September 6, 2016 archive

Construction Temporarily Halted on Portion of DAPL Pipeline

A judge temporarily halted construction on a portion of the controversial $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline as he took under advisement the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s challenge regarding the decision of federal regulators to grant pipeline permits to Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners. Protestors contend the proposed pipeline will contaminate drinking water supplies on the reservation …

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Williams Attempting to Divest Gulf Coast Plant Ownership

Tulsa-based Williams Partners announced Tuesday that the company is exploring a potential sale or long-term fee-based tolling services agreement to divest ownership in its olefins plant and complex in Geismar, Louisiana. Williams currently holds an 88.5% ownership interest in the Geismar plant which was acquired in 1999 by the company. In 2015, Williams completed an …

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AAA Reports Oklahoma Pump Price Drop Following Labor Day

Oklahoma gasoline prices are down to a statewide average of $2.06 a gallon, a drop of nearly 5 cents in the past week, according to AAA Oklahoma. Nationally, the average price is $2.20 per gallon. Gas prices fell lower heading into the Labor Day weekend, which marks the unofficial end to the summer driving season. …

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WTI Rises, Brent Crude Falls with Settlements on Tuesday

While the West Texas Intermediate crude oil settlement reflected a gain, Brent crude suffered another loss on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg MarketWatch. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October West Texas Intermediate crude rose 39 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $44.83 a barrel, after falling as low as $43.84 a barrel during the trading …

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Energy Companies Accuse Sierra Club of Wanting Federal Court to become “Seismicity Czar” in Earthquake Fight

Four energy companies sued in Oklahoma City federal court by the Sierra Club in a fight over earthquakes and who or what is causing them contend the Sierra Club is asking the court to be a “backseat driver” while painting itself into a corner. The responses come from Chesapeake Operating LLC, Devon Energy Production, SandRidge Exploration …

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Corporation Commission to Hold Possible Vote on 1989 Bribed Rate Hike Case

The efforts of some consumers to force the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to reopen a 1989 bribed vote that granted a rate hike to then-Southwestern Bell could end on Wednesday. It’s when the Commission has scheduled a vote on the case that consumers want to see an estimated $16 billion returned to ratepayers. The issue came …

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USGS Warns of Strong Aftershocks from Pawnee Quake

While the U.S. Geological Survey officially put the Pawnee earthquake at magnitude 5.6, it could actually have been stronger, according to experts. News 9’s Tiffany Liou reports the USGS is still analyzing the data from the Saturday morning event that was felt in several states including Tennessee to the east, Minnesota to the north and …

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Earthquake Forces Closure of Pawnee Nation Headquarters

Officials at the Pawnee Nation headquarters say their buildings were damaged enough from the Saturday morning earthquake that their structural integrity is in question and the headquarters will be closed this week. News 9’s Christy Lewis talked with tribal spokesman Andrew KnifeChief who showed her the damage. “It runs from room to room to room,” …

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Attorney Says Pawnee Earthquake Supports his Lawsuits Against Energy Companies

The Arkansas attorney who filed suits in Lincoln County and Oklahoma City federal courts, blaming energy companies for earthquakes in Oklahoma says the Pawnee earthquake of magnitude 5.6 supports his claims against the firms. “Unless something’s done, there’s going to be more and that’s not just a lawyer talking, it’s what scientists have been saying,” …

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