November 2017 archive

Developer and Land Owners Want Nebraska Regulators to Reconsider Keystone XL Decision

The Nebraska regulators who approved a construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline are now being asked to reconsider their decision of last week. The requests come from landowners and from the pipeline developer, TransCanada. TransCanada indicated its request of the Nebraska Public Service Commission is not about changing the route but to “address some …

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ACOG Gets Ready for “Autonomous” Vehicles

The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments is preparing for driver-less cars…..those known as “autonomous vehicles.” It plans a Dec. 4 workshop in Oklahoma City entitled “Driving Toward the Future: Preparing Central Oklahoma for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.” In announcing the workshop, ACOG said it has been planning for and responding to evolving vehicle technologies. “Autonomous …

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New Waste Management Site Opens in Permian Basin

A Houston oil and gas waste management company has opened a new operation in the Permian Basin. Milestone Environmental Services announced the operation is 25 miles south of Midland on State Highway 349 on a 20-acre site. The company is initially accepting drilling wastestreams including water-based mud and oil-based mud along with some completion and …

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Drilling Company Complies With Earthquake Guidelines—Reduces Fracking Operations

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is releasing more information about the fracking that’s being blamed for small earthquakes around Yukon. Citizen Energy, an exploration company based in Tulsa cut back the volume as much as 50 percent on several stages of the hydraulic fracturing process. Matt Skinner, a spokesman with the Corporation Commission told News 9’s …

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Texas Firm Fined $545,000 Over Worker’s Death in Pottery Kiln

While the death of an oilfield worker near Watonga, Oklahoma is under investigation, OSHA announced it reached a settlement with a Texas company over the death of a worker last spring. The agreement with Marshall Pottery, Inc. located in Marshall, Texas includes a penalty of $545,160 after an assistant plant manager died last April when …

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Oilfield Worker Killed in Fracking Accident in Blaine County

The oilfield accident that killed a 36-year old worker on Tuesday in Blaine county remains under investigation by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office. Undersheriff David Robertson indicated it happened at a Devon Energy well site located along County Road 2520 and a quarter mile south of County Road 840 west of Watonga. It occurred as …

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Oil Flows Again in Keystone Pipeline Following Spill

Repairs have been made and oil is flowing once again on the Keystone Pipeline where an oil spill dumped 5,000 barrels of oil two weeks ago in South Dakota. TransCanada Corporation indicated the repair and restart plans won approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The company plans operations at a reduced pressure …

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$14 billion Offshore Oil Platform Produces First Oil

There’s nothing like it in Oklahoma’s oil patch.  A $14 billion oil platform in the north Sea, one built and financed by ExxonMobil. And the Hebron offshore oil platform located about 210 miles southeast of Newfoundland, produced its first oil this week, a month ahead of schedule. It took seven years to build the platform. …

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Another Study Blames Oil and Gas Industry for North Texas Earthquakes

Yet another study is blaming the oil and gas industry for earthquakes. this time, it’s in Texas and the research was published in the journal Science Advances. The researchers were led by Beatrice Magnani, a seismologist at Southern Methodist University according to a story in Newsweek magazine.  Researchers were attempting to understand whether the quakes …

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Hamm and His Continental Resources Planning Another International Oil Sale

Another big export sale is coming from Harold Hamm and company. Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources indicated it plans another major international sale of Bakken crude oil. But the company isn’t offering any clue as to who the buyer will be. It will be the second international sale of oil. The first was announced in October …

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