ODESSA, Texas — The Permian Basin International Oil Show brings in people from all corners of the globe to network in the oil and gas industry. This year’s three-day event combines businesses, equipment specialists and innovators at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa. 

The event puts many impactful people in one place, people who help produce oil here and around the world. As the Permian Basin continues to lead energy production for our country and beyond, technological innovation plays a significant role. 

Whether small or large, innovations in technology keep the oil industry pressing on. 

VEGA Americas is a pressure and level company that uses ultrasonics, and Sean Larson helped explain some of their radiometric technology. 

“This is used on a lot of our frac trucks and cement trucks here in the Permian,” said Larson, a Sales Manager for VEGA Americas. “So this has a nuclear source and we’re shooting the gamma rays through the liquid – through the process – and we’re gathering the photolyte on the other side, and we’re able to give a level and then we’re also able to give a density.” 

For Willie Bedford’s technology, the “FracMaster” did not happen over night. 

“It was about 13 years in development — continuing to develop the product,” said Bedford, General Manager of TIVA Technologies. “We started out with the CSS valve a long time ago, engineers worked long and hard on it, and finally completed with the Hydroseal technology about two years ago [and] been out in the field running now.” 

A contrast of technology for the oil industry showcased in the Permian Basin – a region that Coby Appleton calls a unique market. 

“Being here as long as they’ve been and to continue to strive forward the way they have – with new drilling technologies [and] new fracking technologies,” said Appleton, Direct Sales at VEGA Americas in the Permian Basin. “So, us on the instrumentation side, we have to make sure that we’re staying up to date so we can keep up with them.” 

Everyone is trying to stay up to date with an energy capital of the world. 

“The Permian Basin sets the standard for everybody I think,” Appleton said. “We have up-to-date technology; we’re staying on the cutting edge of things – all the companies out here in the Permian Basin are doing that. So, I think when you look at it as a global market type thing, we’re laying the groundwork for everyone else.” 

Appleton noted that as things are constantly growing and changing, it’s important for the oil industry to always work to be better. The Permian Basin International Oil Show concludes on Thursday, October 19th at the Ector County Coliseum from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., with the biennial event set to happen again in 2025.