamondback Energy

ExxonMobil

Odessa Separator Inc.

Ryte Energy Tech.

Programs Co-Chair Natasha Schraeder natasha@hydraheadglobal.com Hydrahead Global

Scholarship Dan Hayward dan@stimchems.com

Downhole Chemical Solutions

Student Chapter Jack George Jack.george09@gmail.com ExxonMobil

Vice Treasurer Woraphat Pongpitukkul woraphat@chevron.com Chevron

Young Professionals Chair Justin Bethancourt j.justin.bethancourt@conocophillips.com ConocoPhillips

Reservoir Lead Ronny Adriansyah Ronny_Adriansyah@kindermorgan.com

Kinder Morgan

Study Groups

Completions & Operations Lead

Purushothkumar Mahalingam purushothkumarwork@gmail.com Cudd

Data Analytics Lead Nurbol Bekbossin nbek1147@gmail.com

Kinder Morgan

Production Lead Diego Marquez dmorales2@slb.com SLB