March 9, 2020 archive

Watching and waiting—how far will oil fall?

It’s a day of sticker shock for most oil and gas operators and investors as oil prices lost as much as a third of their value today. It’s been described as the biggest daily rout since the 1991 Gulf War after Saudi Arabia signaled it would hike output to win market share as the coronavirus …

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Senator says Bernie will lose White House over fracking ban call

  The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Energy committee says Sen. Bernie Sanders will lose the White House because of his call for a nationwide ban on fracking in the oil and gas industry. Sen. Joe Manchin made the prediction in an interview with POLITICO’s Morning Energy Report. “It’ll definitely cost Bernie the White …

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Construction underway on massive wind farm in eastern New Mexico

More than 100 bases have been finished in preparation for construction of a massive wind farm in eastern New Mexico. Xcel Energy says most of the components for the Sagamore Wind Project have started t o arrive by rail and construction of the turbines could begin in late April. Arrival of the parts came at …

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New Mexico was on track to raise $1 billion in oil revenue

Before this week’s oil price bust, New Mexico leaders had predicted their state was on track to raise another $1 billion for public schools and hospitals. Now it’s not known how the plunge in oil prices will affect the state’s revenue from the oil patch. February oil and natural gas royalty payments totaled nearly $109 …

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Oilfield deaths under investigation in SE New Mexico

New Mexico authorities are still investigating an oil drilling accident that left two men dead last week in the state’s Permian Basin area. Eddy County sheriff’s officers say Nicholas D. Gerberich, 28, of Roswell and Storm Hutchins, 24, of Carlsbad were found lying unconscious on the ground.   Sheriff Mark Cage said the deaths happened …

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Suncor Oil Refinery To Pay $9 Million In ‘Historic’ Colorado Pollution Settlement

  Suncor will pay a nearly $9 million fine for air pollution violations from its oil refinery near low-income neighborhoods in Denver. It is part of a settlement the refinery operator reached with Colorado officials. KUNC radio in Denver reported that state health officials said the refinery exceeded emissions limits for a host of health-harming …

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Alliance opposes videoconferencing by regulators

The state’s major oil and gas group has come out against proposed rules from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission that would allow teleconference or video conferences for protested issues. The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma has filed a memo with the state regulators opposing draft amendments to the commission’s rules of practice which were proposed in February, …

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Unsure future for bill targeting wind tax credits in Oklahoma

  A bill targeting Oklahoma’s wind industry is being closely monitored this week by industry supporters as legislators face another deadline. HB3150 is by Rep. Ryan Martinez, an Edmond Republican representing House District 39. “It would be absolutely devastating,” said Mark Yates of the Advanced Power Alliance in Oklahoma. The bill would eliminate a refunding …

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Wind turbine setback bills await fate in legislature

The fate of two bills focusing on construction of wind turbines near private airports in the state lies in both the House and Senate in Oklahoma. One targets the wind industry and would create a setback of wind turbines while another targets so-called “sham airports.” Rep. Carl Newton’s HB3296 would prohibit the construction of a …

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Mines Department to require Internet filings

  The Oklahoma Department of Mines plans an April 2 public hearing on proposed permanent changes to its non-coal mining rules and regulations. It’s a move to get into the 21st century and modernizing applications for permits. The proposed rules would require the Department of Mines to place a copy of a permit application and …

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