PBIOS packs the coliseum for first day

Odessa American

by Ruth Campbell

Excitement with a whiff of Hollywood was in the air Tuesday for the opening of the Permian Basin International Oil Show.

Packed with more than 700 exhibitors, the show will run through Thursday at the Ector County Coliseum. Along with people from throughout the energy industry, a crew from the Paramount show "Landman" was on hand to film scenes for a future episode.

Show Executive Director Tony Fry has said this year's attendance may well exceed 2023's with the launch of PBIOS Live, a media hub bringing daily interviews and show highlights from the floor, and the new Spotlight Symposium Series on successive days with the Permian Basin Association of Directional Drilling, the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and the Society of Professional Engineers, whose space accommodations in Building G necessitated a reduction in the number of exhibitors from 725 two years ago to 705.

A number of elected officials and dignitaries were on hand such as U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas 11, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Jim Wright, and state Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland.

There also was an official ribbon cutting to kick things off.

The 37th show president is Martin Graves, co-founder of Insulation Products Inc., and the honoree is PBPA President Ben Shepperd.

This is the first year they have Wi-Fi covering the entire show, Graves said.

Pfluger said he was glad to be part of PBIOS.

"I am proud to be at this year's Permian Basin International Oil Show, celebrating the incredible work done in this region that powers our nation. The Permian Basin has long been the backbone of American energy. From advanced drilling technology to new investments in infrastructure and power generation, the cutting-edge innovation happening right here in West Texas is driving American energy independence. Energy security is national security, and I am proud to represent the region and people that keep our nation and allies secure," Pfluger said.

Of "Landman," Graves said "maybe Hollywood's getting it right. They're coming out here to … see what the energy business is all about."

Shepperd said he was humbled and honored to be this year's honoree.

"For those of you who don't know, the Permian Basin Petroleum Association has not been around quite as long as the oil show, but we have been around since 1961. We were formed in Odessa, and we've been the voice of the Permian Basin ever since. The thing that makes the Permian Basin so strong, obviously the geology and the technology, but it's the people. We take that voice of the people around to the capitals in Austin and Santa Fe and Washington, D.C., to make sure that we're allowed to keep providing the benefits and the good that we do day in and day out. We're blessed to be in this business, and it's a job I've had for about 20 years, and have just enjoyed every bit of it. It's my honor to be here this year," Shepperd said.

Odessa Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Renee Earls said just like the oil business, PBIOS brings people from around the world to Odessa to learn about new technology, innovations and companies.

"Some of these companies, have been participating in the oil show as long as they've been here, so it is significant. The hotels are filled. The restaurants are busy. People are buying gas. They're spending money. It is extremely important to our economy. It's a very busy week, and Odessa is honored to have hosted this for so long," Earls said.

Earls added that the oil show board always tries to add new things when the event is held every two years.

"They have new activities happening. They have symposiums, which they added this year … They have a podcast. Each time, they really try to add more to make it more significant and I think they've done a super job with that," she added.

Since there isn't enough parking at the coliseum, there is more parking available at Ratliff Stadium just north of Odessa with access from Grandview Avenue and 40-passenger shuttle buses to pick you up and drop you near the front entrance and registration.

You meet the return bus at the same place as the drop-off and shuttle service runs throughout the day at 20-minute intervals. The parking area will be fenced and a security guard on duty.

Attendees may also park north of 42nd on the west side of Golder Avenue and travel by shuttles with the same schedule and methods, although this area is not paved.

Earls said they have offered shuttles for many years for the convenience.

"It's very handy," she added.

Rob Chalmers, vice president of sales for BenchMark Wireline Products, said this was his second time at PBIOS. He is based in Fulshear, Texas.

"This is the center of the activity in Texas and since we're a Texas company, you have to support Texans," Chalmers said.

He added that he would be looking at other exhibits later in the day.

Chalmers said the size of the show makes it special. Without naming names, he said there were other companies he wanted to check out.

"There's such a wide variety here. The other shows that we go to we try and keep specifically to our industry. This one (has a) very wide variety of equipment," Chalmers said.

He was standing in front of an electric wireline unit.

"This has been around for years upon years. We've had these on the market now for a few years. These are fully electric, fully automated wire line units. They've been very successful so far. (We) … have been successful out in West Texas. They were actually designed for this market, but now they're … going all over the world," Chalmers said.

Joel Stahmer, who is in sales with VEGA Americas in Midland, has been a regular at the oil show for decades. The company's main product is guided radar. They can drop a wire to the bottom of a tank and send an electric pulse down. When the pulse returns, it gives them the level of the tank.

They also use radiation frequency to determine the level of a tank externally. They also offer pressure sensors.

Asked how it has changed, Stahmer said it used to be a lot busier and have more people before the internet.

"This was the major oilfield networking opportunity, so there were a lot more people here," Stahmer said.

"Back then, this was the networking opportunity, so you had to take advantage of it," he added.

This is the first year she has been to the oil show.

"It's a lot larger than I expected," Trout said.

She had only done a short loop around the show, but was planning to take a closer look in the afternoon Tuesday.

Trout said she feels she'll get a better understanding of what's out there in the area because it's "a lot of business."

Oil Equip Vice President Doug Brown said this was the sixth oil show he has attended. He had booth space next to Kairos Containers, which makes custom office, storage, cabins, homes and other items. The company is based in Midland, but he lives in Mansfield.

"We get some good customers (coming) through here," Brown said.

Joseph Durham, regional sales manager for Q2 Artificial Lift Services, said the company manufacturers downhole rod pumps.

"We are a U.S.-Canadian company. We manufacture our own rods in the U.S. We manufacture pumps and everything in the U.S. and Canada," Durham said.

The company serves the Permian Basin and has shops in Farmington, Hobbs, Carlsbad and Artesia in New Mexico. They ship their products around the world.

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