Dallas-based Luminant, a subsidiary of Vistra Energy, announced Friday that it is permanently closing one of the Lone Star State’s largest coal-powered plants early next year, according to a company press release. The 1,800 megawatt Monticello power plant located in Titus County, Texas is the latest casualty in coal plant closures across the nation as …
Inhofe Praises Senate Confirmation of Howard Elliott to Top DOT Pipeline Post
Oklahoma’s U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe has weighed in following the Senate confirmation of Howard R. “Skip” Elliott as the federal Department of Transportation’s Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. “I’m pleased the Senate confirmed the nomination of Howard Elliott to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,” said Inhofe. “With over …
Oklahomans to Benefits from Approved Volkswagen Settlement Agreement
The Volkswagen Settlement Agreement Environmental Mitigation Trust was approved on Monday, initiating the process where billions in trust money can be allocated to states for clean transportation efforts, according to a press release issued by the Sierra Club. Under the settlement, states must identify a lead agency to supervise the distribution of settlement money by …
Rep. Inman Claims a Budget Agreement is Reached Including a 5% Gross Production Tax on Oil and Gas
Democrats in the Oklahoma House reportedly got part of their wish to raise the gross production tax on oil and gas and also eliminate a sales tax exemption for the wind industry. But Gov. Mary Fallin denies it and said so in a late Thursday afternoon announcement. “Let me just start out by stating bluntly—-there …
High Costs and Investor Pressure Slow Permian Basin Excitement
A study confirms that rising production costs as well as high prices for leases have led to a slowdown in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. Writing this week, the Houston Chronicle found that while drillers spent $35 billion in West Texas over 9 months ending in the spring, the collective value of …
Oklahoma’s Vertical and Horizontal Drilling Fight Gets National Attention
The story of vertical well drillers fighting Oklahoma’s larger horizontal well operations is getting some national play as Bloomberg News reported on the battle this week. Bloomberg told the story of one Oklahoma independent operator whose old vertical wells have been harmed by horizontal drilling. The news service also briefly revisited the OK Energy …
Viking Energy Makes Another Buy in Shallow Well Country of Eastern Kansas
New York based Viking Energy Group has bought more oil and gas leases of shallow-well opportunities in eastern Kansas. It’s the second purchase in the past month. Using a wholly-owned subsidiary, Mid-Con Drilling LLC, the company acquired a 100% working interest ni six new oil and gas leases in Miami and Franklin Counties. The wells …
Energy Issues Discussed During Kansas Governor’s Secret Trip to Israel
Reporters are just learning about an unpublicized eight-day trade mission to Israel taken by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback in late August and early September where he discussed energy business with the country. His meeting, according to the Hutchinson News included a lengthy meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The paper reported the Kansas Commerce …
New Leadership at Anadarko Petroleum
Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum has announced a change in company leadership with leaders saying it falls in line with the firm’s $7.5 billion in the sale of non-core assets over the past two years. Anadarko Chairman, President and CEO Al Walker said Danny Brown will be the new Executive Vice President of U.S. Onshore Operations. He …
Devon to Announce 3rd Q Earnings Oct. 31
Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy plans to announce its third-quarter 2017 earnings on Oct. 31, a Tuesday. It will be made after the close of U.S. financial markets. On the following day, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. the company will hold a conference call to answer questions from analysts and investors.