This week’s $1.5 billion Williams Cos. acquisition of MountainWest Pipelines Holding Co. revealed how activist investor Carl Icahn can play the game. Last year, he was embroiled in a bitter fight with Southwest Gas Holdings, the firm that sold its pipeline operations to Williams. Southwest didn’t reach a deal with Icahn, the man who …
Is Texas power grid ready to handle Siberian blast of frigid weather?
Less than two years after Texas was hit with brutally cold weather that left much of the state without power, grid operators are wondering what the coming week’s wintry blast will do. Temperatures in central Oklahoma are expected to fall to day-time highs in the teens and in Texas, they’ll be into the low …
Keystone pipeline leak cleanup presents major challenge
The recent leak of 14,000 barrels of crude oil from the Keystone pipeline in northern Kansas wasn’t your ordinary oil pipeline leak—if there can be such a thing. This spill involved tar sands oil from Canada and because of that, the cleanup will be more than difficult than spills of your typical crude oil …
Crude oil prices dropped after 3 straight days of gains
Some Oklahoma energy stocks recorded a more than 9% gain in Thursday’s trading as crude oil prices fell about 2% because of the fuel demand outlook and more interest rate hikes by global central banks. Crude prices dropped after three straight days of gains. West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery dropped $1.17 or …
Summit launches pipeline project in Lawton
A pipeline upgrade by SummitUtilities will result in the availability of more natural gas to west Lawton, including the Goodyear tire manufacturing plant. The Southwest Ledger reported the project involves installation of 12 inch pipe, replacing the existing 10-inch line. Click here for Southwest Ledger
Regulators nervous about 2023 relocation from Jim Thorpe building
Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners were told Thursday that a relocation site for the agency necessitated by a March start of $70 million in renovations to their headquarters building has yet to be found. Brandy Wreath, the General Administrator of the Commission said temporary sites have been found for some of the smaller agencies that also …
Enverus rig count showed drop of 17 rigs in U.S.
This week’s rig count from Enverus Foundations showed a major decline of 17 rigs, as the nation’s total number of oil and gas rigs slid to 860 as of the week ending Dec. 14. That includes a decline of four rigs in the Anadarko Basin leaving 87 in operation. The Williston Basin in North …
Regulators squabble over closing winter storm utility rate cases
An attempt by Oklahoma Corporation Commission chair Dana Murphy to the cases regarding the 2021 winter storm costs for four utilities turned into heated exchanges with Commissioner Bob Anthony who accused her of a “coverup.” During the Thursday morning meeting, Commissioner Anthony again raised charges that the Commission failed to hold public hearings on …
Do something to save the Ogallala Aquifer—Kansas Water Authority
The Kansas Water Authority decided this week it’s time for the state to stop draining the Ogallala Aquifer and save it fore future generations. Meeting in the northwest Kansas city of Colby, members unanimously approved a move urging the state government to take steps to stop the decline of the aquifer, which stretches across Western Kansas …
Energy department hands out more geothermal energy funding
While the University of Oklahoma moves rapidly ahead with a geothermal project to help heat Tuttle schools, the Energy Department announced this week $15 million in funding two similar projects, one in Colorado and another in California. A $9 million grant went to a project entitled “Geothermal Limitless Approach to Drilling Efficiencies in the …
