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Lamb Urges Economic Diversification in Campaign For Governor
When it comes to energy, Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb not only talks with a lot of it, but believes the state must rely on other industries besides the energy industry. “Any time we’ve had a dip in the commodity price,” said Lamb in an interview with OK Energy Today, “a lot of state officials have …
EPA Wants WasteWater Injection Wells Shut Down in Pollution of Osage County’s Bird Creek
Operators of seven wastewater injection wells in Osage County are being asked to shut down their operations. Not because of earthquakes like those in areas where a surge of quakes has hit the state. These operators are being asked by the EPA to close because of the saltwater contamination in Bird Creek, contamination that drew …
Rep. Bridenstine Says Tulsa Flood Levees Could Possibly be Studied in Defense Bill
The $659 billion Defense Spending bill approved the House included some issues supported by Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine. H.R. 3219, called the Make America Secure Appropriations Act not only funds national defense but what Bridenstine said were important U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects. The measure will require the Corps to do studies which are …
Calpine in Talks for Sale to New Jersey Firm
Talks are reported to be underway for a possible purchase of Houston, Texas-based Calpine Corp. by Energy Capital Partners headquartered in New Jersey. Calpine has power operations in 18 states including Arkansas and Texas and in northeast Oklahoma. It opened the Oneta energy center 15 years ago. The gas-fired power plant is located in Wagoner …
The Waiting Starts in Fracking Case Before Denver Federal Appeals Court
It is a matter of waiting…..weeks or months for the Denver Federal Appeals Court to rule whether the federal government has the authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on public and tribal lands. Arguments were made in the fight on Thursday before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as industry groups contended the Interior Department …
STACK Yields More Large Producers
The STACK’s latest big producer is a well bringing in more than 1,300 barrels of oil a day. Completion reports published by OK Energy Today show the Marathon Oil Company well had production of 1,317 a day along with 2,383 Mcf of gas when it was completed in February of this year. The Strack well …
Drought is Growing in Oklahoma
While some rain was finally reported in northern and central Oklahoma early Thursday, by all appearances the breadth of dry conditions in the sate is growing. The latest Drought Monitor report shows growth just in the past week, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet and State Climatologist Gary McManus. He described it as “an intensifying drought …
Rolling Stone Magazine Bashes Pruitt and his Running of the EPA
Rolling Stone magazine has gone after Scott Pruitt and his newly-introduced doctrines at the Environmental Protection Agency, accusing him of “gutting the agency, defunding science and serving the fossil-fuel industry.” In a piece headlined, “Scott Pruitt’s Crimes Against Nature,“ the magazine suggests he’s doing it totally for big oil and ignoring climate-change and facts supporting …
Former Corporation Commissioner Endorses One of Commissioner Dana Murphy’s Opponents
When Patrice Douglas served as an Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, she had obvious differences with the other woman on the commission—Dana Murphy. Now Douglas has come out with an endorsement of Murphy’s opponent in the race for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. She has endorsed former state GOP chairman Matt Pinnell, also a candidate to …
Denver Federal Appeals Court Considers Obama-era Fracking Rules
The Denver Federal Appeals Court on Thursday heard oral arguments on legal challenges to the Obama-era hydraulic fracturing rule on public and tribal lands.. The legal question was whether the Interior Department’s fracking rule exceeded the agency’s authority. It was in June of last year when Wyoming federal judge Scott Skavdahl ruled the federal government …