American Oil and Gas Reporter - April 2016 - 37

PBIOS 'Standing Tall' With 2016 Show
By Danny Boyd
Special Correspondent
ODESSA, TX.-During almost four
decades of providing oil field services in
the Permian Basin, Monnie Sparkman
has navigated through more than a few
oil and gas downturns. The only good
thing about a downturn is that they always
end in an upturn-eventually-indicates
Sparkman, president of Odessa-based
Liberty Fishing & Rental Tools and
Capitol Oil Well Service, and president
of the 2016 Permian Basin International
Oil Show.
"Anyone who has been around this
industry very long has seen all this before,"
he says. "We are going to stand tall and
hang in there just like we have done
through every other downcycle. We encourage everyone to be strong and keep
their heads up. Things will get better."
In fact, many industry observers expect
better business conditions by the time
the gates open to PBIOS, set for Oct. 1820 at the Ector County Coliseum and
Fairgrounds. In early April, Credit Suisse
Group and RBC Capital Markets were
among the analysts forecasting oil prices
would recover to the $50 level by the
fourth quarter, driven by factors on both
the supply and demand sides of the equation.
"The Permian Basin has experienced
many ups and downs throughout its
history. The one thing we count on with
oil and gas prices is that what goes up,
sooner or later must come down, and
what goes down eventually goes back
up," says PBIOS Executive Director Tony
Fry. "Exactly when a price recovery will
happen is anyone's guess, but everyone
in the region is certainly hopeful that the
start of a new upcycle is coming into
sight."
That said, one lesson learned from
the industry's long and storied experience
working Permian Basin oil fields is that
technology advances are critical to success
in all types of commodity price environments, Fry notes.
Fittingly, Fry announces that PBIOS
officials have adopted "Standing Tall" as
the theme for PBIOS 2016. The biennial
show brings together all facets of the industry-from exploration and drilling, to
midstream and pipeline operations-with
a showcase for the latest innovations in
technologies, solutions and other products
that can improve operating efficiencies
and enhance profit margins, he says.
"One of the strengths of the show is

that it has something for everyone and
encompasses all sectors of the industry,"
he relates. "Now more than ever, the men
and women working in the Permian Basin
need to stay on top of the newest technology and business developments. The
PBIOS is the place to be to learn about
new solutions to today's upstream, midstream and pipeline challenges."
According to Fry, the 1,164 exhibit
spaces were approaching 90 percent full
in late March, and the available spaces
were filling quickly.
"From a preliminary standpoint, it has
been a challenge, but we normally have
15 to 20 percent turnover from exhibitors
pulling out or being acquired by other
companies, including those companies
that already have exhibit space," he says.
"Turnover has been a little higher than
usual this year, but we are working the
waiting list from the 2014 show. We are
going down the list in order and contacting
those who wanted to exhibit two years
ago, but could not because we did not
have room. We are seeing a positive trend
in industry interest and continue to get
requests every day from companies interested in exhibit space," he comments.
"We are confident we are going to be
sold out very shortly."
Exhibitor applications are available
on the PBIOS website at www.pboilshow.org to get on the waiting list, Fry
points out, encouraging interested companies to submit their requests quickly.
Keeping Up With Technology
"The focus for the industry is on figuring out how to maintain production
while operating more efficiently and effectively," Fry says. "We have a lot of
exhibitors that have new ideas and technologies to help operators accomplish
that in the Permian Basin, as well as in
other operating areas."
A single sale from contacts made at
PBIOS enables exhibitors to quickly recoup the cost of participation, Sparkman
points out.
"Keeping up with technology is always
a necessity, but the show may be even
more important for both exhibitors and
attendees when industry activity is slower,"
he remarks. "It is a great venue to bring
those who need solutions to challenges
in the field together with those who have
those solutions. PBIOS gives oil and gas
companies access to all the latest products
and services, and it gives equipment and
service providers exposure to potential
customers from all parts of the industry."

Held in even-numbered years, PBIOS
is run by volunteers from the local oil
and gas industry, Fry says, with an unwavering mission and commitment to
the show's success.
In addition to showcasing innovative
technologies, PBIOS also continues to
honor Permian Basin oil and gas operators
who have made substantial contributions
to the industry, he adds. The show, which
draws attendees from around the world,
also calls attention to the industry's
colorful past, a tribute that includes an
operating cable tool rig on the showgrounds.
Fry says the leadership exhibited by
Sparkman and other PBIOS volunteers
provides the show's supporters and participants an example of how to weather
the storm of depressed industry conditions.
"For the many volunteers who organize the show and make it operate so
smoothly, 'Standing Tall' is not just a
theme; it is what they are doing every
day in their own jobs and businesses,"
he comments.
Sparkman has seen all facets of the
exhibition working as an assistant to the
executive director and as a board member.
He and his brother, John, are co-owners
of Liberty Fishing & Rental Tools and
Capitol Oil Well Service, which provides
workover rigs to Permian Basin operators,
Sparkman explains. Altogether, three family members are part of the Sparkman
team, he adds.
Sparkman's uncle started Liberty in
1958 and was soon joined by Sparkman's
father, Bobby. After Monnie's uncle passed
away, Bobby acquired the remaining interest. Since taking over company management, Monnie and John started Capitol
Oil Well Service in 2006 with one rig
and have added three more over the years.
"Our workover rigs are managing to stay
out on location and remain busy so far,"
he says.
Fry says he appreciates the enthusiasm
and new perspectives that Sparkman is
bringing to this year's show. "Monnie is
doing a great job, and we are working to
implement the new ideas he is bringing
to the table," Fry assesses. "He is committed to making sure the PBIOS is enjoyable for all exhibitors and attendees.
People obviously come to the show to
do business, make new contacts, and
learn about new developments. But we
want them to enjoy their time here and
look forward to coming back for the
next Permian Basin International Oil
Show."
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APRIL 2016 37

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