Author's posts
Halliburton Predicts Another 50% Drop in North American Energy Spending
Texas based Halliburton, like many energy companies is reporting a drop in revenues in its latest quarterly information. The $4.2 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2016 is a 17 percent decline compared to a 21 percent drop in the worldwide rig count. In releasing its figures, the company blamed “disruptive market conditions” …
Inhofe—the Paris Climate Agreement Will Fail
Secretary of State John Kerry’s signing of the Paris international climate agreement this past weekend prompted Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe to call it an agreement that President Obama cannot deliver his commitments. “His so-called Clean Power Plan, the centerpiece of his efforts, has been rejected by a bipartisan majority in Congress and lacks support …
Nation’s Rig Count Drops by 9 while Oklahoma Remains Unchanged
The nation’s oil and gas rig count declined by another 9 in the past week while the count in Oklahoma and many surround energy-producing states remained unchanged. The national count fell to 431 with 8 fewer oil rigs and one less gas rig. The oil count fell to 343 while the gas rig count slipped …
Deadly PetroChemical Plant Explosion in Southern Mexico
Confusion grows on reports of how many have died in the explosion of a petrochemical plant on the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. One report said at least three persons died while another said up to 13 people were killed in the blast that was felt up to six miles away Wednesday. Luis …
Study Finds Great Plains Wind Farms Low Risk to Sandhill Cranes
A new study published by the U.S. Geological Survey finds that sandhill Cranes flying over the Great Plains are not at serious risk from the many wind turbines in the region. It said the current placement of the towers in central and southern Great Plains, a region that includes Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas “may have …
Two New Energy Bills Signed into Law by Governor Fallin
Two more energy-related bills were signed into law this week by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, one concerning wastewater from oil and natural gas wells and the other regarding gross production taxes on those wells. Senate bill 1122, by Senators A.J. Griffin and Eddie Fields and Rep. Kevin Calvey is an act requiring state agencies to …
Drought Eased in Western Oklahoma—-Severe Weather in Next Week’s Forecast
Rainfall this week cut areas of drought in Oklahoma according to the Thursday report of the Oklahoma Mesonet. “We went from 32 percent of the state in drought to 10 percent,” said Gary McManus, State Climatologist. “That seems about right. The only increases were in western Roger Mills and Ellis counties and also over in …
Latest Energy Bankruptcy Involves Solar Giant SunEdison
One of the nation’s latest energy firms to end up in Chapter 11 bankruptcy is SunEdison, considered a solar energy giant in the U.S. The Missouri based company had been dealing with financial problems in the past year and earlier this month admitted it had a $12 billion debt. But in the bankruptcy filing, SunEdison …
144 US House Members Want Answers from EPA Director Over Illegal Funding of Activists
Four Oklahomans in the U.S. House joined 140 other House members this week in sending a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy demanding answers about the EPA’s funding of a website and advocacy campaign to influence Washington State voters for more regulation of farmers and ranchers. Representatives Jim Bridenstine, Tom Cole, Frank Lucas and Markwayne …
First North Dakota Oil Arrives in Netherlands Since Lifting of Export Ban
The first shipment of North Dakota Bakken crude oil since the lifting of a 40-year old ban on exports has arrived in the Netherlands. A tanker carrying 175,000 barrels of oil was unloaded this week in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The ban on oil exports was lifted by Congress and the President in December. The Associated Press …