**Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Interior Appropriations Ranking Member David Joyce (OH-14) led 13 Members in sending a letter to U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Moore and Interior Secretary Haaland to demand an overdue report to Congress on 10-year contracting for aerial wildfire operators, as directed by the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations bill. ** The United Steelworkers union …
Nearly $3 billion profit reported by ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips reported this week a fourth-quarter profit of $2.6 billion, or $1.98 a share, from a loss of $800 million or 72 cents a share in the year-ago quarter. The Houston-based company with significant operations in Oklahoma said adjusted earnings in the latest quarter totaled $2.27 a share. Revenue rose to $15.96 billion from …
Seven-year high for crude prices
Crude oil prices rose again on Wednesday as the U.S. benchmark finished at the highest level since October 2014 while European prices traded at one point for more than $90 a barrel. This, after OPEC+ agreed to continue with its timetable of another 400,000 barrel-a-day rise in March. West Texas Intermediate crude for March …
Cushing crude storage slips again
Crude oil stocks remain at low levels at the Cushing hub where nearly 4 months ago, analysts said the amount stored at the northern Oklahoma site were “quickly approaching critically low levels.” That’s how Bloomberg described the situation in late October 2021 when levels dropped to 31 millions barrels of crude oil. This week, …
Inhofe makes case for development of more small businesses
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe used a Senate hearing this week to stress the need for the development of small businesses across the country and for the Biden administration to avoid harmful policies. The Senator is a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and questioned witnesses at a hearing held to …
Oklahoma water systems recognized for community fluoridation
The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced that 11 water systems in Oklahoma have been awarded a Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the year 2020. Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes those communities …
New oil and gas exploration around Oklahoma
Who’s drilling where in Oklahoma? Newly approved permits to drill show Blaine County, one of the three primary counties that make up the STACK play will get some oilfield activity. Devon Energy has a four-well single pad project at a site about 8 miles southeast of Watonga. The legal site is 20 15N 10W …
Lucas wants more investment in rural broadband service
Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) is making a push for more broadband services in rural areas of the U.S. He recently joined Representative Jim Baird (IN-04) in leading a resolution recognizing the importance of rural broadband and emphasizing the need to invest in broadband expansion. “Access to affordable, high-speed internet is essential for millions of families, businesses …
NGL Energy Partners LP announces collaboration to increase recycled and reused produced water volumes
NGL Energy Partners LP announced a collaboration with XRI Holdings, LLC to advance full cycle produced water management across operations in the prolific Delaware Basin. NGL owns and operates the largest integrated produced water pipeline system in the Basin where it currently manages over 1.8 million barrels per day. XRI is the largest …
Union Pacific converting to electric locomotives
Union Pacific Railroad is making a big jump toward electric locomotives. The Nebraska-based firm announced it will purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives according to the Omaha World-Herald. Click here for Omaha World-Herald.
