September 2017 archive

Industrial Energy Users Group Opposes PSO Rate Hike Request

Public Service Company has run into more opposition in its $150 million rate hike being considered by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. On Monday, the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers, an association of large energy users in the state filed testimony with the commission against the rate which is called one of the largest rate increases every …

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Heavy Rainfall Reported in Oklahoma Panhandle

The dry spell has ended in the Oklahoma Panhandle with more than 3 inches of rain around the Guymon area as of Monday morning. Other areas, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet received more than 2 inches of rain as a cool front entered the state. State Climatologist Gary McManus said the showers and storms will …

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Report Suggests Permian Basin Production Could Peak in 4 Years

A report by Wood Mackenzie has a lot of the oil and gas industry talking about the Permian Basin and whether the suggestion could be accurate that the hottest U.S. shale play could hit its peak in four years. The report is entitled “Geology vs. technology: how sustainable is Permian tight oil growth?”. It not …

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Environmentalists Fight Gold Mine Near Yellowstone

Environmental groups have gone to court in an attempt to block an industrial gold mine being developed north of Yellowstone National Park. The suit was filed in a challenge to the approval granted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to Lucky Minerals, a company in Canada. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and Park County Environmental …

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Swiss Agribusiness Wants Speedy Appeal in Corn Lawsuit Judgment

While it appeals a $218 million judgment in a lawsuit brought by Kansas farmers, Syngenta is urging a Kansas federal judge to certify the final judgment, a move that would allow the Swiss company to speed up its appeal of the case. It was in June when a federal jury awarded the $218 million to …

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$2.4 billion Deal Announced by Phillips 66 Partners

In a deal worth $2.4 billion, Phillips 66 Partners LP is buying Phillips 66’s 25 percent interest in two North Dakota pipelines. The purchase includes interest in the Dakota Access LLC and Energy transfer Crude Oil Co. LLC and 100% interest in Merey Sweeny LP. It includes the Bakken Pipeline, a system more than 1,900 …

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Rebalancing of Oil Prices is at Hand

For the first time in four months, U.S. oil prices rose about the $51 mark on Monday and analysts say it’s a time the oil market is finally rebalancing. The rebalancing is largely due to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cutting production. Since the start of 2017, Russia and other producers have reduced …

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Polling Group Challenges Oil and Gas Tax Hike

The recently-announced poll by the Oklahoma Energy Producers Alliance claiming 67% of Oklahoma voters supported an increase in tax on oil and gas production is challenged by the group that did the poll. WPA Intelligence responded by stating that another poll found that “voters have a strongly favorable image of the oil and natural gas …

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Oil and Gas Group Fights Proposed Tax Hike in Special Legislative Session

While state legislators grapple with a plan to fix Oklahoma’s state government budget hole of $215 million, some want to increase the gross production tax on oil and gas. And that’s an issue that prompts Chad Warmington, President of the Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association to declare it’s nothing but political talking points on the …

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Rig Count: Oklahoma Slips by 3, U.S. Down by 1

The latest weekly oil and gas rig count yielded some surprises along with declines for Oklahoma and the nation, according to Houston-based Baker Hughes Company. The nation’s rig count dropped by one to reach 935, down from a year ago when it had 511 working rigs. Oklahoma’s count fell by three in the past week …

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