Occidental Petroleum lands in Midland as Permian output forecasts rise

Occidental Petroleum flew its Embraer ERJ-175 (tail N170XY) from Cavern City Air Terminal in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to Midland International Air and Space Port on June 17, a short 23-minute hop that put company personnel back in the heart of the Permian Basin.

The same week, East Daley Analytics updated its survey of Permian operators and raised its 2026 production growth estimate for the basin to 3.2%, up from 2.7% in its previous survey, per a report in the Midland Reporter-Telegram. Occidental Petroleum is one of the dominant producers in the region, and the flight pattern — including multiple shuttle trips between Houston and Midland in recent days — tracks with the company's steady operational tempo as it navigates a leadership transition. Former CEO Vicki Hollub retired on June 1, succeeded by Richard Jackson, with the company reporting strong Q1 results and a $7.1 billion debt reduction through May.

The ERJ-175 is primarily used as an employee shuttle, and this routing out of Carlsbad suggests a crew rotation or logistical trip tied to Occidental Petroleum's extensive Permian drilling program. The departing airport, Cavern City Air Terminal, sits near the company's New Mexico acreage, making the short return to Midland a routine but telling indicator of the company's focus on the basin as Permian growth expectations tick upward.