The 5th bi-annual South West Texas Oil and Gas Trade Show was held at the beginning of October. The oil and gas industry drives the economy in West Texas, which is why the event is held every other year. Oil and gas workers come to network, share ideas, share updates and inform the general public about the industry happenings. In 2015, there were 36 exhibitors at the event, which is a decrease from past years and is indicative of the decline in oil and gas overall. Many of the guests and exhibitors were loyal attendees from previous years.
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.