Lori Blong

Co-Founder & Partner, Octane Energy

Lori Merritt Blong is a proud native of the Permian Basin and Co-Founder/Partner of Octane Energy, as well as a current city council member in Midland, Texas.  She is committed to lead, learn, and serve in the oil and gas industry at a regional, state, and federal level, in addition to her service to the community of Midland.  

After spending her early career as a high school teacher in El Paso, TX, Lori co-founded an oilfield service company, Octane Energy, with her husband, Jared, in 2013.  They steadily built their company over the years through the ups and downs of commodity and activity cycles, gleaning knowledge and experience in operations and development from all around the Permian Basin.  In fact, in 2017 and 2018, Octane was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 5 Fastest Growing private energy companies in Texas.  

For a little over 7 years, Octane provided project management and operational oversight for more than 600 wells a year, for more than 30 distinct operators across the Permian Basin and Oklahoma. Lori’s leadership and disciplined fiscal strategy have been critical to Octane’s continued sustainability in this volatile market. She thrives in problem solving and in identifying the best personnel in drilling, completions and production operations to create solutions and efficiencies. 

In June of 2020, Octane Energy successfully sold a portion of their book of business and Lori stepped into the leadership role of Octane Energy, pivoting strongly into the E&P space to purchase a producing asset in Ector County. Now, the Octane Team is beginning horizontal development of the asset, while participating as investors and technical expertise for various other projects in the Permian. She also serves on the board of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, the board of Habitat for Humanity, as well as on Congressman Pfluger’s Energy Task Force.

Lori values the opportunity to maintain relationships forged through the booms and busts of the energy sector, with a constant focus on fiscal discipline and long-term planning.  She is leading the Octane team to identify new oil and gas assets for purchase, as well as new opportunities for project management and contract engineering.