Contents FEBRUARY 2016 Volume 59 No. 2 THE ISSUE Tapping a reservoir is only the beginning. The volume of hydrocarbons still lingering in both conventional Improved Oil and unconventional producing formations is Recovery staggering. The Improved Oil Recovery cover story reports open by considering how both laboratory and field experiments have sought to solve the mystery of how to enhance recovery using CO2 and field gas injection in tight oil plays. Part two of the Unconventional Resource Science reports features a look at how Swift Energy Company has used an extensive array of geophysical techniques to increase recovery rates from the legacy AWP Field in South Texas. The February Gulf of Mexico reports survey independent companies that continue to advance drilling and field development projects as they maintain an operational focus on longer-term business objectives, including identifying exploration projects that could lead to new field developments down the road. Association news includes Official Convention Sections for TIPRO, IOGA and OOGA. Cover design by Nora Mota. Issue photography by Jason Drake and courtesy of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. FEBRUARY 2016 The "Better Business" Publication Serving the Exploration / Drilling / Production Industry Page 54 Raymond Welder Chairman TIPRO "The industry, especially Texas independents, may include the most adaptable people on Earth." Page 77 Bryan Dicus President IOGA "People are dusting off their maps, looking at trends and going back to the old way of looking for oil." Page 83 David R. Hill President OOGA "These market conditions really have forced people to examine very closely how they do their business" Page 86 NEWS 14 | Federal Legislation: House passes bill to nix sue-and-settle maneuvers while Obama vetoes bill to stymie new WOTUS definition; Budget bill allows stiffer OSHA penalties 14 | Endangered Species Act: Oil and gas exempted from incidental take prohibitions for bat 17 | In the Courts: Court sides with PIOGA on challenge to permit requirements; Ohio's top court affirms lease language 24 | EPA Fracturing Study: SAB questions how EPA describes report's conclusions 25 | State Legislative: Injection well bill introduced in Ohio General Assembly 31 | Federal Regulation: BLM proposes rule to limit gas leaks, flaring, venting 93 | Onshore Orders: Industry advocates cite flaws to BLM's proposed changes 99 | State Regulatory: Pennsylvania Chapter 78 rule moves toward final adoption OFFICIAL CONVENTION SECTIONS 77 | TIPRO: Texas lawmakers examine Obama administration regulations 83 | IOGA: Illinois Basin companies get back to basics 86 | OOGA: Politics on winter meeting agenda COLUMNS 26 | Tech Connections 28 | Washington Watch