New Mexico is one of two states with a major undiscovered oil and gas reserves that the U.S. Geological Survey believes exists on public lands. The Interior Department recent announced the undiscovered resources are under the federally managed public lands of the U.S. Estimations say there could be technically recoverable resources of 29.4 …
Category: Oil & Gas
Oklahoma’s rare minerals development catches world’s attention
This week’s announcement by Westwin Elements of obtaining a long-term contract for its refining of Nickel at a facility in Lawton had a global impact. One publication suggested Oklahoma is a leader in the rare minerals production and competition with China. Certainly, it drew the attention of at least one worldwide media group which …
Another lithium refiner gets nod for royalty rate by Arkansas regulators
Arkansas regulators approved this week a lithium royalty rate for a second lithium refining operator. It was a unanimous approval of a 2.5% rate by the Arkansas Public Service Commission for ExxonMobilsubsidiary Saltwerx. Last month, regulators approved a similar rate for the joint venture by Standard Lithium and Equinor. ExxonMobil called the approval …
Iowa Governor’s veto of anti-carbon pipeline bill apparently won’t be overriden
It appears advocates for a tough law targeting eminent use by a carbon pipeline proposed in Iowa don’t have enough support to override the governor’s veto of the measure. There is enough support in the Iowa House for a special legislative session but not in the Senate to counter the veto by Gov. Kim …
ERCOT leader confident of meeting summer electrical demands in Texas
As a heat dome hovers over the country, bringing 100 degree or greater temperatures, the head of ERCOT, the Texas grid, is confident it will be able to provide more than enough electricity to power air conditioners. ERCOT President Pablo Vegas also revealed in an interview that the grid has inspected more than 3,000 …
Energy briefs
** The U.S. Supreme Court rules that petroleum producers have standing to sue California over its vehicle emissions rules, saying the firms would be harmed by a gasoline car phaseout. ** Two large California oil refineries are shutting down, triggering mounting concerns from state legislators, industry groups and many others. The Phillips 66 and Valero’s Benicia …
New Mexico sues Air Force over ‘forever’ chemicals
“Forever” chemicals in existence at an Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico have led to a lawsuit againt the military by the state of New Mexico. The New Mexico Environment Department and New Mexico Department of Justice announced this week they had filed a new lawsuit ordering the U.S. Department of the Air …
Scott Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—crude oil prices after US bombers attack Iran
The deadly exchange of missiles and bombs between Iran and Israel and the weekend decision by President Trump to use bunker busting bombs have affected crude oil prices. Which way might they go? It’s what Scott Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen about in today’s podcast.
Crude oil prices plunged as US waited for Iran’s response to bombing attack
Iran’s weak response to the U.S. bombing attack on its nuclear weapons development operations came in the form Monday of missiles fired at a US airbase in Qatar while crude oil prices fell 6% with no apparent interruption of the flow of oil out of the Middle East. No casualties were reported in the missile …
Texas operator ordered to shut down well connected to earthquakes
When Oklahoma experienced months of earthquakes some years ago, state regulators had wastewater well operators to curtail or reduce their operations. Now Texas regulators are doing the same thing and recently targeted one specific company following earthquakes in the Permian Basin. The Texas Railroad Commission took steps last week against Blackbuck Resources, a company …