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New Mexico Reaches Pollution Agreement with Texas Well Operator
A financially challenged Midland, Texas well operator has reached a $19,000 settlement with the state of New Mexico over salt water spills at its injection sites and oil wells. Siana Operating agreed to do cleanup in the agreement with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division in Santa Fe and also pay a penalty of $19,000 …
Skepticism Among Energy People over Brine Processing Plan
From the Norman Transcript and CNHI’s Janelle Stecklein. Brian Kalt believes he may have a solution for earthquake weary Oklahomans — even if oil and gas companies aren’t so convinced. Kalt runs a plant in West Virginia that processes nearly 10,000 barrels of wastewater from oil and gas wells in his state, as well …
No Decisions Yet on Interim Legislative Energy Study Requests
Oklahoma House Speaker Jeff Hickman has yet to announce the list of interim study requests that could be approved on such topics as oil and gas drilling restrictions, and ways to handle wastewater disposal in the state. “Speaker Hickman is expected to announce those studies that are approved by July 8,” according to OK Energy …
Blaine and Kingfisher Counties still Hot Oil Property
With oil prices hitting at least $50 a barrel prior to dropping to $48 this week, oil drilling activity produced numerous healthy-producing hits in northwest Oklahoma, the area commonly called the “STACK.” Continental Resources had the largest well—the Verona that produced 2,345 barrels a day along with 5,966 Mcf of gas at a Blaine County …
Scam Alert Issued by OGE
OG and E is warning about another scam, one in which a man posed as a utility worker visiting the homes of customers to collect past due bill payments. “The company wants its customers to know it does not send representatives out to customers’ homes to collect payments,” said Kathleen O’Shea, a spokeswoman for OG&E. …
Bar Association Luncheon to Hear Update on Earthquakes in Oklahoma
Water and earthquakes will be the topic of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s General counsels’ Forum luncheon on Friday in Oklahoma City. Dr. Kyle E. Murray, a hydrogeologist for the Oklahoma Geological Survey and Adjunct Faculty for the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and geophysics at the University of Oklahoma will be the speaker. As the …
Senate Approves National Pipeline Bill
President Obama is expected to sign a final version of legislation approved this week by the U.S. Senate to ensure the safety of the nation’s pipeline network. Approval of S. 2276, the PIPES Act came Tuesday night and reauthorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) through fiscal year 2019. Senator Jim Inhofe, chairman …
Nation’s First Study of Fracking Wells Emissions Completed in Colorado
In a study that will be the first of its kind nationwide, Colorado researchers plan to assess new data on air pollution from fracking wells in their state and use it to determine whether the emissions are harmful to human health. New data was released this week after a three-year study at Colorado State University measured …
New Weekly Record for Ethanol Production in U.S.
A new weekly record for ethanol production is reported by the Energy Information Administration. Ethanol produced increased 7,000 barrels a day from last week, hitting 1.013 million barrels a day or 42.55 million gallons daily. The four week average stood at 981,000 barrels a day for an annualized rate of 15.04 billion gallons. As of …
Old Continental Resources Battle Before DC Circuit Court
An appeal by Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources Inc. to a 2013 ruling by the U.S. Department of Interior forcing the energy giant to pay nearly $2 million more in natural gas royalties is being heard by the D.C. Circuit in Washington. This week, the Interior Department argued the company waited too long to lodge a …
