A massive solar farm is in the works for the sunny region south of Lubbock, Texas. OCI Solar Power is proposing a nearly 900-acre solar farm near the town of LaMesa in Dawson County. Phase two was unveiled this week. The $85 million Project Ivory Solar project will include 197,000 photovoltaic panels spread across 360 …
March 2018 archive
International Rig Count Grew in February
Baker Hughes is reporting an increase in the international rig count for February. The Houston-based GE company said the February 2018 count was 979, an increase of 19 from the 960 reported in January. It also was an increase of 38 compared to February 2017. However, the international offshore rig count for February was 194, …
Tax Collections Increased in February for Oklahoma
February Gross Receipts to the Oklahoma State Treasury give room for more optimism about the state’s improving economy according to Treasurer Ken Miller. “The trend line shows increasing growth in Oklahoma gross collections. together with other economic indicators, it appears the state’s economy is gaining momentum,” said Miller in releasing the February figures. For the …
Oklahomans Make Forbes Billionaires List
At least five Oklahomans made Forbes’ 2018 list of the richests people in the world—billionaires. And they owe it largely to oil and gas and related industries. Harold Hamm, founder of Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources, at age 72 tied for 100th. He is worth $14.1 billion according to the magazine. Tulsan George Kaiser ranked 198th …
Widow Files Suit Over Deadly Drilling Rig Explosion
A woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit over the death of her husband in the January explosion of a natural gas drilling rig in southeastern Oklahoma. Four others died in the blast at a well site near Quinton. Dianna Waldridge of Crescent, whose husband 60-year old Parker Waldridge died in the blast filed suit …
Coal Ash Contamination Found at Major Coal Plants
New filings with the Environmental Protection Agency reveal groundwater contamination has been discovered at numerous utility sites of unlined coal ash ponds at coal-burning power plants. The contamination is reported at dozens of plants owned by major utilities such as AEP, Duke Energy, Xcel Energy, the Tennessee Valley Authority and others that complied with …
Senior Staff Promotions for Sen. Lankford’s Office
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) announced two senior staff changes; Michelle Altman has been promoted to Chief of Staff and Sarah Seitz has been promoted to Legislative Director. In December, President Trump nominated Retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic to be the Assistant Secretary of the Navy after serving for four years as Lankford’s Chief of Staff. “Michelle Altman and Sarah Seitz …
Copper Theft Leads to Charges in OKC
An admitted copper thief in Oklahoma City is charged with 7 counts of larceny, burglary and other charges in relation to the theft of copper from an abandoned Walmart store. Oklahoma County prosecutors filed charges this week against Jeffrey Vaughn Stein, 54, of McCloud. He allegedly broke into the store at 6000 NW 23rd street …
New Earthquake Study Recommends New Well Distances from Faults
It seems you can’t turn around without another study involving earthquakes and oil and gas drilling or wastewater injection wells. While residents around Enid this week got a shaking from two 4.2 magnitude earthquakes, a new research study found that the risk is man-made quakes is greatly reduced, or increased due to the distance from …
Tall Oak Seeks Shippers for Proposed New 80 mile Pipeline in SE Oklahoma
Oklahoma City-based Tall Oak Midstream III announced an open season to secure prospective shippers for an 80-mile natural gas line it wants to build in Southeast Oklahoma. Tall Oak’s Arkoma Residue Capacity or ARC Pipeline will connect to Tall Oak’s planned Panther Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant in Hughes County and a planned receipt point …