Energy
February 15, 2024
The Oil Industry Keeps Getting Younger
Transactions like this week’s $26 billion Diamondback-Endeavor deal signal a changing of the guard.
Oil and Gas
Business
December 1, 2023
Oxy Deal Could Yield Billions for Tim Dunn’s Political Efforts
If Occidental Petroleum acquires CrownRock, the right-wing Midland oilman could become an even bigger power broker—in Texas and perhaps nationally.
Energy
September 5, 2023
Hundreds of Abandoned Oil Wells Are Rotting Away in Texas Bays
Defunct companies have left behind energy facilities that leak toxins into fragile coastal ecosystems. And guess who has to clean them up?
Film & TV
April 21, 2023
A Radical New Eco-Thriller Film Asks: Does the Climate Crisis Justify Blowing Up an Oil Pipeline?
The movie uses a classic heist format to tackle the hot topic of climate change.
Politics & Policy
March 14, 2023
The Craddicks’ Gushers of Cash: How a Powerful Texas Lawmaker and a Key Regulator Profit From the Industry They Oversee
Former House Speaker Tom Craddick and his family—including his daughter, Railroad Commission chairman Christi Craddick—earned about $10 million last year from oil and gas rights.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Whatever Happened to the Old-fashioned Texas Oilmen?
They washed the crude off their hands and put on suits and ties. Or sensible blazer-and-skirt combos.
Politics & Policy
September 5, 2022
The Ballí Saga on Padre Island Reminds Us That the Little Man Can Win
Cecilia Ballí recalls reporting on her family’s legal victory over the lawyer who swindled the Ballís out of lucrative land rights on Padre Island.
Energy
June 29, 2022
An Oil Well Off Padre Island Leaked for Months Before It Was Plugged
Patching it cost the state $1.6 million. Many others are similarly falling into disrepair, and the agencies charged with their oversight are doing nothing about them.
Politics & Policy
May 12, 2022
Sarah Stogner Has a Lot to Say for Herself
The Texas Railroad Commission candidate stripped down in a campaign video to get attention for her issues—and landed a spot in the May 24 Republican runoff. Which means it’s time to hear her out.
Energy
March 11, 2022
$100 Oil Is Back! Why Isn’t Texas Drilling?
Russia’s war on Ukraine has made it practically patriotic to pump oil, but the Permian hasn’t ramped up production. Don’t blame Washington. Blame Wall Street.
Energy
September 12, 2021
Fracking Has a Bad Rep, but Its Tech Is Powering a Clean Energy Shift
Texas start-ups are harnessing know-how born of the shale boom in pursuit of a greener future.
Energy
May 27, 2021
ExxonMobil and Its Rivals Learn They Can’t Ignore Climate Activists
Major setbacks this week may force the oil giants to speed efforts to curb carbon emissions and invest in renewables—and perhaps even abandon the search for new fossil-fuel plays.
Energy
May 20, 2021
Texas’s Oil and Gas Industry Is Defending Its Billions in Subsidies Against a Green Energy Push
The state's energy business has long counted on tax breaks and other largesse. Whether renewables or fossil fuels get more depends on how you do the math.
Health
September 2, 2020
In Port Arthur, Creating COVID-19 Medical Equipment Puts Residents’ Health at Risk
Local petrochemical facilities pump out essential plastic goods—for gloves, masks, gowns, and more—as well as harmful pollutants.
Politics & Policy
April 13, 2020
How to Erase a Neighborhood
The East End neighborhood of Freeport was once a thriving community. Today, the few remaining residents are about to be pushed out by the port. What happened?
Politics & Policy
March 18, 2020
Is Climate Change Denial Thawing in Texas?
Surprising statements by oil industry leaders have grabbed headlines. But the bigger change is underway more quietly, among young Republicans.
Music
March 17, 2020
This Lead Singer Had a Successful Career in Oil and Gas, Then She Got an Offer to Play Letterman
The Suffers’ front woman, Kam Franklin, on quitting her job to do music full time.
Politics & Policy
March 17, 2020
How Will the Oil Bust and the Coronavirus Affect the Texas Budget?
Historically, the Lege has met shortfalls with tax increases or spending cuts. Whether Dems or the GOP are in power makes all the difference.
Boomtown
February 18, 2020
Boomtown, Episode 11: The Last Frontier
Record-breaking oil production in the Permian Basin has brought the boom to the Big Bend’s doorstep for the first time. Is it too late to save this pristine landscape?
Boomtown
February 11, 2020
Boomtown, Episode 10: The Mitchell Paradox
No oil and gas baron since John D. Rockefeller has made more of an impact on society than George P. Mitchell. But this son of poor Greek immigrants who died a billionaire wanted to leave a legacy beyond oil and gas.
Boomtown
February 4, 2020
Boomtown, Episode 9: A Dark Horizon
Christian talks with renowned business writer Bethany McLean about how the finances of fracking aren't what they're cracked up to be.
Boomtown
December 17, 2019
Boomtown, Episode 2: The Rise of the Permian
The Santa Rita oil well, named after the patron saint of impossible dreams, launched the first Permian Basin boom and has been fueling the dreams of West Texas wildcatters ever since.
Energy
September 15, 2018
Tackling the Financial Reality of ‘Saudi America’
In her new book, Bethany McLean explores the unstable financial future of fracking.
Business
June 22, 2016
Out of Gas
How Aubrey McClendon, “America’s most reckless billionaire,” left some Houston energy firms holding the tab.
The Culture
April 21, 2015
On Shaky Ground
So what’s with all those earthquakes in North Texas? Is fracking really to blame? Let us give you a visual.
Energy
April 13, 2015
Silica Alley
A funny thing happened on the way to the San Angelo fracking sand transloading facility.
Politics & Policy
December 15, 2014
Tilting at Gas Wells
Skip Hollandsworth drills into the surprising (and not so surprising) fortunes of Denton’s anti-fracking ballot measure.
pump jacks
July 10, 2014
Oil Paintings
Luling’s artful pump jacks.
News & Politics
April 21, 2014
The Rough Guide to Frackistan
Energy reporter Russell Gold gives us a reason to give a frak about fracking.
Business
January 2, 2014
Keeping Lawsuits “Friendly”
The oil boom is back, so it stands to reason that other affectations of Oil Patch abundance wouldn’t be far behind. Like the “friendly lawsuit.”
Oil & Gas
October 29, 2013
The Feds and Fracking: A Chicken or Egg Question
Federal officials like to remind the public that the invention of hydraulic fracturing owes a great debt to government funding and support. Houston oilman George P. Mitchell would have disagreed.
Energy
October 21, 2013
The Energy Hunter
George Mitchell didn’t set out to launch one of the biggest oil and gas rushes in world history—he just wanted to coax some more gas out of an old well near Fort Worth.
Working Life
April 11, 2013
Tracey Zettner, Oil and Gas Sales Representative
“I haven’t thought about the bust or what I’ll do then. I live one day at a time. I’ll go with it as long as I can.”
Business
November 2, 2012
Texas Business Report: Chuck E. Cheese’s Ad Campaign Flops
The chain's parent company's strategy of investing more in a digital media campaign targeting moms seems to have backfired, with profits dropping 33 percent.
Energy
May 1, 1988
No Wonderland
Once an oil-field service boomtown, Alice doesn’t live well anymore.
Energy
February 1, 1987
Undertakers of the Oil Patch
The death of an oil well keeps an oil-field service company alive.
Business
December 1, 1986
Against the Grain
One school of thought holds that when the economy is in a nosedive, that’s the time to go into business. At least that’s what a farmer, an oilman, a developer, and a banker believe.
Politics & Policy
August 1, 1986
Mack Wallace, Railroad Commissioner, Wants to Save the World
Tapped by destiny, one man in Austin is forging an unlikely alliance between Texas oilmen and the friends of Israel.
Business
April 1, 1985
Why Boone Can’t Lose
An old hand at Pickens-watching reveals the key to the Amarillo oilman’s corporate-takeover antics.
Energy
July 1, 1980
Profits? What Profits?
Reading Big Oil’s annual reports for the truth about profits is a little like drilling for oil in the Baltimore Canyon: you know it’s there, but how deep will you have to go to find it?
Energy
August 1, 1979
Ten Giant Steps to Disaster
How did we get into this sorry energy mess? By making sorry decisions.
Energy
March 1, 1979
Psst . . . Have I Got a Deal for You!
Oil is a slippery business.
Energy
October 1, 1978
Working the Rigs
Show us the hardest working man in Texas and we’ll show you a roughneck.
Energy
August 1, 1978
Labor Pains
Second-generation refinery workers don’t believe in politicians or corporations and some of them don’t believe in unions. The question is, do they believe in strikes?
Business
March 1, 1973
Wall Street Overkill
Look out, offshore operators, they're headed your way!