Midland College Board approves drilling agreement for the campus
The Midland college board voted unanimously to extend an offer that would allow oil drilling on 17 acres of college-owned property, a move trustees say could bring roughly $600 million in royalties over 25 years and send nearly $200 million to the city if the companies accept the agreement.
College Board signs off on 17-acre drilling parcel
Trustees approved offering 17 acres of campus land to Midland-Petro D. C. Partners LLC and Permian Deep Rock Oil Company LLC, voting without opposition at the meeting that advanced an agreement trustees described as the result of serious negotiations over the past year. David Arrington, who has pushed for a drill site since his first presentation to the board in 2019, told trustees drilling would generate about 600 million dollars in royalties over 25 years if developed.
Student safety and site protections were central in discussions
Board Chair Steve Kiser said trustees prioritized student safety because campus housing and early childhood classrooms sit near the proposed parcel. Kiser said the board has built in "lots of protections" that would allow the oil companies to develop while protecting students, including provisions addressing sex offenders employed by contractors or the operator and a requirement for a permanent wall to separate operations from the main campus.
Financial stakes for the city and next steps for development
Trustees were told that, under the offer, nearly 200 million dollars would go to the city of Midland if Midland-Petro and Permian Deep Rock Oil Company accept the agreement. Midland College began considering a bond proposal to fund an expansion of the main campus in January 2025, a process supporters said spurred renewed attention to finding space for a drill site. Midland-Petro Representative Al Escamilla called the vote a win for the community and said he expects the project to benefit everyone over time.
Board members said they believe the deal is fair and in the best interest of the college and its students, but trustees also made clear that they have not set an estimated date for drilling to begin; those next steps are determined by the oil companies. As of now, Midland College has no timeline for when drilling might start, and final development hinges on acceptance and permitting by the named operators.
Looking ahead, trustees will await responses from Midland-Petro D. C. Partners LLC and Permian Deep Rock Oil Company LLC on the agreement and any follow-up negotiations required to satisfy the safety provisions and other conditions the board attached to the offer.
