Gene Shepherd is packing a punch in the Permian’s southern Delaware hood, where drilling rigs and pumpjacks operated by neighbors like Diamondback Energy, Continental Resources, and XTO, mechanically hum their tunes in cadences that can either lullaby a producer to sleep or keep him mercilessly awake at night....

Ahh, it’s quarterly report card season again. A time to share the fruits of strategy, labor, and investments over a three-month gestation that gives financial analysts a purpose in life. For the nation’s larger midstreamers sharing their recent reports, a solid A+ grade seems fitting along with a standing ovation. ...