New direct connection to Lea County aims to open up Permian Basin

The remote areas of southeastern New Mexico are experiencing unprecedented growth and economic activity as the oil and gas industry continues to explore the potential of the Permian Basin. Ever since the United States Geological Survey (USGS) announced in late 2018 that the Delaware Basin, part of the larger Permian Basin, is one of the largest continuous oil and gas resources ever assessed in the nation, the modern mid-sized city of Hobbs has been working to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry.

“Lea County, New Mexico, is the second-highest oil-producing county in the United States,” said Missi Currier, president and CEO of the Lea County Economic Development Corporation (EDCLC). “In fact, if Lea County was a state, we would be outproducing California and Alaska. As it is, New Mexico is third in the nation for oil production, behind only North Dakota and Texas.” Currier believes the new direct Denver flight will provide easier access for oil and gas industry professionals in Colorado and North Dakota to the booming fields in Lea County.

The oil-rich Permian Basin represents huge potential for oil and gas industries worldwide. The oilfield has been ranked at the world’s second-most productive for several years, and recent information has proposed that it may actually hold the number one spot. A recent bond offering disclosed operational details for Saudi Ghawar, the world’s largest conventional onshore oil field, which produced 3.8 million bpd for 2018. Analysts were quick to note that the Permian Basin produced 3.8 million bpd by October 2018, with two months of production still remaining in that calendar year.

Lea County is the top oil-producing county in the entire Permian Basin and has been developing the New Mexico side for many years. The county has been very proactive in facilitating multiple sectors of the energy industry and meeting its needs. The Lea County Energyplex not only encompasses oil and gas companies but also renewable energy businesses and nuclear operations. A non-stop daily flight service to Houston was established in 2011 and has proven to be a valuable resource for Texas-based oil industry consultants, workers, and executives. “We wanted to find a way to open up our oil fields to Colorado, North Dakota, Calgary and other companies north of New Mexico,” said Currier. The EDCLC branded the new flight service as FlyHobbs and invested in a marketing campaign to introduce it to the oil and gas industry and the entire community.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/30082019/new-direct-connection-to-lea-county-aims-to-open-up-permian-basin/