House Members Inquire About National Pipeline Security

Two Oklahoma congressmen are among more than 80 U.S. House members who have written U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions with an inquiring about the security of the nation’s pipeline infrastructure. Representatives Frank Lucas and Markwayne Mullin put their names to the Oct. 23 letter expressing concerns about recent attacks on pipelines in the U.S. “In some …

Continue reading »

Former State Seismologist Testifies How Former OU Leaders Tried to Hide Cause of Earthquakes

The State’s former seismologist Dr. Austin Holland has testified in a deposition in an earthquake lawsuit in Oklahoma that he left his job two years after being reprimanded for his study that linked the earthquakes in Oklahoma to wastewater disposal operations of the oil and gas industry. Writing in his law firm’s blog, attorney Scott …

Continue reading »

Distribution Announced by Williams Partners

A 60-cent a unit distribution for common unitholders in Williams Partners L.P. was announced this week by the Tulsa-based company. The quarterly cash distribution will be payable Nov. 10, 2017 those whose common unitholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 3, 2017.

Propane Prices Expected to Rise This Winter

Those who rely on propane for home heating might see a jump in prices this winter according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The government says propane customers might pay between 11 and 22 percent more to heat their homes because of increased demand and higher prices for propane. “A lot is going to depend …

Continue reading »

Body Recovered After Oil Platform Explosion in Louisiana

The body of an oilfield worker killed in an explosion on an oil and gas platform in Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain was recovered over the weekend. A helicopter pilot spotted the body of Timothy Morrison, 44 on the lake’s shoreline about 3 miles from the platform. He was from Katy, Texas and was a contract worker …

Continue reading »

Court Upholds Convictions of Protest Riders

The convictions of two protest riders in southern Utah’s Recapture Canyon were upheld this week by the Denver Federal Appeals Court. The court refused to overturn the misdemeanor convictions of Phil Lyman and blogger Monte Wells who rode their ATVs in protest after the government closed the canyon to motor vehicles to protect nearly 2,000 …

Continue reading »

Pawnee Nation Pushes Lease Fight with BLM

The Pawnee Nation hasn’t given up its fight with the Bureau of Indian Affairs over oil and gas drilling leases approved by the BIA four years ago. It is urging the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver to revive a lawsuit filed in a challenge to the BIA’s approval of 17 leases in …

Continue reading »

BLM Launches New Sage Grouse Hearings

All in the name of protecting greater sage grouse habitat, the Bureau of Land Management plans to hold a series of public meetings in Idaho, Colorado, California and Oregon next month on potential changes to plans. The BLM said that given a finding by a Nevada federal judge that the BLM’s designation of Sagebrush Focal …

Continue reading »

Gas Prices Drop Nationally But Go Up in Oklahoma

While gasoline prices have dropped slightly across the nation, they have risen in the past week in Oklahoma reaching a new statewide average of $2.25 a gallon, according to AAA. A week ago, Oklahoma’s average was $2.23 a gallon for regular unleaded. However, some service stations in Lawton, Norman and Oklahoma City were pumping gasoline …

Continue reading »

Budget Deal Announced—-No Oil and Gas Production Tax Hike

An apparent deal has been reached by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and leaders of the legislature to fix the state’s $215 million budget hole. It reportedly does not include any hike in  the gross production taxes on oil and gas, based on the initial announcement from the governor’s office. “It’s time now to bring our …

Continue reading »