May 27, 2010
posted on: May 27, 2010
IPAMS Meetings and Announcements
IPAMS Receives North Dakota Grant for WRAP Phase III
IPAMS has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the North Dakota Oil and Gas Research Council of the North Dakota Industrial Commission for the WRAP Phase III air emissions inventory in the Williston Basin. In order to use the funding, IPAMS will need to raise the remaining $70,000 from companies. If you operate in the basin, please contact Kathleen Sgamma to help with the matching funding. Also note that $20,000 will have to be raised for the Montana portion of the basin, which is not covered by the grant.
In other WRAP Phase III news, IPAMS will release the results of the Wind River Basin inventory on June 8th at 10:00 on the WRAP Oil & Gas Working Group call. Call details will be available on the WRAP website. There will also be a presentation by Dana Wood of BP on rural ozone issues in the West. If you missed this excellent presentation when she and Doug Blewitt gave it at IPAMS, this is another opportunity for a very informative briefing. We are at 27% of funding for the Powder River Basin. Work will be restarted on that basin once the full $37,000 funding is in place.
IPAMS Crude Oil Committee Breakfast
June 3, 2010 at 7:30 a.m.
Horizontal drilling is re-defining the oil and natural gas industry. Plays previously deemed uneconomical or too technologically demanding are now accessible, and even profitable. Please join us for a special breakfast on June 3, 2010 beginning at 7:30 a.m. when some of the best from industry present on recent developments in horizontal drilling and completion methodologies.
Speakers include:
Don Purvis, Regional Technology Manager, BJ Services
Mike Eberhard, Technical Manager, Halliburton
Walt Kordziel, Well Services Sales Manager, Schlumberger
Jim Brown, Senior Vice President, Whiting
The event will be held at The Westin Tabor Center with coffee starting at 7:30 a.m. The speakers and breakfast will begin at 8:00 a.m.
The cost of this event for IPAMS members is $30 before May 27, 2010 and $35 thereafter. Consider inviting a friend or colleague to attend. This event is brought to you by IPAMS Crude Oil Committee.
A special thank you to our sponsors:
Breck Energy | BJ Services | El Paso E&P | Gunlikson Petroleum Inc. | Schlumberger
Fundraiser for Steve Pearce (R-NM)
June 8, 2010 at 7:30 a.m. in Denver
IPAMS PAC is hosting a breakfast for former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce on Tuesday, June 8 at 7:30 a.m. at IPAMS (click here to see the invitation.)
Steve Pearce is a long time friend of the industry who was first elected to the House in 2002 and made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate against Tom Udall (D-NM). Now Pearce is fighting to regain his seat in Congress, and he needs our support. Steve was a leader on the House Natural Resources Committee, where he was the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. Before being elected to Congress, Pearce served in the New Mexico House of Representatives, and owned and operated his own oilfield services firm. If elected, Pearce will retain his seniority and return as a fourth term Congressman from New Mexico.
Please join IPAMS PAC in helping Steve Pearce return to Congress where he will continue to fight for domestic energy production. You can be on the Host Committee for a $1,000 donation or just attend the breakfast for $500. Checks should be payable to “People for Pearce.” Please remember that corporate donations are not permitted.
Thank you for supporting this important event, and please Jon Bargas if you have any questions.
Utah Basin Advisors Network (UBAN) Meeting with Senior Interior Advisor
June 8th at 10:00 a.m.
Alan Gilbert, Senior Advisor to the Interior Secretary, Southwest and Rocky Mountain Regions will join the UBAN on Tuesday, June 8th at 10:00 to discuss leasing, permitting, NEPA analyses, wilderness, RMPs and other issues in Utah. Due to space constraints, we are asking for RSVPs for this meeting. Teleconferencing will also be available. Please contact Spencer Kimball if you plan to attend in person.
Colorado Basin Advisors Network (CBAN) Meeting featuring Colorado Rare Plants Presentation
June 9th at 10:00 a.m.
This CBAN meeting will feature a presentation regarding a list of recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce the impacts of oil and gas development to ‘plants of concern’ in Colorado by representatives of the Colorado Rare Plant Conservation Initiative. The Colorado Rare Plant Conservation Initiative, a partnership of 22 public agencies, private organizations, and academic institutions recently completed these voluntary oil and gas BMPs with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The Nature Conservancy and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program are co-leading this effort and have asked IPAMS’ members to provide feedback on the list of BMPs. If you would like to attend this meeting, please RSVP to Spencer Kimball at 303-623-0987, and please be prepared to discuss the list of BMPs (Available here).
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.
IPAMS Upcoming Trip to DC
June 14-16, 2010
IPAMS is organizing a trip to DC with small independents on June 14-16 to discuss proposed onshore fee and royalty rate increases. If you’re a small independent who would like to help us explain to Congress what the impacts of inspection fees, non-producing acreage fees, and a permanent APD fee will be on western jobs and economies, please contact Kathleen Sgamma.
IPAMS Annual Meeting and Summer Conference
June 23-25 in Beaver Creek, CO
Registration is open for the IPAMS Annual Meeting and Summer Conference, June 23-25 in Beaver Creek, CO. Join us in this relaxed setting for just the right mix of business and pleasure– discuss topics such as production and transportation, demand growth and western regional competitiveness while networking with fellow IPAMS members. Sponsorship opportunities are available!
Thank you to our current sponsors:
Anadarko Petroleum Company | Bill Barrett Corporation | Devon | EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. | Noble Energy | Halliburton | Pioneer Natural Resources | Questar | Williams | Basic Energy Services | Berry Petroleum Company | Black Hills Exploration & Production | Edmonds Energy Corp. | El Paso E&P | Ensign United States Drilling | Hart Energy Publishing | Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C. | G3 Operating, LLC | Mesa Energy Partners M.J. England & Associates | New Prospect Company | Nielson & Associates | Noble Energy Inc. | Petroleum Development Corporation | Schlumberger | Tracker Resources | Trinity Petroleum Management LLC | Ultra Petroleum, Inc. | Whiting
For more information and for sponsorship, contact Becca Ness or 303.623.0987.
IPAMS Says Farewell to Hall of Fame Member Doyle Grogan
Grogan, Doyle T. Known as the ‘Voice in the Wilderness for the Independent Oil & Gas Industry,’ Doyle Thomas Grogan passed away on April 26th, 2010, at the age of 97. A Celebration of Life will be held in Denver, June 9th. For further information contact doyle.grogan@gmail.com. Private Interment will be in Tulsa, OK. Click here to read the full obituary.
IPAMS Membership Update
IPAMS thanks our broad membership for supporting our organization through your 2010 dues. Your financial support ensures that we have the resources to continue to defend and promote your investment in the Intermountain West. For more information or to refer a company to IPAMS regarding membership please contact Susan Fakharzadeh.
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.
Colorado
Ritter’s oil and gas rules one year later
published in: Colorado Independent on: 05/25/2010 by: David O. Williams
All was relatively quiet on the Western Slope in terms of oil and gas legislation this past session, perhaps reflecting an overall weariness after more than a year of wrangling over the controversial drilling regulations introduced last spring.
Few oil, gas leases snapped up in auction near Walden
published in: Coloradoan on: 05/23/2010 by: Bobby Magill
There may not be quite as much interest in drilling oil and gas around popular fishing areas in North Park as some environmental and sportsmen’s groups have feared.
Montana
Montana BLM Request for Information
Montana BLM is asking operators for information as part of their NEPA analysis of climate change. They are attempting to get the corrective NEPA done so that suspensions on 2008 leases can be lifted and lease sales can proceed in 2010. Your comments on the validity of this information request are appreciated, as IPAMS has “contributing status” as a result of our intervention in the Montana 2008 lease sales lawsuit. Click here for more information.
North Dakota
Bakken short horizontal yields generous flow
published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 05/25/2010 by: Staff
American Oil & Gas Inc., Denver, tested rates of 2,178 b/d of oil and 3.7 MMcfd of natural gas from a 4,051-ft lateral in the Bakken formation at a development well in Dunn County, ND.
North Dakota Petroleum Council Airport Survey
The Petroleum Council is partnering with the Bismarck Airport to improve air service in the region by recruiting expanded flights. As part of that effort, they are looking for additional information from those in the energy industry in the region. This quick five-minute survey will help us as we meet with airlines to discuss future air service opportunities. The last day to complete the survey is tomorrow, Friday, May 28. Click here to take the survey.
Utah
Natural gas sufficient for 100 Utah winters
published in: Deseret News on: 05/20/2010 by: Jasen Lee
Residents of the Beehive State can take comfort in the knowledge that they live in a place that has enough energy to keep them warm for the next hundred Utah winters.
Bogus lease bidder’s trial delayed again
published in: Salt Lake Tribune on: 05/20/2010 by: Derek P. Jensen
The oft-delayed trial of bogus bidder Tim DeChristopher has been postponed again — to Sept. 13. U.S. District Judge Dee Benson had a conflicting court assignment June 21, forcing the four-day jury trial to be rescheduled.
Energy Seminar
June 15th in Salt Lake City
The Responsible Energy Development Forum (REDF) and School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) are hosting an energy seminar entitle Utah: A Model for Clean, Safe Energy Development on June 15th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the State Capitol. The program includes remarks from state Senator Kevin VanTassell and Representatives Roger Barrus and Eric Hutchings, and a panel moderated by DOGM Director John Baza including representatives from Anadarko, Arch Coal, Bill Barrett Corp., Questar, Rocky Mountain Power, and the Utah Mining Association. Click here for the agenda.
Wyoming
Wyoming Enhanced Oil Recovery Commission to Meet
published in: Univ. Of Wyoming (News Release) on: 05/26/2010 by: Staff
The state’s Enhanced Oil Recovery Commission will meet via an Internet conference at 9 a.m. Monday, June 7.
Residents await water well test
published in: Associated Press on: 05/26/2010 by: Mead Gruver
Residents in a rural central Wyoming community who suspect a drilling technique contaminated their wells can expect to hear from federal officials in July on whether their water might be dangerous to drink, officials said Tuesday.
Economist: Europe debt hurting Wyo. energy prices
published in: Associated Press on: 05/25/2010 by: Bob Moen
The state’s economy will benefit if Greece and other European countries don’t default in their debt crisis and if their government spending is reduced, an economist said Tuesday.
Proposed Wyoming drilling project attracts more than 1,000 comments
published in: Platts on: 05/24/2010 by: Jim Magill
A proposed project that could result in the drilling of up to 838 oil and natural gas wells in a 218,000 acre area in southwestern Wyoming has attracted more than 1,000 comments ranging from concerns over the potential impact on wildlife and air quality to questions over whether government regulators are dragging their feet in approving the project.
Washington Watch
Colo. Lawmaker Withdraws Natural Gas ‘Fracking’ Amendment to Water Bill
published in: E&E News/New York Times on: 05/26/2010 by: Paul Quinlan
Colorado Democrat Diana DeGette withdrew a proposed amendment today from House water legislation that would have expanded regulation of a controversial oil and gas production technique some say has contributed to groundwater pollution.
And Click here to read Energy in Depth’s recap.
EPA battle heats up in Senate
published in: Politico on: 05/26/2010 by: Dianna Heitz
A bipartisan group of senators will move after the Memorial Day recess on a resolution to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of greenhouse gases.
Energy Industry Seeking Shield From Financial Overhaul Bill (subscription required)
published in: Wall Street Journal on: 05/26/2010 by: Brian Baskin and Mark Peters
As Congress heads into its final round of negotiations on a financial overhaul bill, energy companies are making a push to win exemptions from strict derivatives regulations.
Interior Chief Vows Crackdown on MMS’s ‘Bad Apples’
published in: E&E News/New York Times on: 05/26/2010 by: Noelle Straub
The Interior Department is cracking down on employees who oversee offshore drilling in the wake of an inspector general report showing inspectors took gifts from and had cozy relationships with oil officials, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said today.
Interior Probe Finds Fraternizing, Porn and Drugs at MMS Office in La.
published in: E&E News/New York Times on: 05/25/2010 by: Noelle Straub
Federal officials who oversaw drilling in the Gulf of Mexico accepted gifts from oil companies, viewed pornography at work and even considered themselves part of industry, the Interior Department inspector general says in a new report (pdf).
Categorically Excluding Domestic Energy Production
published in: Institute for Energy Research (Blog) on: 05/25/2010 by: Staff
Recently, the Department of Interior finalized changes to its onshore oil and gas leasing program. These changes are designed to slow down leasing on federal lands.
Congress may quadruple oil tax for cleanups
published in: Associated Press on: 05/25/2010 by: Staff
Responding to the massive BP oil spill, Congress is getting ready to quadrupleto 32 cents a barrel — a tax on oil used to help finance cleanups.
Environmental Groups Call for Salazar’s Resignation
published in: About.com on: 05/25/2010 by: Larry West
The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that is threatening fragile ecosystems and local economies all along the Gulf Coast could also end up leaving a permanent stain on the career of U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Interior chief Salazar faces high-stakes test with oil spill
published in: Denver Post on: 05/23/2010 by: Michael Riley
Hours after news broke that the offshore rig Deepwater Horizon was in trouble, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar ordered a team of top aides to the Gulf Coast with instructions to call him hourly with updates from the scene.
Media Watch
Op-ed: Colorado’s New Energy Economy
published in: Forbes on: 05/27/2010 by: Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.
The recent collision of big-impact events outside of Washington–the Gulf oil spill and Arizona’s immigration law–seems to have confounded those inside the Beltway.
Editorial: Despite public’s anger, BP best to handle spill
published in: Denver Post on: 05/26/2010 by: Editorial Staff
With oily, dead birds washing ashore in Louisiana, patience has understandably evaporated as BP has failed in one attempt after another to cap a gushing oil well fouling the Gulf of Mexico.
Editorial: Of Politics and Oil (subscription required)
published in: Wall Street Journal on: 05/26/2010 by: Editorial Staff
Environmental disasters have a way of separating the politicians from the serious, and that’s certainly true of the Gulf oil spill. It was left this week to Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who is overseeing the federal response, to express an overdue truth: “The government doesn’t have everything we need to solve this problem.”
Environment and Wildlife
Why care about ‘produced water’?
published in: Casper Star-Tribune on: 05/26/2010 by: Dustin Bleizeffer
National Geographic recently dedicated an entire issue to rapidly diminishing fresh water supplies around the world.
Technology, Alternative & Renewables
Wind project finance is available…but those darned natural gas prices
published in: Power-Gen Worldwide (Blog) on: 05/25/2010 by: David Wagman
The current low cost of natural gas is helping to chill the market for new wind power projects as developers find it more difficult to secure favorable power purchase agreements.
Markets
Shale gas more of a hit in U.S. than Europe
published in: Reuters on: 05/25/2010 by: Alex Lawler
Shale gas, viewed as a game changer in the U.S. natural gas market, is likely to have less of an impact in overcrowded Europe, companies attending the Reuters Global Energy Summit said.
Oil prices continue to tumble as dollar strengthens
published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 05/25/2010 by: Sam Fletcher
The new July contract for US crude continued to tumble May 21, dropping as low as $69/bbl before closing just above $70/bbl in the New York market.
Industry News and Events
Scientists say more Gulf oil flowing than thought
published in: Associated Press on: 05/27/2010 by: Staff
Scientists studying the blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico now say it’s leaking at least twice as much oil and possibly five times as much as original estimates.
U.S. oil drilling regulator ignored experts’ red flags on environmental risks
published in: Washington Post on: 05/25/2010 by: Juliet Eilperin
The federal agency responsible for regulating U.S. offshore oil drilling repeatedly ignored warnings from government scientists about environmental risks in its push to approve energy exploration activities quickly, according to numerous documents and interviews.
Video: U.S. Chamber’s Harbert discusses new energy security index
published in: E&E TV on: 05/25/2010 by: Monica Trauzzi
As the Senate prepares to debate a climate and energy measure, what impact would the legislation have on the United States’ energy security?
DOE Grant Opportunity–Geothermal/Oil, Gas Wells
DOE has announced $20 million in grants for Innovative Geothermal techniques. What is unique about this one is that it targets geothermal “from productive, unproductive, or marginal oil and gas wells”.
Click here for more information.
Institute for Energy Research’s 2nd Annual Houston Luncheon
June 4, 2010 in Houston, TX
The Institute for Energy Research (IER) presents John Stossel, Fox Business Anchor, as their keynote speaker at their 2nd Annual Luncheon.
For additional event and sponsorship questions, contact Nancy Bradley at events@iertx.org or call (713) 591-1732. Click here for more information and registration.
BENPOSIUM
June 7-10, 2010 in Houston, TX
The most comprehensive natural gas symposium that applies the “fundamentals” perspective to how production, capacity, flow, inventories and demand interact to drive prices, trading opportunities and marketing and investing strategies. The goal of BENPOSIUM is to provide executives, analysts, traders and investors for an in-depth look at the shifting energy market dynamics and how these developments are the reshaping natural gas and power industry landscape. Click here to view the agenda and to register.
Western Governors’ Association 2010 Annual Meeting
June 27-29, 2010 in Whitefish, MT
The Western Governors’ Association will recognize “100 Years of Common Ground” at this year’s Annual Meeting. Topics will include:
-Sharing a Finite Resource: Challenges and Opportunities in Water Management
-Building New Energy Generation and Transmission
-Working Across Borders to Conserve Landscapes
For more information on the meeting visit the WGA Web site at www.westgov.org.
2nd Annual Front Range Energy Career Expo
September 24, 2010 at Red Rocks Community College
The Front Range Energy Career Expo and Forum (Expo) is designed as an educational event for high school students in the Denver Metro area. The goal of the event is to bring college representatives, energy companies, and students together in one location, to present information about college options and job opportunities to the future generation of leaders that will graduate from high school in the next two years. This year’s event will be co-hosted by High Plains Communications, LLC and Red Rocks Community College.
To sponsor, speak, or host a booth contact Jaime Gardner or (970) 597-0696.
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