American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2014 - 153

ConventionSection: Kentucky Oil & Gas Association
the 2015 legislative session. "The question
is going to be whether the legislature wants
to use the approach of tackling it through
clarification related to eminent domain, or
there is perhaps a more appropriate way to
evaluate the siting of these projects. I
expect NGVs to continue to move forward,
and other than that, it remains to be seen
what will emerge," he says.
The oil and gas industry enjoys a good
relationship with state lawmakers, McNeill
allows. That is a bipartisan relationship,
he adds, with Democrats controlling the
House and Republicans holding a majority
in the Senate.
"Several key members of leadership
hail from regions where the industry produces oil and gas, and they understand
and appreciate what it means in terms of
job creation, but also the economic impacts
in generating severance revenues for not
only the state but for the localities," he
assesses. "Legislators are appreciative of
what we do, and supportive of keeping
statutory and regulatory frameworks that
allow the industry to continue to move
forward."
Association Issues
The changes that KOGA began implementing after the 2011 approval of its
strategic plan are beginning to show significant payoffs, McNeill assesses. The
association rewrote its bylaws to revamp
its committee structure, change participation in the board of directors to 28
members, and overhaul its dues structure.
Other changes included increasing participation from KOGA members and promoting greater operational transparency
(AOGR, June 2011, pg. 153).
"The board of directors' process and
the work it has undertaken during this
three-year period really has set us up for
success," McNeill praises. "When you
come into this position as I did 18 months
ago and have a clear road map for where
the board wants the association to go, then
it becomes a function of energy, execution,
constantly checking in with board and
president, and just pushing ahead. I really
am pleased with the progress."
Outside the association, increased industry activity has led to continued growth
in KOGA membership, he says. Membership has steadily increased 10-15 percent annually, McNeill reports.
Annual Convention
The technical presentations planned
for KOGA's annual convention are part

KOGA Annual Meeting - Louisville, Ky.
Tuesday, July 15
10 a.m.-3 p.m. KOGA Golf Tournament,
Covered Bridge Golf Course
Four-Person Scramble
Shotgun Start
Lunch and Beverage Cart Provided
Noon-5 p.m. Exhibitor Set-Up, Hyatt Regency
5-7 p.m. Board Reception
7:30 p.m. Dine-Around

Wednesday, July 16
8 a.m. Registration Opens
8-10 a.m. Board Meeting
10 a.m.-Noon General Session
Introduction and Opening Remarks, KOGA
President Doug Hyden
"Update on Berea and Horizontal Drilling,"
Dave Harris, Kentucky Geological Survey
"Mud Logging and Geosteering, and Its
Application to Horizontal Oil and Gas
Drilling," Susan Barbour, Rubicon Geologic Services
"Open Hole Completion Systems," Ryan
Henderson, Peak Completions
"NGLs in the Devonian New Albany
Shale?" Brandon Nuttall, Kentucky Geological Survey
Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch on Your Own
1:30-3 p.m. General Session
"Tax and Accounting Issues Facing Kentucky Producers," Don Nestor, Arnett
Foster Toothman
"Leasing, Royalty and Horizontal Joint
Operating Agreement Panel," Karen

of the association's efforts to provide
more information to its members, says
KOGA Associate Director Astrud Masterson. After the golf tournament at the
Fuzzy Zoeller Covered Bridge Golf Course
in Sellersburg, In., and board reception
open the meeting on Tuesday, July 15,
she says the focus will shift to technical
sessions and legislative updates.
Leading off the agenda on Wednesday,
July 16, will be an update on the activity
in the state's Berea Sandstone and New
Albany Shale plays, with Dave Harris
from the Kentucky Geological Survey
leading the discussion. Other presentations
will look at mud logging and geosteering,
and open hole completions, Masterson
reports. Sessions on accounting and land
issues close out the day.
Early presentations on Thursday, July
17, will cover market fundamentals and
environmental compliance.
"Not everyone likes the new regulations, but they are here," Masterson says.
"And so the environmental compliance

Greenwell, Harry Callicotte and Kevin
West
3:30-5:30 p.m. Exhibitor Reception
6-8 p.m. Night Out Event at The Gillespie

Thursday, July 17
8 a.m. Registration Opens
8 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9-10:30 a.m. General Session
"Market Fundamentals," Mark Jergens,
Midwest Energy Logistics LLC
Environmental Compliance Panel, Lee
Anne Devin, Army Corps of Engineers;
and Emily Ohde, Kentucky Department
of Air Quality
10:30-10:45 a.m. Break
10:45-11:45 a.m. General Session
"Multistate Legislative Update," Brydon
Ross, HBW Resources
"Dealing With the Anti-Frack Crowd:
Seven Secrets to Success," Greg Kozera,
Nabors Completions
11:45 a.m.-Noon Break
Noon-2 p.m. Lunch
Announcement of KOGA Board of Directors, Jed Weinberg, Nominating Committee
Keynote Speaker, Dr. Carl Hurley
Presentation of Bob Alley Award, Doug
Hyden
Presentation of President Award/New President
Robert Gunn Print Giveaway/Exhibitor
Giveaway

lecture probably will be one of the hottest
topics, just because everything has been
changing so much with regulations. The
state is starting to put into effect the national regulations, and as an association,
we are trying to inform the membership.
Representatives from the Division of Air
Quality and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be speaking."
Masterson reports the association also
will feature a multistate legislative update
that will focus on Kentucky's neighbors
and examine how they are regulating industry techniques such as fracturing.
Greg Kozera, regional sales manager for
Nabors Completion & Production Services
Co. and president of the Virginia Oil &
Gas Association, will offer tips on how
to deal with the anti-fracturing crowd.
"We expect around 300 attendees
throughout the annual meeting, and will
have close to 40 exhibitors," Masterson
poses. "The association has not held a
meeting in Louisville since 2010. It is
being held downtown, so it is a great loJUNE 2014 153

American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2014

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