“There had been no discussions but these new talks won’t go long.” Matt Skinner OCC.
Just as the Oklahoma Corporation Commission was ready to go to court against SandRidge Energy in a fight over a request to reduce injection well operations in earthquake-prone northern Oklahoma, the energy company decided this week to return to talks with the state agency.
Matt Skinner, a spokesman with the Commission confirmed the latest action regarding the state’s original request issued in December, a request that Sandridge decided to defy.
“We had the application ready to file—now to start the case involving the forced compliance and just as we were getting ready to file, SandRidge contacted the Oil and Gas Division, which of course is filing the case,” explained Skinner. “That is what they’re doing right now but the application is done and ready to be filed.”
Skinner told OK Energy Today the energy company had not been in talks with the Commission since it originally said it would not comply with the order to reduce well operations that were suspected of causing earthquakes around Fairview and Alva.
“There had been no discussions but these new talks won’t go long,” added Skinner. “Obviously, the Oil and Gas Division is interested in avoiding a long and protracted court action if at all possible, so that’s where we are.”
Meanwhile, the Commission is preparing to release a response to the strong earthquakes that hit Fairview and Alva last week. It’s possible the plan will be announced Tuesday or Wednesday.
The move by SandRidge to reject the state’s request drew some interest from the Wichita Eagle in Kansas. Two southern Kansas counties have been targeted by state regulators because of the quakes rumbling there in the past few years.
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Wichita Eagle
