** Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Wednesday warned in a securities filing of potential risks to its Kazakhstan oil operations, which provided $2.5 billion in earnings last year. Threats to Kazakhstan oil exports have been in the spotlight since Moscow invaded Ukraine a year ago this week. Exxon and Chevron are major holders in the Central Asia …
Keystone pipeline leak waste hauled to Nebraska landfill
The dirt and waste left stained by thousands of barrels of crude oil that leaked from the Keystone pipeline in northern Kansas in December is ending up in a Nebraska landfill. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy approved the transfer of the dirt to a landfill operated by Waste Management near Bennington, Nebraska. …
Government sponsored killing of stray cattle in New Mexico leads to court complaint
When the federal government last started a shooting spree of wild cattle on forest land in New Mexico, some of the carcasses were left rotting in a river. So claimed the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association in a federal court complaint filed against the U.S. Forest Service. The cattle ranchers group wants a temporary …
Gasoline and diesel tax rates rose in 13 states in 2023
Motorists in more than a dozen states, most in the eastern half of the country, were hit with fuel tax hikes in the past half-year according to a government study. Oklahoma was not one of them. In January 2023, state taxes and fees on gasoline and diesel fuel averaged $0.3163 per gallon of gasoline and …
Reforms are launched following ice storm power outages in Austin, Texas
After nearly 174,000 homes were left without power in Austin, Texas during the recent ice storm, the city has started making reforms of the municipally-operated Austin Energy. What reforms? A streamlining of communications, stronger assessment of the extent of power outages and exploring the cost and timelines to put power lines underground according to …
Solar power industry has fight on its hands in Arkansas legislature
A solar fight is underway before the Arkansas legislature and it involves attempts to reduce reimbursements for solar users. The cause of the fight is House Bill 1370, a measure with the goal “to prevent cost-shifting and ensure fairness to all ratepayers.” The authors say it would reduce compensation to solar users for the …
Supreme Court says oil rig manager should be paid overtime
In a decision sure to cause waves of concern in the oil and gas industry, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week in favor of a Texas oil rig supervisor who earned more than $200,000 a year, saying he was entitled also to overtime pay. In a 6-3 decision authored by liberal Justice Elena …
Try again with Mitchell Talks Energy
By Jerry Bohnen Sometimes we make mistakes. It happened in announcing the most recent edition of Mitchell Talks Energy, featuring political analyst Scott Mitchell and yours truly. We passed along a link to the original podcast. But I promise, this link is to the second program featuring a lively discussion of energy, who’s covering it, …
ONE Gas recorded strong 4th quarter earnings
ONE Gas, Inc. reported improved fourth quarter earnings of $67 million in net income or $1.23 per diluted share. It was an improvement over a year earlier when the company reported $60.5 million or $1.12 per diluted share in net earnings. For the year, ONE Gas recorded net income of $221.7 million or $4.08 …
Crude oil took 3% plunge in Wednesday’s trading
Crude oil dropped 3% in Wednesday’s trading as investors grew more worried about the potential for increased interest rates by central banks. Oklahoma energy stocks were mixed. West Texas Intermediate crude for April deliveries dropped 3% or $2.41 per barrel and closed at $74.05 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark Brent crude …
