A bill recently signed into law by the governor of New Mexico wants to take energy advantage of abandoned and orphaned oil wells in the state. House Bill 361, introduced by Rep. Andrea Romero, will transform the old wells by converting them into geothermal energy producers, much like was started a few years …
Category: Oil & Gas
Oil and gas rig numbers increased in US
The nation saw a slight gain in the number of active oil and gas rigs in the past week while numbers in Oklahoma were steady, according to the latest Baker Hughes rig count. Oklahoma saw no change with a count of 53 rigs, same as last week, but 8 more than one year …
Scott Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen about yet another lawsuit against Corporation Commissioner Hiett
Scott Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen about Rep. Tom Gann striking again with a Supreme Court lawsuit against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett. Plus, there’s another story about Rep. Trey Caldwell and his criticism of the Corporation Commission.
More Supreme Court lawsuits are filed over Commissioner Hiett’s votes
The three Republican legislators who challenged the votes of Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett have filed yet more lawsuits of his votes cast in support of rate hikes and fuel costs approved for two major utilities—Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas and Electric. Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, who had previously filed a …
Oilfield company and VP plead guilty in poison gas deaths of two in Texas
Five and a half years after a man and his wife died from poison gas emitted at a Permian Basin well site near Odessa, Texas, an oilfield company and its vice president have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the deadly incident. Aghorn Operating Inc. was fined $1 million while a serving company, …
Energy briefs
** Tesla faces a proposed class action claiming it speeds up odometers on its electric vehicles so they fall out of warranty faster, saving Elon Musk’s company from having to pay for repairs. The plaintiff Nyree Hinton alleged that Tesla odometer readings reflect energy consumption, driver behavior and “predictive algorithms” rather than actual mileage driven. ** Tesla is …
Big gains to finish the week for crude oil prices and Oklahoma energy stocks
Not only did crude oil prices go up 3% in Thursday’s trading, but Oklahoma energy stocks enjoyed a day of positive territory with some firms seeing gains of 5%, 6% and 7%. Crude prices were bolstered over hopes for a trade deal between the US andthe European Union. Plus, the newest US sanctions …
Legislator attacks regulators and a lobbyist he called a “liar”
In a fiery defense of one of his energy bills devoted to helping Oklahoma’s natural gas industry, Rep. Trey Caldwell unleashed criticism this week on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and one lobbyist who he labeled a “liar” and wouldn’t allow into his state office. It occurred Wednesday during a House Energy and Natural …
Higher oil an gas royalties on state land in New Mexico’s Permian Basin
Oil and gas companies drilling on state land in New Mexico, including the Permian Basin, will have to pay higher royalties after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently signed a bill into law. The new law raises the previous oil an gas royalty rate cap from 20% to 25% on State Trust land in …
Gloves come off in dispute between Treasurer and AG
Nearly half a year after Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ and Attorney General Gentner Drummond were at odds over a lawsuit challenging Oklahoma’s Anti-Energy Discrimination Elimination Act, their differences are displayed again in another dispute. This time, Russ is accusing Drummond of “political interference.” Recall, Drummond stepped in and fired the attorney hired by the …