April 2023 archive

Colorado oil and gas exploration remains behind pre-COVID-19 pandemic activity

  Over the past two years, the oil and gas drilling activity in Colorado rebounded but remains below the amount of exploration that was performed before the COVID-19 pandemic. At last count, there were 19 active drilling rigs in the state according to Baker Hughes. Colorado has faced challenges in expanding its oil and gas …

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Turnpike Authority to be briefed on investigative audit move by Attorney General

  The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority will consider Tuesday the move by State Attorney General Gentner Drummond to carry out an investigative audit of the giant transportation agency. The item is one of many on the agenda for the meeting of the Authority. Director Tim Gatz is expected to give an update about the AG’s decision …

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Other brief energy stories

** Tesla Inc. notched another record quarter of vehicle deliveries by a slim margin after cutting prices across its lineup early this year, suggesting orders may have slowed after an initial surge in demand. ** States are doling out more cash than ever to lure multibillion-dollar microchip, electric vehicle and battery factories, inspiring ever-more competition as …

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Ovintiv expands holdings in Permian Basin and unloads Bakken assets

  Ovintiv, the company with a history of large producing oil wells in Oklahoma’s STACK play announced the $4.2 billion acquisition of more holdings in the Midland Basin of Texas, while at the same time selling its Bakken assets in North Dakota in an $825 million agreement to help finance the Midland deal. The Denver, …

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Empire Petroleum reports improved performance in 2022

  An “outstanding year across the board,” is how Empire Petroleum’s President and CEO Mike Morrisett described 2022 for the Tulsa-based company as he released fourth quarter and full year financial results. The company announced that higher net sales volumes and pricing drove a 95% increase in revenue to $52.9 million for full-year 2022 that …

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Senators fight Biden administration’s expanded use of Endangered Species Act

  Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford and Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) have launched an effort to redefine the choice of wording in the Endangered Species Act as they try to combat what they contend are irrational efforts of the Biden administration. The two Senators led 17 others in introduction of a Congressional Review Act resolution …

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Sen. Mullin accuses Bernie Sanders of hypocrisy—to his face

  Okay. This latest Sen. Markwayne Mullin story has nothing to do with energy. But it’s worth reading as the Republican Oklahoma Senator launched into an attack recently against colleague, Sen. Bernie Sanders, suggesting Sanders is hypocritical for his criticism of a millionaire CEO. Mullin unloaded on Sanders during a Senate debate on the floor, …

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Coming soon—a ban on incandescent light bulbs

  What’s next in the Biden administration’s climate change battle?  How about the lightbulbs you use in your home. The administration’s taking aim at incandescent light bulbs and under rules finalized by the Department of Energy, they will be prohibited from being sold by retailers. Get ready for the ban to take effect on Aug. …

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Oklahoma utilities recover from wind storm damage

  Power has been restored to most OG&E and PSO customers following Friday’s wind storm that brought 75 mile an hour gusts, outages, dozens of snapped power line poles and the wind-driven wildfires that destroyed dozens of homes and structures near Edmond. At one point on Friday, OG&E reported more than 16,000 customers lost power …

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