Energy

Background

The economic and environmental impact of Oklahoma’s energy industry.

Latest Posts

Follow this topic

August 18, 2017

New Research Questions Forecasted Earthquake Slowdown

A team from U.C. Santa Cruz and the Oklahoma Geological Survey cast doubt on a predicted decline in Oklahoma earthquakes in a paper published in Science Advances.

A new research paper suggests Oklahoma’s earthquake hazard might not taper off as quickly or as significantly as scientists previously predicted. The energy industry practice of pumping toxic waste-fluid byproducts of oil and gas production into underground disposal wells is thought to be fueling Oklahoma’s earthquake surge. This activity peaked in 2015 and slowed due [...]

August 3, 2017

Alternative to Earthquake-Linked Wastewater Disposal Stirs up Opportunity for Oklahoma’s Oil Industry

Electricians perform final checks on equipment nearing a tank battery at the Barton Water Recycling Facility.

A key part in solving the state’s earthquake crisis is the long-term management of an enormous amount of oil-field wastewater likely triggering the shaking. The energy industry is working to solve this billion-barrel-a-year problem, and one promising alternative to risky disposal wells is reusing wastewater instead of pumping it underground.

July 28, 2017

Largest U.S. Wind Farm Under Construction in Oklahoma’s Panhandle

The largest wind farm in the U.S. is under construction in Oklahoma’s panhandle, an 800-turbine project expected to deliver electricity to more than 1.1 million customers in four states.

July 7, 2017

Western Oklahoma Wind Farms Disrupting Military Flights, Aeronautics Officials Say

T-38 Talon training aircraft from Vance Air Force Base in Enid participating in a fly-over in Oklahoma City.

Wind Farms The growing number of wind farms in western Oklahoma is disrupting military flight training, state aeronautics and military officials say.

July 5, 2017

Analysis Confirms State Discounts Taxes on Oil Wells When They’re Most Productive

More than half the oil and gas a typical horizontal well will produce over its lifetime in Oklahoma is pumped to the surface during its first three years, a new report from Oklahoma Watch shows. That relatively short window of abundant production is important because that’s when the wells are taxed at much lower rates, [...]

June 15, 2017

Oil’s Pipeline to America’s Schools

Jennifer Merritt’s first-graders at Jefferson Elementary School in Pryor, Oklahoma, were in for a treat. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, the students gathered in late November for story time with two special guests, state Rep. Tom Gann and state Sen. Marty Quinn.

May 25, 2017

Lawmakers Question Legality of ‘Creative’ Legislation to Squeeze More Revenue from Oil and Gas Taxes

Service companies parked oil-field trucks and other equipment at the state capitol in a public demonstration as legislators debated a measure that would effectively increase taxes some oil and gas producers pay.

Oklahoma lawmakers have struggled for months to agree on a formula to patch a nearly $900 million budget hole and sign off on a plan that funds state agencies. To help pay for the budget plan, lawmakers are considering ways to squeeze more from taxes on oil and gas production, an option that has divided [...]

May 22, 2017

With Pruitt Leading EPA, Oklahoma Oil Firm Gains Ground in Fight Against Regulation

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt testifying at a Jan. 18 confirmation hearing on his nomination as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Shortly after taking over as head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt started a roll-back of Obama-era environmental regulations, an effort that has provided big benefits to one of his home state’s largest independent oil and gas companies, the New York Times reports. Pruitt has long maintained a close [...]

May 11, 2017

Group Defending Vertical Wells Digs In As Major Oil Groups Reach Deal to Expand Horizontal Drilling

Pete Brown of Kingfisher oil company Brown & Borelli and former Tulsa mayor Dewey Bartlett of Keener Oil and Gas speak out against legislation to expand horizontal drilling at a Oklahoma Energy Producers Alliance media event.

Oklahoma oil executives have argued for years over a new law that would let companies drill and frack longer horizontal wells in new areas.

May 8, 2017

EPA Considers Shutting Down Oil Sites Months After Leak and Dead Wildlife Found in Osage County

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may ask three oil and gas companies to shut down disposal wells as investigators look for the source of a saltwater leak that has plagued the area for nine months. Local ranchers and inspectors toured the Bird Creek contamination site on the Chapman Ranch last week, the Tulsa World‘s Kelly [...]

About StateImpact

StateImpact seeks to inform and engage local communities with broadcast and online news focused on how state government decisions affect your lives.
Learn More »

Economy

Oklahoma

Energy

Background

Latest Posts

August 18, 2017

August 3, 2017

July 28, 2017

July 7, 2017

July 5, 2017

June 15, 2017

May 25, 2017

May 22, 2017

May 11, 2017

May 8, 2017

About StateImpact

Economy

Education

Energy