2026 Permian Basin Field Tour - Midland, TX

Thank you to everyone who joined us for CCF’s Permian Basin Field Tour in Midland, TX! Check out what we were up to and learn more about the sites we visited below.

Midland Technical Training Center 

The first stop was Oxy’s Midland Technical Training Center where operators and oil and gas technicians from across the country come to hone their skills. We learned about different career paths within the company and how each member of their team utilizes the center to advance their knowledge.

While at the Training Center, we hosted a panel discussion on the topic atop everyone’s mind: permitting reform. Moderated by Nick Loris with C3 Solutions, the panel featured Dave Applegate of Oxy and Marilu Hastings of the George and Cynthia Mitchell Foundation. They discussed the different complexities communities face when permitting an energy project, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act, as well as the importance of community engagement.

Oil and Natural Gas Tour

Our next stop was an oil and natural gas tour, where we learned about ExxonMobil’s upstream oil and gas operations and how they are working to drive down emissions.

We started our tour at a drilling rig, where we got a firsthand look at robotic drilling technology, which is being used to improve efficiency and safety of the rig’s operations. Then, we visited a water facility, where produced water – the largest byproduct of energy extraction – is stored to be used for hydraulic fracturing. We visited a hydraulic fracturing site to see how modern technology, engineering, and safety systems work together to responsibly extract resources. Finally, we visited a production site, where resources are prepared for distribution, and learned more about what ExxonMobil is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout their products’ life cycle.

Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

Taylor Childress, Chief of Staff for the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, joined us at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum to update us on the Council’s work to expedite permitting projects across the country. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, the Council has helped shepherd 22 projects through the federal permitting system – a milestone worth being proud of! Thank you, Taylor, for joining us and for all of the work you and your team are doing.

Permian Energy Center

While the weather impeded us from visiting Orsted’s Permian Energy Center, representatives from Orsted joined us in Midland to share how the Center contributes to the region’s all-of-the-above energy portfolio. This solar farm, which produces enough energy to power over 80,000 homes, plays a critical role in the Permian Basin, generating property tax revenue and landowner payments throughout the project’s lifetime.