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$5 million EPA Grant to Help Quapaw Tribe with Tar Creek Cleanup
A $5 million grant has been made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma in its continued cleanup of the Tar Creek Superfund site in northeast Oklahoma. The grant actually totaled $4,896,088 and the money will be used in continuing the remediation of contaminated soils from tribal lands. “I …
Expanded Lateral Drilling Bill Wins Senate Support
The bill allowing multiunit drilling in all rock formations in the state, one supported by the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association won approval Saturday in the State Senate. Senate Bill 867, approved by the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Committee on Friday won support in the Senate on a 26-19 vote. It …
Continental Scores Two Major Wells in SCOOP
Oklahoma’s SCOOP yielded two sizeable wells for Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources. Both are producing more than 1,000 barrels of oil a day. The largest Continental well is the Trammell at 11 6N 6W located about 9 miles east of Chickasha and just north of the Washita River. Its production is 1,808 barrels of oil …
Rig Counts Grew in Oklahoma and the U.S. in Past Week
Oil and gas rig counts were up in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Kansas in the past week while the national count soared by 16 to reach 901. The Baker Hughes Co. of Houston and the Red Top Rig Report, courtesy of the Independent Oil and Gas Commission of Wichita reported increases in counts. …
Grassley Upset about Energy Department Wind and Grid Study
With his state generating the second-most wind power of any state in country, Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley sent a letter this week to Energy Secretary Rick Perry expressing concern over an upcoming analysis of grid reliability. In his letter, the Republican Senator called it “a hastily developed study” that “appears geared to undermine the wind …
Energy Operations Hit Hard by Elk City Tornado
When a tornado plowed into south Elk City this week, it hit squarely in a business district filled with a handful of energy companies. The storm destroyed operations at National Oilwell Varco and Fairway Resources and badly damaged the offices of LuGreg Trucking and C and J Energy. The tornado didn’t destroy the LuGreg Trucking …
Elk City Oilfield Supplier Vows to Rebuild After Tornado
“You can’t sit around and whine about things you can’t control. We’ll pick up where this tornado left off and keep moving ahead.” Josh Moran. Elk City. Days after a tornado wiped out his company’s headquarters in the south side of Elk City, businessman Josh Moran says he has no intention of not rebuilding. …
Pruitt Will Go ‘Face-to-Face’ in June with World Climate Leaders
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt will travel to Italy early in June to attend a Group of Seven meeting. It’ll be a face-to-face meeting with environmental minister who strongly support international climate action. Pruitt will meet with six of his foreign counterparts on June 10 and 11. They sharply oppose his views. Pruitt, the former Oklahoma …
Turnpike Director Tells US Senate States Need Federal Government Help
When he went before a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing this week, Oklahoma Turnpike director Tim Gatz made it clear that states need more help from the federal government in maintaining and improving the nation’s highways. “The conditional deficiencies of a long underfunded national transportation system cannot be resolved by the States along and requires an …
Transportation Secretary Speaks With Inhofe About Federal Commitment to Highway Improvements
A day after Sen. Jim Inhofe chaired a Senate subcommittee hearing into the government’s FAST plan to improve highways, bridges and seaways, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao spoke with the senator during a full hearing by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Most of us are very, very excited about the prospects of an …