** China refineries processed a record amount of crude oil last month, and now they are looking to the U.S. to find crude. China is looking to book oil tankers for August and September to ship at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude, according to Reuters. ** The plunge in crude tanker demand in July was the steepest fall since …
August 2020 archive
Stillwater to lose American Airlines service due to COVID-19 pandemic
Hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, American Airlines is making more drastic moves including the dropping of service to numerous smaller airports nationally including regional service in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Other airports in the region included Roswell, New Mexico and Joplin, Missouri. The Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development noted that American and the other U.S. passenger carriers …
Oil and gas industry and environmentalists at odds over BLM sale of lands
The government’s plan to sell more public lands to the oil and gas industry in New Mexico still has people at odds—environmentalists are against it while industry leaders say it will put oil and gas operators in a better financial position. The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM)has proposed a lease sale of about …
New Mexico Governor accuses Trump of “environmental annihilation”
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used her Democratic National Convention speech Wednesday night to urge the investment in clean energy jobs to avoid what she labeled as “the environmental annihilation” by the Trump administration. But one GOP leader in her state criticized the Governor and Democrats, suggesting their energy plan would devastate New …
Drop in demand for oil forces North Dakota leaders to cut agency budgets
North Dakota is facing significant belt-tightening as a result of low commodity prices and the COVID-19 impact on the oil and gas industry. It means the state which had the nation’s second highest oil production, some largely due to the exploratory efforts of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources is forced to cut state agency budgets. …
The American Conservation Coalition Officially Endorses…
A group of conservatives active in environmentalism, the American Conservation Coalition has come out with its endorsements of those running in Congress. The list does not include Oklahomans either running for re-election to the House and Senate nor challengers. “This November, we’re supporting members of Congress who have worked on effective legislation, championed smart …
Pipeline workers laid off in San Antonio
It doesn’t compare to some of the large numbers of layoffs by some firms, but to the 22 workers losing their jobs at Howard Energy Partners in San Antonio, the loss is every bit as painful. A statement by CEO Mike Howard didn’t say which positions had been eliminated or where the discharged workers were located. …
Texas firm sues Pennsylvania pipeline operator to get $104 million in unpaid bill
Texas-based construction company, U.S. Trinity Energy Services has filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania pipeline company to get $103.8 million that it says it is owed, asking that the pipeline be sold to satisfy its claim. The suit was filed by U.S. Trinity Energy Services LLC in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in Pittsburgh, …
Northern Oklahoma’s Skeleton Creek wind project still on track for completion in 2020
The first phase of what is expected to be the country’s largest renewable energy project of its kind should be completed next year in northern Oklahoma. NextEra Energy Resources is planning not only the 250 megawatt Skeleton Creek wind farm but a solar panel farm and a battery storage project as well. The …
Occidental moves ahead with largest ever carbon-capture facility in Texas
Occidental Petroleum Corp announced it plans to finance development of the largest ever facility designed to pull carbon dioxide out of the air through a direct air capture process. Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC said it has formed a development company with sustainability-focused private equity firm Rusheen Capital Management LLC to license the direct …