December 2016 archive

Energy Bankruptcies Slow as Oil Prices Increase in late 2016

As the year 2016 ends, it will serve as a reminder of the continuing plague of bankruptcies by energy firms throughout Oklahoma, Texas and other energy-producing states. The year proved to be a tough one for some of the energy firms, although not quite as severe as 2015. There were 232 bankruptcy filings in the …

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David and Goliath Fight Over Petrochemical Plant

Exxon Mobil has a fight on its hands.  The small town of Portland near Corpus Christi, Texas is opposing plans by Exxon and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. to build a nearby massive petrochemical plant. Sort of a David vs. Goliath story. Town leaders are citing safety issues even though the 1,400-acre project is technically outside …

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Sierra Club Fights Another Pipeline——This one in South Texas

Not only is the Sierra Club fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota as well as Donald Trump’s nomination of Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA, it’s now taken legal action to oppose a south Texas pipeline meant to carry natural gas to customers in Mexico. The Club filed a motion against …

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Fairview is Site of Oklahoma’s Latest Earthquake—–Just Outside STACK

  Oklahoma’s latest earthquake was Tuesday night in northern Oklahoma. It was a 3.2 magnitude quake with an epicenter about 20 miles northwest of Fairview. There have been no reports of significant damage. Scientists suggest damage is not likely in earthquakes with a magnitude less than 4.0. But it was in February when a 5.1 …

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OPEC’s Production Freeze Results in Higher Gasoline Prices in Oklahoma

Anyone who’s filled up their car or truck lately knows how gasoline prices in Oklahoma have risen slightly in the past week, reaching a new statewide average of $2.09 a gallon. But Chuck Mai, a spokesman with AAA Oklahoma indicates those prices might soon start falling again as demand for gasoline also drops. As for …

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Crude Oil and Natural Gas Futures Jump on Tuesday

Crude futures continued their end-of-year surge on Tuesday as trading resumed following the holiday, according to Bloomberg MarketWatch. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, February West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced 88 cents, or 1.7%, to settle at $53.90 a barrel. On the London ICE Futures Exchange, February Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 93 cents, …

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Oklahoma Gasoline Prices Going up but AAA says They’ll Fall Soon

  Gasoline prices keep going up in Oklahoma, hitting a new statewide average of $2.09 a gallon, according to the latest weekly update from AAA Oklahoma. The $2.09 average is a four-month high and not one reporting station in the state lists an average less than $2 a gallon. Oklahoma no longer has the cheapest …

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Fewer Quakes in 2016 But Scientists Still Predict Stronger Ones Could Occur in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Geological Survey indicates while the state could drop nearly a third below last year’s record number of earthquakes, the year 2016 so far has been the second worst for the frequency of quakes. For the past year, the frequency of quakes in the state had been slowing but the year will also be …

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Westar Energy in Kansas Now Uses Drones for Power Line Inspections

The Kansas-based Westar Energy just recently started using drones to inspect its power lines, manage emergency situations and review equipment. The Topeka Capital Journal reports the utility deployed drones commercially and is using them to inspect boilers and traveling challenging territory to get a bird’s eye view of transmission lines. “Its absolutely a cost savings at …

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Texas Company Withdraws Power Line Construction Application in Iowa

The Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota isn’t the only energy project hit with legal challenges. Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners has run into opposition to build a power transmission line across part of Iowa so the company has withdrawn its application as it waits for a settlement in an Illinois court challenge. Clean Line …

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