The next publication of The Wildcatter Weekly, will be delivered January 7, 2010.

IPAMS Meetings and Announcements

Thanks to your efforts, IPAMS saved industry over $9 billion in 2009!

As 2009 draws to a close, we look back at a year filled with both unprecedented challenges and accomplishments. With one of the most unfriendly administrations and Congresses in memory, IPAMS members were faced with an onslaught of legislation and regulatory proposals that would have made doing business in the Intermountain West even more costly and difficult. Thanks to your membership support and the thousands of hours of volunteer time, we were able to block every major piece of negative legislation this year, while educating policy and opinion makers on the enormous opportunities of natural gas for addressing the economic, energy, and environmental challenges facing our nation.

Even in the midst of enormous economic and financial challenges, IPAMS is better positioned than ever before in its 35 year history to effectively represent the Western natural gas and oil interests critical to your business’ success and our nation’s energy supply.

IPAMS members can click here to read the Weekly Message from Marc W. Smith and see how being a member of IPAMS is changing the path of the industry.

Register now for IPAMS 2010 Washington Call-up

March 1-3, 2010

The IPAMS 2010 Washington Call-Up is just over two months away!

As the onslaught of unfriendly legislation facing our industry continues into the next session of Congress, we are heading back to D.C. earlier than normal, and we need every voice we can get to help us tell the story of Western natural gas and oil to policymakers in Washington. No matter your position in your company, we need you to ensure that this year’s Call-Up is a success. If you have never attended an IPAMS Washington Call-Up, we think you’ll find our approach to educating members of Congress both unique and effective. We empower you to lead focused discussions directly with policymakers and their staff. We provide materials and coaching, but we rely on your expertise and experience in business to make the case for public policy that will foster the increased use and development of natural gas and oil. Each year, we encourage Call-Up participants to invite a landowner, small business owner, or local government official from a community where they are doing business. We’ve learned from experience that locals are the strongest advocates for more natural gas and oil development.

If you have any questions about the 2010 Call-Up, please contact IPAMS Director of Public Affairs Jon Bargas. If you would like to help sponsor the Call-Up, please contact Becca Ness.

Click here to register for IPAMS 10th Annual Washington, D.C. Call-Up March 1-3, 2010.

Senator Bennet’s (D-CO) Letter to Interior Secretary Salazar

IPAMS expressed its disappointment to Senator Bennet (D-CO) regarding a letter he sent to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar commending him on his management of oil and gas leasing. Unfortunately, Senator Bennet incorrectly repeated false talking points about lease proximity to national parks, the time line for consideration, and 65% of leases not being developed. We were surprised to see these points being repeated, since we have visited with his staff on multiple occasions and have explained the myriad of bureaucratic delays that prevent operators from developing existing leases.

IPAMS held a luncheon for Senator Bennet earlier in the year, and had felt positive about the relationship fostered with him and his staff. He has come out strong opposing repeal of Intangible Drilling Cost (IDC) expensing, and professes to be a strong supporter of natural gas.

IPAMS has contacted Senator Bennet’s staff and again sent our DOI mismanagement paper, as well as our analysis of the leases withdrawn in Utah. The latter document has a two page introduction that lays out how those leases were made after seven years of deliberation, and all except one were miles away from national parks.  IPAMS will continue to educate Members of Congress and the administration about DOI’s mismanagement.

IPAMS Vote From Home/Voter Education Program

As part of our Voter Education Initiative, IPAMS partnered with West Slope COGA during the 2008 election year and executed a successful “Vote from Home” pilot program in Mesa and Garfield Counties in Western Colorado. In these two counties alone we were able register and request absentee ballots for over 1,000 industry employees. Because of the success of this program, we have decided to expand it to include the entire state of Colorado for the 2010 elections. With critically important state and federal races to be decided next year, it is more crucial than ever that our industry educate and empower the tens of thousands of Colorado workers who depend on a healthy energy industry for their livelihoods. We already have financial commitments from many of the major Colorado producers, but we need more support in order to get working on the program as soon as possible. If your company would like to be part of this important effort, please contact IPAMS Director of Public Affairs Jon Bargas.

2010 Wildcatter of the Year Nominations

The 29th Annual IPAMS Wildcatter of the Year Gala will take place on May 15, 2010 at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, in Denver, Colorado. The IPAMS Wildcatter of the Year is a lifetime achievement award for distinguished service to our industry and the community. Members of the natural gas and oil industry in the Intermountain West are encouraged to nominate deserving colleagues for this prestigious award.

Nominations should be made according to the unique contributions and accomplishments of the individual, particularly regarding: 1) successful longtime Rocky Mountain exploration and production, 2) community service and philanthropy and 3) support of oil and natural gas industry activities and organizations. Invitations to this black tie cocktail reception and award dinner will be mailed closer to the event, but please mark your calendars now. Last year there were over 700 attendees at this festive event. We hope you’ll make plans to join us this year.

The IPAMS Wildcatter of the Year Award is a valuable, limited edition bronze sculpture by renowned wildlife sculptor Veryl Goodnight. Generous sponsors of this year’s award include U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of Oklahoma and American National Bank. Sponsors of this event include Black Hills Exploration and Production, Inc.,EnCap Investments, M.J. England & Associates, Saga Petroleum, Samson Resources, Shell E & P Company, St. Mary Land & Exploration Company and Whiting Petroleum Corporation.

Click here to access the nomination form. The deadline for nominations is February 19, 2010.

Nomination forms maybe submitted by mail or fax to:

IPAMS
410 17th Street, Ste 700
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 893-0709 -fax

Please contact Becca Ness or call (303) 623-097 for more information.

IPAMS 2010 Calendars Now Available

This week, over 5,000 calendars were distributed to government and industry interests such as BLM, Forest Service, Energy Information Administration, Congress, County Commissioners as well as Western oil and gas commissions, Chambers of Commerce, media, and other industry trades.

Thank you to our generous sponsors whose contributions made this project possible: Anadarko, Devon,  EnCana,  Enerplus, Ensign Energy Services, Fidelity E&P Co., Mesa Energy, Newfield, Noble Energy, Questar, Wells Fargo, Whiting, and Williams.

Please stop by the IPAMS office to pick up your copy or contact Jon Haubert.

Sneak Preview: American Oil & Gas Reporter, Special Edition

IPAMS’ President George Solich will be featured in January’s special edition of American Oil & Gas Reporter’s Presidential Paper.

Click here for a preview of the column.

IPAMS Says Farewell to Tom Stroock

Tom Stroock, former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala and Wyoming State Senator passed away on December 13th. Strock was an industry leader and adovacte for responsible energy development.

The funeral for Thomas Frank Stroock will be held at the Natrona County High School auditorium in Casper, WY at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9.

Click here to read the Stroock’s obituary and accomplishments.

Other Upcoming Meetings

* Montana Basin Advisors Network – January 11th at 1:00 p.m.

* Utah Basin Advisors Network – January 12th at 10:00 a.m.

* Wildlife Committee – January 19th at 1:30 p.m.

* Colorado Basin Advisors Network – January 20th at 10:00 a.m.

Agendas are available for upcoming meetings at http://www.westernenergyalliance.org/advocacy/. All meetings unless otherwise indicated are Mountain time, and at IPAMS and via teleconference.

Save the Date

Listed below are several high-level IPAMS meetings and events.  Please mark your calendar and contact Becca Ness with any questions.

January 27, 2010 – 7:30 a.m. IPAMS Board Meeting, The Brown Palace, Denver, CO

January 27, 2010 – 11:00 a.m. IPAMS Executive Committee Meeting, IPAMS Office, Denver, CO

March 1-3, 2010 – Washington Call-Up, The Hotel George, Washington D.C.

March 1, 2010 – IPAMS Board Meeting, The Hotel George, Washington D.C.

May 15, 2010 – IPAMS Wildcatter of the Year Gala, The Seawell Ballroom, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver, CO

June 23-26, 2010 – IPAMS Annual Meeting and Summer Conference, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek, CO

June 24, 2010 – IPAMS Board Meeting, The Hotel George, Washington D.C.

Visit westernenergyalliance.org for the latest news affecting the Intermountain West’s oil and natural gas industry. Headlines are updated daily from local, national and international news sources. You may also sign up for daily newsbrief emails under the Manage Account section of the “Members Only” page.

The West

Oklahoma electricity regulation causes debate for some

published in: NewsOK on:12/16/2009 by: Jay F. Marks

Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. is gearing up for an unusual fight. The state’s largest electricity provider is trying to avoid spending more than $1 billion to clean up emissions from two coal plants in Oklahoma that contribute to the “regional haze” at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuges and other federal wildlife areas. OG&E even has the Sierra Club on its side, company officials said, because of concerns that regulations could stall a move to use more natural gas instead of coal to generate electricity.

Has Natural Gas’s Moment Come?

published in: Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required) on: 12/16/2009 by: Ann Davis, Ben Casselman and Rebebecca Smith

After a decade-long wild ride, North American natural-gas prices seem to be entering a period of stability, which is likely to change the way Americans heat their homes, generate their electricity and maybe even fuel their cars.  Gas producers have been arguing for some time that new sources of the fuel have made it both plentiful and reliable. But residential and industrial consumers, from homeowners to power utilities, have been reluctant to increase their dependence on natural gas because of concerns about price volatility.

Colorado

Rio Blanco loses battle on oil, gas equipment use tax

published in: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on: 12/15/2009 by: Dennis Webb

The Colorado Supreme Court this week put an end to Rio Blanco County’s attempt to impose a use tax on equipment used by companies in natural gas operations.  But county attorney Kent Borchard said the court failed to clarify questions about the legality of the tax when applied to industry more generally.  “I think it’s only a matter of time before somewhere, somebody ends up in more litigation because it’s just not clear — an area that needs to be clarified,” Borchard said.

Williams gets OK to keep drilling in Battlement Mesa

published in: Glenwood Springs Post Independent on: 12/15/2009 by: John Colson

The Williams gas drilling company can finish up its work at two Battlement Mesa well pads without further ado, thanks to a decision Monday by the Garfield County commissioners.  The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a pair of special use permits for the well pads, which are located within the sprawling Battlement Mesa Planned Unit Development near Parachute.  None of the three commissioners were upbeat about the decision, although for different reasons.

Proposed park south of river in Silt would feature two active gas wells

published in: Glenwood Springs Post Independent on: 12/14/2009 by: John Colson

Town officials here, working with a regional land conservation group, are hoping to make a park out of 210 acres of pasture land south of the Colorado River.  One unusual thing about the proposed park, said town administrator Betsy Suerth recently, is that it ultimately is to become home to two active gas wells, as well as to the recreational and other amenities the town plans to put there.

New state rule could clarify oil, gas royalties

published in: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on: 12/13/2009 by: Dennis Webb

Energy industry and mineral owner representatives hope a new state rule will help improve transparency and reduce disputes on how oil and gas production is reported for royalty purposes.  The rule, passed Nov. 30 by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, provides a process for people receiving royalties from oil and gas leases to seek clarification from companies about issues surrounding payments.

Ludlam named West Slope COGA director

published in: Grand Junction Free Press on: 12/11/2009 by: Staff

The Colorado Oil and Gas Association’s West Slope Chapter Thursday named David Ludlam as its new executive director.  Ludlam replaces former executive director and Mesa County Commissioner Kathy Hall, who had served WSCOGA since the groups’ inception.  As executive director, Ludlam will be responsible for promoting and enhancing oil and natural gas production in the Piceance Basin.

Montana

Natural gas plant near Sinclair possible

published in: Billings Gazette on: 12/15/2009 by: Staff

Officials with Chicago-based Invenergy say they are still considering building a natural gas plant north of Sinclair.  Invenergy Business Development Director Brett Oakleaf says the proposed plant would generate about 500 megawatts of power.

Mont. oil output drops but high prices soften blow

published in: Washington Post on: 12/15/2009 by: Matthew Brown

Oil production in Montana is off by about 30 percent from its high three years ago, but state officials said rebounding energy prices have staved off a sharp hit to the state’s budget.  That’s a rare bit of good news – or at least not-so-bad news – for state revenue officials tracking a steady decline in corporate and income taxes caused by the recession.

Tall, wide, and passing through: Giant oil rig equipment will be clogging roads in western Montana

published in: Missoulian on: 12/13/2009 by: Kim Briggeman

Talk about super-sized.  Those big rigs that a Canadian oil company plans to move through western Montana on a regular basis starting next fall will require some mind expanding to assimilate.  They’ll be up to three stories high, 24 feet wide and more than half a football field long, and it’s safe to say we’ve never seen such behemoths moving down the road in such volumes.

New Mexico

Gas coalition files rate complaint

published in: Associated Press on: 12/13/2009 by: Susan Montoya Bryan

A coalition of natural-gas producers has filed a complaint with New Mexico regulators alleging a Houston-based pipeline company is charging excessive rates for transportation services in one of the nation’s largest natural gas basins.  The coalition argues that Enterprise Field Services LLP has increased its gathering rates in the San Juan Basin by 240 percent over the last several years and that New Mexico stands to lose nearly $440 million in direct tax and royalty revenues over the next 15 years as a result.

Environmental group targets oil and gas emissions

published in: Farmington Daily Times on: 12/12/2009 by: Steve Lynn

A proposed cap on New Mexico’s greenhouse gas emissions could shutter Farmington’s power plants, leading to higher costs for Farmington Electric Utility System customers, claims the city.  Santa Fe environmental group New Energy Economy’s petition to the state to cap the emissions would lead the Electric Utility to limit production at its power plants or close them, according to a City Council resolution.

North Dakota

ND surplus results in property tax reduction

published in: WDAY TV on: 12/18/2009 by: Kevin Wallevand

North Dakota Governor John Hoeven and Tax Commissioner Cory Fong today played the role of cheerleaders today. The two came to Fargo with a little holiday cheer, 400-million dollars in tax relief for state residents.  Here in Cass County, tax statements have been mailed out and homeowners should be seeing a reduction in property taxes of between fifteen and nineteen percent. Lawmakers also passed income and business tax relief.

ND oil production, prices outpace budget forecasts

published in: BusinessWeek/Associated Press on: 12/15/2009 by: Staff

North Dakota’s budget director says the state’s oil production and prices are both well ahead of state forecasts.  Pam Sharp told the Legislature’s Budget Section committee that when lawmakers wrote the state’s two-year budget, oil production was expected to be just over 200,000 barrels a day now, with prices between $40 and $50 a barrel.  Last October’s production alone was close to 240,000 barrels a day, and prices were about $67 a barrel.

Wyoming

Calling all Wyoming Producers: We need your help getting DOI to issue millions of dollars worth of leases it has already sold!

Across the West, the Department of Interior is refusing to issue $100 million worth of leases that it has already sold. The situation in Wyoming is especially egregious, where DOI is currently holding $52 million worth of unissued leases.

After repeated failed attempts to get DOI to address this growing problem, recent IPAMS’ studies have brought to light certain actions by DOI that are making it even more difficult to develop the abundant and affordable domestic natural gas America needs to address our pressing economic, environmental, and energy challenges.  Click here to read IPAMS positions papers that detail DOI’s mismanagement of the federal onshore natural gas and oil program.

IPAMS met with BLM Wyoming State Director Don Simpson and Deputy State Director Larry Claypool in late November. In these meetings we learned that Interior Secretary Salazar’s office has essentially removed BLM from the decision-making process. Since we have little recourse with the BLM, we’re working with Governor Freudenthal’s office, asking the Governor to address the issue directly with Secretary Salazar.  Click here to read more…

Click here to view suggested format and optional talking points to send to Governor Freudenthal.

Wyo. OKs possible $300M state pipeline investment

published in: Associated Press on: 12/11/2009 by: Ben Neary

Wyoming’s top statewide elected officials on Thursday gave the Treasurer’s Office authority to negotiate a $300-million state investment in a proposed natural gas pipeline that would cut across several states.  El Paso Corp. is developing the $3-billion Ruby Pipeline to carry natural gas from the Opal Hub in western Wyoming to Malin, Ore. The 42-inch pipeline would run 675 miles, crossing Utah and Nevada on the way.

Washington Watch

EPA chief receives guidance on frac study

published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 12/17/2009 by: Nick Snow

Twenty-two US House Democrats asked the US Environmental Protection Agency to use a systematic, scientific approach in its study of hydraulic fracturing to ensure transparency, accuracy, and validity. EPA was ordered to study the technology’s possible relationship to drinking water under the fiscal 2010 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Rep. Gene Green (Tex.) and 21 other Democrats said in a Dec. 15 letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

U.N. Deal ‘Really Critical’ to Senate Climate Bill’s Passage — Kerry

published in: E&E News/New York Times on: 12/17/2009 by: Darren Samuelsohn

A successful outcome this week in U.N. global warming negotiations — including a Chinese commitment to open its books to international review — is critical to passing global warming legislation next year on Capitol Hill, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry said today.  The Massachusetts Democrat, the lead author of the Senate’s energy and climate bill, linked efforts in Washington to the two-week struggle here to reach agreement on the contours of a new U.N. global warming agreement.

Colorado’s Rep. Betsy Markey joins Blue Dog Democrats

published in: Denver Post on: 12/17/2009 by: Michael Riley

Rep. Betsy Markey on Wednesday became an official member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a 55-member group of conservative Democrats known for fiscal restraint and bucking party lines.  The Blue Dogs often are pilloried by the left for voting against Democratic initiatives, but many Republicans criticized the group this year for failing to stop a massive $787 billion economic stimulus and an expensive 2010 federal budget. Markey voted for the former and against the latter.

White House promotes clean energy tax credits

published in: Associated Press on: 12/16/2009 by: Julie Pace

The White House is promoting a $5 billion increase in tax breaks for clean energy manufacturing in hopes of contributing to job growth and expanded use of renewable energy.  The tax credits are part of the jobs plan that President Barack Obama announced last week. If Congress approves the initiative, new or expanded factories that make products such as wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles would get a 30 percent tax credit.

Two senators propose pollution ‘dividend’ for Americans

published in: Associated Press on: 12/12/2009 by: H. Josef Hebert

Two senators on Friday offered yet another approach to tackling climate change, proposing the government sell pollution allowances to industry to cut greenhouse gas emissions and then use most of the money to send tax-free monthly checks to every American.  The “dividend” checks, estimated to average about $100 a month over nearly two decades, would be aimed at offsetting the higher cost of energy.

Obama has no power to make climate deal: US lawmaker

published in: Associated Press/AFP on: 12/13/2009 by: Staff

US President Barack Obama is heading to the Copenhagen climate talks with empty promises on curbing US greenhouse gas emissions that he cannot fulfill, a top lawmaker said Sunday.  “He doesn’t have that power to do that. And people in other countries don’t realize that,” Republican Senator James Inhofe, a leading critic of global warming legislation, told Fox News Sunday.

Obama energy tax-break assault dead for now

published in: Houston Chronicle on: 12/10/2009 by: Tom Fowler

Bruce Vincent, CEO of Houston’s Swift Energy and chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America today declared the industry’s campaign against President Obama’s proposals to eliminate oil and gas company tax breaks a success — at least for now, according to a post by our colleagues at Texas on the Potomac.

Media Watch

Editorial: XTO purchase bodes well for Western Slope

published in: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on: 12/15/2009 by: Editorial board
ExxonMobil’s acquisition of XTO Energy Inc. in a $41 billion deal strikes a much-needed chord of cheer in what has so far been a dreary winter.  AExxonMobil, the world’s largest energy company, apparently is looking to cement that position with the purchase of XTO and its 45 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.  The purchase seems to bode particularly well for western Colorado because ExxonMobil has continued its active drilling program in the Piceance Basin despite the economic slowdown that has so weighed down the West Slope and Colorado economies. It certainly doesn’t hurt that XTO includes Piceance Basin holdings in its portfolio.

Editorial: EPA and climate change

published in: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on: 12/14/2009 by: Editorial Board

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a finding that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health, a step that many said puts the agency in the driver’s seat on all questions environmental.  While that might be so — and Congress might offer a different perspective —  it certainly places the agency in the middle of competing interests.

Op-ed: Cap-and-trade bill would cost Montana jobs

published in: Billings Gazette on: 12/12/2009 by: Brian Cebull

I am a Montana native, have lived in Billings most of my life and have worked for 15 years in the oil and natural gas industry. I am privileged to be able to raise my family in Montana. There are another 4,500 families like mine in Montana who make their living directly from the petroleum industry.  Recently a Washington, D.C., environmental organization paid for TV commercials on some Montana stations attacking Denny Rehberg and “big oil” companies like mine (that employs three people!) for opposing cap-and-trade legislation now before Congress.

Op-ed: The EPA’s Carbon Bomb Fizzles

published in: Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required) on: 12/11/2009 by: Kimberley A. Strassel

In the high-stakes game of chicken the Obama White House has been playing with Congress over who will regulate the earth’s climate, the president’s team just motored into a ditch. So much for threats.  The threat the White House has been leveling at Congress is the Environmental Protection Agency’s “endangerment finding,” which EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson finally issued this week. The finding lays the groundwork for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions across the entire economy, on the grounds that global warming is hazardous to human health.

Op-ed: Global Warming as a Political Tool

published in: National Review Online on: 12/11/2009 by: Jonah Goldberg

On Monday, Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, formally announced that her agency now considers carbon dioxide to be a dangerous pollutant, subject to government regulation. The finding comes two years after the Supreme Court ruled that CO2 falls under the EPA’s jurisdiction.  A day later, an unnamed White House official told Fox’s Major Garrett that the message for Congress is clear: “If you don’t pass this (cap-and-trade) legislation . . . the EPA is going to have to regulate in this area. . . . And it is not going to be able to regulate on a market-based way, so it’s going to have to regulate in a command-and-control way, which will probably generate even more uncertainty.”

Environment and Wildlife

Associated Press Analysis: Hacked climate e-mails show potential ethical breaches but not faulty science

published in: Associated Press on: 12/14/2009 by: Seth Borenstein, Raphael Satter and Malcolm Ritter

E-mails stolen from climate scientists show they stonewalled skeptics and discussed hiding data — but the messages don’t support claims that the science of global warming was faked, according to an exhaustive review by The Associated Press.  The 1,073 e-mails examined by AP show that scientists harbored private doubts, however slight and fleeting, even as they told the world they were certain about climate change. However, the exchanges don’t undercut the vast body of evidence showing the world is warming because of man-made greenhouse-gas emissions.

Interior faces suit over 100-plus species

published in: E&E News (Subscription Required) on: 12/14/2009 by: Patrick Reis

The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the Interior Department for failing to meet deadlines to act on Endangered Species Act petitions for 144 species.  The Fish and Wildlife Service has missed the three-month deadline for a preliminary finding on 12 multi-species petitions and the one-year deadline for a final decision on another 12, the center charged.

EPA begins review of air standards, amid oil, gas industry concern IPAMS Quoted

published in: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on: 12/13/2009 by: Dennis Webb
When it comes to how the Environmental Protection Agency regulates oil and gas industry air pollution, the agency “has been invigorated, to say the least,” environmental advocate Jeremy Nichols says.  Change is in the air regarding the EPA’s approach to oil and gas companies under the Obama administration, which encourages Nichols and worries the industry.  “We are very concerned about increased regulation from the EPA,” said Kathleen Sgamma, director of government affairs for the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States.

High unemployment puts jobs at heart of U.S. climate debate

published in: E&E News/New York Times on: 12/10/2009 by: Anne C. Mulkern

A new brochure from the oil industry’s biggest trade group features an array of African-American, Asian, Latino, white and multiethnic faces — men and women dressed to look like business executives, office workers, doctors, lawyers and blue-collar employees.  It has the feel of a Gap or United Colors of Benetton advertisement. But a sentence above the people pictured on the American Petroleum Institute pamphlet makes clear what it is meant to convey.  “America’s oil and gas industry supports over 9 million jobs,” it says. “One of them may be yours.”

Markets

Energy prices continue resurgence

published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 12/17/2009 by: Sam Fletcher

Energy prices continued to climb with crude regaining much of its loss from a 9-day downturn to close above $72/bbl Dec. 16 on the New York market on a bullish report of reduced inventories of crude and distillate fuel. The Energy Information Administration reported commercial US crude inventories fell 3.7 million bbl to 332.4 million bbl in the week ended Dec. 11, exceeding the Wall Street consensus for a 2 million bbl draw. Gasoline stocks increased 900,000 bbl to 217.2 million bbl in the same week, short of Wall Street’s expectations of a 1.3 million bbl gain.

Utilities want more natural-gas storage

published in: Casper Star Tribune on: 12/14/2009 by: Dustin Bleizeffer

Rocky Mountain states continue to expand natural gas production, which has spawned several efforts to increase storage capacity to hedge against volatile pricing.  Industry leaders say expanding gas storage in the Rockies is also key to enabling more natural gas-fired electrical generation.

U.S. to rely less on oil for energy by 2035: government

published in: Reuters on: 12/15/2009 by: Staff

U.S. oil demand reached a high of 20.8 million barrels per day in 2005, and oil consumption is forecast to remain “near” its current level of about 19 million bpd through 2035, the Energy Information Administration said.  “We do not think it will go back to what previous levels have been,” EIA Administrator Richard Newell said at a briefing on the agency’s new long-term energy forecast.

Natural gas prices surge as crude fades

published in: Associated Press on: 12/10/2009 by: Chris Kahn

Natural gas prices surged 7 percent Thursday as the government reported supplies dropped for the first time in nine months, yet crude fell for the seventh straight day.  It was the first time since October that oil prices fell below $70 per barrel.  Natural gas moved in the opposite direction as winter storms spread across the Midwest, meaning some homeowners are turning up the heat for the first time in what has been a very mild winter.

Industry News and Events

Exxon can void deal to buy XTO Energy if drilling method is restricted

published in: Dallas Morning News on: 12/17/2009 by: Dave Michaels and Elizabeth Souder

Natural-gas producers have been fighting an effort to increase regulation of the drilling technique that is widely used in North Texas’ Barnett Shale. Now they have a new ally in the fight: Exxon Mobil Corp.  Exxon says it could void its $41 billion deal to buy Fort Worth-based XTO Energy if Congress passes a law that would make hydraulic fracturing illegal or “commercially impracticable.” The exit clause is included in a merger document Exxon filed this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

1st NRG Corporation Updates Operations and Announces New Chief Executive Officer

published in: CNNMoney.com on: 12/15/2009 by: Staff

1st NRG Corporation (OTCBB:FNRC) provides an update on Operations and announces Kevin Norris as Chief Executive Officer. The Company has begun marketing natural gas (800 MMBTUD) for Cedar Resources Corporation — a CBM producer in the Powder River Basin. The service was previously provided by e2 Business Services.

Oil group lays off 15% of its staff

published in: Politico on: 12/11/2009 by: Erika Lovely

The American Petroleum Institute terminated an estimated 40 employees, or about 15 percent of its staff, Thursday as the final part of the trade group’s reorganization, President Jack Gerard told POLITICO.  “I believe this reorganization will reinvigorate API,” Gerard said. “We looked at the entire institute and reviewed skill sets and refined which skill sets are needed.”  A source close to API employees said some of the affected workers had resigned, and severance pay was available for those who were laid off. And from a glance at their Twitter status updates, it seems that some expected the cutbacks.

Whiting Cookbook Coming Soon…

Whiting Petroleum Corporation employees have put together a cookbook of favorite recipes to raise funds for the Food Bank of the Rockies. The cookbook – “Food For The Hungry–Recipes Worth Whiting For” – contains lots and lots of tasty recipes; funny sayings about food, cooking and diets; interesting and beautiful photos of oil and gas operations; as well as a glossary of oil and gas terms that sound like food terms – but aren’t!

Food Bank of the Rockies provides food supplies to more than 1,000 hunger relief programs in northern Colorado and Wyoming, helping nearly 400,000 people in the region who live in poverty and struggle to meet their basic food needs; almost half of whom are children. Since 1996 Whiting has raised more than $238,300, providing more than 953,200 meals (approximately seven tons of food) for our hungry neighbors in Colorado and Wyoming. You too can help the Food Bank through your purchase of Whiting’s cookbook. The cost is only $12.00 each, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated directly to the Food Bank. The cookbooks would make terrific holiday, birthday, anniversary, or other fun gifts for just about anyone! To order or for more information, contact Carla Wilson or (303) 837-4225.

7th Annual Business Summit of the West and Charity Sporting Clays Tournament

January 4, 2010

Please join fellow sportsmen, CEOs and business leaders, state and local elected officials, and regulators from across the country for a Charity Sporting Clays Tournament on Monday, January 4, 2010, in Phoenix, Arizona. The tournament, hosted by the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife, will take place at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center, with all net proceeds going to benefit the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and Arizona Legislators for Wildlife. The 2010 tournament is the kick-off event for the 7th Annual Business Summit of the West. Co-hosted along with the Western Business Roundtable, NextGen Energy Council, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Arizona Investment Council, the 2010 Business Summit of the West will take place January 4-6th at the historic Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa.

Multiple sponsorship opportunities are still available. Click here for more information on how to become a high-profile sponsor.In addition to the Charity Sporting Clays Tournament, this year’s Business Summit of the West will feature a half-day Sportsmen-Industry Summit on January 5th with multiple sessions dedicated to bringing together leaders from industry and wildlife and sportsmen’s groups to participate in no-holds-barred discussions about how these sectors can work together more closely to achieve common conservation goals. Contact Roundtable CEO Jim Sims at jim@wbrt.org for more information.

Oil & Gas Companies Sponsor New “Green” Habitat Community

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver will begin construction on its largest green development in their 30-year history in 2010. Join other IPAMS Members including Anadarko Petroleum, EnCana Oil & Gas (USA)  and St. Mary Land & Exploration in helping Habitat build these homes and transform the Denver community. The 24-home Bails Townhome Community is Habitat’s first green, transit oriented development in the Metro Denver area. For more information about getting your organization involved, please contact Amy Kusek, Corporate Relations Manager, (720) 496-2714.

Click here to learn more about the project.

16th Annual Great Balls of Fire 9-Ball Billiards Challenge

February 16, 2009 in Denver, CO

The Great Balls of Fire 9-Ball Billiards Challenge is all about the goodness in people who want to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. Hosted by the Colorado Professional Firefighters, Denver Firefighters Local 858 and Wynkoop Brewing Company.

Several IPAMS members have chosen to sponsor this worthy charity event.

Click here to learn more and how to become a sponsor.

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