With fears easing over the Omicron variance, crude oil prices made more gains in Wednesday’s trading, settling at more than $72 in the U.S. and nearly $76 in Europe. But it proved to be something of a tepid day for Oklahoma energy stocks. West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery went up 31 cents …
Earthquake rattled central Kansas
No one’s linking it to any oil and gas drilling or wastewater operations but a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit central Kansas Wednesday morning. The quake, centered near the town of Gypsum, located just southeast of Salina occurred at 7:45 a.m. central time and according to the U.S. Geological Survey was 1.8 miles deep. The …
Energy Transfer subsidiary pays $4 million settlement in Pennsylvania
One of the subsidiaries of Energy Transfer, the Texas company that just finalized the takeover of Enable Midstream in Oklahoma City will pay a $4 million settlement stemming from a 2020 spill of drilling mud into a Pennsylvania creek. Mariner East pipeline builder Sunoco will make the payment to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation …
ExxonMobil to end routine flaring in 2022 in Permian Basin
Major steps are coming from ExxonMobil regarding the company’s efforts to cut its greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas operations in the Permian Basin. The company says it will bring an end to routine flaring by the end of 2022 and drastically cut GHG emissions in the basin by 2030 reports the Carlsbad …
Biofuels industry reacts to EPA ethanol blending announcement
Ethanol industry supporters say it appears the oil and gas industry made good off the Biden administration’s announcement about dialing back ethanol production targets while at the same time rejecting dozens of refinery requests to be exempt from ethanol blending requirements. More from Radio Iowa about the reaction. Click here.
Energy news headlines on Thursday
** The Biden administration has issued more permits for oil and gas drilling on public land per month than the Trump administration did in its first three years, according to a new analysis of federal data. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen found that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved an average of 333 drilling permits …
EPA’s latest move for ethanol blending requirements
The Biden administration moved this week to put up another roadblock to small refinery operators such as the Wynnewood Refinery in Oklahoma to obtain exemptions from the EPA’s annual production requirements for ethanol and other biofuels. The Biden administration lowered the requirements to account for reduced demand as a result of the coronavirus pandemic …
Rep. Bice cautions against total ban of “forever” chemicals
At a House Committee hearing this week, one exploring those condemned “forever” chemicals, Oklahoma congresswoman Stephanie Bice cautioned that it might not be wise to throw out the baby with the bathwater. In her remarks before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Joint Subcommittee on Environment and Subcommittee on Research & Technology, Rep. …
EV network formed by power companies
More than 50 U.S. power companies including Oklahoma Gas & Electric have joined forces to build a coast-to-coast fast charging network for electric vehicles along major U.S. travel corridors by the end of 2023. The National Electric Highway Coalition was announced this week by the Edison Electric Institute. Fifty EEI members; the Tennessee Valley …
Acquisitions show signs of recovery from COVID-19 pandemic
Has the oil and gas industry recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic? Judging by recent acquisitions in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeast New Mexico, some might say it’s more than proof that it has. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reported that multiple deals valued at more than $100 million have been announced in recent …