January 2018 archive

400 Lose Their Jobs at Chesapeake Energy in Announced Layoffs

The workforce at Chesapeake Energy just took a 13 percent hit. The Oklahoma City-based energy company announced Tuesday morning it had laid off nearly 400 workers,  most located on the Chesapeake campus. Doug Lawler, Chief Executive Officer for the company explained in a statement the layoffs were part of the firm’s strategy in recent years …

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Sierra Club Has Jaded View of State Government When it Comes to Environment

The Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club is revving up its supporters about the coming legislative session by referring to the Fallin  administration as the “ruling oligarchy.” In an email letter to supporters and Sierra Club members, Johnson Bridgwater told them,” The fun begins February 5 and your lobbyist has already been hitting the pavement …

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OSHA Finds Anadarko and 3 Other Firms at Fault Over Deadly Tank Battery Blast in Colorado

With the Oklahoma drilling rig explosion that claimed the lives of five men last week near Quinton fresh in the minds of the oil and gas industry, the federal government has cited four oil and gas industry employers over a deadly 2017 blast in Colorado. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration …

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Federal Agency Makes Safety Video Out of Near-Tragic Release of Deadly Chemicals in NE Kansas

One federal agency has turned a near-tragic chemical release in northeast Kansas into a “teachable moment.” The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has made a safety video out of what happened Oct. 21, 2016 when more than 11,000 people were evacuated and 140 others were hurt in the toxic chemical release at the MGPI Processing facility …

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Another Rig Explosion Victim to be Buried Wednesday

The last of the three Oklahomans killed in last week’s drilling rig blast near Quinton will be buried Wednesday. Services for Parker Waldridge, 60 of Crescent will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Crescent. He will be buried in the Oakland-Knowles cemetery. Waldridge and four others died when the …

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Underground Gas Line Fight Escalates in Colorado

The deadly gas explosion that killed two men last year in a suburb of Denver, Colorado has led to a growing fight between shale drillers and homeowners. The oil and gas industry is in a fight as environmentalists and homeowners want new rules mandating precise and comprehensive public mapping for underground lines.  Colorado Gov. John …

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Former Astronaut Nominated to Head USGS

Oklahomans have become all too familiar with the U.S. Geological Survey over the past five years, thanks to earthquakes. They soon might get to know the man who has been nominated to run the agency. Now, President Trump has nominated former astronaut and Texas geologist James F. Reilly II to head the USGS, the science …

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Energy Transfer Announces Quarterly Cash Distribution

A quarterly cash distribution of $0.565 per unit was announced this week by Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. based in Dallas. The distribution is for the fourth quarter that ended December 31, 2017 for the company that once tried to merge with Williams Cos. of Tulsa before it ended in messy legal battles. The payout will …

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Tulsa in Talks to Move Gas Transfer Company Near Proposed BMX National Headquarters

The city of Tulsa finds itself in a possible challenge as it wants to develop land north of downtown as the site for USA BMX headquarters and arena. There’s a liquid butane storage company near the 22.3 acre site.  Mayor G.T. Bynum was to meet this week with the owner of the 2nd Base company …

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Nation’s Rig Count Grows While Oil Prices Go Up

With oil prices in the upper 60-dollar a barrel range, the nation’s rig count grew by eleven in the past week to reach 947 while the count in Oklahoma fell by four. The nation’s count is up 235 from a year ago and in the past week saw a dozen more oil rigs added to …

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