BlackRock’s investment in ONEOK is growing

A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week shows a New York investment firm owns more than 10% of the shares in Tulsa-based ONEOK. The filing was made Tuesday by ONEOK and indicated BlackRock Inc. now owns 10.35% of the company’s shares. Its total ownership is 42,675,245 shares while its sole voting power …

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SandRidge Energy notifies SEC of its job cuts

In announcing plans to cut its Oklahoma City headquarters workforce by nearly half, SandRidge Energy made sure to notify the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission. It made a brief Form 8-K filing with the SEC on Tuesday, “SandRidge Energy Inc. Announces Issuance of WARN Act Notice. SandRidge Energy, Inc. today announced that it has issued Workers …

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Federal agencies probe Chesapeake well blowout that killed 3 workers in Texas

  The Chesapeake well blowout and fire that has now claimed the lives of three workers in South Texas is being probed by at least two federal agencies as well as a Texas agency. Investigators for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Chemical Safety Board were in Burleson County this week at the …

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Legislator wants state law requiring 2 crewmen on freight trains

  State Rep. David Perryman (D-Chickasha) has filed legislation to help protect the public from railroad-related accidents in Oklahoma by requiring a minimum of two crew members on a freight train. House Bill 2874, currently pending in the House Transportation Committee would require all freight trains running in Oklahoma to be operated by a crew …

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Number of permits to drill on a skid in Oklahoma

The last time an oil and gas company obtained a permit to drill in Oklahoma was January 28. Last Tuesday.  In the week since, no permits have been released or approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. It is an indication of the slowdown in the oil patch. And there is always the impact of oil …

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SandRidge Energy to slash half of its remaining workforce

  Four years after emerging from bankruptcy, Oklahoma City’s SandRidge Energy has  announced plans to cut its remaining Oklahoma City workforce in half as the oil and gas operation struggles financially. The company said it will eliminate 63 jobs from the 120 that exist at the company headquarters. Notifications were sent to state and federal …

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Coronavirus blamed for drop in oil prices

  Oil prices fell below the $50 mark this week and many experts are blaming the downward slide on the coronavirus outbreak that has spread from China. It’s become a demand issue rather than oversupply. However, prices attempted a slight rebound on Tuesday as West Texas Intermediate crude for March deliver was up 32 cents …

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Helmerich and Payne reports increased net income

Tulsa’s Helmerich & Payne announced first quarter fiscal year results showing a net income of $30.6 million or 27 cents per share, up from the $19 million and 17 cents a share reported in the same quarter the previous year. The net income in the most recent quarter was from operating revenues of $615 million …

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Winter storm warning for large part of Oklahoma

Snow is still in the forecast for a large part of Oklahoma. So is a winter storm warning. It appears most of the snowfall will march up the I-44 corridor from the southwest corner of the state to the northeast Some forecasters say amounts could still be in the range of 6 to 8 inches. …

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Energy news in brief

** The northern part of the Permian Basin in west Texas is getting an office of the Texas Railroad Commission. Regulators plan to open an oil and gas field office in Lubbock. ** An Illinois college expects to save $100,000 by installing an 11-acre, 2.09 MW solar project. ** A settlement between Tesla and the state of Michigan allowing …

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