American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2015 - 136

IPAA Annual Covers Gamut Of Topics
WASHINGTON-It is no secret the
oil and gas industry is facing many negative effects from low commodity prices,
causing widespread uncertainty in making
critical decisions. In this unpredictable
atmosphere, it is especially important to
attend the Independent Petroleum Association of America's annual meeting, advises Jeff Eshelman, IPAA senior vice
president of operations and public affairs.
The event is scheduled for Nov. 8-10
at the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans, where
Eshelman says industry executives will
discuss challenges and opportunities.
"This is a difficult financial time and we
hope our members take advantage of the
comprehensive agenda we have lined
up," he comments. "This is the perfect
venue to gather intelligence to help make
future decisions.
"We will look at the regulatory forecast
and decipher which new federal policies
could impact independent producers,"
Eshelman continues. "This includes anything from endangered species to methane
emission controls."
In addition, he says, featured speakers
will provide market analysis and discuss
the global energy outlook. "We will get
a glimpse into the supply-and-demand
scenario for the next few years," Eshelman
promises.
With the 2016 elections approaching,
IPAA also will examine the political
landscape for the domestic oil and gas
industry during its meeting. "David
Wasserman of The Cook Political Report
will handicap next year's elections," Eshelman announces. "This will help IPAA
determine which candidates to support
in the campaign cycle."
The agenda also includes installing
the association's 2015-17 Board of Directors. "We can expect a few new faces
in our leadership positions," Eshelman
advises. "Outgoing Chairman Mike Watford of Ultra Petroleum deserves our
gratitude for his tremendous service while
we faced tough political and market challenges during the last two years."
Getting Under Way
The convention kicks off with a special
event at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Participants in this New Orleans original
cocktails walking tour will explore the
French Quarter's famous bars and restaurants, while sipping the city's iconic libations, Eshelman reveals.
"They will learn the classic stories
behind unique concoctions such as the

Sazerac and Pimm's Cup," he says. "They
will tour the colonial architecture of one
of New Orleans' oldest neighborhoods,
drinking in history and culture along the
way."
A welcome to New Orleans reception
will follow at 5:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton.
Monday morning, Nov. 9, opens with
a Wildcatters Fund breakfast at 7:15, followed by the cooperating associations
meeting at 8:30. Liaison Committee members will meet at 10:15 a.m.
Another special event gets under way
at 8:45 a.m. in Jean Lafitte Reserve National Park, Eshelman says. Participants
will gather in Marrero, La., for a swamp
tour. Transportation from the hotel is
available.
"Airboats will zip through narrow
canals lined with cypress trees to grassy
marshes," he outlines. "From bullfrogs
and alligators, to nutria and bald eagles,
there is no telling what guests will see. A
Cajun-creole lunch will be served at
Bayou des Families."
Meanwhile, he goes on, IPAA Finance
Committee members will meet at 10:15
a.m. Monday, while a Board of Directors'
working lunch starts at noon.
The opening general session is slated
for 2:30 p.m., with welcoming remarks
from IPAA President and Chief Executive
Officer Barry Russell. Eshelman says the
Honorable Edward Djerejian, director of
Rice University's Baker Institute for
Public Policy, is the featured speaker,
whose topic is the global economic impact
of energy markets and domestic implications.
Djerejian's Foreign Service career
spanned eight U.S. administrations, from
John Kennedy to Bill Clinton, Eshelman
notes. Prior to becoming U.S. ambassador
to Israel, Djerejian was assistant secretary
of state for near-eastern affairs in the
George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations. He previously was the U.S. ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic,
and served as special assistant to President
Ronald Reagan and as deputy press secretary for foreign affairs.
"Djerejian has been recognized with
many honors, including the Presidential
Distinguished Service Award and the
Department of State's Distinguished
Honor Award," Eshelman remarks. "We
look forward to his global and domestic
insights."
The day's final presentation is a discussion on market intelligence and analysis, Eshelman adds.

136 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

A "Down on the Bayou" reception
starts at 5:30 p.m., and the IPAA
Roustabout dinner begins at 6:45 p.m.
Ross Johnson, mentalist, will entertain.

Missionaries And Politics
Tuesday morning opens with a prayer
breakfast at 7:15, featuring inspirational
speaker and former missionary Gracia
Burnham from Wichita, Ks. Kidnapped
by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, Gracia
and Martin Burnham spent a perilous
year of captivity in the Philippine jungle.
"Facing near starvation, exhaustion, gun
battles and murder, they did some intense
soul-searching about a God who seemed
to have forgotten them," Eshelman recounts. "Attendees will find encouragement and hope in Gracia's refreshingly
honest story."
The annual meeting's second general
session begins at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday,
when IPAA's Russell will discuss the
state of the association. Mark Miller,
2015-17 IPAA chairman and president
of Merlin Oil & Gas, also will share a
few remarks, followed by Cook Political
Report House Editor Wasserman.
"Wasserman analyzes the political environment in lively and amusing presentations targeted to his audience," Eshelman
says. "He looks at national and local politics, the relationship between consumer
brand loyalty and voting, and what the
future holds for American elections."
A third special event is an antique
and art walking tour of New Orleans'
Royal Street at 10 a.m., with lunch at
Dickie Brennan's Tableau.
Meanwhile, IPAA's popular CEO
round table will visit the topic of low oil
and natural gas prices, and the implications
for the industry's future, Eshelman reports.
The membership luncheon begins at
noon with featured speaker Alex Epstein,
founder of the Center for Industrial
Progress, author of The Moral Case for
Fossil Fuels, and an expert on energy
and industrial policy.
"Political commentator John McLaughlin has referred to Epstein as the 'most
original thinker of the year,'" Eshelman
relates. "Epstein champions the use of
fossil fuels and has changed the way
thousands of people think about energy.
"He is the nation's leading free-market
energy debater, promoting a philosophy
that is anti-pollution but pro-development,"
Eshelman elaborates. "Epstein challenges
popularly held ideas about energy, industry
and the environment, including the big-

American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2015

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