In the Permian Basin, oilfield theft has evolved from stolen wrenches to stolen tankers. What was once a nuisance crime is now a multimillion-dollar operation, prompting Texas to step in with a dedicated task force to combat organized petroleum theft. Texas producer associations and law enforcement have noticed in recent months a surge in organized crime at the numerous oilfield sites in the most prolific oil-producing basin in America. The state legislature earlier this year passed a bill to crack down on Permian Basin oil theft, mandating the…