We Okies took one on the chin last month with news that two of our largest natural gas producers, Devon Energy and Expand Energy, planned to relocate their respective headquarters from Okla. City to Houston. With announcements by each company hitting the wire only days apart, the intended departures came as a double whammy to a state that has long prided itself on our rich oil and gas history, prolific resources, and industry pioneers. A bummer times two?  Yep. The end of Okla.’s vital link in the energy industry chain? Hardly.

Reese Energy Consulting today is following a flurry of headlines spotlighting the Sooner State and the oil and gas leaders not only reinforcing their commitments here but taking them up a notch. First up is Okla. City-based Continental Resources, the world’s largest privately held oil and gas producer, which has made no bones about keeping its HQ operations in Okla. City. Doubling down on that, the company has now signed a 15-year naming agreement on a downtown newbuild arena and home to the NBA’s now #1 player, The OKC Thunder. The venue will be known as the Continental Coliseum and is slated for completion in 2028.

Alan Armstrong, former CEO and current executive chairman of Tulsa-based pipeline giant Williams, has been tapped as the next U.S. senatorby Okla. Governor Stitt to replace fellow Okie Senator Markwayne Mullin who’s recently been confirmed as DHS Secretary. If named, Armstrong plans to step down from the company and focus on reforming the permitting process. His seat in the Senate would be temporary until November elections but could well open a new challenge for one of Okla.’s brightest oil and gas minds.