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AAA—-Oklahoma’s Gas Prices are the Envy of the Nation
Oklahoma now has some of the cheapest gasoline in the U.S. as the statewide average fell 3 more cents to reach a $1.85 a gallon, according to the latest report from AAA Oklahoma. The organization headlined its press release, “Oklahoma’s Gas Prices today Are the envy of the Nation.” “Out on the road, Thanksgiving motorists …
Oilfield Employment Remains Weak in Oklahoma Despite Oil Play Successes
Oklahoma’s jobless rate slipped a tenth of a point for October but it’s still at 5.2% according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. And the data supplied by the state shows oil and gas employment was anemic, despite growing activity in Oklahoma’s STACK and SCOOP plays. The October 2016 employment in the energy sector was 43,900, …
Governor Fallin Gets Her Job Interview with Donald Trump
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin got her chance this week to meet with President-elect Donald Trump as he considers who to name to his administration and cabinet. The Governor was asked to meet with Trump on Monday. So was former Texas Governor and GOP presidential rival Rick Perry who dropped out early from the GOP campaign. …
Pawnee Nation Sues Federal Agencies Over September 3 Earthquake and Violating Federal Law
The 5.8 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 3 in Pawnee was the so-called “straw that broke the camel’s back” as far as Pawnee Tribal leaders are concerned. So they’ve gone to court, not against oil and gas producers but against two federal agencies that the tribe felt had the responsibility of informing it about oil and …
Anti-Trump Protesters Rally at State Capitol
Some of those who don’t like Donald Trump held an anti-Trump rally Sunday at the State Capitol, later changing its name to an “anti-hate” rally. A few hundred, many who express concerns about what a Trump administration will do to climate control regulations gathered but state troopers say there were no problems. Some Trump supporters …
Oil and Gas Execs Warn Oklahoma Leaders Not to Interfere in STACK and SCOOP—-Don’t Screw this up
“Be very careful with doing anything that might screw that up.” Warning from Lee Boothby, CEO of Newfield Exploration. Executives of four energy companies with extensive work in Oklahoma’s STACK and SCOOP plays made it clear this past week, yes the rewards of the big plays are nice but there are concerns too …
Hutchings Assumes Chairmanship of Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association
The Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association is under the leadership of a newly-elected chairman following the Association’s one-day annual meeting in Oklahoma City. At the meeting, association members elected Wade Hutchings, regional vice president of Mid-Continent Assets at Marathon Oil, to be the new chairman of OKOGA and ratified the board of directors for 2017. …
Rig Counts Jump in the U.S. and Oklahoma
The growing interest of the nation’s oil and gas industry in the big oil plays in Oklahoma and the Permian Basin of Northwest Texas is reflected by a swelling count of rigs, according to the latest figures released by Texas-based Baker Hughes. More rigs are apparently being taken out of storage and put back …
Williams to Appeal $16 million Judgment Over 2013 Chemical Plant Explosion in Louisiana
A jury in New Orleans awarded $16 million to four workers injured in the deadly 2013 petrochemical plant explosion at an operation run by Tulsa-based Williams Cos. It’s the second major award in the incident. In late September, a jury awarded four other workers $13.6 million for injuries they suffered at the Williams Olefins Geismar …
OIPA’s Mike Terry Announces Retirement
Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OIPA) President Mike Terry has announced he will retire, ending a decade-long tenure as the head of the state’s largest oil and natural gas advocacy group. Terry’s retirement will take effect Dec. 31, 2017. “It has been an honor to serve the industry I love and the people in it,” Terry …