(WO) — Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) Commissioner Wayne Christian is urging oil and gas producers, pipeline operators and other energy companies to strengthen cybersecurity defenses amid recent cyberattacks involving Texas-bound energy vessels and federal warnings of threats to critical infrastructure.
Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian
Christian said the state’s role as a major oil and gas producer makes its energy infrastructure a potential target for foreign adversaries and other malicious cyber actors.
“Texas is the energy capital of the world, and that makes our energy infrastructure a prime target for foreign adversaries,” Christian said. “We must invest, test, monitor and strengthen our defenses now.”
The warning follows cyber incidents involving two foreign-flagged energy vessels bound for the U.S. in August. The Coast Guard and FBI boarded the vessels after indications that foreign cyber actors had compromised their networks.
One of the vessels, the 1,093-ft VL Prosperity, was a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker bound for Galveston with capacity to carry approximately 2.3 MMbbl of oil. Federal authorities have not publicly attributed the cyberattack to a specific country or group.
Christian also pointed to federal warnings that foreign-linked cyber actors are targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, including internet-facing operational technology and industrial control systems.
The RRC earlier this year issued a cybersecurity notice to regulated operators warning that successful attacks could result in operational disruptions and financial losses. The commission encouraged operators to strengthen cyber resilience across their operations.
Christian also called for the energy industry to consider artificial intelligence as part of its cybersecurity strategy as cyber threats continue to evolve.
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