Earlier this month, the Railroad Fee of Texas (RRC) revealed that the group’s petroleum theft process pressure held its second quarterly assembly.
In a press release posted on its web site, the RRC mentioned members of its state taskforce on petroleum theft (STOPTheft) gathered in Midland, Texas, on April 2 “to proceed their work addressing the challenges of petroleum theft in Texas”.
“Led by RRC Chairman Jim Wright, the session opened with a quick overview of the duty pressure’s duties, subcommittees and timeline objectives for delivering their first report back to the Legislature in December,” the assertion mentioned, noting that this report will assess theft impacts, long-term financial results, and methods to enhance coordination between regulation enforcement.
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“Job pressure members highlighted the significance of together with particular and detailed suggestions within the report as companies put together their budgets and the Legislature enters the ninetieth Legislative Session in January 2027,” the assertion highlighted.
The assertion additionally famous that, throughout the assembly, members “examined how theft extends past the theft of oil”.
“It additionally includes criminals stealing vehicles, instruments, and different supplies similar to copper,” the assertion identified.
“Greater than 40 % of oil and gasoline operators indicated that their operations have been impacted by theft up to now 12 months, an more and more refined crime that has been linked to organized crime and overseas felony syndicates, costing Texans hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in misplaced state income,” the RRC assertion warned.
Established throughout the 89th Legislative Session by Senate Invoice 494, STOPTheft brings collectively representatives from throughout state, federal, and native regulation enforcement and the power business, the assertion highlighted. The group’s purpose is “finding out and making suggestions to assist fight petroleum theft within the state”, in response to the assertion, which outlined that the duty pressure is split into 4 subcommittees “centered on tackling numerous points”.
“[The] STOPTheft process pressure assembly marked a profitable step ahead in our effort to fight oilfield theft in Texas,” Railroad Fee Chairman Jim Wright mentioned within the assertion.
“I respect the dedication proven by the members and am assured that this collaborative strategy will ship outcomes,” he added.
In a press release posted on the RRC’s web site on October 31, 2025, the RRC introduced that its petroleum theft process pressure had held its first assembly.
“To start coordinated motion towards the rising risk of petroleum product theft in Texas, Railroad Fee of Texas Chairman Jim Wright presided over the inaugural assembly of the State Job Power on Petroleum Theft at RRC headquarters on October 29, 2025,” the assertion mentioned.
In the course of the inaugural assembly, members reviewed the language of SB 494 and formally voted to approve the STOPTheft constitution, the assertion highlighted. It revealed that dialogue subjects included strengthening collaboration between regulation enforcement and personal operators, inspecting the affect of petroleum theft on state gross sales tax revenues, and figuring out methods to establish and align present theft knowledge gathered by regulation enforcement and regulatory companies.
“Every of you have been chosen for the precious experience and perception you deliver to this process pressure,” Wright mentioned in that assertion.
“Your work within the coming 12 months and wealth of data will play a pivotal function in defending our treasured Texas pure assets. I look ahead to working collectively to perform the objectives set forth underneath SB 494 and placing a STOP to oilfield theft,” he added.
The third quarter 2025 Dallas Fed Vitality Survey famous that 41 % of executives mentioned their operations have been impacted by theft within the oil subject up to now 12 months. The remaining 59 % mentioned they haven’t been impacted, the survey identified.
Survey contributors have been requested, “up to now 12 months, have your operations been impacted by theft within the oil subject”, the survey highlighted, noting that executives from 80 exploration and manufacturing corporations answered this query throughout the survey assortment interval. This spanned from September 10 to September 18, 2025, the survey identified.
Exploration and manufacturing (E&P) executives who mentioned their operations have been impacted by theft within the oil subject up to now 12 months have been then requested, “what objects have been stolen over the previous 12 months”, the survey highlighted. Probably the most chosen response was ‘crude oil’, with 61 % of respondents, in response to the survey, which revealed that ‘piping valves and wiring’ was the second most chosen response, with 58 % of respondents, and ‘gear’ was the third most chosen response, with 39 % of respondents. Executives from 33 exploration and manufacturing corporations answered this query throughout the survey assortment interval, the survey revealed.
E&P executives who mentioned their operations have been impacted by theft within the oil subject up to now 12 months have been additionally requested, “how would you price the affect of this theft in your agency’s operations”, the survey outlined. Properly above 70 % of respondents mentioned “low”, with round 15 % responding “medium”, and underneath 10 % responding “excessive”, the survey identified. No respondents checked the “no affect” response, in response to the survey. Executives from 33 exploration and manufacturing corporations additionally answered this query throughout the survey assortment interval, the survey revealed.
To contact the writer, electronic mail andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
