Texas Tribune Festival On the Road - Symposium on Energy & Environment April 13, 2012

If you are in the Houston area, there is a free Energy Symposium April 13, from 8 to 4 at the Wortham Theatre on campus at the University of Houston (131 Wortham Theatre, Houston, TX 77204). There will be speakers and panel discussions covering topics related to the Eagle Ford all the way to broader Texas energy plan issues. Be sure to check our Eagle Ford Conferences page for future events. Here's a short summary of the agenda:

8-9 The Chancellor of the University of Houston System will speak

9:15-10:15 Barry Smitherman, Chairman of the TX RRC is presenting on "An Energy Plan for Texas"

10:30-11:30 Is Clean and Renewable Energy an Oxymoron? - Panel Discussion

1:30-2:30 The Impact of the Eagle Ford Shale - Panel Discussion

• Not really anything new.  A couple of politicians and an environmentalist talked about what theoretically needs to happen. If you aren't involved in public policy (intimately), you didn't miss much.

2:45-3:45 A conversation with two state representatives from the House Energy Resources Committee

Truckers Wanted! - Eagle Ford Drivers in High Demand

Eagle Ford truck driving jobs are in high demand. That's not news to those in South Texas that see the billboards and hear the pay rates. Sign on bonuses in the thousands of dollars are becoming more common and hourly rates can reach higher than $30.  The pay is good, but finding qualified candidates is not. Mysanantonio.com published an article  yesterday that provides more background on the number of openings and the obstacles to hiring.

Here are a few highlights from the article:

• San Antonio is losing drivers to the Eagle Ford
• Pay ranges from 25,000-80,000 for most jobs
• Background checks and drug test eliminate 50% of those apply for the positions
• Coastal Bend College is working to train CDL drivers

ZaZa Energy Acquires Eaglebine Acreage From Range Resources

ZaZa Energy completed an acquisition in March from Range Resources that expanded the company's Eaglebine position to almost 90,000 net acres. The company basically doubled its gross acreage in the play from 83,000 to 144,000 gross acres through the acquisition. ZaZa will operate the acreage and is require to make two undisclosed payments and drill one well under terms of the deal. ZaZa plans a six well drilling program, with both vertical and horizontal wells, that will start in May. The acreage is contiguous with the company's position that expands into parts of Grimes, Madison, and Walker counties. The company expects the greatest potential is from the liquids-rich Eaglebine, but also expects to drill through two other potential "resource plays" and seven conventional formations.

You can read more at the company website

Life in the Eagle Ford Shale

You can bet life in the Eagle Ford Shale is more prosperous than it was a few short years ago. Salaries often reach higher than $100,000 per year, but schedules can be difficult and the hours long. Even with the sacrifice, it's an easy decision for those looking to make a little more for their families.  The Houston Chronicle did a complete write up on life in the play over the weekend. 

Platinum Energy Solutions to Add San Antonio Eagle Ford Field Office - Yard

Platinum Energy Solutions is adding a 50-acre office and yard just south of San Antonio in the Braunig Industrial Park. The facility will add 200+ Eagle Ford Jobs, with an average salary of $60,000 per year. Platinum is an oilfield services provider with specialties in hydraulic fracturing, coiled tubing, and other pressure pumping services.

Read an entire article on the new facility at bizjournals.com.