FUELING UTAH’S GROWTH AND PROSPERITY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UTAH PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Standing Strong in the In-Between Times
Uinta Wax — Corporate Office 6000 Western Place Ste. 1000 Fort Worth, TX 76107 • Investment in an expanded gas takeaway in the Uinta Basin to alleviate flaring. • Employing 180 people in the Uinta Basin. • Wildcat Midstream LLP — Rail Terminal — Launched Phase I expansion to allow export of more than 100k Bbls/day to Gulf Coast refineries. • Wildcat Sand Plant - Locally sourced Frac Sand with an annual processing capacity of over 2 million tons. • Gross Production — Over 28k BOEPD. Safely focusing on meeting the world's energy and wax product needs Uinta Wax — Field Office 978 N Crescent Rd. Roosevelt, UT 84066 • Gross Production Over 28k BOEPD Uintah Basin Footprint
The Utah Petroleum Association (UPA) is a Utah-based, statewide petroleum trade association representing companies involved in all aspects of Utah’s oil and gas industry. We exist to serve our member companies and advance the responsible development of Utah’s natural resources and manufacture of fuels that drive Utah’s economy. Kristina Brown, Chevron (Chair) Dan Brooks, Crescent Energy (Vice Chair, Upstream) Brad Shafer, Marathon (Vice Chair, Downstream) James Lebeck, SM Energy John Frey, FourPoint Energy Cameron Cuch, Uinta Wax Kristen Lingley, KODA Resources Drew McCallister, Greylock Josh Demorrett, ConocoPhillips Jeremy Price, HF Sinclair Stephen Jeffs, Silver Eagle Refining Mike Swanson, Big West Oil Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President Jennette King, Administrative Assistant Marise Textor, Air Policy Jon Ekstrom, Communications Lead Eden Newell, Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Who We Are 4 UPDATE
©2025 Utah Petroleum Association (UPA) | The newsLINK Group LLC. All rights reserved. UPdate is published three times each year by The newsLINK Group LLC for the UPA and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the UPA, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. The UPdate is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of UPA. While UPdate encourages a first‑print policy, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (855) 747-4003. Pub. 6 2025 ISSUE 1 22 8 7 4 Who We Are PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 6 Standing Strong in the In-Between Times By Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President, UPA INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 7 Leading the Industry Forward By Kristina Brown, Chair, UPA 8 2025 Legislative Recap 11 Northern Wasatch Front and Uinta Basin Ozone 14 2025 UPA Annual Meeting Recap 16 Accelerating Regulatory Compliance How Utah Gas Met Its LDAR Deadline in Record Time 18 Eliminating Pneumatic Methane Emissions How Utah Operators Can Use Nitrogen to Meet Compliance Deadlines and Improve Reliability 20 Recognizing Industry Leaders UPA’s 2025 Safety, Environmental and Community Champions 22 Wildlife & Energy Photo Contest Winners! 24 Register Today! UPA Flyfishing Outing 25 Welcome to Our Newest UPA Members! 26 Thank You, UPA Chairman’s Circle Members 26 Thank You, Platinum Members Summary 14 16 5 UPDATE
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Standing Strong in the In-Between Times One of iconic comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s best-known jokes — aside from some variation of What’s the deal with airline peanuts? — is probably, “In a recent survey, people said their greatest fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two?! That means at a funeral, statistically, more people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.” I thought about this a lot at our recently wrapped Annual Meeting for two reasons. The first is obvious as a parade of experts, elected officials and industry representatives all stood in front of a packed house and shared their unique insights. The second reason is less obvious but no less pertinent. In his book “SeinLanguage,” he writes that the best times in life are those “in-between times.” To illustrate this point, he writes, “It’s the feeling you have when you get offered a job, but before you actually have to do any of the work.” That’s an underrated feeling for sure, but the in-between times are also a period of uncertainty. Or, put another way, an inflection point where our trajectory will undeniably change, but we don’t know exactly how. The reason I thought about this is because I cannot escape the feeling that our industry, our state and our country are in an in-between time. How could it not be? Let’s tackle these one at a time. The Uinta Basin is an oil and gas play that gains more and more notoriety, curiosity and interest across the industry and across the world the more people learn about it. We absolutely have abundant resources ready to be tapped, yet there are plenty of growing pains in terms of infrastructure and scale still to overcome. Utah’s governor is generally supportive of our industry, and he’s set an ambitious goal of increasing the development of ALL of Utah’s natural resources through an initiative called “Operation Gigawatt.” He wants to see a doubling of energy production in the next 10 years, expansion in our transmission infrastructure and development of geothermal and nuclear energy. These are generational ambitions, and what we know for sure is that the realistic way to achieve a doubling of power production in a decade is through natural gas. While the ambition is clear, the roadmap of HOW we get there remains very unclear. The uncertainty of change is perhaps most notable and felt most profoundly at this moment at the federal level. A year ago, we lamented the Biden Administration’s open hostility to our industry, where actions spoke even louder than words as lease sales on federal lands were canceled (or just plain never held), pipeline projects were canceled, offshore areas were deemed totally off-limits, and consumer choice on things like stoves and cars were usurped from the consumers and instead decreed from the top. We now have a president who champions our industry vociferously and repeatedly virtually every single chance he gets. He espouses a platform of “energy dominance,” and with Chris Wright leading the Department of Energy, who you will recall was our keynote speaker at our Annual Meeting last year, we can expect to see American energy fully unleashed for the benefit of not just all Americans but the world. While this shift in tone is certainly welcome and a bit disorienting after the previous four years, challenges remain in enacting this agenda of energy dominance. Oil and natural gas are commodities traded on a global market, meaning that elements of our destiny are not entirely in our hands, no matter how enthusiastically our president cheerleads for us. There are persistent capacity issues in the refining space, a need for permitting reform and the complicating factor of tariffs. How the industry accommodates and addresses these issues and supply and demand dynamics will be interesting, to say the least. We all share the excitement of the prospect of American energy dominance, but we shouldn’t underestimate the very real challenges that still exist. What I remain steadfast in, and something that never experiences an in-between time for me, is the grit, resolve and creativity of our members. We are, and always have been, an industry of problem-solvers. Despite the recalcitrance of the Biden Administration, America’s oil and natural gas industry achieved record-breaking production. Wherever we go from here — in terms of the industry, our state and our country — I know our members will adapt, evolve and thrive. No one knows how long an in-between time will last. I certainly don’t. This issue is a snapshot of where we are right now. You’ll see award winners, insights and photos from the Annual Meeting; profiles of our members and companies; and a lot more. I’m proud to represent you, and no matter what lies ahead, that is something that will not change. Enjoy the issue. By Rikki Hrenko-Browning President, UPA 6 UPDATE
INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Leading the Industry Forward H ello, UPA members! It’s an honor to serve as the 2025 chair of such a respected and impactful association. After years of partnership with Rikki and the UPA team to help deliver results for the industry in our state, I’m so proud to step into this leadership role. No doubt about it, we’re entering a dynamic time for oil and natural gas. Many compounding factors make it feel like the call for “more” — more modern energy, including what we produce — has never been louder. UPA’s sustained engagement with policymakers and community leaders across the state has driven a strong appreciation for what we do and how we contribute to Utah’s success. Growing energy needs, coupled with aspirations to lead the U.S. in energy innovation and abundance, means Utah is gearing up to ascend the summit toward its energy future. UPA is well positioned to partner in these goals, but we need to be clear-eyed about the journey ahead of us. Since the industry can’t take this current moment for granted, I’ll be working toward some objectives over the next few months. My priorities include helping promote what you do best, including the strong safety and environmental performance of our members and the many ways you make a difference in the communities where you operate. UPA also knows the importance of connections and has plans to host activities throughout the state — including several new offerings for members — that provide a chance to foster relationships with stakeholders and across the industry. I’m looking forward to participating in many of these events and seeing you there. And because I believe in the power of feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me at kristina.brown@chevron.com. I welcome open communication that helps UPA make smart, informed decisions to better support all of you. Your time and resources enable the success of our industry, and we know we couldn’t do this without a strong membership. More About Kristina Kristina Brown is the corporate affairs manager at Chevron’s Refinery in North Salt Lake, Utah. In this role, she manages policy, public affairs and community engagement as a member of the refinery’s leadership team. She also serves as an advisory board member for several community organizations, including Davis Technical College, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air at Utah State University and as chair-elect for the Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR). Before joining Chevron in 2016, Kristina worked on natural resource and workforce development issues across various roles in the California legislative arena, including as a senior advisor for the California Senate Republican Leader. Kristina earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in International Agriculture Development from the University of California, Davis. She lives in Millcreek, Utah, and spends most of her free time outside, hiking local canyons with her dogs. By Kristina Brown Chair, UPA 7 UPDATE
2025 A s of the stroke of midnight on March 7, the 2025 legislative session is in the books! This year saw a few themes emerge, with energy at the forefront: • Oil and Gas: While there were many bills that have a nexus with our industry, and we vigilantly watch for unintended consequences, there were two major bills directly impacting our industry. SB234 will provide significant financial incentives for those producers developing infrastructure and emission reduction projects by allowing those who receive a High Cost Infrastructure Tax Credit to directly deduct this credit against their severance tax liability. SB207 has also been a major point of discussion, setting out a new “local impact mitigation tax” of $0.05/bbl on all oil produced and $0.0025/mcf on all gas produced from 2026-29. The bill limits the use of funds back to specific transportation infrastructure and has reporting obligations for those receiving the funding. The bill was effective May 7 and will prohibit counties from imposing similar oil or gas mitigation fees. Both of these bills are worth a close read. SB159 also requires that Class VII landfills (those that take oil and gas wastes) install impervious liners in new facilities or in all facilities no later than July 1, 2030. Legislative Recap • Power (or more commonly referred to as “Energy”): Following the governor’s announcement of Operation Gigawatt, several bills focused on energy policy, some of the most controversial of which were debated and volleyed until the final days of the session. The Senate had internally competing views about how to balance the fine line of creating a regulatory structure that supports large loads (whether those be data centers or other large power users) to invest in our infrastructure and connect to the grid while also protecting existing ratepayers from costs that would be socialized from these new large loads, with two bills SB227 and SB132 duking it out until the fifth (!!) substitute of SB132 ultimately prevailed. We fully expect to see this conversation continue over the interim. Other big energy bills included HB201 requiring full cost attribution for supplemental (non-baseload) resources in integrated resource plans and establishing requirements for calculating generation capacity that focus on baseload power delivery. HB249 aims to expand nuclear power, create the Nuclear Energy Consortium and the Utah Energy Council, establish a process for designating energy development zones and create the Energy Development Investment Fund. HB157 instructs the Office of Energy Development to develop and maintain energy education programs and curricula for grades K-12, provide professional development training for educators, develop energy-related workforce development programs, and establish the Energy Education and Workforce Development Advisory Group, which UPA has a seat on. HB057 establishes additional protections for residential solar customers. • Federalism: There were numerous bills crafted to proactively assert the state’s rights under federalism. HB380 set the stage by stating the presumption that jurisdiction over subject matters not enumerated to the federal government in the United States Constitution remains with the state and that any presumption against state jurisdiction may be overcome only by federal demonstration of specific constitutional authorization. Other related bills included HB464 establishing the state sovereignty fund, HB474 describing by the sponsor as the Utah REINS Act (following the lead from Sen. Mike Lee), HB488 bolstering the resources of Utah’s federalism commission, SCR3 reaffirming Utah’s sovereignty under the principle of federalism and asserting the state’s right to determine its own energy policies, and SJR6 noting the significance of the Supreme Court’s recent “Loper Bright” decision in helping to preserve federalism — urging state agencies to review federal regulations in light of the Loper Bright decision. • Taxes: Several bills aimed to continue Utah’s multi-year effort to provide tax relief. SB71 will expand eligibility for the Social Security tax credit by increasing the income thresholds from $75,000 for households to $90,000, falling short of Gov. Cox’s plan to totally eliminate tax on Social Security benefits, while other legislation sought to amend property tax relief programs, including the Circuit Breaker Homeowner Tax Credit and renter relief initiatives. The legislature also moved multiple bills removing or limiting tax incentives for renewable energy. HB106 continued the state’s five-year march of reducing income taxes, with a rate drop from 4.55% to 4.50%, which for an average Utah family is a return of about $45. 8 UPDATE
• And as a hodgepodge of other general interest items, Utah became the first U.S. state to require app stores to verify user ages, the first state to ban fluoride in public water systems, and will now require voters to use the last four digits of their driver license or state ID for mail-in ballots, as well as requiring voters to opt-in to receiving mail-in ballots by 2029. This year, legislators showed a bit more restraint, with “only” 1,377 bill requests, as compared to last year’s record-breaking 1,487 bills, but with a record-breaking volume of bills numbered and introduced, 959, as compared to the 934 in the 2024 session. While 2025 saw record highs in terms of bills introduced and passed through each house, the final days of the session saw significant delays in bills moving through the process, with the Senate and House more at odds with one another than in the recent past. Come the stroke of midnight on Friday, March 7, the legislature passed (only?!) 582 bills. The Utah Legislature concluded its 2025 General Session with a budget of $30.8 billion for fiscal year 2026 (compared to a similar $29.4 billion budget the previous year), more details about what was funded and significant fiscal actions can be found online at budget.utah.gov. From a fiscal perspective, we were told that 2024 was a “socks and underwear Christmas” and 2025 was “re-washing the socks and underwear” (two gems from the chair of Executive Appropriations!). It was a good year for UPA not to run any appropriation requests. However, through HB378, we were able to secure substantial ongoing funding for the Species Mitigation Account (formerly known as ESMF) to bolster their work preventing listings under the ESA and providing for downlistings and delistings, which can be major roadblocks to a wide variety of infrastructure projects (see graph on page 10). TAKE US ANYWHERE! Scan to read the most recent publication. Stay up to date from your couch, office or even the moon! Place a 1” x 1” QR Code White on Black Here to the main website Place this indd file at 100% and place an image or pdf of THIS ISSUE’S COVER in a frame that is 12p9 by 16p6 (2.125” x 2.75”) to cover this text. Then proportionally resize the whole thing as needed. 9 UPDATE
Through our cooperation with the Utah Mining Association, UPA held weekly legislative committee meetings where we tracked 159 bills and engaged with bill sponsors on nearly half of those. Of the 27 bills we took a position of support on, 24 passed. Of the seven bills that we remained opposed to at the end of the session, all seven failed. You may note that we support many more bills than we oppose as we work hard to educate, advocate and cooperatively improve bills with the goal of always trying to address the policy challenge so that we can move a bill from oppose to neutral or support. To that end, we provided language for substitutes or amendments that were incorporated into more than 15 bills. All things considered, this was another successful legislative session for UPA in progressing our key priorities and fending off what could have been bad policies. The resounding theme of the legislature is the need for more affordable and reliable (and mostly baseload) power, which has been an opportunity to educate on the vital role of natural gas in meeting this energy need. The undercurrent of the state’s willingness to assert its position under the principles of federalism continues to grow. As you can gather from our bill tracking stats, we haven’t covered everything here, so if you have questions on a bill on our tracker or any bill, don’t hesitate to get in touch! DELIVERING EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS • Reach Forklifts • Boom Lifts • Light Towers • Welders • Generators • Carry Deck Cranes • Industrial Tool & Much More! RENTALS I SALES I SERVICE 5050 West 150 South, SLC, UT 84104 801.596.2300 I www.mywse.com Serving Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, & Nevada EQUIPMENT 10 UPDATE
Emissions from Utah’s petroleum refineries are heavily regulated. The refineries have major source air permits with Best Available Control Technology, are subject to Title V permitting and comply with various EPA rules (e.g., rules for petroleum refineries, boilers, benzene waste, storage vessels, leak detection and repair, etc.). They also comply with Utah State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for prior air quality standards (now all attaining) and with Utah’s Moderate Ozone SIP for the NWF. In addition, the local petroleum refineries make and sell Tier 3 gasoline voluntarily for the area instead of applying credits generated elsewhere as allowed in EPA’s gasoline standards, thus reducing motor vehicle emissions. Modeling studies show that only about 25% of NWF ozone is caused by local emissions. Of that portion, almost half originates from motor vehicle and offroad mobile sources (examples include equipment for lawn and garden, construction, rail and airports). Large parts of NWF ozone come from international global sources, Utah biogenic sources and sources in the U.S. outside of Utah. The petroleum refineries supply only about 5% of local ozone-forming emissions. A t the end of the last administration, EPA finalized two adverse rulemakings for the state of Utah, one for the Northern Wasatch Front and one for the Uinta Basin (UB). If left in place, these rules would have costly and unnecessary impacts on our industry. In December, EPA completed a rulemaking that reclassified the Northern Wasatch Front (NWF) ozone nonattainment area, which includes all of Salt Lake City, its suburbs and the five petroleum refineries. This action will require significant new controls on emissions. EPA’s decision was flawed for a variety of reasons. The NWF has a long history of decreasing emissions of NOx and VOC, the two primary ozone precursor emissions to ozone formation in ambient air, but ozone has actually increased during this time. Figure 1. Ozone Design Value and Emission Trends (2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020) Northern Wasatch Front and Uinta Basin Ozone 11 UPDATE
The influence of international emissions, which arise from Mexico and Asia, causes about 6 to 7% of the ozone in the NWF, per multiple local studies. Moreover, the phenomenon of Asian emissions traveling to the intermountain west has been well-documented in peer-reviewed scientific studies. Fortunately, the Clean Air Act has Section 179B that allows states to show that the area would have attained the standard but for the influence of international emissions. Utah developed a 179B demonstration, submitted just days after EPA issued the final reclassification rule, and EPA did not consider it in the rulemaking even though they had a final draft version in hand and had provided feedback to Utah on an earlier version. Governor Cox also requested that the nonattainment area be expanded to include more of Tooele County and a large emissions source within the expanded boundary. When EPA issued the rulemaking to reclassify the area to Serious, the statutory deadline to act on the boundary adjustment had passed by a few months earlier, but EPA ignored this request too. EPA also did not provide the required public comment period, using faulty reasoning for why it was not necessary. Utah and UPA filed petitions for reconsideration with EPA, which EPA recently granted. This is a major positive step for the NWF. Utah and UPA also engaged the court and filed motions with the court to stay the rulemaking and hold the court case in abeyance while EPA completes the reconsideration. The court granted abeyance except for ruling on the stay. Recently, the court granted the stay of the rulemaking, holding the NWF at moderate nonattainment while EPA completes the reconsideration. EPA also recently withdrew its problematic guidance for states to demonstrate the effect of international emissions. The guidance included criteria that went far beyond the simple plain language of the federal Clean Air Act. Also in December, EPA completed a rulemaking that denied the request by Utah and the Ute Tribe to grant a second extension for the Uinta Basin to attain the EPA air quality standard for ozone. The Basin would have attained the standard if EPA had approved the second Figure 2. Source Contributions to NWF Ozone and Source Sectors for Man-Made VOC and NOx Emissions in the NWF Source Contributions to NWF Ozone, Bountiful Monitor, Exceedance Day Average (modeled) Source Sectors for Man-Made Emissions (VOC + NOx), Counties Included in the NWF 12 UPDATE
extension. With the denial, EPA moved the UB up from Marginal to Moderate nonattainment. This triggered EPA’s statutory obligation to move the UB to an even higher level, Serious. All of this results in significant additional controls and restrictions, despite the very real progress already being made to reduce emissions and enhance air quality. Again, EPA’s decision was flawed for a variety of reasons. For one, the UB has rare wintertime ozone that occurs only with heavy snow cover on the ground and temperature inversions that trap emissions in the Basin. The UB experienced exceptionally high snowfall in 2023, one of the two highest snow years of the last 50 years. Additionally, air quality in the UB has steadily improved over the past decade, with current ozone levels at or near EPA’s standard and 25% lower than in 2013, despite a doubling of oil production. The oil and gas industry, the primary source of emissions that form ozone in the UB, complies with more stringent federal and state regulations now compared to 2013, including EPA’s 2022 rulemaking requiring more emission controls for sources on Tribal lands. These controls are in place now but, for the most part, were not yet in place for the high snow/high ozone winter of 2023. The industry also implements voluntary emission controls, including flyovers with airplanes outfitted with emission detection technology that provides images of the otherwise invisible emissions. UPA continues to work with UDAQ towards implementing EPA’s expansive regulations to control methane emissions from existing oil and gas sources, the so-called “OOOOc” regulation. Controlling methane also controls VOCs. Figure 3. UB Ozone Trends About 75% of the oil and gas sources in the UB are on Tribal lands where EPA currently administers the air quality standards. The remaining 25% are on lands under the State of Utah’s jurisdiction The State of Utah, the Ute Tribe, a joint coalition of the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition with Duchesne and Uintah Counties, and UPA all engaged the courts and/or EPA seeking their reconsideration, with UPA, the State and the Tribe also requesting a stay of the December rulemaking. We are excited to share that EPA has granted that reconsideration, which means that EPA will re-do the rulemaking, a process that will take a year or more. Due to the regulatory mechanism the Biden administration used to issue the rule, EPA could not grant the stay of the rule, which is why UPA and Utah pursued a judicial stay to the rule. If granted, the stay would pause the rule so that the UB would return to Marginal while EPA completes the reconsideration. A group of three environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) jointly filed motions to intervene in the case and to file a brief opposing the judicial stay. The court has not yet decided on whether they can file in opposition to the stay. However, the court granted the NGOs’ request to intervene if the case eventually goes to full briefing and oral argument, something that we do not anticipate given that EPA will reconsider the rule. Nonetheless, the court granted our request to put the court case in abeyance other than ruling on the NGO requests and our stay motion. Thus, the case will remain in abeyance until EPA completes the reconsideration. We are extremely grateful to the member companies who have funded these efforts and to our diligent legal team for working so effectively on these issues. This isn’t the finish line, but it’s progress in the right direction for both cases. What this demonstrates is that when we work together, we achieve great things. It’s through the Utah Petroleum Association and trade associations like ours that members can leverage technical expertise, policy savvy and network connections to the benefit of our collective strength. We’re proud to represent you, and EPA’s grants of our requests to reconsider is a feather in our collective cap. 13 UPDATE
T he 2025 UPA Annual Meeting featured insight, knowledge, connection and fun. As we noted multiple times throughout the meeting, this year was a year of transition in so many ways. We find ourselves with new players in the Uinta Basin, new elected officials at the federal level and, most notably, a new administration that one of our panelists referred to as a “disruptor administration.” That description proved to be apt as our presenters discussed everything from mergers and acquisitions to tariffs, the Department of Government Efficiency and much more. Here’s a snapshot of the two days spent at the beautiful Sundance Resort. The first day kicked off with Ericka Perryman from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) discussing the history of electric vehicle mandates and the attempted banning of gas stoves. Much of the public was unaware of these policies, and when they learned more, the policies became extremely unpopular, and many have been ultimately rescinded. This presentation set the tone for the cruciality of power generation, and we touched on that theme from a number of angles over the next two days. Ericka gave an energized presentation that was followed by key insights from state regulators from the Department of Air Quality, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Oil, Gas & Mining and a discussion about Tribal and Partnership Win-Wins featuring representatives of industry, BLM and the Ute Tribe. Day 1 concluded with food, drinks and networking. Day 2 began with remarks from our president, our outgoing and incoming chairs, and recognition of the great work done by our companies for their efforts in the Safety, Environmental and Community space. All of the nominees submitted work that is highly valuable, but only three winners were awarded. You can read about them on pages 20-21 in this issue. A federal policy panel followed, and our members were hungry for knowledge about the inner workings of the federal government. A lively discussion and robust Q&A session formally kicked off the morning as our experts from the U.S. Oil & Gas Association and Western States Petroleum Association lent their expertise to help everyone better understand what’s happening now and what they can expect going forward, including from blue states reacting to the current federal environment. We brought it closer to home with a downstream panel and a state legislative update before lunch, and we’re appreciative of everyone who participated. Our keynote speaker was Frank Macchariola, formerly of the American Petroleum Institute and currently of American Clean Power. Frank highlighted the need for increased deployment of both traditional and renewable resources. This presentation is pertinent to Utah in so many ways considering the governor’s ambitious Operation Gigawatt initiative and the increased proliferation of data centers and AI. You will see UPA active in this discussion going forward. Frank, and the Q&A that ensued, set the table nicely for what you’ll see from us in both the near and medium term. We wrapped the afternoon with an insightful breakdown of the recent merger and acquisition activity in the Uinta Basin (and across the industry), a lively roundtable with our upstream producers and capped off the day with U.S. Congressman Dr. Mike Kennedy. This year’s Annual Meeting was one of the best yet. The energy in the room was incredible, our panelists brought their best game, and the venue was as lovely as always. If you missed this year’s event, we hope you’ll join us next year at Sundance Resort once again! 2025 UPA Recap Annual Meeting 14 UPDATE
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Accelerating Regulatory Compliance How Utah Gas Met Its LDAR Deadline in Record Time With just four weeks left until a critical regulatory deadline, Utah Gas Corp faced a major challenge. Hundreds of well-pads needed Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) inspections, but traditional third-party services were proving to be a costly and slow bottleneck. Delays weren’t just an inconvenience — they threatened compliance, potential fines and operational setbacks. The company urgently needed to find a faster, more efficient solution. Utah Gas took control of its emissions compliance by deploying Xplorobot’s EPA-approved handheld Laser Gas Imager. Since the technology can be operated by field personnel as part of routine operations, Utah Gas trained its team in just three hours and completed inspections, repairs and verifications across all required pads in just three weeks. This approach not only ensured they met the compliance deadline but also significantly reduced LDAR costs. About Xplorobot Xplorobot is a pioneering provider of AI-powered emissions detection and compliance technology for the oil and gas industry. Its smartphone-based Laser Gas Imager, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State of Utah and the State of Colorado, enables cost-effective, high-precision methane detection and quantification. Designed for rapid deployment and ease of use, Xplorobot’s platform allows any operator to be trained in just three hours, integrate inspections into daily workflows, and detect and mitigate emissions in real time — all without the need for expensive third-party services. The Challenge: A Tight Compliance Deadline Utah Gas, an independent onshore producer operating in Utah and Colorado, had fallen behind on mandatory LDAR inspections. With only four weeks to go, the company still had several hundred well pads left to inspect. Hiring external LDAR contractors was not a viable option, as they were too expensive and too slow to meet the deadline. Delays in compliance could result in penalties, operational disruptions and increased regulatory oversight. The Solution: Xplorobot’s EPA-Approved Laser Gas Imager To meet their deadline, Utah Gas turned to Xplorobot’s handheld methane detection technology — a cost‑effective, EPA- and Utah state-approved solution that enables in-house LDAR execution with minimal training. • Training and Deployment: Utah Gas personnel were trained in just three hours, thanks to EPA‑approved training protocols for the Xplorobot Laser Gas Imager. • Rapid Execution: The Laser Gas Imager was deployed across Utah Gas’s operations, allowing their own personnel to scan hundreds of well pads within three weeks. • Real-Time Mitigation: Over 70% of detected emissions were repaired immediately, reducing the need for costly post-inspection repairs. Results and Impact • Regulatory Compliance Achieved: Inspections were completed on time, avoiding penalties and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. • Cost Savings: By eliminating the need for third-party LDAR providers, Utah Gas significantly lowered program costs while maintaining high detection accuracy. • Increased Efficiency: The ability to detect, repair and verify emissions in a single trip and in real time significantly reduced post-LDAR mitigation expenses. Industry Takeaways This case study demonstrates that independent operators can take control of LDAR compliance without relying on expensive external contractors. With the right technology, in-house teams can: • Train quickly and conduct LDAR inspections themselves, eliminating costly delays. • Use real-time emissions data to make immediate repairs, reducing regulatory and environmental risk. • Leverage phone-based, AI-enhanced sensors for faster, more scalable compliance. Xplorobot’s technology is fully approved by the EPA and the State of Utah for Subpart OOOOa/b/c and Subpart W inspections, making it the most cost-effective, easy-to-deploy solution for LDAR compliance. 16 UPDATE
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Eliminating How Utah Operators Can Use Nitrogen to Meet Compliance Deadlines and Improve Reliability F acing potential liabilities and a rapidly approaching compliance deadline, a Rockies-based E&P company needed a fast, field-proven way to eliminate methane emissions from thousands of pneumatics on hundreds of well sites. Conventional alternatives to using wellhead gas to power pneumatics can be expensive, unreliable and difficult to scale — the operator required a solution that was easy to deploy, reliable in remote environments and delivered benefits beyond regulatory compliance. The operator turned to Kathairos Solutions’ liquid nitrogen (LN2) powered pneumatic system. Because the tank system is easily installed and ongoing operations are monitored by Kathairos, it minimizes unwanted operational burdens. With LN2, the operator was able to not only meet their deployment deadline but also improve the reliability of existing pneumatic systems without compromising operations. About Kathairos Kathairos Solutions partners with operators to eliminate methane emissions from pneumatics while improving operational performance. Its zero-emissions system replaces wellhead gas with liquid nitrogen, harnessing a 700:1 gas-to-liquid expansion ratio to power pneumatic devices using clean, dry, inert nitrogen gas. Because the system operates on simple thermodynamic principles, each tank stores an enormous amount of potential energy with no need for electricity, motors or routine maintenance. Real-time consumption data is monitored by Kathairos operators, enabling leak detection and accurate reporting of actual methane abatement. Backed by partnerships with Chart Industries and Kimray Inc., Kathairos supports operators on thousands of sites across North America. The Challenge: Eliminating Methane with Minimal Impact to Operations The operator’s Rockies asset portfolio spanned thousands of wells powered by wellhead gas-driven pneumatic devices. Methane venting from these systems represented one of the largest contributors to the company’s emissions footprint, and the operator faced an urgent need to retrofit sites without risking production downtime or overextending field resources. Pneumatic Methane Emissions 18 UPDATE
The Solution: Scalable, Plug-and-Play LN2 Tanks Working closely with Kathairos, the operator initiated a basin-wide conversion program that would be completed under a short timeline. • Initial Sizing and Modeling: Within one week of project kickoff, a plan was generated to address 130 sites and more than 2,000 wells. • Tank Selection: Tank sizes were determined by Kathairos project engineers after reviewing existing device inventories and throughput. • Pilot/Consumption Trials: Tanks were initially delivered to pilot pads of varying sizes. Within 48 hours, actual nitrogen consumption rates were validated, enabling cost optimization and final logistics planning. Results and Impact • Compliance Deadlines Met: The full 130tank program was completed in just nine weeks, allowing the operator to meet its scheduled compliance deadline on 2,200+ wells by eliminating emissions from 8,000+ pneumatic devices. • Scalable Deployment Model: Thanks to the plug-and-play design and coordinated field services, the operator achieved up to five installations per day without interfering with ongoing production. • Improved Reliability: The LN2 system delivers inert gas without freeze-off risk or power requirements. With minimal moving parts and electronics, common failure points are eliminated without the need for ongoing maintenance. Industry Takeaways Numerous technologies can successfully eliminate venting from pneumatics. As they evaluate options, operators should carefully weigh the reliability, scalability and costeffectiveness of each solution. A strategic and effective approach will enable them to: • Satisfy compliance requirements. • Scale quickly across an asset with minimal impact on operations. • Reduce long-term maintenance and optimize the total cost of ownership. Kathairos’ system is trusted by operators and regulators across North America and, to date, has shown 99.99% uptime on 20MM+ operating hours. 19 UPDATE
Recognizing Industry Leaders A t this year’s Annual Meeting, held on March 17-18 at the stunning Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah Petroleum Association (UPA) proudly honored the industry’s commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and community engagement. These awards celebrate the individuals and companies making a lasting impact in Utah’s oil and natural gas sector through innovative initiatives and unwavering dedication. Safety Leadership Award: Driving a Culture of Safety Safety is at the heart of our industry, and this award recognizes outstanding contributions that have enhanced workplace safety programs, fostered a culture of accountability and introduced innovative solutions. This year’s nominees included: • Berry Petroleum — Workplace Violence Prevention & Training • Chevron — Management of Work Permitting Process (Derek Christensen) • Greylock — Engineering Controls — Automated Telemetry System • Sawtooth Caverns — Established an Internal Safety Council • HF Sinclair — Refinery Safety App Winner: Sawtooth Caverns — Established an Internal Safety Council Sawtooth Caverns has elevated its safety culture through a proactive and employee-driven approach, emphasizing process safety management (PSM) and engagement at all levels. Following multiple near misses, the company established the Sawtooth Safety Council, a cross-functional team designed to foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Led by Terminal Manager Josh Morris and EHS Representative Jonathan Lovell, the council includes rotating members from operations, control room, lab and maintenance teams, ensuring diverse perspectives in monthly safety discussions. Key achievements include enhanced procedure accuracy, increased participation in safety initiatives, and a noticeable cultural shift towards proactive safety ownership. By empowering employees to take an active role in safety improvements, Sawtooth Caverns has strengthened its commitment to excellence in workplace safety. UPA’s 2025 Safety, Environmental and Community Champions 20 UPDATE
Environmental Leadership Award: Championing Sustainable Practices As stewards of Utah’s natural resources, our members continuously strive to minimize environmental impact and implement forward-thinking solutions. This award highlights those efforts that go beyond regulatory requirements to make a real difference. This year’s nominees included: • Beth Mills, Berry Corporation — Advanced Achievement of Methane Reduction Goal • Faithe Schwartzengraber, Big West Oil — Environmental Improvements & Increased RCA of Environmental Events • Greylock Energy — Methane Emissions Reduction • Nate Robinson, IWM — Responsible Energy Waste Management & Sustainability • Ute Indian Tribe Willow Creek Microgrid • Camila Amazquita, Williams — Emissions Reduction Program Winner: Greylock Energy — Methane Emissions Reduction Greylock Energy has made significant strides in methane emissions reduction through innovative, cost-effective solutions in the Uinta Basin following its 2022 asset acquisition. The company launched a two-pronged approach to tackle emissions, starting with the Tower K Project, which replaced 246 individual dehydration units with a centralized, emission-controlled facility — resulting in a 192-ton annual Community Champion Award: Giving Back to Utah Beyond operations, our industry is deeply involved in the communities we serve and actively seeks to better them. This award honors those who have gone above and beyond in supporting local initiatives, educational programs and workforce development. This year’s nominees included: • Arikka Von, Chevron — Partnerships, Volunteering, and Non-Profit Contributions & Employee Engagement • Nate Robinson, IWM — Education, Youth Development, Community Recreation & Cultural Conservation • Williams — Welfare and Education Winner: Williams — Welfare and Education Williams has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community welfare and education, most notably through its $30,000 contribution to fund a new playground for Parkside Elementary School, ensuring a safe and inclusive space for its 453 students. This funding, combined with an additional $100,000 from the city, transformed the school’s outdated and hazardous playground into a vibrant, safe environment for children to play and grow. Beyond this, Williams actively supports Parkside’s Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack (CHIPP), providing weekend meals for students in need, and sponsors a book drive during Black History Month, enriching the school’s library with nearly 100 donated books. With 86% of Parkside students on free and reduced lunch programs, Williams’ contributions have directly enhanced student well-being, education and community pride. Through these efforts, Williams exemplifies true corporate responsibility, making them a deserving recipient of the Community Champion Award. methane reduction, recapturing 239 MMCF of gas per year, and improving air quality for the Uintah & Ouray Reservation. Additionally, Greylock implemented a pneumatic pump replacement program, switching to solarpowered pumps and enhanced leak detection and repair (LDAR) efforts, leading to an additional 1,942-ton methane reduction and avoiding $1.75 million in methane tax for 2024. These efforts collectively lowered Greylock’s corporate methane intensity by 34%, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship in Utah’s oil and gas industry. Celebrating Leadership and Excellence UPA extends its congratulations to all nominees and winners for their unwavering dedication to making Utah’s oil and gas industry safer, more sustainable and deeply engaged with the communities we call home. Your leadership and innovative spirit set the standard for excellence in our industry. 21 UPDATE
Wildlife & Energy Photo Contest Winners! On March 18, at the UPA Annual Meeting, the winners of the annual Wildlife & Energy Photo Contest were announced. The purpose of this yearly event is to highlight the great wildlife diversity that exists around energy structures — showing that man and nature can co-exist and do. All entry photos were taken between Feb. 1, 2024-Feb. 1, 2025, and were judged by a panel of unbiased and esteemed judges: • Sophie Hanson, Owner and CEO, The newsLINK Group LLC • Mike Anderson, Professional Photographer, Social Goat • Jennifer Simmons, Professional Photographer, Everleigh Portraits Congratulations to the winners! A big thanks to all who participated. 1st PLACE Julie Rasmussen, Greylock Energy $1,000 prize 22 UPDATE
Josh Hirschi, MPLX $250 prize Karl White, Emerson $500 prize 23 UPDATE
Welcome to Our Newest UPA Members! Chairman’s Circle Member • FourPoint Resources LLC, Joined January 22 Silver Members • Ecopoint Inc., Joined January 1 • Xplorobot, Joined January 8 Bronze Members • Moser Energy Systems, Joined January 8 • Halliburton, Joined January 30 • The Juliano Group, Joined February 19 • GeoTechnical Rock Lab LLC, Joined February 19 • Absolute Noise Control LLC, Joined February 19 • ATS Welding LLC, Joined February 26 • Cordova Methane Controls, Joined March 6 • StrataFlex Midstream, Joined March 17 • Encore Land Services Inc., Joined March 17 From field services and welding to environmental controls, consulting and midstream innovation, this diverse group reflects the strength of Utah’s oil and gas supply chain and the value of partnership across our industry. We’re excited to engage with each of these companies at upcoming UPA events, committee meetings and advocacy initiatives. Welcome to the UPA family — we’re glad you’re here! Utah Petroleum Association proudly welcomes a dynamic group of new members to the fold! Each of these organizations brings unique expertise and energy to our community, and we are excited to collaborate with them as we continue advocating for a strong, sustainable oil and natural gas industry in Utah. Please join us in welcoming the following companies that joined UPA between January and March 2025: 25 UPDATE
Big West Oil is committed to be a top-tier refiner, marketer and employer in the Rocky Mountain Region, focused on building lasting value through operational excellence, continuous improvement and pursuit of internal and external growth opportunities. Uinta Wax explores and produces oil and natural gas, including Utah Industrial Wax and other related products — an experienced leadership team focusing on solid horizontal production results. Uinta Wax serves customers throughout the United States. Chevron’s success is driven by our people and their commitment to getting the results the right way — by operating responsibly, executing with excellence, applying innovative technologies and capturing new opportunities for profitable growth. ConocoPhillips is the world’s largest independent E&P company based on proved reserves and production of liquids and natural gas. Greylock’s leadership is an experienced team with decades in the energy industry and possessing a wealth of knowledge and unmatched expertise relating to operations, particularly in shale development. HF Sinclair, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer that produces high-value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other specialty products. HF Sinclair produces base oils and other specialized lubricants in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands, and exports products to more than 80 countries. Marathon Petroleum Company is in the business of creating value for our shareholders through the quality products and services we provide for our customers. As a result, we strive to always act responsibly with those who work for us, with those business partners who work with us, and in every community where we operate. Thank You, Platinum Members Thank You, UPA Chairman’s Circle Members Finley Resources’ primary focus is the production of Utah Industrial Wax, which will play a critical role in America’s energy transition. Our organizational structure is lean and efficient, empowering decision‑making throughout all levels of the company. Our success is supported by our innovative field staff, who have a proven track record of operating safely and efficiently while protecting our environment for the future. 26 UPDATE
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