SAN ANTONIO – The South Texas Energy and Economic Roundtable (STEER), announced today that Milestone Environmental, Rio Grande E&P, Wilson, Atascosa, Karnes & McMullen Local Emergency Planning Committee (WAKM LEPC), 3S Services, Aegis Chemical Solutions, Repsol and Cal Ripken STEM Centers are the recipients of the 2024 Eagle Ford Excellence Awards. The awards honor companies and organizations working in or with the oil and natural gas industry for their diligent efforts in protecting the environment, developing innovative technologies, making safety a top priority and giving back to the communities they serve. This year’s awards, which recognize excellence in the areas of Community and Social Investment, Environmental Stewardship, Neighborhood Impression, and Innovation in Technology, were presented at a luncheon event in San Antonio.
“Across South Texas, oil and natural gas companies, service providers and community partners are working together as we produce reliable and affordable energy for America and our allies around the world, while the economic impact of this activity funds our roads, schools and continuous environmental progress. The recipients of the 12th annual Eagle Ford Excellence Awards are a shining example of this innovation, service and environmental commitment at work,” said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association.
Recipients of the 2024 Eagle Ford Excellence Awards:
Community and Social Investment: Wilson, Atascosa, Karnes, and McMullen Counties Local Emergency Planning Committee (WAKM LEPC)
The WAKM LEPC stands out as a model for how leaders in rural communities can come together to collaborate and coordinate for the benefit of their citizens. They track oil and natural gas activity and assets and facilitate coordination between local government and industry on emergency response plans in their counties and across the region. Hundreds of people attend WAKM LEPC’s quarterly meetings to discuss and coordinate on emergency management for a huge swath of the Eagle Ford. Their work exemplifies quality communication, coordination and collaboration between the public and private sector.
Community and Social Investment: 3S Services
3S Services in Carrizo Springs has been giving back to local communities through community service and philanthropy for 15 years, with more than $1 million raised for non-profit organizations since 2008. 3S awards annual scholarships to graduating seniors, participates in back to school drives, sponsors various sporting events and, every year, a South Texas Santa can be spotted perched atop a roustabout truck delivering presents in Dimmit County. 3S has supported Sky High for Kids, Anderson House, South Texas Children’s Home, Texas Honor Ride, Military Order of Purple Heart, United Way, and Safer Path, among others.
Environmental Stewardship: Aegis Chemical Solutions
Aegis Chemical Solutions is an important and trusted industry partner that is committing to protecting oil and natural gas operators’ assets and safeguarding the environment in South Texas. Aegis’ corrosion inhibitors specifically target the damage mechanism of pipelines, separators, tanks, and other equipment, greatly reducing the likelihood of failure and enhancing environmental protections.
Environmental Stewardship: Repsol
Repsol’s temporary water recycling facility in the Eagle Ford has been immensely successful and made it possible for local operators to reduce truck traffic, reduce the need for water disposal, and reduce reliance on groundwater resources. Repsol’s facility can treat and recycle flowback water from recent completions operations to a specification where this water is usable again in future completions within the lease. From August 2023 to May 2024, Repsol treated over 657,000 barrels of water and successfully reused a majority of this recycled volume in other oil and natural gas operations.
Innovation in Technology: Milestone Environmental Services
Milestone Environmental Services is a leading sustainable environmental infrastructure company and the largest energy waste sequestration company in the U.S., whose technologies help oil and natural gas operators reduce their carbon footprint, manage risks, and advance their sustainability initiatives through advanced carbon sequestration solutions. Specifically, Milestone’s innovative, patented state-of-the-art slurry injection technologies and landfill facilities deliver optimal environmental performance. In 2023, Milestone sequestered 390,820 MT of CO2e—equivalent to the amount of emissions from 2,380 roundtrip flights from New York to London. And, over the last five years Milestone’s technologies helped to prevent 19,600 acres of land from being used for alternative waste disposal methods like landfarming and reserve pits.
Innovation in Technology: Rio Grande E&P
Rio Grande E&P continues a long legacy of innovation through the development of its acreage position prospective for the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk, helping to push the dual-bench play further east than previously thought. Rio Grande E&P has greatly contributed to the innovation of horizontal drilling in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk that has allowed Webb County to remain a leader in U.S. natural gas production, powering the economies of Texas and neighboring Mexico.
Neighborhood Impression: Cal Ripkin STEM Centers at Karnes City Elementary School and Kenedy Middle School
Numerous oil and gas operators in the Eagle Ford–BPX Energy, ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy, GulfTex Energy, Marathon Oil, Repsol and Verdun Oil–have teamed up with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to open new STEM Centers at Karnes City Elementary School and Kenedy Middle School. These innovative new spaces provide Eagle Ford schoolchildren a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore and tinker with the high-tech tools such as 3D Printers, Bee-Bots, Ozobots, and more to help students hone their problem-solving and teamwork skills. The STEM Centers create a fun and interactive space to spark students’ curiosity and enhance their understanding of STEM subjects outside of the traditional classroom, helping to ensure as many children as possible have the resources they need to be successful, and empowering the next generation to reach their fullest potential.
Thank you to our sponsors!
INNOVATION
ConocoPhillips
Valero Energy
DISCOVERY
3S Services
TXOGA Insurance Agency
Texas Mutual
EXPLORATION
Angus Measurement Services
Cheniere Energy
Devon Energy
EOG Resources
Marathon Petroleum
NEXTGEN Crude
Targa Resources
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About South Texas Energy and Economic Roundtable (STEER)
STEER is the leading Eagle Ford Shale resource in the region and is the primary coordinator for communication and public advocacy surrounding the oil and natural gas industry in South Texas. STEER serves as the bridge connecting the industry and communities throughout South Texas to ensure positive collaboration and communication surrounding the activities associated with energy production in the Eagle Ford Shale and Rio Grande Valley. In 2018, the boards of STEER and TXOGA approved the merger of STEER into TXOGA. The merger was finalized on January 1, 2020.