February 2020 archive

Winter storm warning for large part of Oklahoma

Snow is still in the forecast for a large part of Oklahoma. So is a winter storm warning. It appears most of the snowfall will march up the I-44 corridor from the southwest corner of the state to the northeast Some forecasters say amounts could still be in the range of 6 to 8 inches. …

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Energy news in brief

** The northern part of the Permian Basin in west Texas is getting an office of the Texas Railroad Commission. Regulators plan to open an oil and gas field office in Lubbock. ** An Illinois college expects to save $100,000 by installing an 11-acre, 2.09 MW solar project. ** A settlement between Tesla and the state of Michigan allowing …

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Energy industry’s natural gas flaring increased in 2019

Natural gas flaring in U.S. oil and gas fields grew in 2019 for the third consecutive year, thanks largely to increased oil and gas production in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and North Dakota. In the Permian Basin underlying Texas and New Mexico, the largest U.S. shale basin, flaring and venting totaled about 293.2 billion cubic …

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$40 million oil drilling simulator donated to North Dakota University

  Petroleum engineering students at the University of North Dakota will have real hands-on experience working on an oil derrick. The University’s Petroleum Engineering Department has received a $40 million full-scale oil drilling simulator and lab, courtesy of Sidney Green, entrepreneur, founder and president of Enhanced Production Inc. based in Salt Lake City. The donated …

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Wind farm operator gets first woman CEO

Minnesota-based Allete Inc., the company that owns the Diamond Spring Wind farm located east of Ardmore, Oklahoma has its first woman CEO. Allete is the parent company of Minnesota Power and company president Bethany Owen became the first woman to hold the position. She replaces Al Hodnik who is retiring. “I am humbled and excited …

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First commercial solar project approved in South Dakota

While Oklahoma has yet to lay the groundwork for the state’s first commercial solar project, the first commercial solar power project in South Dakota won approval this week from state regulators but the $115 million project won’t be operational until sometime in 2021. The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, on a vote of 3-0 okayed …

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Drop in 4Q earnings reported by ConocoPhillips

  ConocoPhillips reported a drop in fourth-quarter 2019 earnings while full-year earnings increased. For the quarter, the company said earnings were $0.7 billion or 65-cents a share, down from the $1.98 billion and $1.61 per share earnings reported n the fourth quarter of 2018. Adjusted fourth-quarter 2019 earnings were $0.8 billion or 76-cents a share, …

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PSO expands repair services with HomeServe USA

HomeServe USA (HomeServe), the leading provider of home emergency repair service plans recently announced the expansion of its agreement with American Electric Power (AEP) with the launch of service to customers located in AEP’s operating unit Public Service Company of Oklahoma’s (PSO) territory. The new warranty services program will begin with an offer for the …

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Chesapeake rig fire under investigation as 3rd worker dies

Leadership at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy must be wondering if more lawsuits are coming after a third death from a fire at one of the company’s Eagle Ford rigs in South Texas. It was the nation’s deadliest oilfield accident since five workers died in a similar accident near Quinton, Oklahoma. Local media identified the victim …

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New NGL executive acquires company shares

An Executive Vice President of NGL Energy Partners picked up 50,000 shares in the company this week. A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed John Ciolek acquired the shares through direct ownership. Ciolek is a Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and joined the company in January of this year.   The filing also …

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