Advances in drilling, hydraulic fracturing and production technology continue to reinforce the Permian Basin’s place at the top of global oil and gas production. This year’s Permian Basin International Oil Show will present the innovations that got it there and those that will keep it moving forward.

Show organizers say more than 20,000 people will attend PBIOS 2025, set for October 21-23 at the Ector County Coliseum and Fairgrounds in Odessa, Tx. New this year, PBIOS will host events organized by industry associations for their members, in addition to hosting company exhibits inside the facilities and on the show grounds. As of late March, about 80% of the 1,095 exhibit spaces were taken and PBIOS was compiling a waiting list, says Executive Director Tony Fry.

The show offers a unique look at the latest technological advancements and innovations that are driving Permian growth by allowing producers to improve operations and extract more oil and gas from the basin’s hydrocarbon-rich, stacked pays, he says.

The theme for the 2025 PBIOS—”The Basin’s Next Generation: Bridging Legacies. Powering Tomorrow”—is appropriate for a show that attracts a global audience containing both industry veterans with decades of hands-on knowhow and up-and-comers with a track record of taking technologies and field applications to the next level, Fry says.

“The Permian Basin has been producing for a long time, and now new technologies have come along and we’re producing even more,” he observes. “At PBIOS, we look at the trend as the next generation of advancement in the basin. Take drilling for example. For years, Permian companies drilled only vertical wells, but now, they routinely drill two miles down and three miles out on horizontal wells, with some laterals extending even farther.

“In addition to the progress, the Permian includes people who have conducted business here for years and others in their 30s and early 40s who are bridging technologies, connecting what we have done in the past to what we’re going to do in the future,” he continues.

Broad Appeal

As a truly international convention, Fry says PBIOS caters to a wide range of industry representatives from around the world, including chief executives, engineers, geologists and field operators.

The PBIOS articles of incorporation recognize the biennial event as a “working man’s oil show,” but it attracts a broad spectrum of oil and gas employees and decision-makers, in addition to the working men and women who are the backbone of Permian oil and gas, Fry says.

“We continue to see an increase in attendance by people who can make and influence purchasing decisions,” he says. “Field personnel attend, but two years from now they may be making those decisions themselves. During my career, I have dealt with a lot of field technicians that didn’t necessarily make purchasing decisions at first, but they influenced supervisors and moved up the ladder.”

Regardless of someone’s position, Fry says PBIOS is a great place to discover ways to work smarter. “We want anybody that’s involved in the oil and gas industry to come out and see what’s going on and take advantage of the opportunity to consider innovations that can improve operations and reinforce value,” he urges. “At PBIOS, we believe it’s important to attract new people as well as industry veterans who have been coming for a while.”

Companies routinely send employees to the show to see the latest technologies and services that enhance safety, efficiency and profitability, Fry reports.

During PBIOS, a third of Building G will be dedicated to industry associations, who plan to conduct classes and host events for their registered members attending the show.

Historically, the establishment of PBIOS followed closely on the heels of the basin’s oil and gas beginning. Permian production kicked off in 1923, with the Santa Rita #1 ushering in a stampede of oil and gas drilling in the region. PBIOS launched shortly thereafter, in 1940. After a hiatus during World War II, the show resumed, and since then it has been held every other year, except for a year delay during the COVID pandemic. The show is a nonprofit led by volunteers dedicated to advancing knowledge for the industry, Fry describes.

PBIOS also celebrates the industry’s heritage. Displays include a fully operational cable tool rig and trucks and equipment from the 1930s, a decade that saw the basin transform into an energy powerhouse. Also at the event, the Oldtimers’ Lounge features historic memorabilia and honors the industry’s legacy.