Legislators in North Dakota were told this week the peak of oil and gas drilling in the state’s Bakken play might be only five years off. It’s an important region to oil and gas exploration companies like Oklahoma City’s Continental Resources Inc. whose founder Harold Hamm was one of the early explorers of the play …
South Dakota legislators reject bill targeting Keystone XL pipeline
An attempt failed Tuesday that would have required South Dakota regulators to reconsider a permit if a utility project hadn’t been built in 10 years. Senate Democratic leader Troy Heinert of Mission brought SB 126 primarily because of the Keystone XL oil pipeline that is still in the preliminary stages according to KELO TV in South Dakota. …
Investment in Devon Energy by Atlanta firm
An SEC filing by Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy shows ownership of more than 24 million shares by an Atlanta, Georgia investment firm. This week’s filing indicated Invesco Ltd. owned a total of 24,447,689 shares in Devon, of which 22,918,193 gave the company sole voting power and ownership of 6.4% of the company’s total shares. The …
Speaker McCall Bill Boosts Rural Transportation Projects
Economic growth in rural areas would be given more consideration in the state’s eight-year transportation project plan under a bill by House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “Rural transportation infrastructure isn’t keeping up with development in some areas because the state’s road funding formula does not properly account for rural economic growth. This bill fixes that,” …
Hill Passes Economic Development, Tourism Bills through Committee
State Rep. Brian Hill passed three economic development bills through two House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittees this week. House Bill 3115, was heard in the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Finance Monday morning. The bill amends eligibility standards for a tax credit program for the automotive industry by expanding the program to any eligible …
Midstream operator Tallgrass Energy to open Houston office
Kansas City midstream company Tallgrass Energy, LP, a pipeline company managing lines carrying oil from Wyoming to Cushing, Oklahoma announced plans to open an office in Houston, Texas. The office will be managed by the company’s new Chief Commercial Officer, Damon Daniels. In this role, Daniels will report directly to Tallgrass President Matthew P. Sheehy. …
Oil is ailing due to coronavirus in China
Energy leaders are keeping an even closer watch on oil and natural gas prices as they fell to a more than one-year low this week due in part to the spread of the coronavirus in China. Adding to the growing worries is speculation that OPEC might deliver another cut to oil production. But the coronavirus …
Energy news in brief
** U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette wants to work with Canada and Mexico to export U.S. coal to Asia and get around West Coast states that have blocked permits for coal shipments due to climate concerns. ** Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would require utilities to source renewable natural gas from dairies, landfills and other sources. ** An Oregon county …
Senators say environmental policy rules are outdated and cumbersome
Oklahoma U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford were among 18 Republican senators who wrote a White House Council on Environmental Quality saying they support the President’s proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act. The letter came as the White House Council prepared to hold a field hearing in Denver on the proposed changes. …
Four year low for natural gas prices
Natural gas futures slid to a four-year low this week as prices for March delivery dropped 9.2 cents to $1.766 per million British thermal on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That’s the lowest settlement since March 9, 2016 and the premium for April gas over the March contract widened to 3.8 cents. It’s a sign …