Law

Source: WPX

West Virginia’s Co-Tenancy Drilling Bill a Compromise

Teachers’ strike impacted bill with threat of higher severance taxes

From the Gazette-Mail

WHEELING — After a long-awaited “co-tenancy” bill was signed into law, presenters at an oil and gas conference told industry players Wednesday to make sure the industry …

Louisiana Lawmakers want Major Penalties for Pipeline Damage

Louisiana Lawmakers want Major Penalties for Pipeline Damage

Bill would reclassify pipelines as critical infrastructure

From Associated Press / Sacramento Bee

BATON ROUGE, LA. – A fight over a crude oil pipeline in southern Louisiana has spilled into the Legislature.

A proposal to stiffen penalties for damaging or …

April 25, 2018 - 5:20 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Law, Midstream
Boulder, Boulder County, and San Miguel County File Climate-Change Lawsuit Against Exxon, Suncor

Boulder, Boulder County, and San Miguel County File Climate-Change Lawsuit Against Exxon, Suncor

Colorado municipalities follow California and New York over fossil fuel use

From Westword

Boulder County, the City of Boulder and San Miguel County have filed an environmental lawsuit against two multibillion-dollar oil and gas corporations over climate-change impacts in Colorado.…

April 25, 2018 - 7:50 am Closing Bell Story‎, Law
West Virginia Streamlines Permits

West Virginia Streamlines Permits

From WVNews

Gov. Jim Justice signed an executive order Monday intended to streamline the permitting process for business and industry seeking to set up shop in the Mountain State.

“West Virginia has consistently been ranked at or near the bottom …

April 24, 2018 - 8:01 am Closing Bell Story‎, Law
Lafayette: Moratorium Extended

Lafayette: Moratorium Extended

From the DailyCamera

The Lafayette City Council on Tuesday night gave initial approval to extending by three months a moratorium on the submission or approval of applications for oil and gas operations in city limits.

The council unanimously passed an …

Congressman Seeks to Raise Ethanol Content at the Pump to 15%

Congressman Seeks to Raise Ethanol Content at the Pump to 15%

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) set yearly RFS volume requirements for each renewable fuel category. EPA updates volume requirements each year based on fuel availability.

The RFS is a federal program that requires transportation fuel that …

Office of Fossil Energy: New Head of Oil and Natural Gas

Office of Fossil Energy: New Head of Oil and Natural Gas

From The Department of Energy/Office of Fossil Energy 

The Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced today the appointment of Shawn Bennett as Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Oil and Natural Gas. As DAS for Oil and Natural …

April 16, 2018 - 7:59 am Closing Bell Story‎, Law, People, Politics & Opinions
Climate Change Goes to Court v. Exxon, Shell, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips

Climate Change Goes to Court v. Exxon, Shell, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips

From the Christian Science Monitor

U.S. district judge in Calif. asks both sides for a ‘climate change tutorial’

It was set up to be the showdown of the century.

San Francisco and Oakland, Calif., had filed lawsuits against five of …

April 12, 2018 - 10:50 am Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Law
Diamondback Energy Running 11 Rigs, 5 Frac Crews in the Permian: Production Up 10% over Q4

Diamondback Energy Running 11 Rigs, 5 Frac Crews in the Permian: Production Up 10% over Q4

Diamondback Energy, Inc. (ticker: FANG) produced 102.6 MBOEPD in Q1 2018. This is 10% more than Q4 2017 production volumes of 92.9 MBOEPD. Diamondback is currently running 11 drilling rigs and five dedicated completion crews.

Q1 2018 average realized prices …

New Zealand Bans New Offshore Exploration

New Zealand Bans New Offshore Exploration

From NZ Herald

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has banned future offshore oil and gas exploration in New Zealand.

The only exploration likely to be contemplated by the new Government is on-shore exploration limited to energy-rich Taranaki.

There are more than …

How Will Higher Taxes Impact Oklahoma?

How Will Higher Taxes Impact Oklahoma?

From NewsOK

Participants in Tuesday’s energy chat on NewsOK asked how recently approved increases in taxes on Oklahoma wells might impact the ongoing resurgence of the state’s oil and gas industry, among other things.

The Oklahoman’s energy writers, Adam Wilmoth …

Another Approval in Merger of WGL Holdings and AltaGas

Another Approval in Merger of WGL Holdings and AltaGas

The Maryland Public Service Commission gave its blessing Wednesday, allowing the combination of WGL Holdings, Inc. (ticker: WGL) with AltaGas Ltd. (ticker: ALA) to proceed. The $4.5 billion merger brings together two energy companies. The commission voted 4 to 1 …

The Scrum Begins: How States are Using the Clean Water Act to Stop Pipelines

The Scrum Begins: How States are Using the Clean Water Act to Stop Pipelines

Oil & Gas 360® recently interviewed John P. Englert, an environmental law lawyer with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP. Englert counsels a wide array of industrial and energy clients on environmental safety and health matters. In our interview with …

COGCC Full House, Mar. 19, 2018

Martinez v. COGCC: Opening Briefs at the Colorado Supreme Court

Case background

The beginning of the Martinez v. COGCC case dates back to November 15, 2013, when petitioners Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Itzcuahtli Roske-Martinez, Sonora Brinkley, Aerielle Deering, Trinity Carter, and Emma Bray, minors appearing by and through their legal guardians Tamara …

Canadian Railways in a Catch-22 Over Crude Shipment

Canadian Railways in a Catch-22 Over Crude Shipment

From Reuters

Canadian railway operators see a lucrative opportunity to transport more crude oil to the United States as a rise in output force producers to find new routes to its southern neighbor.

However, their need for long-term contracts and …

March 29, 2018 - 3:55 pm Canada, Closing Bell Story‎, Law, Oil Sands, Politics & Opinions
Round 3.1 Overview Map

16 Contracts Awarded to 12 Bidders in Mexico’s Shallow Water Auction Round 3.1

Results of Mexico’s Shallow Water Auction – Round 3.1

18 bidders participated in the event

16 contracts were tendered to 12 bidders

On Tuesday, the opening of bids and awarding of exploration and hydrocarbons production contracts for the First Tender …

Appeals Court: New York Can’t Stop Millennium Natural Gas Pipeline to New Power Plant

Appeals Court: New York Can’t Stop Millennium Natural Gas Pipeline to New Power Plant

Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) had waived its right to block the Millennium Pipeline Company’s application to construct a 7.8-mile pipeline that …

COGCC Logo

Colorado High Court Set to Hear Opening Briefs for Martinez v. COGCC

Oil & Gas 360® has learned that the Colorado Supreme Court will hear the opening briefs for Martinez v. COGCC (docket number 2017SC297) on April 2, 2018.

It’s a meaningful case because the outcome could force a change to the …

Unprecedented 10,000 Oil & Gas Drilling Permit Applications Stymie Wyoming

Unprecedented 10,000 Oil & Gas Drilling Permit Applications Stymie Wyoming

From the Casper Star Tribune

Wyoming current rig count: 30; drilling applications suddenly in the queue: 10,000

“I do not believe, based on my 36 years with the WOGCC, that we have had (approximately) 10,000 permits waiting to be processed”

March 19, 2018 - 11:20 am Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Law, Regulatory
Tariffs Not Yet Final: Perry

Tariffs Not Yet Final: Perry

From Reuters

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on Wednesday he was “not sure” if President Donald Trump had made up his mind about levying tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

Trump wants to protect American workers against countries that …

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead

Wyoming’s Oil and Gas Tax Cut Fails

From the Casper Star-Tribune

A bill granting tax exemptions to oil and gas companies failed Monday in the Wyoming House after sailing through the Senate.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, argued that cutting severance taxes in the third …

March 6, 2018 - 1:55 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Law
Federal Oil Lease Sale Paused After Outcry

Federal Oil Lease Sale Paused After Outcry

From Reuters

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said on Monday he has postponed a second federal oil and gas lease sale planned for March in less than a week in response to local opposition to the possibility of drilling near …

March 6, 2018 - 1:48 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Industry Insights, Law
Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend, Reduces Debt

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend, Reduces Debt

International producer Vermilion Energy Inc. (ticker: VET) increased production by 8% from Q3 2017, reaching an average of 72,821 BOEPD in Q4 2017.

For Q4 2017, Vermilion Energy reported net earnings of $8.645 million, or $0.07 per share. This compares …

Image: Oil & Gas 360

100 Million Barrels of Strategic Oil Reserves to be Sold

Recent U.S. legislation has directed the sale of more than 100 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in government fiscal years 2022 through 2027.

Based on legislated sales established in multiple acts of Congress, the SPR …

February 26, 2018 - 2:05 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Finance, Law, Oil and Gas 360 Articles
Congress Renews Crude Oil Excise Tax

Congress Renews Crude Oil Excise Tax

Ryan, LLC, a global tax service and software provider, reported that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (passed on February 9, 2018) contained a number of tax extenders, including a one-year retroactive extension of the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction.…

Haynes and Boone Adds Oil & Gas Firepower

Haynes and Boone Adds Oil & Gas Firepower

Haynes and Boone, LLP has expanded its energy practice with the addition of an experienced oil and gas commercial litigator, Michelle Scheffler, to its team.

Scheffler has represented clients in multimillion-dollar lawsuits at both the state and federal courts throughout …

February 9, 2018 - 4:22 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Law, Oil and Gas 360 Articles, People
Colorado Supreme Court Says It Will Hear Appeal in Martinez Oil and Gas Lawsuit

Colorado Supreme Court Says It Will Hear Appeal in Martinez Oil and Gas Lawsuit

Martinez case could force the state to prioritize health and safety over drilling rights

From Times-Call/Denver Post

The state’s highest court announced Monday that it will review the Colorado Court of Appeals’ ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in what’s …

January 30, 2018 - 11:24 am Closing Bell Story‎, Law
Penn. AG Vows He Won’t Be Forced into Settling Royalty Case

Penn. AG Vows He Won’t Be Forced into Settling Royalty Case

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is pushing back against pressure to resolve the state’s case alleging unfair treatment of thousands of landowners by natural gas drilling companies.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. recently reached a $30 million settlement …

January 23, 2018 - 8:31 am Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Law
Colorado 2018 Legislators Have Introduced a New “Local Control” Bill—Senate Bill 48, the “Protect Act”

Colorado 2018 Legislators Have Introduced a New “Local Control” Bill—Senate Bill 48, the “Protect Act”

Colorado State Senator Matt Jones and Representative Mike Foote have introduced Senate Bill 48, which would remove sole regulation of oil and gas siting and permitting from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, give municipal and county governments authority …

Source: http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor

New York City Plans to Sell $5 Billion of Fossil Fuel Pension Holdings, Sues Oil Majors

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and other trustees of the city’s $189 billion pension funds announced today a plan to divest city funds from fossil fuel reserve owners within five years, which would make New York City …