RRC Petroleum Theft Task Force Holds Second Quarterly Meeting

AUSTIN – Members of the Railroad Commission of Texas’ (RRC) State Taskforce on Petroleum Theft (STOPTheft) gathered in Midland on April 2 to continue their work addressing the challenges of petroleum theft in Texas.

Members of the RRC State Taskforce on Petroleum Theft (STOPTheft) gathered in Midland.

Led by RRC Chairman Jim Wright, the session opened with a brief overview of the task force’s duties, subcommittees and timeline goals for delivering their first report to the Legislature in December. This report will assess theft impacts, long-term economic effects and ways to improve coordination between law enforcement.

Task force members highlighted the importance of including specific and detailed recommendations in the report as agencies prepare their budgets and the Legislature enters the 90th Legislative Session in January 2027.

The STOPTheft task force is divided into four subcommittees focused on tackling petroleum theft issues.

“Today’s STOPTheft task force meeting marked a successful step forward in our effort to combat oilfield theft in Texas,” said Railroad Commission Chairman Jim Wright. “I appreciate the commitment shown by the members and am confident that this collaborative approach will deliver results.”

The task force is divided into four subcommittees focused on tackling various issues that will be included in the report - background and history, laws and regulations, economic analysis and impact, and recommendations.

During the meeting, members examined how theft extends beyond the theft of oil. It also involves criminals stealing trucks, tools and other materials such as copper.

More than 40% of oil and gas operators indicated that their operations have been impacted by theft in the past year, an increasingly sophisticated crime that has been linked to organized crime and foreign criminal syndicates, costing Texans millions of dollars in lost state revenue.

After dividing into subcommittees, STOPTheft members reconvened to review their discussions and goals for the upcoming meeting. In between quarterly meetings, the subcommittees will continue small-group work sessions on their respective topics.

Established during the 89th Legislative Session through Senate Bill 494, STOPTheft brings together representatives from across state, federal and local law enforcement and the energy industry with the goal of studying and making recommendations to help combat petroleum theft in the state.