The first public trading of crude oil following the weekend capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro by U.S. troops prompted a $1 a barrel gain for crude oil prices. But natural gas dropped nearly 10% and Oklahoma energy stocks recorded mostly losses for the day. Investors considered the impact of Maduro’s capture as leader of …
January 2026 archive
Logistics behind abandonment of nickel refinery project in Lawton
A recent report in the Southwest Ledger offered an explanation why Westwin Elements made the decision against construction of a large-scale commercial nickel refinery in Lawton. The company had announced earlier in December its decision. But now a further explanation came from Richard Rogalski, executive director of the Lawton Economic Development Authority who said the …
Appeals court revives Custer County water rights lawsuit
Appeals court revives Custer County water rights lawsuit Judges send dispute back to Oklahoma County District Court The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals has revived a long-running Custer County water rights dispute, ordering a lawsuit involving the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and two landowners to be returned to Oklahoma County District Court for further proceedings. …
SPP advances Texas solar project near Oklahoma border
SPP moves to add 298-MW Texas solar project near Oklahoma line Southwest Power Pool files interconnection agreement with FERC The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has taken formal steps to add a large utility-scale solar project near the Oklahoma–Texas border to its regional transmission grid. SPP recently filed a Generator Interconnection Agreement (GIA) with the Federal …
Oklahoma Secures Mercedes-Benz Diesel Settlement
Oklahoma to receive funds from Mercedes-Benz diesel settlement State joins nationwide emissions enforcement action Oklahoma will receive more than a quarter-million dollars as part of a nearly $150 million nationwide settlement with Mercedes-Benz over allegations the automaker violated U.S. diesel emissions laws. The settlement resolves claims that Mercedes-Benz used software designed to defeat federal diesel …
Billionaire expands into AI industry in west Texas
Eric Schmidt Enters AI Energy Race With West Texas Project Former Google CEO Backs Power-Heavy Data Center Strategy The former chief executive of Google is stepping directly into the race to solve one of the biggest constraints facing artificial intelligence and large-scale data centers: energy supply. Eric Schmidt, 70, has launched a new venture called …
Trump Ties Venezuela Oil Compensation to U.S. Investment
(Evana, an oil tanker, is docked at El Palito port in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Dec. 21, 2025. | Matias Delacroix/AP) Trump Ties Venezuela Compensation to U.S. Oil Investment Administration Sets Conditions for Recovering Seized Assets The Trump administration has made its position clear to U.S. oil and gas companies seeking compensation for assets seized by …
Oil and gas rig counts constant in Oklahoma plays
Cana Woodford leads all Oklahoma plays for drilling activity. The Cana Woodford remained Oklahoma’s most active play, accounting for 17 rigs, the highest total among the state’s producing regions. Other Oklahoma plays also showed no week-to-week changes: Granite Wash: 15 rigs Mississippian: 1 rig Ardmore Woodford: 4 rigs Arkoma Woodford: 2 rigs The consistency …
Maduro’s capture to have little impact on world’s oil prices?
The world’s crude oil producers will have to wait and see what will happen to oil prices following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday during a daring attack by U.S. military special forces. At least one publication, Forbes, predicted there would not be much of an …
Energy briefs
** Danish renewable energy giant Orsted filed suit Thursday against the Department of Interior because it paused its lease on a $5 billion off-shore wind farm in Rhode Island. Orsted’s Revolution Wind project is 87% complete, and “is expected to be ready to deliver reliable, affordable power to American homes in 2026,” a press release said. ** …