There’s often a misconception that regulation is a purely federal affair. However, the heart of regulation is local. State governments, not the federal government, have significant and primary oversight over the oil and gas operations that occur within each state. There are a few exceptions, of course. There are cases where the federal regulators do attempt to enforce regulatory control over state oil and gas operations normally left to state control. Recently, the Bureau of Land Management attempted to enforce new regulations on fracking, for example.
Oil and gas operations are commonly found in remote locations far from company headquarters. Now, it's possible to monitor pump operations, collate and analyze seismic data, and track employees around the world from almost anywhere. Whether employees are in the office or in the field, the internet and related applications enable a greater multidirectional flow of information – and control – than ever before.