November 2016 archive

Commission Meets to Consider Cutting Tax Breaks

      The State-appointed commission tasked with recommending when and where to cut tax credits and for which industries meets Tuesday at the State Capitol. The Incentive Evaluation Commission meeting agenda includes discussion and possible action on eleven incentives for 2016. One is a tax credit for tuition reimbursement for Aerospace Employers, a credit …

Continue reading »

Former Attorney General Larry Derryberry Funeral Services Set for Monday

  The funeral for former Oklahoma Attorney General Larry Derryberry who died Saturday at the age of 77 will be held Monday afternoon. U.S. and Oklahoma flags on state property will be flown on that date at half-staff, under orders of Gov. Mary Fallin. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. on the fourth …

Continue reading »

AAA—-Oklahoma’s Gas Prices are the Envy of the Nation

Oklahoma now has some of the cheapest gasoline in the U.S. as the statewide average fell 3 more cents to reach a $1.85 a gallon, according to the latest report from AAA Oklahoma. The organization headlined its press release, “Oklahoma’s Gas Prices today Are the envy of the Nation.” “Out on the road, Thanksgiving motorists …

Continue reading »

Oilfield Employment Remains Weak in Oklahoma Despite Oil Play Successes

Oklahoma’s jobless rate slipped a tenth of a point for October but it’s still at 5.2% according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. And the data supplied by the state shows oil and gas employment was anemic, despite growing activity in Oklahoma’s STACK and SCOOP plays. The October 2016 employment in the energy sector was 43,900, …

Continue reading »

Governor Fallin Gets Her Job Interview with Donald Trump

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin got her chance this week to meet with President-elect Donald Trump as he considers who to name to his administration and cabinet. The Governor was asked to meet with Trump on Monday. So was former Texas Governor and GOP presidential rival Rick Perry who dropped out early from the GOP campaign. …

Continue reading »

Pawnee Nation Sues Federal Agencies Over September 3 Earthquake and Violating Federal Law

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 3 in Pawnee was the so-called “straw that broke the camel’s back” as far as Pawnee Tribal leaders are concerned. So they’ve gone to court, not against oil and gas producers but against two federal agencies that the tribe felt had the responsibility of informing it about oil and …

Continue reading »

Anti-Trump Protesters Rally at State Capitol

Some of those who don’t like Donald Trump held an anti-Trump rally Sunday at the State Capitol, later changing its name to an “anti-hate” rally. A few hundred, many who express concerns about what a Trump administration will do to climate control regulations gathered but state troopers say there were no problems. Some Trump supporters …

Continue reading »

WTI, Brent Crude, Natural Gas Rise on Friday

Oil futures finished slightly higher on Friday, as traders looked for clues as to whether OPEC members will be able to complete a deal later this month to curb production levels, according to Bloomberg MarketWatch. December West Texas Intermediate crude rose 27 cents, or 0.6%, to settle at $45.69 a barrel on the New York Mercantile …

Continue reading »

Oil and Gas Execs Warn Oklahoma Leaders Not to Interfere in STACK and SCOOP—-Don’t Screw this up

  “Be very careful with doing anything that might screw that up.” Warning from Lee Boothby, CEO of Newfield Exploration.   Executives of four energy companies with extensive work in Oklahoma’s STACK and SCOOP plays made it clear this past week, yes the rewards of the big plays are nice but there are concerns too …

Continue reading »

Hutchings Assumes Chairmanship of Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association

The Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association is under the leadership of a newly-elected chairman following the Association’s one-day annual meeting in Oklahoma City. At the meeting, association members elected Wade Hutchings, regional vice president of Mid-Continent Assets at Marathon Oil, to be the new chairman of OKOGA and ratified the board of directors for 2017. …

Continue reading »