Repsol is an integrated international oil and gas company that operates in exploration, production, refining and marketing as well as new energy research and development. Its domestic exploration operations are located in the Eagle Ford basin throughout Texas, and in Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Alaska. Repsol’s corporate headquarters are located in Madrid, Spain, while its domestic headquarters opened at 2455 Technology Forest Blvd. in The Woodlands in October.
Repsol’s Woodlands office houses more than 700 employees and sees more than 100 visitors from around the world each day. In May, Repsol finalized the acquisition of Woodlands-based Talisman Energy.
Jorge Milanese has worked for Repsol since 1998. He works in business development, where he seeks to grow the company through land acquisitions and licensing from Canada to Bolivia.
Why did Repsol choose to locate its domestic headquarters in The Woodlands?
We started growing in the U.S., and at a certain point in time we had to make a decision about where we were going to concentrate our people. The Woodlands is a nice setting for our people—it’s close to I-45, the airport. [The Woodlands is] a great hiring and recruiting tool.
What type of work is conducted in The Woodlands office?
This is a very important office outside of Madrid for Repsol. This office is mainly dedicated to the upstream part of the [energy] process. We have a business unit that takes care of our activities onshore and midcontinent.
Why is Houston so essential to the global energy industry?
I think it is the concentration of resources and companies. Texas has a lot of resources onshore and offshore and a friendly environment for business. If you want to talk oil and gas, you come to Houston. I am from Argentina, and I found most of the time I was traveling here to have conversations and negotiations with companies.
How does the cost of oil affect what companies like Repsol do?
That is one of our main sources of income. Being an integrated company, when the oil price is low, the refineries have more profit. Because we are integrated, we are balanced. The main impact [in the case of the low cost of oil] is that in some cases we would consider delaying activities or investments. We didn’t have massive layoffs. We look very carefully at how we spend the money these days.
In what ways does Repsol contribute to the local economy?
More than 700 people work here. Most of them live here in The Woodlands. We rent or pay mortgages. We go to the mall, and we see a lot of visitors here in this office. In 2014 we started more than 3,000 flights from the U.S., and we had 1,500 hotel room nights. With our size, we are doing our share.