ConocoPhillips lands in Midland the week it doubles down on Permian Basin capital

ConocoPhillips flew from Houston Intercontinental to Midland International Air and Space Port on June 10, a one-hour hop that puts company personnel squarely in the heart of the Permian Basin.

The same week, the Houston-based independent explorer and producer confirmed plans to allocate more capital to Permian Basin assets in 2026, as reported by [pboilandgasmagazine.com](https://pboilandgasmagazine.com/conocophillips-to-allocate-more-capital-to-permian-basin-assets-in-2026/). The shift comes amid ongoing Middle East disruption that has idled production in Qatar, with ConocoPhillips excluding Qatar volumes from second-quarter guidance, per its April 30 earnings release. CEO Ryan Lance cited “ongoing macro volatility” as the company focuses on the Lower 48, where the Delaware Basin alone delivered 698,000 boe/d in the first quarter.

This Midland arrival is the latest in a pattern of frequent shuttle flights between Houston and the basin — at least five such trips appeared in recent days — reflecting the company’s operational emphasis on its highest-margin assets while geopolitical risk clouds international output.