Oil/Gas

With state revenues rocked hard by low energy commodity prices, New Mexico state legislators are pushing a tax break for small oil-producing wells to keep them from being shut down.

On a day in which Gov. Jerry Brown delivered his state-of-the-state address with no mention of energy or regulations, California’s agency overseeing oil and natural gas on Thursday released draft rules covering the use of water, steam and underground storage in oil/gas activities.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) issued 727 original drilling permits in December 2015 compared to 1,506 in December 2014. Well completions are also down sharply.

During 2014, the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado accounted for $31.7 billion in overall economic impact, including 102,700 jobs worth $7.6 billion in compensation, according to a University of Colorado (UC) study released Tuesday.

A new wave of potential statewide ballot initiatives in Colorado aimed at oil and natural gas development emerged in the Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday, setting off alarm bells for the industry organizations.

Wyoming’s five-member Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (OGCC) chaired by Gov. Matt Mead on Tuesday unanimously raised bonding requirements on oil/natural gas companies from $25,000 to $100,000. Operators will have a year to obtain the higher coverage once the new rule is final early next year.

After 18 months on the job, California Oil/Natural Gas Supervisor Steve Bohlen resigned Monday at a time of rising criticism of the state’s oversight of various drilling programs, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking), and most recently, cyclic steaming, a process used throughout the state’s old oilfields.

State lawmakers and critics of California’s agency overseeing oil/natural gas activities in the state were stirred up again this week over the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) failure to meet an April 30 deadline for submitting data on oil produced water. The data filing had been mandated by SB 1281, which was passed last year.

State lawmakers and critics of California's agency overseeing oil/natural gas activities in the state were stirred up again this week over the Department of Conservation's (DOC) failure to meet an April 30 deadline for submitting data on oil produced water. The data filing had been mandated by SB 1281, which was passed last year.