Charged

Authorities have charged D&L Energy Inc. CEO Ben Lupo with one count of violating the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) after allegedly ordering an employee to dump oilfield waste into a storm drain that empties into the Mahoning River near Youngstown, OH.

FERC last Thursday opened Section 5 Natural Gas Act (NGA) investigations into the rates charged by pipelines Wyoming Interstate Co. (WIC) and Viking Gas Transmission to determine if they are over-recovering their costs, resulting in unjust and unreasonable rates for their shippers.

FERC Thursday opened Section 5 Natural Gas Act (NGA) investigations into the rates charged by pipelines Wyoming Interstate Co. (WIC) and Viking Gas Transmission to determine if they are over-recovering their costs, resulting in unjust and unreasonable rates for their shippers.

A team of scientists, engineers and educators from the University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) has been charged by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to explore ways that maximize the benefits of natural gas development while minimizing potential negative effects.

Kurt Mix, a 50-year-old former engineer for BP plc, was arrested Tuesday after being charged with two counts of obstructing justice after federal authorities said he intentionally destroyed evidence related to the Macondo well blowout and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico two years ago.

A former Helmerich & Payne Inc. (H&P) drilling manager has been charged with making false statements to the Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General regarding a key safety device on a Gulf of Mexico drilling rig. Donald Hudson, 49, of Walnut Grove, MS, was employed by H&P as the drilling rig manager for Rig 206 from Oct. 14, 2009 until May 27, 2010. Rig 206’s blowout preventer (BOP), like other BOP systems, has to be pressure tested at regular intervals prior to continued drilling operations, and results of the tests, including any problems or irregularities, also are to be recorded. On March 30, 2011 Hudson allegedly lied to investigators about instructing the rig’s crew to falsify BOP testing results, according to U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, who oversees the Eastern District of Louisiana. Testimony by other crew members revealed that Hudson had told the crew to close valves on the BOP choke manifold to prevent leaks, said Letten. In May 2011 H&P indicated in a regulatory filing that it suspended operations on an offshore rig after an employee reported possible “testing irregularities” and said “certain employees” were fired. No environmental or other harm occurred and the BOP system ultimately was repaired, Letten noted. If Hudson is found guilty, he faces up to five years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release following a prison term.

Federal prosecutors in New Orleans have charged a former Helmerich & Payne Inc. (H&P) drilling manager for making false statements last year to the Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General regarding a key safety device on a Gulf of Mexico drilling rig.

FERC on Thursday opened investigations into rates charged by three interstate natural gas companies — ANR Storage Co., Bear Creek Storage Co. LLC and MIGC LLC — to determine whether they are over-recovering their cost of service by charging rates that are unjust and unreasonable.

Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter has assembled an Eagle Ford Task Force charged with establishing best practices for development of the South Texas play based on input from across the industry and affected communities.