Author's posts
Lawsuit Challenges Keystone XL Pipeline Permit
The plan by TransCanada to restart its efforts to build the Keystone XL pipeline has run into a lawsuit filed by a coalition of environmental groups. The coalition including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups challenged TransCanada’s federal permit saying much more environmental scrutiny is needed. Their lawsuit contends the initial …
Oil Flowing in Dakota Access Pipeline
After months of delay caused by environmentalists and Native American protesters, the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota is moving oil and soon cash will be flowing into developer Energy Transfer Partners. The oil started flowing his week through the 1,200-mile pipeline that cost $3.8 billion. Full operations aren’t expected for a few more weeks. …
Rep. Lucas Gets US House to Pass EPA Transparency Bill
A bill by Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas to urge transparency and scientific integrity at the Environmental Protection Agency won approval in the U.S. House on Thursday. H.R. 1431 is also known as the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2017 and was passed on a 229-193 vote. “Sound science must be the cornerstone of …
Oil and Gas Association Applauds President’s Rewrite of Clean Power Plan
State leaders in Oklahoma aren’t the only ones applauding this week’s action by President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to reverse the Obama Clean Power Plan. So are energy industry leaders. “The Trump administration’s executive order sends a signal that his federal agencies will put American energy production first with sensible regulations and best …
Impact of Clean Power Plan Rewrite in Oklahoma—-Welcome News
President Trump’s decision this week to sign an executive order to roll back the controversial Obama Clean Power Plan was welcome news at the Oklahoma Energy Office. “We’re glad to see a pull back from obviously what the Obama administration had proposed,” said Tyler Powell, Deputy Secretary of the Environment. “We’ve always questioned the authority …
Opponents of Wind Tax Credit Rollback Likely to Challenge it in the State Senate
The House Bill calling for a rollback of tax credits for the wind industry is on is way to the State Senate. But it won’t receive unanimous support there, judging by opposition mounted this week in a Senate Committee. Senator Kay Floyd, a Democrat from Oklahoma City argued the roll back will send a bad …
Newfield Embarks on $10 million Wastewater Recycling Project near Kingfisher
Houston, Texas-based Newfield Exploration has launched plans to construct a wastewater recycling facility near Kingfisher, heart of Oklahoma’s STACK play. The facility will allow the oil and gas company to treat the wastewater and re-use it in fracking operations, rather than injecting it back into the earth and possibly increasing the risk of earthquakes. “Over …
Roaring Start for Newfield with Record Oil Well in STACK
Houston-based Newfield Exploration Company is reporting its largest well ever in Oklahoma’s STACK, hitting a well that’s producing more than 2,900 barrels of oil a day. The Burgess well with 4,859 feet of lateral length is located in Kingfisher County and achieved a 24-hour flow rate of 2,931 BOEPD including 69 percent oil. Its 20-day …
Accusations Fly Between Scientists on Climate Change as They Testified Before Congress
Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas and others on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology might have actually enjoyed the hearing they held Wednesday on climate change and scientific methods of studying whether it’s truly being caused by man. With a panel of four scientists, some who profess man is causing climate change and …
Total Makes ‘Total’ Energy Commitment in Texas to Tune of $1.7 billion
The French energy company Total announced this week plans to invest $1.7 billion in energy projects in Texas. The company plans to partner with chemical companies Borealis and Nova to build two new units on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Company leaders admit they’re trying to take advantage of cheap shale gas in the U.S. and …