The Voice
Wishing you the blessings of the season and a safe and prosperous 2020
of the
Independent Since 1959
~ IOGAWV Board and Staff
NEWS
December 2019
Two IOGA Vo-Tech Scholarships Added Since the introduction of our Scholarship program in 1998, the oil and gas industry has changed and so have requirements for the jobs it creates. IOGA WV has long recognized the need for community colleges, vocational and technical schools with programs that train potential future employees in the appropriate skill sets. To encourage students to pursue these careers, we are excited to introduce an additional scholarship category that is being added to our program. Two annual onetime, $1,000 scholarships are being sponsored by ConServ Incorporated. They are for students who
are choosing a career path that benefits the oil and gas industry in a vocational/technical field such as, but not limited to, welder, truck driver, well tender, electrician, mechanic, etc. Please see pages 18 and 19 for the two-page application form. We suggest you post this application in a highly visible location in the office or workplace. You are free to make as many copies of this form as needed. IOGAWV will accept applications postmarked between January 2, 2020 and March 20, 2020. From all the applications rece ived, the IOGA WV Scholarship Committee will review the qual-
ifying applications and two scholarships will be awarded in the early part of April 2020. The winners of the technical school scholarships, as Chris Weikle well as traditional Communication & scholarships, will Education Chair be announced at their high school awards assemblies or commencement programs. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Dee Beane at 304344-9867 or via e-mail at dbeane@ iogawv.com.
Begin the Decade at 2020 Winter Meeting IOGAWV’s Winter Meeting is the best-attended and largest industry event of the year, so make plans now to join friends, colleagues, legislators and professional contacts for this exciting two-day event. Mark your calendars and register now (see page 21) for January 21-22, 2020, at the Charleston Marriott Town Center Hotel. A great lineup of dignitaries, industry personnel and speakers will make your two days in Charleston very worthwhile and meaningful. Benefit your business by taking advantage of the sponsorship opportunities available. Simply fill out the sponsor form on page 20, visit www.iogawv.com or contact Lori Miller Smith for specific event
sponsorships. The potential exposure, educational and networking opportunities make this a great investment for your company. Tuesday will feature presentations on topics that will be of great interest to you and your company. The 8:00-9:00 a.m. breakfast and lunch later in the day are sponsored by Encova Insurance, Profire and Schlumberger Oilfield Services. The Producers’ Issues Breakfast, for producers only, will take place at the same time in a separate room. Schlumberger Oilfield Services will present a technical session beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by sessions from Profire. A special luncheon for past presidents and Gunslinger recipients begins at
noon, as does the luncheon for technical session and Desk and Derrick Club attendees. John Poffenbarger of the West Virginia Damage Prevention Ben Sullivan Board will speak Vice President on enforcement & Program Chair of the WV811 Dig Law. The West Virginia Desk and Derrick Club will meet from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Afternoon sessions, sponsored by Encova Insurance, topics will appeal Winter Mtg. Continued on page 13
INSIDE
Kevin Ellis / 2 Bill Way / 3 Charlie Burd / 4 Sam McKown / 5 Hugh Byers / 5 Chris Weikle / 6 Mark Clark / 7 Ergon / 8 Greg Kozera / 9 Industry Events / 10 Mark Taylor / 11 In Memoriam / 11 Chris Weikle / 12 2020 Advertising Contract / 17 2020 Technical Scholarship Application / 18 2020 Technical Scholarship Form / 19 Winter Meeting Sponsor Form / 20 Winter Meeting Registration Form / 21
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Kevin Ellis IOGAWV President
Holiday Philanthropy in Focus The membership of IOGAWV are among the most generous companies and individuals in West Virginia. We all understand our role in supporting local communities to combat the challenges they face. From supporting local schools, churches, and shelters to spending our time to mentor young people, IOGAWV members appear at every intersection of important charitable, social and civic endeavors. As we hit the landing strip to the close of 2019, I will highlight one very important effort that is worthy of consideration by all – food insecurity. A basic and fundamental human need, the consistent availability of food for some of our citizens, young and old, is elusive. According to data compiled by Feeding America, a nationwide organization that has tackled food insecurity in the U. S. for 35 years, nearly 13% of the American population struggles with food security issues. In West Virginia, the number is higher at 14.8%. Those who suffer the most from the lack of consistent food supply for a healthy life are West Virginia’s children. Astonishingly, 1 in 5 West Virginia
children are uncertain about how or when they will have access to quality, healthy food on a consistent basis. Of course, there are several well-known state and federal programs designed to mitigate this problem. However, food insecurity tends to be only one of the problems that these affected families face in daily life. Unemployment, substance abuse, and lack of affordable housing seem to go hand in hand with food insecurity and the combination of these problems may make access to many of the food programs difficult. The negative consequences of food insecurity, and related societal issues for families facing it, go well beyond the doorstep to the homes of those affected. This includes lack of workforce preparedness, poor educational outcomes and unhealthy lifestyles that lead to much darker and troubling problems. However, we can make a difference. There are many opportunities within our own communities to participate by supporting organizations who are on the front lines of this issue. The Mountaineer Food Bank, local food pantries and
Please register now for the 2020 Winter Meeting at www.iogawv.com
holiday food drives all offer us an opportunity to help. We all have much to be thankful for. And, as we reflect on 2019, let us take ownership of food insecurity in our communities and State through our personal and business philanthropy. I want to wish all of our members, their employees and families a wonderful holiday season.
2019-2020 OFFICERS BOARD MEMBERS J. Kevin Ellis President Ben Sullivan Vice President/Program Chair Maribeth Anderson Secretary-Treasurer/Investment Comm. Chair Brett Loflin Immediate Past President James W. Crews Director/Commerce Comm. Co-Chair Jon Farmer Director/Producers Issues Comm. Co-chair David Haney Director/ Producers Issues Comm. Co-chair Jon Hildreth Director Jeff Isner Director/Commerce Comm. Co-Chair Bob Radabaugh Director/Evironmental Committee Chair Sarah Smith Director/Govt. Affairs Comm. Chair Todd Tetrick Director/Saefety Committee Chair Chris Weikle Director/Comm. & Educ. Comm. Chair
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Bill Way Southwestern Energy
SWN’s “Fresh Water Neutral” Initiative: Making a Difference
Our planet’s most precious resource, vital to sustaining healthy ecosystems and communities, is water. The first civilizations took root beside water, harnessing it for crops. Later, the first industries were born along waterways that provided power for machinery and a means of transport. Today, water serves as a critical resource in modern energy production, providing a necessary ingredient for the hydraulic fracturing revolution has made our nation more energy secure and independent. Protecting and conserving this vital resource is everyone’s responsibility. At Southwestern Energy (SWN), taking on that responsibility goes beyond a commitment to being a good environmental steward. It’s a SWN core value that drives all
of our operational decisions as we responsibly develop natural gas and oil across Appalachia. Our successful track record and path to continue protecting and enhancing water quality is guided by Southwestern Energy’s “Fresh Water Neutral” initiative. Simply put, for each gallon of fresh water we use in our operations, we replenish or offset it into the environment. We’re proud to have met this commitment for nearly four consecutive years. Remaining fresh water neutral recently led Southwestern Energy to an important milestone: We recently surpassed 10 billion gallons of fresh water returned to the environment through our comprehensive approach to optimizing water usage and the completion of 10 company-sponsored water conservation projects since 2014. The projects include channel and habitat restoration projects on rivers and streams, expansions of wetlands and erosion controls, and construction of systems to collect and treat acid mine drainage (AMD) across Appalachia. The most recent project, completed this year, is helping to restore the Cheat River’s Muddy Creek watershed in West Virginia, which had been severely impaired by third-party AMD unrelated to our operations. In each of these projects we partnered with government agencies, local communities and nonprofits to ensure the greatest environmental and economic benefits are generated. Without those local partnerships and the hard work of Southwestern employees, passing
the 10-billion-gallon milestone would have been impossible. Combined, the 10 projects and ongoing partnerships will conserve or restore an additional 2.8 billion gallons of fresh water annually. Another key to achieving fresh water neutral status involves our focus on water conservation, reduction, protection and innovation in our operations. New technology allows us to decrease water usage in wells while improving productivity. Again, we’re partnering with outside agencies including private labs and universities to optimize how we use water to produce energy. Importantly, our long-term commitment to environmental stewardship extends beyond water and drives our decisions around protecting the air and land in communities where we’re privileged to operate. Our leadership in this space was recognized this year when Southwestern earned the highest score among North America’s 30 largest publicly traded oil and natural gas producers in a report from shareholder advocacy group As You Sow and investment advisory firm Boston Common Asset Management assessing water and chemical management practices. We’re proud to make these incredible strides toward proving that responsibly produced energy creates important economic and environmental benefits for consumers, for the United States, and for the world. Together with our community and industry partners, we can ensure we’re protecting the water, air and land for generations to come.
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Charlie Burd Executive Director, IOGAWV
From the Burd’s Nest: Home for Christmas, If Only in My Dreams Over the years I have written several December articles depicting the lighter side of Christmas. Articles that involved having fun with Santa on Christmas Eve, finding the appropriate parking spot at the mall, the joy of assembling toys, wrapping gifts, picking out the right tree, putting up the Christmas lights, and even one on how to write a letter to Santa!! However, while these were fun to write, there is also a reality side to the holidays that we sometimes miss. While attending the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) annual meeting in Medora, North Dakota this past August--yes August to avoid the onslaught of winter that just seems to happen earlier there--one of the attendees told me there were likely few places in America colder than working on an oil rig in December in the Bakken production field. This gave me pause to consider all those in this industry who find themselves working on all the holidays, especially Christmas, to produce and provide energy for our country. Working in the oil field can provide lots of benefits to the worker: great pay, great benefits, great upward mobility and travel to exotic places. But these benefits are exchanged for rough work, long shifts, being away from home and family and more. As my friend told me in Medora, the natural gas and crude don’t stop flowing just because the calendar says December. There’s always a rig to tend, a platform to man, a job to complete…and with tens of millions of dollars invested in multi-well sites and operations, companies don’t lay down their rigs
to ring in the holidays. It’s pretty easy to figure that most people do not understand the sacrifices thousands of workers make to secure a living for their families. This is an industry that operates 7-24-365, and the holidays can sometimes be challenging for employees and their families. Many of us take for granted the ability to attend our children’s sporting events, Christmas concerts and plays, church services and opening gifts on Christmas morning. Many oil field workers have to plan alternate celebrations with their families around the holidays because they will not be able to be at home. They trade the Christmas tree with the glittering lights, garland, bulbs and the star on top for the Christmas tree that is that assembly of valves, spools and fittings used to regulate the flow of natural gas and oil.
Somehow, all this is just not the same as getting up Christmas morning to the sound of laughter, of gift wrap being ripped and the giggles of children. This holiday season, as you gather around the table with family and friends, please take that extra moment, as you reflect on all the things for which you are thankful -- family, friends, health, good food and your job in the oil and gas industry -- to also remember those who are on the job. I am very proud and blessed to work for an industry that provides us the energy to drive our vehicles, heat our homes and cook that wonderful holiday dinner. Christmas and all holidays would not be possible without oil and natural gas and those who produce them. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Burd’s - Charlie, Leone, Nathan and Charlie.
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Sam McKown Membership Committee
IOGAWV Board Approved Three New Members in November Please welcome these new members approved in November. DPT Inc. PRO dba Dynamic Works Alicia Bodden 5506 MacCorkle Ave SE Charleston, WV 25304 Phone: (304) 720-5433 Cell: (304) 545-1419 Fax: (304) 720-4536 sbodden@dynamicwv.com www.dynamicptcenter.com
The Printing Press LTD PRO Sandy Underwood 143 Gaylor Lane Charleston, WV 25312 Phone: (304) 744-7949 Cell: (681) 313-1586 Fax: (304) 744-7958 sandy@printingpressltd.com www.printingpressltd.com
Profire Energy ALL Bill O’Dowd 148 Beacon Hill Blvd. Northfield Center, OH 44067 Phone: (740) 501-9243 bodowd@profireenergy.com www.profireenergy.com
Hugh Byers Direct Energy
Nymex Natural Gas Futures Contract 12-Month Forward Strip Average Prices Through 11/22/2019
$5.00 $4.50 $4.00 $3.50 $3.00 $2.50 $2.00
1/2/2013
1/2/2014
1/2/2015
1/2/2016 NG 12M
NG 24M
1/2/2017
1/2/2018
NG 36M
Bloomberg Finance L.P.; CME; For Informational Purposes Only
1/2/2019
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Chris Weikle Communications & Education Committee Chair
Time Now to Plan for Your 2020 Advertising in IOGA News Your continued support of IOGA News through your advertising is greatly appreciated. We have enclosed a copy of the 2020 Advertising Contract. You will need to complete and return this contract by December 20, 2019 for your advertisement to be included in the January 2020 issue of IOGA News. For our current advertisers, a copy of your current contract and most recent ad are available from the IOGAWV office. Ads must be paid in full by check or credit card prior
to publication. For 2020, we are making a special offer to our current advertisers and meeting sponsors! For those who advertised in IOGA News, or who sponsored the Winter Meeting, Summer Meeting or Sports Weekend during the last 12 months, we’re offering you a 10% discount on your 2020 advertising in IOGA News. This will give sponsors who are not current advertisers the opportunity to ex-
:=?-: Dominion Energy
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Craig C. Colombo
LDC Gas Supply Strategic Advisor
Dominion Energy Services, Inc. 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond. VA 23219 0: 804-787-6167 M: 804-921-2788 Tieline: 8-738-6167 F: 804-787-6483 craig.c.colombo@dominionenergy.com
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pand their reach to this important market and keep your name and your products and services at topof-mind awareness for your current and potential customers. Please see the form on page 19 to make your selections for 2020 advertising. Please call Dee Beane at the IOGAWV office at (304) 344-9867 or email her at dbeane@iogawv. com for any questions regarding advertising opportunities.
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Mark D. Clark Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Loose Ends and Such As we come to the end of 2019, we find that many issues have been important during the year, but few have been resolved. So we will look back at the issues that will still be with us as we move forward into a new decade. We started off the year by reporting that in late 2018, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and United States Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) issued for public comment a proposed rule defining the scope of waters subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act (CWA) (the “WOTUS Rule”). The WOTUS Rule was a second step following the proposed rule delaying the applicability of the 2015 Clean Water Rule implementing Executive Order 13778, signed by President Trump on February 28, 2017. The stated objective of the WOTUS Rule is to increase CWA program predictability and consistency by increasing clarity as to the scope of “waters of the United States” federally regulated under the CWA and intending to clearly implement the overall purpose of the CWA which is to restore and maintain the quality of the nation’s waters while respecting State and tribal authority over their own land and water resources. The WOTUS Rule incorporates a baseline concept that “waters of the United States” are waters within the ordinary meaning of the term, such as oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, and that not all waters are “waters of the United States.” While comments were filed on the WOTUS Rule in April 2019, the agencies are still reviewing the roughly 620,000 comments filed.
While that rulemaking continues, the EPA and USACE did finalize a rule to repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule revising the definition of “waters of the United States.” The final rule means that the pre-2015 definition of WOTUS will become effective on December 23, 2019. All of the previously approved regulations are being reinstated. Of course, the final rule repealing the 2015 definition is already being challenged in court. In January 2019, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (“WVDEP”) issued a public notice (the “Notice”) announcing proposed revisions to the 401 Water Quality Certification standard conditions and special conditions that were originally issued on April 13, 2017. The Notice explains that the proposed revisions “replace the proposed modifications to this certification that were previously noticed for public comment on August 9, 2018. We reported on the initial proposed modifications in the September 2018 edition of IOGA News. The deadline for submitting comments on the Revised Revisions to the 401 Water Quality Certification Program was March 4, 2019. However, the proposed revisions appear to be stalled due to ongoing litigation and no final action has been taken by WVDEP so far. Similarly, we reported that WVDEP published in January 2019 its final General Water Pollution Control Permit Stormwater Associated with Oil and Gas Related Construction Activities to be effective March 1, 2019. IOGA-WV along with the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association appealed
the final permit to the Environmental Quality Board. That appeal was resolved by an agreed order entered in May 2019, which required WVDEP to revise and re-issue the general permit for public comment. However, the revised oil and gas stormwater general permit has not been re-issued for public notice to date. The WVDEP appears to be waiting to finalize the General Water Pollution Control Permit Stormwater General Construction which is not finalized. Last June, the West Virginia Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (“OGCC”) published proposed revisions to 39 C.S.R. 1 addressing horizontal deep well spacing (“Proposed Legislative Rule”). A companion emergency rule was withdrawn before it became effective, but the Proposed Legislative Rule continues to proceed through the administrative review and approval process. The Proposed Legislative Rule did not provide for specific spacing for deep wells, but established a procedure to obtaining “operational orders” for designated areas that may address spacing. The Proposed Legislative Rule is scheduled to be considered by the Legislative Rulemaking Review Committee this month. IOGA-WV continues to work toward improvements that will encourage more efficient development of deep formations through the Proposed Legislative Rule. The final step will be consideration by the West Virginia Legislature during its 2020 Regular Session that begins in January. IOGAWV is also continuing to monitor and address implementation Loose Ends Continued on page 13
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Greg Kozera Learned Leadership LLC
Perceptions Last Sunday I was in church and rolled into the communion line on my wheelchair. Tony, one of the ushers and a friend, approached to push me. I smiled, waved him off and said, “I’ve got this.” I kept up with the line and easily wheeled back to my place in back. Tony came up after church and said, “I’m just so used to doing that.” I thanked Tony and told him I prefer to wheel myself. People naturally just want to be helpful. That’s fine. Their perception may be that people need or want help. I have become like a lot of people in wheelchairs; I want to be independent. I will accept help when needed, but prefer to do for myself. In rehab, we learned all of the little things to do so we can get dressed and perform other tasks to be as independent as possible. I would ask the nurses to move the wheelchair so I could get out of my bed. Then I took care of the rest. They quickly learned if they needed to find me for medications or vitals
I would be out and about in therapy or in one of the day rooms. I really appreciate all of the well wishes, cards and prayers. It is amazing how they lift my spirits. When my wife was in the hospital, I noticed how she perked up when a friend called or someone sent an e-card or text with a picture. If you have a sick friend or family member, never assume or perceive that you are bothering them or they need their rest or they don’t want to talk to you. In my experience, it is just the opposite. They need to know that people care about them. I have also found that I need to remind people that I’m fine. My pain is low to non-existent. I am back to work. My only problem is I can’t walk until my knees heal and can support weight in another three weeks. I can do everything I could before the injury, except to drive to a meeting. One of the assistant coaches drove me to our high school soccer team’s end of season banquet
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on Sunday. I did everything I usually do, including the closing remarks. Surprise...this year’s topic was adversity. Our team suffered a lot of that and overcame most of it. We can’t always control what happens to us. We can always control how we choose to respond to it. Never underestimate someone we perceive as “handicapped.” You may be surprised at their capabilities. I encourage you to never put limitations on anyone by YOUR perceptions. Especially your employees or family members. After all of the years we have been married, I thought I knew my wife’s capabilities pretty well. I always encourage her to grow. She surprised me. I have watched her blossom as a business woman and public speaker. She has gone from a supportive partner to become a full partner and integral part of our business. Sometimes we have to do things to change the perception of others. The founders of Shale Crescent USA realized they would need to change how this region is branded to create an accurate perception for prospects. When someone says “Appalachia,” what do you picture? It probably isn’t high tech manufacturing, clean abundant energy or some of the most technically sophisticated natural gas wells in the world. One way you can help to bring jobs back to this region is to use the term “Shale Crescent USA” in place of “Appalachia” to describe our region. When we were in Japan last year, most of the people we met had no idea where Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia were. They know where New York City, Hollywood Perceptions Continued on page 15
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Industry Events
Mark Your Calendar for These Coming Dates December 17-21, 2019 IOGA Basketball Classic GSC WACO Center Glenville, WV Info: www.glenville.edu January 8, 2020 Governor’s State of the State Address West Virginia Capitol Charleston, WV January 8, 2020 2020 West Virginia Legislative Session Begins West Virginia Capitol Charleston, WV
March 25-26, 2020 WV Construction/Design Show Charleston Coliseum Charleston, WV April 28-29, 2020 WV Governor’s Safety Conference Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston, WV Info: www.wvsafetyconference.org May 17-19, 2020 IOGCC Annual Business Meeting Oklahoma City, OK Info: http://www.iogcc.ok.gov
January 8, 2020 Leadership West Virginia Legislative Reception Marriott Town Center Hotel Charleston, WV
June 8-9, 2020 IOGAWV Science Teacher Workshop Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston, WV Info: www.iogawv.com
January 21-22, 2019 IOGAWV Winter Meeting Marriott Town Center Hotel Charleston, WV Info: www.iogawv.org
June 8-9, 2020 KOGA Annual Conference Embassy Suites -Lexington Green Lexington, KY Info: www.kyoilgas.org
February 5, 2020 NAPE Global Business Conference G.R. Brown Convention Center Houston, TX
June 29-July 1, 2020 IPAA 2020 Mid-Year Meeting Newport Beach, CA Info: www.ipaa.org
March 4-6, 2020 OOGA Annual Meeting Easton Hilton Columbus, OH March 14, 2020 2020 West Virginia Legislative Session Ends West Virginia Capitol Charleston, WV
July 14-16, 2020 Tom Dunn Academy WV Wesleyan College Buckhannon, WV Info: www.iogawv.com August 2-4, 2020 IOGAWV Summer Meeting The Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, WV
Info: www.iogawv.org August 12-20, 2020 NAPE Global Business Conference G.R. Brown Convention Center Houston, TX September 18-19, 2020 IOGAWV Sports Weekend Bridgeport/WVU Info: www.iogawv.org November 8-10, 2020 IOGCC 2020 Annual Meeting Houston, TX Info: www.iogcc.ok.gov November 11-13, 2020 IPAA 2020 Annual Meeting New Orleans, LA Info: www.ipaa.org
Promote IOGAWV College and Vo-Tech Scholarships to your employees. The deadline is March 20, 2020.
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Mark Taylor WeatherBELL Analytics
Winter Forecast Update: Expect Warm Start
For more information about WeatherBELL’s services and to get the hot-off-the-press forecast updates, please visit our website www.weatherbell.com or contact us at sales@ weatherbell.com.
There was a false start to winter in November, with a historic period of record cold temperatures for much the nation. This is expected to back off and December should be milder for a time. For winter as a whole, we are expecting a warm start, but arctic air intrusions will become increasingly common as the winter progresses, especially over the Great Lakes. The East Coast should see relatively warm temperatures early on, with increasingly cold and snowy weather for a time in January and February. For more up-to-date information, please subscribe to our energy forecast services.
In Memoriam
IOGAWV Mourns the Passing of Joann Ross Joann Ross, a resident of Coalton, WV, passed away December 2 at the home of her daughter in Buckhannon, WV. She was born June 2, 1939, at Coalton, a daughter of the late Carl Keller and the late Virginia Kittle Keller Wood. On June 20, 1957, she married Mike Ross, who survives at Coalton. Mike is a long-time member of IOGAWV, serving three board terms in 1974, 1982 and 1987, being named WV Oil & Gas Man of the Year in 1990 and receiving the Gunslinger Award in 2016. Also surviving are her children: Steve (Jackie) Ross of Louisville, KY; Frances (Ron) Overholtz of Buckhannon; Mike (Janetta) Ross of Ripley; Bill
(Kim) Ross of Jimtown; and Jim “Tug” (Peggy) Ross of Coalton; two half brothers, John (Linda) Wood of Coalton and Paul (Hazel) Wood of Elkins; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Joann was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at Coalton and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary of Roaring Creek Post 5583. She was an avid West Virginia University Mountaineer fan and also enjoyed being the “taxi driver” for all her children’s sporting events. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Patrick Parish Hall Building Project, c/o Raymond Godwin, PO Box 99, Coalton, WV
26257 or to a charity of choice in memory of Mrs. Ross. Condolences may be sent to www. tomblynfuneralhome.com.
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Chris Weikle Communications & Education Committee Chair
Hurricane Middle School Using Lessons Learned From IOGAWV The Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia (IOGAWV) hosted its annual Science Teacher Education Workshop in June 2019, and one Hurricane Middle School teacher is using those lessons in her classroom. The goal of the workshop was to help foster STEM and energy education by connecting science teachers to the energy industry, and Maureen Miller has surpassed that goal with her eighth grade science classes. “The IOGAWV Teacher Seminar was one of my top 10 continuing education experiences ever. We were treated like rock stars from the moment we came in,” Miller said. “I want all of education to be elevated and I hope this opportunity continues for teachers.” Miller said her experience with the IOGAWV Science Teacher Education Workshop has helped her impression of the industry become more positive. “Oil and natural gas helps with efficiency, cleanliness and jobs,” she said. “Fossil fuels will be part of our energy ongoing, so how can we do it better?” Miller created a project-based learning (PBL) opportunity for her classes that involved constructing a pipeline through Putnam County, focused in and around Hurricane. “I did a NASA Endeavor program in May and this class now is part of the lesson plan I developed for NASA,” Miller explained. Students “applied” for jobs in a specific department in a fictional pipeline company and researched applicable careers. Each class named its company, developed a logo and researched education, responsibilities and pay grades associated with their
chosen job. The jobs were available in media, public relations, geology, engineering and administration departments. Each department then learned to work as a team within the department and project-wide. Teams had to make a variety of decisions, including whether the pipeline went underground, overground, under the river or over the river. Several IOGAWV members visited with classes on two different days to hear final presentations from each “company.” Miller created a rubric whereby student presentations were judged as below standard, at standard or above standard on physical attributes, oral and verbal skills, presentation organization and structure, technical aspects of the project and response to the audience. At the conclusion of each presentation, IOGAWV representatives were invited to put two balls through the pipeline, representing oil and natural gas, to make sure they went completely through the pipeline... and they all did!
Jim Pritt of EnerVest Operating attentively watches a team presentation. “I was extremely impressed with not only the extent of their preparation regarding the content of the research, but the interpersonal skills exhibited while they were making their presentations,” said Jim Pritt, EnerVest Operating, one of the reviewing panelists. “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Overall, the students gave great feedback on their understanding of our industry and their environmental concerns. They showed a lot of common sense.” Lessons Continued on page 16
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Winter Meeting Continued from page 1 to managers, HSE and human relations professionals. “Marijuana in the Workplace” will be presented by Toney Stroud with Encova Insurance. Details on “Workplace Drug Testing” will be shared by Sandy Dingus, Drug Testing Centers of America. Dr. Steven Cody of Clayman & Associates, PLLC, will discuss “Mental Health Issues in the Workplace.” The final afternoon session, presented by Pete Thackston of USI Insurance Services, will focus on “The Road to Recovery.” The afternoon sessions will be followed by the IOGAWV Membership Reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., then you’re free to enjoy dinner on your own. Wednesday begins with breakfast at 8:00 a.m., sponsored by Ergon Oil Purchasing. IOGAWV Vice President and Program Chair Ben Sullivan will open the meeting at 9:00 a.m., followed by an industry outlook by Al Schopp from Antero Resources. IOGAWV President
Kevin Ellis will share an association update, after which Governor Jim Justice has been invited to speak. Rounding out the morning will be presentations from Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation Senior Vice President Maverick Bentley and US Methanol CEO Frank Bakker. The Membership Luncheon will be highlighted by a presentation to the Oil & Gas Museum, followed by the Oil and Gas Reclamation Awards, sponsored by Ergon Oil Purchasing. RBN Managing Director Scott Potter will share a “U.S. Natural Gas Market Update,” followed by presentations from West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, NETL Director Dr. Brian Anderson, and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Cabinet Secretary Austin Caperton. IOGAWV Board member Maribeth Anderson of Antero Resources will moderate a pipeline panel including: • Dominion Energy Transmission State Policy Director Jason
Harshbarger; • MPLX Vice President Jim Crews; and • TransCanada Business Manager Shawn Tolle. Other afternoon speakers include West Virginia Public Service Commission Chair Charlotte Lane and West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Director of Research and Media Communications Brian Dayton. At 5:00 p.m., the annual GOpac Reception will take place and admission is by donation only. The IOGAWV Membership & Legislative Reception will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. This reception is open to all members and nonmembers paying full registration fee. Please click here to book your hotel room at the Marriott Town Center Hotel for a rate of $149 per night. Please see page 21 to register for the meeting, or visit www.iogawv. com. If you have questions, please contact Lori Miller Smith at 304344-9867.
Please watch for “IOGA Produces” alerts relating to legislative activities. When we ask...we need YOUR help!
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Perception Continued from page 9 and Texas are. They perceived that most of the oil and gas in the USA came from Texas. We changed that perception. When we showed them where Shale Crescent USA is and said, “If Shale Crescent USA were a country, we would be the #3 natural gas producer in the world.” The entire Japanese petrochemical association membership in that packed room all picked up their pens in unison and started writing like crazy. The most frequent comment we heard on the trip was, “We thought all the gas was in Texas.” The other term many people use when talking about this part of the county is “the Northeast.” We are NOT the northeast. We are more closely aligned with the mid-west based on our values. When I ask people from companies around the world and even in the USA, “What do you think of when you hear the northeast USA?” They told me they think of New York City and Boston along with high costs and labor that is difficult to work with.” That does not describe our region accurately. We are not the northeast. We want our prospects to hear the Shale Crescent USA brand on a routine basis and create the best possible perception of it. What about you and your business? Look at your own personal and business brand. What do people perceive when they see and hear about you and your brand? Is it clear what product or service you provide? When people go to your website is your messaging clear? Is it easy to navigate? If someone calls your business, what kind of experience do they have? Do they get trapped on hold? How easy is it for them to reach a real person? When they reach a person is it a positive experience? People form impressions in less than a second today. Are their perceptions of your
business positive? Be careful of your own perceptions of people, places or things. They may not always be accurate. One of the biggest challenges we have is the perception of our industry. The antis are love to amplify our problems and promote half-truths. From the radio programs I do, the worst perceptions are in areas where there is no oil and gas industry like eastern Virginia, Maryland or Seattle, WA. Their opinions are based on what they have heard on media or the internet. They have no personal experience of who you are and what you do. Most important they have no idea how important you are to life as they know it. The Seattle host didn’t know most of the products she uses everyday come from oil and gas wells that have all been fraced. Our challenge is to change perceptions. In the last 10 years the US natural gas industry has saved consumers over $1.1 Trillion. Families, single moms and seniors on fixed incomes
have all benefited. It was our region, the Shale Crescent USA, that made this possible since 85% of the increased production came from this region. (YOU DID THIS!) During this period of dramatically increased production, air pollution decreased according to the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA). According to IEA during this same period US CO2 emissions DECREASED by 14%. This is more than any other country. We met the Paris Treaty targets even though we didn’t sign the treaty. If climate change really is a problem we are the solution. It is time to change perceptions starting now and starting here! None of this helps us unless we get the message out to the public and we can’t be the messenger. We need allies. We can change hearts and minds. We first need to believe we can and then do something. If we each do a little it can be a lot. This information is too good to keep to ourselves.
Homestead Communications
getting YOUR message to the right people through award-winning public relations homestead communications po box 13604 | charleston, wv 25360 304.984.0308 | homesteadcommunications@frontier.com
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Loose Ends
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Whether it’s a state or federal regulatory matter, local land use or zoning challenge, acquisition of title and rights to land, or jointly developing midstream assets, we help solve complex legal problems in ways that favorably impact your business and bring value to your bottom line.
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Babst_Energy_IOGA_WV_DRILL_6.9375x9.25.indd 1
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of the Aboveground Storage Tank Rule by WVDEP which continues to be an issue for many members, especially in light of the January 1, 2020 deadline for formal “fit for service” inspections on most Level 1 ASTs. The Association is also monitoring and commenting on changes to EPA methane emissions rule revisions that are ongoing, including the proposed rulemaking published in September that could provide some relief to the oil and gas industry related to methane and volatile organic compound emission regulations. The comment deadline on that rulemaking was November 25, 2019, so no further action will occur until sometime next year. If you questions or comments regarding these updates, please contact Mark Clark at MClark@Spilmanlaw. com or Dave Yaussy at DYaussy@ Spilmanlaw.com.
Please register now for the Winter Meeting on Jan. 21-22. Use the forms on pages 20 and 21 to register.
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Lessons Continued from page 12
The photo above depicts one team’s presentation, including company logo and experiments. Rick Smith said, “IOGAWV should take pride in what they’re doing to teach the science teachers. The impact of this program is becoming more evident in the classroom with the quality of the student projects and presentations.” “Had I had Mrs. Miller as my science teacher in eighth grade, I might have become a petroleum engineer,” said Diane Slaughter, Homestead Communications. “As a public relations professional, though, I was impressed by the creativity of the students from naming their companies to creating logos to the design of the pipeline. Several of the students stood out in their presentation skills, surpassing some adult presenters I’ve seen.”
Above, IOGAWV member Rob Schindler judges the overall presentation and tests whether the balls representing natural gas and oil actually went through the “pipeline” successfully. They did!
Wishing you and yours the best of this season – IOGAWV Officers, Board and Staff
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2020 Advertising Contract
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Technical Scholarship Application
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Technical Scholarship Form
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Winter Meeting Sponsor Form
2020 Winter Meeting Sponsor Form Marriott Town Center Hotel, Charleston January 21-22, 2020 ____________________________________________________________ Company Name ____________________________________________________________ Contact Name _____________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________ City State Zip ____________________________________________________________ Telephone Email
Sponsorship opportunities:
______ Diamond Event Sponsor $5,000 and up (call for availability • Banner hung at sponsored event • Specific signage at sponsored event • Listing on Diamond Sponsor board • Logo and name listed in event PowerPoint presentation • Logo listed in event program, web site page and newsletter ______ Platinum Sponsor $3,000 • Listing on Platinum Sponsor board • Logo and name listed in event PowerPoint presentation • Logo listed in event program, web site page and newsletter ______ Gold Sponsor $2,000 • Listing on Gold Sponsor board • Logo and name listed in event PowerPoint presentation • Logo listed in event program, web site page and newsletter ______ Silver Sponsor $1,000 • Listing on Silver Sponsor board • Logo and name listed in event PowerPoint presentation • Logo listed in event program, web site page and newsletter ______ Bronze Sponsor $500 • Listing on Bronze Sponsor board • Logo and name listed in event PowerPoint presentation • Logo listed in event program, web site page and newsletter Please return this form to IOGAWV, address below, by January 10, 2020. Be sure to email a high resolution (300-dpi minimum) version of your company’s color logo and a link to your web site to lmillersmith@iogawv.com.
Thank you for your continued support! www.iogawv.com
300 Summers Street | Suite 820 | Charleston, WV | 25301 P: (304) 344-9867 F: (304) 344-5836
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Winter Meeting Registration Form
2020 Winter Meeting Registration Marriott Town Center Hotel, Charleston January 21-22, 2020 ________________________________________________________________________ Company Name ________________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip ________________________________________________________________________ Telephone ________________________________________________________________________ Participant’s Name Member? ❏ Yes ❏ No _________________________________________________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________________ Participant’s Name Member? ❏ Yes ❏ No _______________________________________________________________________ Email ________________________________________________________________________ Participant’s Name Member? ❏ Yes ❏ No _________________________________________________________________________ Email Please call the IOGAWV Office if you have special dietary needs. Registration (fees cover all Winter Meeting activities except the GOpac Reception) Members: _____ Producers’ Issues Breakfast Meeting ONLY (for member Producers ONLY) (Tuesday, January 21) FREE! _____ Technical sessions ONLY (Tuesday, January 21) FREE! _____ Member early-bird rate of $275/person for Tuesday reception and all Wednesday events ($325 after 1/10/20) _____ Non-member early-bird rate of $475/person for all Tuesday reception and all Wednesday events ($525 after 1/10/20) _____ Student/faculty registration fee of $45/person for all Tuesday and Wednesday events ($70 after 1/10/20) _____ TOTAL DUE Please mail registration with payment by January 10, 2020, to: 300 Summers Street, Suite 820, Charleston, WV 25301. NO REFUNDS AFTER JANUARY 10, 2020 For additional information, call Lori Miller Smith at (304) 344-9867. www.iogawv.com
300 Summers Street | Suite 820 | Charleston, WV | 25301 P: (304) 344-9867 F: (304) 344-5836
300 Summers Street, Suite 820 Charleston, WV 25301 Phone (304) 344-9867 Fax (304) 344-5836