April 17, 2019 archive

OERB’s 1st Technology Forum of 2019 to be Thursday in OKC

  The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board and its Sustaining Oklahoma Energy Resources program will hold their first technology forum on Thursday in Oklahoma City. “We have 100 registered to attend,” said Dara McBee, Communications Director at OERB. “It’s a forum designed by marginal well producers for marginal well producers.” The last SOER Technology Forum was …

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Ozone Alert Day Season kickoff in central Oklahoma

The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) is kicking off its Ozone Alert Day Season this week. And it comes as the agency expressed concerns the region will “likely violate federal air quality standards this year,” according to a news release. Eric W. Pollard, Clean Cities Manager at OCOG explained that last year the region …

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Energy companies lose bid in Free Speech fight with New Mexico newspaper

  A federal judge in New Mexico has ruled three energy companies in a First Amendment fight with a newspaper cannot transfer a lawsuit to federal bankruptcy court. Judge Kenneth R. Gonzales ruled against the attempts of Westmoreland Coal Company, BHP Billiton New Mexico Coal, Inc. and Public Service Company of New Mexico. The case …

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Supreme court slams State regulators in Dobson Telephone case

  The gavel came down hard this week as the State Supreme Court handed a victory to Dobson Telephone Company in McLoud in a nearly 5-year old fight with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. And in doing so, the Court scolded the Commission for its 2-1 vote and denial of Dobson’s request for $95,417.92 in funding …

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Oklahoma legislators have ‘stars’ in their eyes

OK, OK, OK—we know there are many more important things for state legislators to be doing.  But they did it anyway. They passed a bill designating the Rosette Nebula as Oklahoma’s astronomical object. All it needs is the governor’s signature. House Bill 1292 passed the Senate on a 31-12 vote. Rep. Nicole Miller, a Republican …

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Oil prices hit new high overseas

  International oil prices hit a 2019 high in early Wednesday trading giving some hopeful signs to oil and gas producers. Brent crude rose above $72 a barrel in London and analysts gave credit to steady economic growth in China as well as a decline in U.S. crude stocks. The Brent crude futures were up …

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Could Oklahoma energy companies be next in line for acquisition?

Speculation grows over who might be next in the acquisition of those energy companies exploring the Permian Basin and the names of some Oklahoma firms are in the conversation. At least according to one writer for Forbes magazine. Contributor Robert Rapier discussed the issue following Chevron’s big purchase of Anadarko Petroleum announced last week. So …

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Endangered Rivers cited in new report

A new report on America’s most endangered rivers does not include any in Oklahoma but it contends climate change is the top threat to the rivers and water supplies. The group American Rivers is out with its annual Most Endangered Rivers report stating that New Mexico’s Gila River is the No. 1 “most endangered” in …

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Slumping oil and gas rig activity in Kansas

Kansas is typical of states where the oil and gas drilling activity slipped in the past year due to lower oil and gas prices. The Red Top Rig Report published by the Independent Oil and Gas Service in Wichita, Kansas laid out the details this week, comparing rig activity so far in 2019 compared to …

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Colorado governor signs bill creating tighter restrictions on oil and gas drilling

Despite warnings that they will harm Colorado’s oil and gas industry, new tighter regulations have been signed into law by the state’s governor. Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a major overhaul of state oil and gas rules. “Today, with the signing of this bill, it is our hope that the oil and gas wars …

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