March 29, 2018 archive

Legislature Passes Teacher Pay Raise Bill to Increase Oil and Gas Taxes

Despite lobbying efforts from the state’s two major oil and gas groups, the teacher pay raise bill has won approval in the House and Senate and Governor Mary Fallin only awaits the amended version to make it law. The bill in question, HB1010 will produce an estimated $474 million, not the $447 million as reported …

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Oklahoma Rig Count is Up while National Count is Down

While Oklahoma added one rig to its most recent rig count in the past week, the nation’s count fell and whether it’s in response to the growing crude oil glut is unknown. But Oklahoma’s count grew to 121 while the nation’s oil and gas drilling rig count fell by 2 to 993.  In the past …

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Sinkholes Growing in West Texas

The sinkholes in West Texas we’ve told you about in recent years are reportedly growing in size and number. Scientists say new satellite radar remote-sensing data shows the unstable and sinking ground connected to abandoned oil wells and water wells has spread to six sites in four counties. Most of the sinkholes are near the …

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Billionaire’s Urging Leads Scott Pruitt to Okay Water Research Deal With Israeli Company

Some eyebrows are being raised after documents released under the Freedom of Information Act showed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt met with an Israeli company last year at the request of multi-billionaire Sheldon Adelson. Sometime after the meeting, the EPA signed a research agreement with the company to study the firm’s atmospheric water generator, a device …

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Dallas Neighborhood Where Blast Killed Girl Forced to be Evacuated Again

The Dallas neighborhood where a home exploded in a natural gas leak last month killing a 12 year old girl, was evacuated Wednesday night because of a natural gas smell. At least 25 homes and residents of 18 nearby apartments were evacuated by Atmos Energy crews. The neighborhood has been without natural gas since the …

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Oklahoma Senate Passes Bill Restricting Wind Farms Near Military Bases

The state’s wind industry is coming under more restrictions following the State Senate approval of a bill this week. House Bill 3561 was passed on a 45-0 vote on Wednesday and is intended to keep wind farms from encroaching on the mission areas of military bases. Senate Pro Tempore Mike Schulz is the author of …

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Oklahoma Sierra Club Joins “Boot Pruitt” Campaign

Oklahoma’s Sierra Club has become part of a nationwide campaign called “Boot Pruitt,” an effort that includes a petition drive calling for the former Oklahoma Attorney General to resign. Much of the effort focuses on Pruitt’s travel expenses and use of first-class accommodations. “Previously, as Oklahoma’s Attorney General, Scott Pruitt took numerous first class flights …

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Creation of Road and Bridge Fund Leads to Award for former legislator Mark Liotta

Workers’ Compensation Commission Chairman Mark Liotta has been honored with County Courage and Leadership Award from the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma for creation of the County Improvement to Roads and Bridges (CIRB) fund. Prior to taking on his current role as Chairman of the WCC, Liotta served five terms in the Oklahoma House …

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Acceleration Reported in Oklahoma’s Oil and Gas Industry

The latest Oklahoma Energy Index shows the recovery in the state’s oil and natural gas industry has accelerated in the last year. At the same time, experts are cautioning there could also be a slowdown this year. The index showed an increase in 18 of the 20 months since commodity prices tumbled and sent the …

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ConocoPhillips Tender Offer Draws Strong Interest

ConocoPhillips says more than $2 billion in senior notes were tendered in its recently announced tender offer scheduled to expire April 10, 2018. The offer from ConocoPhillips and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ConocoPhillips Company was announced earlier in the month. In the announcement, the company offered to purchase up to $400 million in outstanding debt securities. …

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