Why Oil and Gas Pioneer George Mitchell Was a Conservationist

The late George P. Mitchell was a pioneer of more than oil and gas production from shale. He also insisted that oil and gas extraction be conducted responsibly. On his own ranch, Cook's Branch Conservancy, north of The Woodlands, Mitchell oversaw natural gas production. He demanded that industry practices respect the conservation value of Cook's Branch. He famously warned that if the production company "didn't do it right, I'll kick them out."As oil and gas production increases in West Texas, landowners and communities in the Trans-Pecos region of the Permian Basin would do well to adopt Mitchell's worldview.   Continue reading...