FUELING UTAH’S GROWTH AND PROSPERITY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UTAH PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION Industry Collaboration Driving Cleaner Air The Success of UPA’s “Latch the Hatch” Program
Mission Statement 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. Executive Committee Kristina Brown Chevron (Chair) Dan Brooks Crescent Energy (Vice Chair, Upstream) Brad Shafer Marathon (Vice Chair, Downstream) James Lebeck SM Energy Spencer Kimball FourPoint Energy Cameron Cuch Uinta Wax Drew McCallister Greylock Jeremy Price HF Sinclair Stephen Jeffs Silver Eagle Refining Rocky Edelman Big West Oil Keelen Hauptman Anschutz Exploration Corporation (AEC) Nick Tunnell Scout EP UPA Administrative Staff & Office 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 3 UPDATE
3 Who We Are PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 6 Our Industry Isn’t the “Bad Guy” By Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President, UPA 8 UPA Events Highlights 15 Education and STEM Outreach TECHNOLOGY & STEWARDSHIP SPOTLIGHT 16 SM Energy’s Commitment to Produced Water Innovation 18 Industry Collaboration Driving Cleaner Air The Success of UPA’s “Latch the Hatch” Program 20 Membership Updates 21 Looking Forward 22 Thank You, UPA Chairman’s Circle Members 22 Thank You, Platinum Member Pub. 6 2025 ISSUE 3 6 8 16 18 ©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. 4 UPDATE
Uinta Wax — Corporate O ce 6000 Western Place Ste. 1000 Fort Worth, TX 76107 • Investment in an expanded gas takeaway in the Uinta Basin to alleviate aring. • 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 reneries. • 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 O ce 978 N Crescent Rd. Roosevelt, UT 84066 Uinta Basin Footprint
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Our Industry Isn’t the “Bad Guy” Billie Eilish is the youngest person ever to win multiple Oscars. The first was for the theme song to the James Bond movie “No Time to Die” in 2022, and the second was this year for the song “What Was I Made For?” from the “Barbie” soundtrack. She has a caseload of Grammys to her name, which means she’s halfway to the EGOT (an EGOT is someone who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award, one of the most impressive feats one can achieve in the performing arts). Yet only one of her songs has ever climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song? “Bad Guy.” The track takes the point of view of someone who sees through the phony toughness of some chump who’s never named and playfully asserts her own bona fides in her ability to ruin this guy’s life. Her tone never changes, her register never rises, and her confidence feels unshakeable. The chorus, such as it is, is punctuated by a petulant “Duh,” which I learned in reading about this song, was chosen from 34 different takes of that one word. It’s a great song, and indicative of Billie Eilish’s unique style and superlative talent. I thought about Billie Eilish and “Bad Guy” for a couple of reasons. The first is that over the last several months, we have had a multitude of events where I’ve gotten to engage with our member companies and their employees, not just professionally but on a personal level as well. I’m particularly struck by the young talent entering the oil and gas industry, which bodes well for our future. Oil and gas is perpetually reinventing itself, which you can see any time you visit a drill pad or a frac site. If you had a time machine and could talk with engineers 20 years ago about how many wells you can drill from one location, how much quicker each well can be drilled, the fact that those wells are all horizontal, and the lengths of the laterals that are now so common as to be unremarkable, the jaws of those engineers would likely hit the floor. But it’s a lot like what you hear from athletes about breakthroughs — once someone finally smashes a barrier, others inevitably follow. By Rikki Hrenko-Browning President, UPA 6 UPDATE
In 1954, Roger Bannister ran a sub-four-minute mile, a feat many thought impossible. A man named John Landy then ran faster than that six and a half weeks later. In 1999, Tony Hawk landed the first-ever 900 (two and a half rotations) in competition in half pipe skateboarding. Now, a dozen people claim that accomplishment, and a skater named Gui Khury has even added a half rotation to the record by landing a 1080 in 2020. What further breakthroughs await in the world of running or skateboarding? Billie Eilish is 23 years old. What new songs will she create? How will she continue to change the landscape of pop music? What will our young oil and gas engineers, geologists and other professionals come up with as they continue their professional journey? As for “Bad Guy,” sometimes I’m superstitious even mentioning this, but does it feel to anyone else like the cultural tide is turning just a little bit? Oil and gas has always been a useful punching bag and ad hoc villain for (notably) the “keep it in the ground” folks and a subset of elected officials. But after years of demonization and attempts at a forced energy transition, it seems that more and more everyday Americans are waking up to the benefits of a healthy and prosperous domestic oil and gas industry. We can look at Europe, which has pivoted from being reliant on Russian products to heat their homes and fuel their cars, to American LNG. We can look at the protection of consumer choice in things like gas stoves and the types of vehicles Americans want to drive. And we can see the positive impacts here in our own community with events like our annual food drive, our involvement in STEMFest and our immense contributions to Utah’s economy in terms of jobs, wages and tax revenues. Some in our society tried to force the issue and phase out fossil fuels entirely. We collectively got a taste of that and realized just how impractical and ill-advised such a transition was. Maybe oil and gas isn’t the bad guy it’s been made out to be. To quote Billie Eilish one last time: “Duh.” =) Enjoy the issue. 7 UPDATE
Events like these remind us of the power of connection, conversation and community. Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to support the work of UPA. UPA Events Highlights Another Record-Breaking Year for the Basin Hunger Food Drive Competition and Shootout! The Basin Hunger Food Drive Competition has once again showcased the generosity and community spirit of our industry. This year, eight UPA member companies — Scout, SM Energy, Kinder Morgan, FourPoint Resources, Wasatch Energy Management, Uinta Wax/Finley Resources and Crescent Energy — rallied together to donate an astounding 34,229 pounds of essential food items to the Food Pantry in Roosevelt. This outpouring of support will make a meaningful difference for families across our community and highlights the heart of our industry in action. Food Drive Champions • 1st Place: Crescent Energy (back-to-back champions!) • 2nd Place: Uinta Wax/Finley Resources • 3rd Place: Scout Energy Partners A heartfelt congratulations to our champions — and an equally sincere thank you to all the companies that stepped up to fight hunger in the Basin. Your commitment is proof that together, we can make a lasting impact. Shootout Competition Highlights Adding to the excitement, our annual Shootout Competition once again brought 8 UPDATE
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out some friendly rivalry and plenty of fun. Congratulations to this year’s winners! Morning Shootout Winners: • 1st Place: Kaden Strole (Uintah Pack & Ship) • 2nd Place: Tyrrell Carter (Imperative Chemicals, Team 2) • 3rd Place: Tyler Robb (Uinta Wax/Finley Resources) • Overall Team Winner: Imperative Chemicals Afternoon Shootout Winners: • 1st Place: Josh Gordon (SM Energy) • 2nd Place: Andrea Beyer (Marathon Petroleum) • 3rd Place: Chad Connor (Superheat) • Overall Team Winner: SM Energy We also extend special thanks to our generous sponsors: Duchesne County for providing breakfast to fuel the morning participants and Uintah County for supplying snacks to keep everyone energized throughout the day. Your contributions made the event even more special. Each year, the Basin Hunger Food Drive reminds us that when our industry comes together, we don’t just power Utah — we strengthen our communities. Thank you to everyone who contributed time, resources and energy to make this year another record-breaking success! A huge thank you to Western AgCredit and CoBank for their incredible generosity in this year’s Uintah Basin Food Drive Competition! They kindly matched donations at $1 per pound of food (up to $15,000!) — total amount donated by Western AgCredit and CoBank was $6,110.00, multiplying the impact of every contribution. Their support amplifies the enthusiasm surrounding our Shootout event and ensures that our local food bank and the families it serves receive even greater support. We are grateful for their continued partnership and commitment to making a positive difference in the Basin community. 10 UPDATE
UPA at Utah Fall STEMFest 2025! For the very first time, UPA proudly joined the Utah Fall STEMFest, and what an incredible experience it was! Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors — Chevron, MC Oil & Gas, Silver Eagle Refinery, Greylock Energy, Uinta Wax/Finley Resources, Lear & Lear, and SM Energy — our booth came alive as we welcomed more than 1,000 elementary, middle and high school students. Students had the opportunity to: • Discover Utah’s diverse energy sources. • Learn how petroleum powers our state and our daily lives. • Explore exciting career opportunities in oil and natural gas — and more! We are especially grateful to our dedicated volunteers from Chevron, Lear & Lear and United Rentals, whose time, energy and enthusiasm helped spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of innovators, problem solvers and leaders. This is just the beginning of UPA’s growing commitment to energy education and STEM engagement. Together with our members and partners, we are proud to be shaping a brighter, energy-strong future for Utah. If you want to be involved in UPA’s Energy Education advocacy, please contact Eden Newell at enewell@utahpetroleum.org. 11 UPDATE
Investing in Workforce Development UPA is proud to sponsor the Hazmat Endorsement Course for CDL students at Uintah Basin Technical College. To haul waxy crude safely, drivers need not only a CDL but also an additional Hazmat Endorsement, a requirement that can add cost for students pursuing this career path. Through our $5,000 Uintah Basin Tech Foundation Scholarship, UPA helps offset this expense, ensuring more local students can gain the qualifications needed to build successful careers in our industry. This partnership reflects UPA’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and safety in the Basin, while supporting the next generation of energy professionals. 12 UPDATE
Another Fantastic Event in the Books — the UB Energy Summit 2025! We kicked things off with our Energy Summit Reception, where more than 100 members and non-members came together to network and reconnect. It was inspiring to see so many members, legislators, county commissioners and industry peers in one place, strengthening relationships that keep our Basin moving forward. During the reception, we had the privilege of presenting a check totaling $23,859.55 to this year’s charity: the Ute Tribe Youth Recreation Department. This donation was made possible through the incredible generosity of our members who continue to support UPA’s charity events. UPA President Rikki Hrenko-Browning moderated a powerhouse panel with 13 UPDATE
our major producers — Uinta Wax/Finley Resources, SM Energy, Scout, Crescent Energy and FourPoint Resources — who shared valuable insights on the growth of the Uinta Basin, industry wins, challenges and what the future holds for our region. We also hosted our Q3 Young Professionals Networking Lunch, where 18 rising leaders from across Utah’s energy industry — including Utah Gas Corp, FourPoint Resources, EcoPoint, Berry Petroleum, Uinta Wax/Finley Resources, Williams, and Humboldt — came together to connect, collaborate and build the future of energy leadership. Special thanks to Uintah County Economic Development Director Travis Campbell and his team, and to the Uintah County and Duchesne County commissioners and teams for helping make this such a phenomenal event. 14 UPDATE
Education and STEM Outreach Free Lesson Plans for Grades 4-12 Developed with the Utah Science Teaching Association, our lessons include: • Alignment to Utah SEEd Standards • Engaging phenomena • Teacher background information • Standardized test prep • Real-world applications • Career connections and more! Find them on our website, available for immediate download! STEM Nights and STEM Activities Make your event unforgettable with our interactive energy activities. We bring hands-on experiences like our energy trivia wheel and the popular “energy bike.” We also offer fun take-home activities and information on energy careers to inspire students of all ages. Take-home activities are available in both English and Spanish. Professional Development and Classroom Presentations • Professional Development: We offer free relicensure opportunities, including local energy facility tours. • Classroom Presentations: We offer engaging, hands-on lessons presented by our licensed education specialist. • Check-Out Kits (Coming Soon!): Free, hands-on kits are in development. Each kit will cover a full SEEd standard, providing all materials for a complete energy lesson. Please contact our office for more information! Contact Us and Learn More Education Specialist: Mary Parkinson Email: mparkinson@utah.gov Phone: (801) 949-1259 Scan the QR code to visit our Education page. Here you can find our energy lesson plans, information on scholarships and internships, and other great resources about energy in Utah! https://energy.utah.gov/homepage/education To learn more about the Utah Office of Energy Development, visit energy.utah.gov. Who We Are and What We Do The Utah Office of Energy Development is your state-level resource for engaging, hands-on energy education. We are dedicated to providing free, SEEd-aligned curriculum and activities to help educators bring the fascinating world of energy and mineral development into the classroom. 15 UPDATE
TECHNOLOGY & STEWARDSHIP SPOTLIGHT SM Energy’s Commitment to Produced Water Innovation T he journey toward 100% produced water completions on SM Energy’s asset has been years in the making, and it is a powerful example of how innovation, persistence and stewardship go hand-in-hand. When XCL purchased the asset from Axia Energy in 2020, completions faced immediate challenges. Axia’s design required fresh water only, limiting flexibility across the 10,000’ laterals. From the start, XCL’s completion engineers began redesigning to allow for effective proppant delivery using produced water. But with COVID-19 slowing operations that same year, only four pads (nine wells) were completed. At the time, water infrastructure was severely limited — Axia had invested $25 million in a freshwater system, but no network for produced water gathering or recycling. In 2021, as operations ramped back up, XCL launched the build-out of its Water Gathering System (WGS), Wasatch Water. Initially, trucks hauled limited volumes of produced water to completions. That same year, $20 million was invested in a 25-mile trunk line connecting to XCL’s only saltwater disposal (SWD) well, with a capacity of just 7,500 barrels per day. Early completions relied on just 10-20% produced water due to system limitations. By 2022, XCL had worked closely with the state to build out a produced water recycling pond and recycling system, expanding both gathering and delivery capabilities. Over the following years, hundreds of miles of pipeline and booster stations were added, extending capacity to meet the demands of larger completion designs. When SM Energy took over the asset, the company made it a goal to run completion projects on 100% produced water. In 16 UPDATE
just six months, that goal was achieved. To date, a significant amount has been invested in water gathering and recycling infrastructure, alongside ongoing investment in SWD systems to ensure reliability even during completion downtime. Today, SM Energy’s system gathers over 130,000 barrels of water per day and consistently delivers more than 100,000 barrels daily to completion sites. Freshwater use is no longer the default; produced water infrastructure is carrying the full load. This achievement has not only advanced operational efficiency but also strengthened relationships with regulatory agencies as the system expanded. SM Energy’s commitment to produced water reuse represents a significant step forward in both technological innovation and environmental stewardship, setting a new standard for sustainable operations in Utah’s energy industry. 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 Stay up to date from your couch, office or even the moon! TAKE US ANYWHERE! Place a 1” x 1” QR Code White on Black Here to the main website Scan to read the most recent publication. 17 UPDATE
Industry Collaboration Driving Cleaner Air U tah’s oil and natural gas operators continue to demonstrate leadership in air quality stewardship through the Utah Petroleum Association’s Latch the Hatch program, a voluntary initiative focused on reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and supporting cleaner air in the Uintah Basin. Now entering its fifth winter season, Latch the Hatch has grown to include 11 participating companies, representing The Success of UPA’s “Latch the Hatch” Program
approximately 95% of oil and natural gas production in the Basin. This reflects a 22% increase in participation, despite recent mergers and acquisitions across the region. Participating companies commit to taking proactive steps to minimize emissions before and during winter ozone alerts. They can choose from a menu of actions according to what is most appropriate for their operations, such as ensuring that thief hatches are properly closed and sealed, maintaining durable gaskets, verifying that flares and combustors are lit, conducting leak detection and repair (LDAR) surveys, postponing activities that could increase emissions or conducting flyovers. Collectively, participating companies have conducted tens of thousands of LDAR surveys, with hundreds of additional voluntary inspections planned for this ozone season. Many companies have also standardized the use of highly durable gaskets on their hatches, further reducing the potential for leaks and fugitive emissions. These ongoing industry-led efforts have had a measurable impact, contributing to reduced VOC emissions during critical winter ozone periods while reinforcing the industry’s commitment to responsible operations and environmental stewardship. As one of the most collaborative environmental programs in the region, Latch the Hatch continues to serve as a model for how voluntary initiatives can deliver real, lasting benefits for Utah’s air quality and the communities where we operate.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS! Bronze Members Silver Member CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO MEMBERS WHO UPGRADED THEIR SUPPORT! Your investment strengthens our advocacy voice, education efforts and community impact. Thank you! Gold Members Upgraded to Gold Upgraded to Silver 20 UPDATE
Looking Ahead to 2026 Mark your calendars and plan to participate early! MARCH 16-17 Annual Meeting Sundance Resort APRIL 2 Q1 Young Professionals Networking Lunch Basin MAY 14 Topgolf Charity Event JUNE 25 Q2 Young Professionals Networking Lunch Salt Lake City JULY 17 Fly Fishing Outing AUGUST 6 UPA Golf Tournament Soldier Hollow, Midway SEPTEMBER 9 Uintah Basin Food Drive Competition SEPTEMBER 10 Basin Shootout for Hunger SEPTEMBER 23-24 UB Energy Summit Vernal SEPTEMBER 24 Q3 Young Professionals Networking Lunch Basin DECEMBER 3 Q4 Young Professionals Networking Lunch Salt Lake City TBD STEMFest 2026 Community, Charity, Sponsorships and Tribal Partnerships: Holiday Voucher Program UPA and its member companies are proud to continue our Tribal Holiday Voucher Program, a multi-year effort that provides direct, flexible support for families. Thank you to the partners, volunteers and tribal leaders who help make this tradition meaningful every year. Thank You for a Strong 2025! Please remember to: • Renew early to keep advocacy and education fully funded. • Lock in sponsorships to maximize visibility across our 2026 events. • Engage in policy communications: share data, stories and on-the-ground expertise as we navigate regulatory changes and prepare for the quickly approaching 2026 legislative session. Contact Eden Newell at enewell@utahpetroleum.org for sponsorships, membership renewal and other partnership or collaboration opportunities. 21 UPDATE
Based in Denver, Colorado, AEC is a private, independent oil and gas company with assets located in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. AEC and its predecessors have participated in significant discoveries and the development of oil and gas resources worldwide. 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. 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. Crescent Energy is an independent energy company primarily engaged in exploring, developing and producing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in the Eagle Ford, Uinta and Barnett shales. Our mission is to create a sustainable, transparent and returns-driven company. FourPoint Resources is a private exploration and production company based in Denver, Colorado, managed by FourPoint Energy. They a rigorous approach to geoscience and engineering, combining this approach with their operational expertise and innovation to expand the known limits of the most prolific parts of resource plays. 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. Thank You, Platinum Member Thank You, UPA Chairman’s Circle Members 22 UPDATE
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. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Scout EP is a private energy company focused on the acquisition, development, and production of oil and natural gas assets throughout the U.S. Rockies, including a growing footprint in Utah’s Uinta Basin. Silver Eagle endeavors to be a good corporate neighbor by assisting in positive ways with the Woods Cross and South Davis communities. Silver Eagle endeavors to work collaboratively with municipality governments, agencies and private groups to improve the quality of life within the immediate surroundings of our Woods Cross Refinery. SM Energy is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with a long-standing, principled approach to doing business ethically and sustainably. Our purpose is to make people’s lives better by responsibly producing energy supplies, contributing to domestic energy security and prosperity, and having a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. 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. 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. 23 UPDATE
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