American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2020 - 33

IssuesUpdate: Colorado Oil & Gas Association
" We want to see our state's Democratic
leadership point out that it took on the
issue and changed the rules to ensure the
industry operates at a high standard, and
to say we are moving forward, " Haley
adds. " We don't need ballot initiatives to
try to ban this industry. This industry is
important to our state, our tax base and

to who we are as Coloradans. "
" I think we are going to see a change, "
Woolston predicts. " At some point, there
will be recognition of the environmental
costs of other energy sources and the environmental benefits of ours. Colorado
is in the process of creating one of the
world's strictest oil and gas regulatory

regimes. That makes the oil and gas produced here some of the 'greenest' on the
planet, and arguably a premium product.
As utilities and consumers of all types
look to minimize their environmental
footprints, Colorado producers can help.
Long term, we are going to operate at
the highest of standards. "
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Key 2020 Lessons May Carry Forward
DENVER-Strong oil and gas prices
tend to bring fierce competition for leases
and personnel, service and supply constraints and consumer irritation. The other
side of the price cycle often includes industrywide contraction, infinitesimal margins and tough choices about personnel
and assets.
Turbulence is more the rule than the
exception to life in the oil and gas industry.
Even so, some years stand out more than
others, and 2020 certainly qualifies, muses
Colorado Oil & Gas Association President
and Chief Executive Officer Dan Haley.
Fortunately, he reflects, as the group has
traversed this unique year, the chairman's
gavel has been in the right hands.
" Allison Woolston has been a calm,
wonderful voice of reason and intellect
in a year that has been tumultuous for
our industry and country, " he affirms.
" We have appreciated her even-keeled
leadership and broad perspective. "
Responding to Haley's suggestion that
she has been the right person for the
times, Woolston demurs. " To whatever
extent I have been the right person, it has
been about embracing the changes we
have been forced to make, " she suggests.
" It is not about regretting the past, but
more about looking at how to leverage
the future. "
Coronavirus realities have transformed
most oil and gas associations' normal
modes of operation, especially for interactions that ordinarily would take place
in person. Woolston admits it has been
poignant to chair COGA at a time in
which doing so entails almost none of the
typical interpersonal contact she enjoys.
That challenge comes alongside the ones
particular to Colorado, as the state works
to overhaul its oil and gas rules.
" It has been personally disappointing
not to be able to see my fellow board
members-other than virtually-since early
March, " she reflects. " But with new technology, we have been really connected.

The Board of Directors has been very
engaged with all the issues, meeting virtually on a regular basis and additionally
as needed. All the while, the staff has
been incredibly engaged as well.
" It has been a tough year, but everyone
has pulled together, " she continues. " It
has been great for companies to be able
to share and brainstorm as peers on the
strategies and approaches they have used
to deal with COVID. "
And what is true for COGA members
individually also has proven true for them
collectively, Haley assesses. " Our members
have been called upon to be innovative
and resourceful, " he suggests. " Our association has done the same. "
Remote Possibilities
Of course, one of the main ways
COGA has been forced to adapt to the
pandemic deals with events. The association held its annual meeting in mid-November, Haley notes, convening not in a
physical location, but over computer monitors and handheld devices.
" Typically, we have 500 or 600 people
in a downtown Denver ballroom, but that
was not in the cards this year, " he contrasts.
" We also held a virtual Energy Summit
in August. It was well attended, with fantastic content. "
Haley notes that COGA recorded most
of the panels ahead of time and then,
after airing them during the Energy Summit, held live discussions with the panelists
afterward. Although attendees could watch
segments as the conference unfolded,
they also had the ability to experience
them at their convenience. " The look and
feel was much like our conference, except
everyone was at home, " he compares.
" People told me they enjoyed the option
to watch the panels at odd hours, so even
after the pandemic, we probably will
look to provide on-demand video. "
Woolston concurs that the 2020 Energy
Summit offered advantages and disad-

vantages. " It is a disadvantage when we
cannot get together as a group, and we
especially miss out on those spontaneous
conversations that occur, " she acknowledges. " On the other hand, many people
who would not otherwise have been able
to attend the conference as it was occurring
could access it on their own time. There
are advantages to the way we did things
before, but this is teaching us about new
ways to enhance all that. "
Ultimately, Woolston reflects, COGA
has found ways to do what must be done,
which includes participating in Colorado's
regulatory rewrites. " Networking is a
huge component of an organization such
as COGA, " she considers. " Many people
had opportunities to network outside the
annual meeting and Energy Summit because they were so engaged in various
committees working on the rulemakings.
There has been a lot of interaction among
industry people, even if it is not in the
conventional way-or in the fun way, for
that matter. "
Woolston notes that Occidental Petroleum's Tom Janiszewski is scheduled
to succeed her in 2021. " Tom brings vast
industry and government relations experience to the position, " she praises. " I
look forward to his leadership and think
it will be very exciting. Whereas the majority of my operational experience has
been in Colorado, Tom has experience
with Oxy's widespread operations, which
will allow him to bring lessons from
other basins and states to COGA. "
Haley agrees, noting that Janiszewski
also serves as a director for both the
New Mexico Oil & Gas Association and
the Texas Oil & Gas Association. " Tom
brings a great perspective of working
with trade associations in important states
and also has the perspective that comes
from being with a major company, " he
assesses. " I am sure he can leverage that
expertise to help us deal with what is
going on in Colorado. "
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DECEMBER 2020 33

American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2020

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