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LAFAYETTE — An event in Lafayette this week had a lot to do with the future of St. Mary Parish because it has a lot to do with the future of the energy industry.

One thing is clear: The future isn’t clear.

The event was the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition, better known as LAGCOE. Every two years, LAGCOE brings hundreds of energy industry exhibitors to Lafayette for a combination sales mart, convention and navel-gazing.

This year’s LAGCOE ended Thursday, but at mid-afternoon the exhibitors who packed the Cajundome floor and ringed its exterior with booths and demonstrations were just starting to pack up.

These exhibitors aren’t, by and large, the Exxons and BPs of the industry. The vendors are the companies that build the valves and vertical separators, make the metal mats that allow offshore workers to walk safely on platforms, invent new cleanup and environmental protection technologies, and sell all the other products and services that keep the oil pumping.

There are also formal discussions about the industry’s future by politicians, academics and industry executives. As you might expect, some of the discussions had a touch of gloom.

Much as natural gas prices plunged a decade ago, crude oil prices plummeted from $100 per barrel in mid-2014 into the $30s. Prices have since recovered to near $50, still far below what companies said as recently as two years ago that they need to break even.

The reason for the price decline is the same as it was for natural gas: New techniques, primarily horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, have led to a huge increase in oil production in the United States and around the world.

If St. Mary people know anything, it’s what happens when oil prices drop.

Nationally, oil and gas extraction employment fell from 200,900 in October 2014 to 181,000, in September 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Louisiana, the decline has been steeper: from about 61,00 in autumn 2014 to about 41,000 last month.

In St. Mary, where nearly 2,500 people worked in the mining sector in fall 2014, a little more than 1,900 were employed in the first quarter of this year.
The effects here have been felt beyond the people who have energy-related jobs. We’ve reported that more than one St. Mary job in five has disappeared in three years. Collections of sales taxes have plunged, too, forcing local governments to tighten their budgets and put off infrastructure work they’d like to do.

We’ve been through this before, notably in the 1980s, and in a smaller way around 2000. But there’s something distinctly different about this bust.

It’s also a boom.

Ever since the Arab oil embargo of 1973, politicians have talked about the need to be energy independent. We shouldn’t depend on unstable and sometimes hostile foreigners for the fuel that runs our economy, they said.

When those new techniques came along, energy independence began to seem possible.

Remember September 2011, when then-U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, now the state attorney general, sat at a speech by President Barack Obama and held up a sign that said “Drilling = Jobs”? In that month, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States was producing about 168 million barrels of oil a month.

By December 2014, about the time prices started falling, production was up to 293 million barrels. The total fell along with the price of crude, but by July 2017, we were still producing 286 million barrels a month.

Oil imports have fallen 30 percent in a decade, according to the administration.

So the macro problem, our dependence on overseas oil, appears to be on its way to being solved. Most of the big oil companies are raking in big profits, too.

“We’re delivering higher production with lower capital and operating expenditures,” said Chairman and CEO John Watson at Chevron, where second-quarter earnings showed a $3 billion improvement over 2016.

When inland oil production becomes profitable, even with relatively low prices, the $1 billion investment required for a deep-water energy platform for the Gulf doesn’t look attractive. The industry focus shifts from the Gulf to the Dakotas, Ohio or wherever shale can be tapped for oil, aggravating the economic dislocations felt in places like St. Mary.

Analysts seem to agree that in addition to the cost-cutting measures, the top companies are prospering because they don’t depend solely on bringing oil out of the ground. Even within the industry, they’ve diversified.

There’s a lesson there for our parish as we move forward into an uncertain future.

Bill Decker is managing editor of The Daily Review. Reach him at bdecker@daily-review.com.

HAUNTED HOUSE
Siren’s Carnival 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, for ages 15 or older, at 8001 Suite C, La. 182, Morgan City. Admission is: canned goods for St. Mary Outreach, or dog or cat food for St. Mary Animal Activists, or feminine hygiene product for Claire House.

HALLOWEEN
United Blood Services, 1234 David Drive, Suite 102, Morgan City, Halloween Party “We ‘Vant’ Your Blood!” 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. All donors receive a Halloween donor T-shirt, candy-filled glow-in-the-dark cup, Halloween cookies (while supplies last) and entry chance for $200 Walmart gift card. Schedule an appointment online at www.bloodhero.com or call 887-827-4376.

Shirley Mae Smyles Parker, 85, a resident and native of Morgan City, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.

Visitation will be observed on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the New Zorah Baptist Church, 604 Julia St., Morgan City, from 9 a.m. until funeral services at 11 a.m. The Rev. Terry L. Joseph Sr. will officiate the services. Burial will follow funeral services in the Morgan City Cemetery.

Memories of Shirley will forever remain in the hearts of her two children, Cheryl Parker (Thurston Edward) Muskelly of Seattle, and Woodrow James Parker of Morgan City ; five grandchildren, Thurston Delane Muskelly II, Chelsea Marie Orlean Muskelly, both of Seattle, and Morgan Sade’ Parker, Aaliyah Jazzman Parker, and Naomi Denise Parker of Sacramento, California; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow Fletcher Parker; her parents, Thomas Smyles and Orlean Gash Smyles Wesley; and a sister, Evelyn Smyles Billups.

Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City/Franklin/Houma/Jeanerette in charge of arrangements.

Please visit; www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

A 47-year-old Morgan City man was charged with domestic abuse battery after he grabbed someone around the neck during an altercation, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Benjamin Cheramie, 47, of Franklin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3 p.m. Thursday on a charge of domestic abuse battery by strangulation.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Greenwood Street in regard to a disturbance. Cheramie was identified as one of the people involved.

Cheramie allegedly grabbed the victim around the neck during the altercation, Blair said. Police found evidence linking Cheramie to the crime, Blair said. Cheramie was jailed.

Blair reported responding to 39 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Mandi Hatfield, 30, of Florence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10 a.m. Thursday on warrants charging her with driving under suspension and improper lane usage.

Hatfield was located and arrested at the police department on warrants. The warrants stem from a Sept. 21 investigation when officers observed a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner in the area Fifth Street.

A stop was initiated, and Hatfield, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. The investigation continued, and warrants were prepared for Hatfield’s arrest. Hatfield was jailed.

—Zachary M. Crappell, 24, of North First Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with probation violation. Crappell was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Crappell was jailed.

—Kenneth J. McQuiston, 58, of Franklin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:47 p.m. Thursday on a charge of hit and run driving.

Patrol officers responded to a business in the area of Federal Avenue in regard to a crash. Officers arrived and learned that the second vehicle involved had left the scene and fled the area. McQuiston was identified as a suspect in the investigation, Blair said.

McQuiston was located at a home in the area of Franklin Street. Police found evidence linking McQuiston to the crime, Blair said. McQuiston allegedly admitted to striking the vehicle and leaving the scene, Blair said. McQuiston was jailed.

—Matthew R. Johnson, 35, of Millet Drive in Prairieville, was arrested at 10:58 a.m. Thursday on charges of DWI first offense, speeding 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, driving under suspension and expired license plate.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182 and the officer saw that the license plate was expired. The vehicle was also observed traveling 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, Blair said.

A stop was initiated, and Johnson, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license and was found to be in an intoxicated state, Blair said. Johnson performed poorly on a field sobriety test and registered 0.106 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said. Johnson was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 32 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:

—Lynette Singleton, 39, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:51 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of crack cocaine and cocaine with intent to distribute over 28 grams, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.

Narcotics detectives investigating a complaint of illegal drug activity stopped and spoke with subjects, including Singleton, near a vehicle on Mallard Street in Morgan City. K-9 Buddy showed a response to the odor of illegal drugs on the vehicle, Hebert said.

After obtaining a search warrant for the SUV, detectives found two bags of cocaine, several smaller bags of cocaine and crack cocaine, and over 160 pills of MDMA, the sheriff said. The investigation took place within the housing authority which is a drug free zone. Morgan City Police assisted on scene. Singleton was jailed with no bail set.

—Gary Davis, 32, of South Post Oak Road in Lake Charles, was arrested at 2:03 a.m. Friday on charges of general speed law violation, reckless operation with an accident, operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, aggravated flight from an officer, disturbing the peace by language and on a warrant charging him with failure to comply with the terms and conditions of probation.

A deputy responded to a call for service from a business in Amelia regarding a disturbance. While en route, the deputy located a vehicle suspected of being involved and initiated a traffic stop on La. 182 in Morgan City.

The driver failed to pull over and continued to travel onto U.S. 90 eastbound where he accelerated to a high rate of speed. The deputy followed and observed the vehicle drive off the roadway and into a tree line near the Amelia exit. The deputy detained the driver and identified him as Davis.

The deputy found that Davis had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and that he was driving with a suspended license. Following the investigation, Davis was jailed with no bail set.

—Heather Padgett, 42, of La. 182 East in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.

In 2013, Padgett was convicted of aggravated incest in St. Landry Parish. A detective of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Compliance Section conducted a compliance check found that Padgett failed to register as a sex offender and obtained a warrant for her arrest. During booking at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a correctional deputy located the active warrant for her arrest. No bail is set.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:

—Erica Businelle Rodriguez, 30, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:42 p.m. Wednesday on charges of theft by shoplifting and resisting by giving false information. Rodriguez posted $704 bail.

—Bobbie Jo Montet, 36, of Watson Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 4:01 p.m. Thursday on a charge of simple battery. Montet posted $454 bail.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.