March 17, 2023 archive

Crude oil and OK energy stocks took another hit on Friday

  Crude oil prices settled lower on Friday by more than 2%, reversing gains made earlier in the day. Oklahoma energy stocks also suffered losses in the day’s trading. Analysts blamed banking sector fears for both Brent crude and WTI to reach their biggest weekly declines in months. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.61 a …

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Oil and gas rig numbers grew in Oklahoma and the US in the past week

  Rig numbers made gains in Oklahoma and across the U.S. in the past week according to figures released Friday by Baker Hughes Co. Oklahoma’s count grew by one to reach 62, significantly more than the 49 reported one year ago. Across the U.S., numbers increased by 8 to 754 rigs. But the number of …

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Biden administration joins Colorado lawsuit against Suncor refinery

  Showing its intent on fighting climate change, the Biden administration has joined a lawsuit by local Colorado governments against Suncor, the Canadian energy giant with a refinery near Denver. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a legal brief and argued that the Colorado case against Suncor should be heard in state court reported The …

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Former Oklahoma regulator says legislators should pass bill to stop utility rate hikes

  One former Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner contends the state legislature has an opportunity to stop the kind of soaring utility bills that have hit customers following the 2021 Winter Storm Uri. Writing in The Oklahoman, Jeff Cloud, now Executive Director of the Alliance for Security Energy, said legislators should pass SB1103 which he says is …

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Oklahoma’s VW plant loss draws attention in one other state

  If it can happen to Oklahoma, it can happen to us. That’s the gist of commentary in a Virginia newspaper this week after Volkswagen picked Canada over Oklahoma for the site of its first North American electric vehicle battery plant. Writer Dwayne Yancey in The Cardinal News paralleled Oklahoma’s frustration over failing to attract …

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ExxonMobil opens expanded Beaumont refinery

  ExxonMobil announced the successful startup of its Beaumont, Texas refinery expansion project, which adds 250,000 barrels per day of capacity to one of the largest refining and petrochemical complexes along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Supported by the company’s growing crude production in the Permian Basin, the largest refinery expansion in more than a decade …

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Helmerich and Payne to attend 2 conferences this week seeking new investors

  Leadership at Tulsa’s Helmerich & Payne plan to be a part of some energy conferences this week as the firm seeks new investors. John Lindsay, President and Chief Executive Officer will be joined by Mark Smith, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Trey Adams, Senior Vice President of Digital Operations, Sales and Marketing, …

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Arkansas AG starts effort to investigate Summit Utilities for alleged price gouging

  After first being sued by consumers and accused of “price gouging” over its purchases and sales of natural gas, Summit Utilities now faces a possible investigation by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. It’s a move that could affect Summits’ nearly 99 thousand customers in Oklahoma. His office filed a motion with the Arkansas Public …

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Senators file bill to allow year-round sale of E15 ethanol fuel

  A bill to require year-round production and availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends, a move seen as benefitting corn-producing states, was introduced by U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Under their bill, the sale of so-called E15, which is 15% rather than 10% ethanol would no longer be restricted during …

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Kansas legislature considers control over wind tower blinking lights

  With 44 wind farms in the state of Kansas, the Kansas legislature continues working on possible legislation to do something about the growing complaints of the blinking red wind tower lights at night. Residents don’t like them and want controls about when and how often they blink, disturbing the night-time sky above the state. …

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