Anyone else being told their job is in the Permian or they have no job? I don’t want to sacrifice the future of my children by moving there as the schools are so bad but I also don’t want to lose my job.
37 replies (most recent on top)
It’s sad how GP does this to people. The GP VP has a nice little speech - threatening your job if you refuse to move. No matter how many times your family has moved before.
It’s winning leadership style. Right?
Just so we’re clear: red states have higher welfare burdens than blue states. Red states also accept more in federal funds than they pay out in taxes. This left wing handout trope doesn’t hold up when you put numbers to it.
@vpz+1eSCDLTu
We are pursuing structural efficiencies, does that seem prudent. EM is a private company, not in the business of free handouts like the left wing governments.
I am excited to be moving to LCS group in Midland
You will be busy if you relocate to the Permian in Midland-Odessa.
Permian Production to Reach Yet Another High As Oil Zooms
www.entreprenur.com
Big producers like ExxonMobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX) and ConocoPhillips (COP) are betting heavily on the prolific Permian Basin as the shale play looks set to hit a new production record.
By Nilanjan Choudhury January 20, 2022
This story originally appeared on Zacks
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Drilling Productivity Report, oil output in the Permian Basin will surpass 5 million barrels per day in February. The agency forecasts that crude volumes from the western part of Texas and the south-eastern part of New Mexico will go up from a record 4,996 thousand barrels per day (Mbbl/d) in January to 5,076 Mbbl/d next month. The projected production figure for February would be a new high for America’s biggest oil field and reflects the steady addition of rigs. As proof of improvement in activity, the rig count in the Permian Basin has risen to 293 from an all-time low of 116 in August 2020.
As far as combined U.S. oil supplies from seven major shale formations (Anadarko, Appalachia, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Niobrara and Permian) is concerned, EIA expects it to increase from 8,436 thousand barrels per day (Mbbl/d) in January to 8,540 Mbbl/d in February. As crude prices hover around the $85-barrel level, production is expected to increase in five of the seven unconventional plays, with the largest gain of 80,000 barrels per day happening in the Permian Basin.
The effects of strong oil prices can also be seen in the number of wells that are being drilled but not completed, or wells that could be turned on at short notice. The EIA said that the number of such wells declined by 214 over the past month, with 91 of those in the Permian.
Experts say that it’s cheaper to drill and complete oil wells in the Permian Basin as compared to most other major fields. Moreover, there are certain parts of the shale play whose well-returns are the best in the U.S. Permian’s attractive economics. This means that producers can make money and sustain growth there at the current price. According to estimates, the average breakeven prices in most of the Permian well locations is below $50 per barrel — the lowest in the United States.
It’s not surprising that the United States’ top energy moguls have renewed their focus on the largest U.S. shale play. The likes of ExxonMobil XOM, Chevron CVX and ConocoPhillps COP are placing long-term bets on the Permian Basin to take full advantage of the commodity upcycle.
ExxonMobil continues to invest heavily in the low-cost play. The company recently unveiled its plans to spend between $20 billion and $25 billion each year out to 2027. Along with offshore Guyana developments, XOM will allocate the lion’s share of the budget toward Permian.
At the third-quarter end, to Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) ExxonMobil produced 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the Permian Basin, which comprised more than 40% of its total production in the United States. XOM has a strong presence in the prolific area, where it continues to lower its fracking & drilling costs.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Chevron, meanwhile, announced that for 2022, it intends to spend $4.5 billion on shale, with the largest part (or $3 billion) going to the lucrative Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico alone. In fact, CVX’s existing project pipeline is among the best in the industry, thanks to its premier position in the lucrative play.
Driven by robust output in the showpiece region, Chevron's U.S. volumes during the first three quarters of 2021 increased some 10% from the year-earlier level to 1,113 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day. CVX currently holds approximately 2.2 million net acres in the Permian — primarily in the prolific Midland and Delaware basins.
Another big U.S. company ConocoPhillips' Permian footprint has expanded significantly over the past year, culminating with the recent purchase of 225,000 net acres in the core of the oilfield. The acquisition added 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production to COP’s portfolio, putting it just behind ExxonMobil to become the second-largest hydrocarbon producer in the Lower 48.
To further frame the Permian's importance for ConocoPhillips, COP expects a company-wide capital expenditure of $7.2 billion in 2022, including $700 million associated with the Permian asset acquisition.
In conclusion, crude production in the Permian Basin — the lowest-cost shale region — seems to have taken off with commodity prices stabilizing within the range of $75 to $85 a barrel. As major operators hit the accelerator on drilling activity, the region is set to experience significant gains in oil production next year, taking it past the pre-pandemic levels.
From an old guy, spent 30 years in Midland and lived through multiple bust. The closer you are to the wellhead, the safer you are.
If EM is pushing you hard to transfer to Midland, it means they are willing to PIP you. Gotta fill that 8% “ it’s not a lay off, we are helping you”. No university hiring - only BTC. So Midland headcount is declining.
Be careful buying a house - once you are pipped, you have to get yourself back to civilization.
I agree with a lot of the stuff on this website but yall are crying too much. You work in the og industry. You'll never be in the most awesome places in the world. Esp if you are upstream. Everyone has to do their time in midland. 2 to 3 hour drive to the field is normal pampered princess. I'm starting to think xom needs to cut more of your lazy as--s.
No, I’m in Midland. Relative to an overwhelming majority of the offshore and international projects in our Upstream portfolio…yes, easy access to the field to be able to check out a pool vehicle and hit the road.
You work for an oil company, the closer you are to the value added workforce the better off you are. Or wait with all the other sheep waiting in the sl------r pen for your turn. Working for an oil company is not supposed to be like living in a mall. The less porch dogs this company fattens the better off we all are.
@1cul+1eSCDLTu And yet HR keeps trying to pin the resignations on first line supervisors. The moral ki----g decisions were cutting the premium, 8% PIPoff, 401k match suspension, and on and on NOT THE SUPERVISORS. At least not for me and those I talk to. Local management is actually pretty good.
@1cul+1eSCDLTu Wow. An actual well thought out and balanced response.
Anyone you can talk to in Midland that can give you an honest opinion of Midland? A few years ago I was faced with the same decision due to our BU being sold (looks like from the company announcements there are more being divested this year). I went to Midland, rented instead of buying, and so far the experience has been mostly positive. As for the school system, I've heard both positives and negatives (especially for day care and pre-school). I have coworkers that graduated from the Midland school system and they seem just fine. There are many that are transplants working here. The managers I've dealt with are mostly good, it is the dipsh!ts higher up that keep making d-mb decisions that ki--s the morale. If you want to stay with the company for now, this might not be the worst move you can make. We are busy and short handed no doubt. Midland side you can get to most of the field within an hour. Delaware side at least 2-3 hours depending on traffic which is terrible as activity picks up again.
The woodlands is tolerable.
Houston is a dump
Midland is a huge dump that when things go bad they go real bad as your laid off in midland with a house worth 1/2 what you paid
@1cjd+1eSCDLTu Easy access to the field? You obviously are from Houston. The field is huge. It often takes 2 to 3 hours to get to the place you need to be.
Anywhere outside of Irving is the third world, baby.
and education is a myth.
It’s not that bad and at least carries a 10% premium over Houston! Some functions have work life balance while others hit hard with attrition do not… still get 5 travel days, a short commute, and easy access to the field.
@tep+1eSCDLTu the only thing that’s a “stretch” about a Permian assignment is the promises about being able to come back as the new boss. Sucka.
The answer is probably "No" in today's environment, but you can request a temporary domestic assignment where the company will pay for an apartment in the Permian and the family can stay in Houston.
Living out of a suitcase for 2+ years is tough on the family, but at least you get to see them on weekends. It is a 7-hour drive from Midland to Houston so you may consider flying.
If you say No, you probably will get PIP'd this year. However, you still have 10months to find a job before getting off EM payroll.
You can also say Yes and start job hunting now.
Heard that line a few times before. Made a decision after 15 years with Exxonmobil to no longer cater to every whim and ask from Exxonmobil especially when in comes to impacting my family and personal life. As soon as I said NO I knew my “career” was over. This was years ago when the market was good and as soon as a better opportunity came along I took it. Exxonmobil Will demand and keep asking for more of you without any thought or remorse and will rarely reward you for the extra effort or commitment unless you are a hi pot which in that case you ALWAYS say yes. Life decisions and you need to decide what’s most important and if it’s worth it in the end.
If you are willing to move there you should be looking at applying to the other operators out there. Their pay is better and they give bonuses. They didn’t stop paying bonuses during downturn either or cut other benefits like XTO did.
@xit+1eSCDLTu Almost as naive as those who think the company will reward them for their flexibility. Only HiPos are rewarded. The rest of us are tolerated until no longer needed.
@syq+1eSCDLTu My personal favorite is dual career and inability of my partner to obtain employment in Midland. Suckers who move out there and lose second income hoping for company to reward them for their sacrifice are naive.
Why would you go somewhere with bad schools to get paid less once cost of living is considered. Just put in careerconnect you don’t want to go to Permian due to some made up Personal reason and add something like thank you for exhibiting care. It worked for me. Popular excuses aren’t verified so no need to be true and can include caring for elderly parents, a child with some kind of learning problem, you or family member with a health problem that requires specialist doctors. Most managers are afraid to ask details so just make a nonspecific claim and watch them exhibit care!
@tep+1eSCDLTu Wrong. There is no reward for spending time in the Permian. Only exception is if you are a HiPo just passing through. Look at the announcements page. Your thesis is wrong.
Honestly say no. It is just not worth it. It truly is bad in Midland or anywhere in Uncon sites in US - other than Pittsburgh
S&D will promise you the world saying how great it will be for your career. Two brutal truths:
- the yearly hunger games favors the HiPos who are just passing through
- the promised follow on promotion, expat assignment or whatever was promised to get you to accept never materializes
The company really should pay tuition for private schools out there just like they do for expats. If Canadian and Australian expats get private school why not Permian? I bet Canadian and Australian public schools test higher than the burning dumpster fire that is Carlsbad and Midland ISD.
Schools are cr-p because they reflect the biases of the locals.
But when it comes to concerns regarding my kids, top for me is the poor quality of air and water.
Midland and their surroundings smell like cr-p all the time, which doesn’t seem to be a good environment to raise healthy kids.
Finally, water quality is worrisome because standards are set to mask issues.
There is no way I’d move to Midland. They are welcome to try to make me.
The company really should consider offering to pay tuition for private schools out there like they do for expats. If Canadian and Australian expats get private school why not Permian? I bet Canadian and Australian public schools test higher than the burning dumpster fire that is Carlsbad and Midland ISD.
You will also be told how great it will be for your career but then watch as the same ranking system and 8% NSI is applied. Not to mention the promised great next assignments never materialize.
And If you are a minority and don’t accept this stretch assignment… don’t complain about the white male that did take the position and is your boss when he comes back from the rotation.
Just telling it like it is.
If you’re a minority or align politically with “the left” in the US, I’d highly recommend avoiding the Permian. Just telling it like it is. Of course there are exceptions (or willful ignorance).
Never take a "career development" assignment in a new location unless you want to live there for the rest of your life.
Many former XOM employees were promised a three -year assignment before they returned to home base only to realize that they were stuck there for the rest of their career.
Permian, Guyana, Angola. Truth is we just don’t need that many bodies in Houston anymore. It’s sites/field offices, India, or GTFO.
That’s how they get most people out to the Delaware/Permian. Forced by S&D. Prepare to spend up to 5 years there (though might get lucky and leave after 3). But realize it’s your and your family’s time you won’t get back. S&D will lie/say anything to get you to move there, then leave you to hang. Weekend travel is hard (though managers are usually reasonable), the days can be long (easily 12+ hours if you’re driving to sites) and your health will decline if you’re not staying on top of it (watch the drinking, fast food, lack of sleep).
If you’re committed to EM for the long haul or want a quiet life for a few years I’d actually consider taking the assignment, but IMO I’d say the juice (EM) is not worth the squeeze (long & prosperous career). Otherwise, I’d consider starting the job search. The market is still hot!!!
- someone who’s talking from exxperience^