Sounds crazy, right? Beautiful early spring-like weather in Oklahoma in the past two weeks and someone comes up with a weekend forecast that suggests—what? Snow! It’s in the forecast—maybe—according to Oklahoma Climatologist Gary McManus. In Tuesday’s Mesonet update, he said there are a lot of “IFs” involved in whether it really snows in northwest …
Suncor Refinery hit with largest pollution fine in Colorado
Suncor Energy is coughing up $10.5 million to settle pollution violations at its refinery in Commerce City, Colorado outside of Denver—-the largest such fine in state history. Suncor was accused by the Colorado Air Pollultion Control Division of hundreds of unpermitted air releases at the refinery between July 2019 and June 2021. The Canadian …
Evergy wants approval of higher rates for some Missouri customers
Whenever a utility declares it wants to recover investments made in generation capacity, those are words exchanged for “rate hike.” It’s what Evergy, Inc. did recently in filing a request and supporting documentation with the Missouri Public Service Commission. The request covers Evergy’s 340,000 custsomers in St. Joseph, Liberty, Platte City and elsewhere in …
New chairman named at Southwest Power Pool
The Southwest Power Pool Board of Directors is under new leadership, according to announcement by the regional power grid operator. Oklahoma is one of 14 states that make up the SPP. According to the announcement, John Cupparo is now the board chair, filling the chair role formerly held by Susan Certoma. Certoma, who has served …
Would Tellurian’s sale of Haynesville assets be inviting for an OKC firm?
Houston’s Tellurian Inc. just stirred the pot in the Haynesville play after announcing it intends to offer its upstream business for sale including more than 31,000 acres in east Texas and Louisiana. Could the announcement be inviting to one Oklahoma City energy firm? The Haynesville is a heavy target of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy. …
Enviros complain of too many government subsidies for Permian Basin developers
While critics of wind and solar power point out how the government funds those renewable energy sources with billions in subsidies, critics of oil and gas point to government subsidies for the industry. The latest example of tit for tat studies came from the NRDC or Natural Resources Defense Council which stated documents reveal …
Scientists study if oil and gas wells played a role in recent 5.1 magnitude earthquake
The shutdown of nine wastewater wells by state regulators folllowing last week’s 5.1 magnitude earthquake centered near Prague will be indefinite according to a spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Matt Skinner said the wells, suspected of possibly causing the large quake and dozens of others from aftershock, will be closed while scientists study …
Residents stop frac sand mine proposed in eastern Missouri
(David Carson, Post-Dispatch) Residents who fought a proposed silica sand mine in eastern Missouri contend they won the fight after the company withdrew its lawsuit over a restrictive County ordinance. It was in Ste. Genevieve County where residents opposed the 249-acre site proposed two years ago. They formed Operation Sand and argued the mining …
Energy quick reads
** One person is dead following a sudden explosion at a petroleum pumping station in Cass County, Michigan.The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says two men were working at the oil pumping station when it exploded. ** The Senate’s border and Ukraine spending package contains more than $2 billion in funds for uranium processing, as the U.S. …
Vital Energy adds West Texas wells in $78 million acquisition
Tulsa’s Vital Energy, Inc. made another expansion of its Permian Basin holdings with a $78 million acquisition of producing wells from Midland, Texas operator Henry Energy LP, Moriah Henry Partners LLC and Henry Resources LLC. The purchase increases Vital Energy’s working interest in 54 producing, low-decline wells by an average of 67%, increasing the Company’s …