The Boards of Directors of the North Texas Oil and GasAssociation (NTOGA) and the West Central Texas Oil and GasAssociation (WeCTOGA) have approved a plan to merge the twoorganizations, which when completed, would become the largestmembership association of any state oil and gas group in thecountry. Both were organized in the early 1930s to representindependent oil and gas companies that primarily explore for andproduce crude oil and natural gas.

The merger would result in a mega organization withapproximately 1,700 members, second only to the nationalIndependent Petroleum Association of America in size. NTOGA’smembership comes from 120 different cities and 18 states, but 75%live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area north to the Red River. The twogroups are made up mostly of small- to medium-sized independents,and most operate in Texas.

“It’s a sign of the times,” said Alex Mills, NTOGA’s executivevice president. Under the merger plan, Mills will become chief ofstaff. “In the last downturn, the last bust, we were badly hurt. Wenow have fewer people, fewer independents. This really became anecessity.”

Mills said that the two associations were duplicating theirefforts, and found they did not have the luxury to fund two staffsto work on the same projects. “This will make us more efficient,and offer a better product at a lower cost.”

The headquarters would remain in Wichita Falls, with a regionaloffice in Abilene. WeCTOGA’s Executive Vice President Bill Stevenswould become executive vice president and would run the governmentrelations program.

The merger plan will be presented to WeCTOGA’s members on July17 in Abilene and to NTOGA’s members on July 18 in Wichita Falls.The members also are expected to vote on a new name, said Mills.With membership approval, the merger plan then would become finalwith an okay from the Texas Secretary of State.

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