Author's posts
Impact of Energy-Friendly Washington on Energy Industry
A more energy friendly government and Washington. It’s what Tommy Foltz at the Consumer Energy Alliance is expecting from the Donald Trump administration. He cites Trump’s nominations of Scott Pruitt at EPA, Rick Perry as Energy Secretary and Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon chief to be Secretary of State as cause for optimism in …
“Frack Master” hit with SEC Charges in Dallas
An oil and gas leader known as the “frack master” has been hit with federal civil charges in Texas and accused of defrauding investors out of nearly $80 million. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed the charges in Dallas Federal Court against Chris Faulkner, CEO of Breitling Energy Corporation. The SEC accused him of spending …
75-year old Oil Pipeline Shut down in Maine
After 75 years, an oil pipeline from the U.S. to Canada has been shut down. The 236-mile-long pipeline carried oil from the Port of Portland to refineries in Montreal. It was originally built to provide for the safe transport of crude oil to Quebec when German U-boats were sinking oil tankers in the western …
Drought Continues to Grow in Oklahoma
Whether it’s wind power, electrical, oil and gas or mining, all of the industries know that Oklahoma continues suffering from a lack of rain. The latest Drought Monitor indicates the severe-to-extreme drought in the state increased from 18 percent at the end of November to 46 percent at the end of December. Remember, on …
Environmental Meeting in Guymon on $25 million Casino
A Thursday night public meeting will be held in Guymon on the environmental assessment of a proposed $25 million Native American casino near the city. The Bureau of Indian Affairs in Anadarko is holding the public meeting for the proposed Shawnee Tribe ‘Golden Mesa’ casino to be located about 3.5 miles southwest of Guymon. The …
Researcher Says Pruitt’s Appointment Could Save Families from High Costs of EPA’s Clean Power Plan
Donald Trump’s appointment of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has the endorsement of some of the researchers at the Pacific Research Institute, as witnessed this past weekend in the Oklahoman. The paper carried an opinion piece from Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow in business and economics at PRI. In it, Windegarden said Pruitt’s appointment could …
Weekly Rig Count Grows in Oklahoma and Across the U.S.
With oil prices hovering right around $53 a barrel for West Texas Intermediate, the rig counts in Oklahoma and across the U.S. are up over the past week. Baker Hughes Company in Houston reports Oklahoma’s count grew by two to reach 86. A year ago, the statewide count was 87. Nationally, the rig count grew …
Tulsa’s Empire Petroleum Expands Holdings into Texas Panhandle
Tulsa-based Empire Petroleum Corporation has announced a deal where it is making a nearly $18 million purchase of half of a newly-formed venture that includes oil and gas properties in the Texas Panhandle. The deal is with Masterson West, LLC, a Tulsa firm that created a new entity called Masterson West II, LLC. Empire contributed …
Signs of a Still-Struggling Economy in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s latest jobless figures show the state’s economy is still struggling with the impact of what happened starting two years ago to the oil and gas industry. Rates went up in 59 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties in November according to the Employment Security Commission and the November rate was 5.1 percent. “We saw unemployment rates …
Former White House Counsel Says the Country Needs Pruitt to Rein in the EPA
Former White House Counsel C. Boyden Gray says Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is the right person to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Writing in the Washington Examiner, Gray said it’s time for Donald Trump’s EPA pick to rein in the EPA. “Instead of sensibly enforcing laws and regulations already on the books, EPA …