Wildcatter Weekly, September 10, 2009
posted on: Sep 10, 2009
IPAMS Meetings and Announcements
IPAMS is pleased to announce the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Hall of Fame. The induction dinner and ceremony will be September 26, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center, Denver, CO. This semi-formal event occurs every five years.
In 2004 during IPAMS’ 30th Anniversary, the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Hall of Fame was created to honor fifty-four individuals who have had a highly distinguished career in the Rocky Mountain energy industry. The 2009 Hall of Fame class will honor forty members.
The deadline to sponsor this historic event is quickly approaching. To ensure inclusion in all printed materials and upcoming special edition of Oil & Gas Investor magazine, IPAMS must receive sponsorships by September 11, 2009. To accommodate all company sizes and budgets, we have created four different levels of sponsorship opportunities, some of which include a giclee print of artist Don Rantz’s “Home of the Ancients,” preferential seating and promotion of company logos.
Please consider joining our growing list of sponsors:
Amegy Bank N.A./ Vectra Bank Colorado
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Banko Petroleum Management, Inc.
Basic Energy Services
Beacon E&P Company
Bill Barrett Corporation
Breck Energy Corp
Cimarex Energy Co.
Cirque Resources LP
Cordillera Energy Partners
Denver Mineral & Royalty Company
Dupré Interests, LLC
EKS&H
EnCap Investments
Energy Navigator
Guaranty Bank and Trust
James C Karo Associates
Kinney Oil Company
Lario Oil & Gas Company
Mesa Energy Partners, LLC
Newfield Exploration
NFR Energy
Noble Energy Inc.
Petroleum Field Services
Pioneer Natural Resources
Ray O. Brownlie
SB Energy Partners
St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
Stewart Petroleum Corporation
Tall Grass Energy Corporation
The Brinkerhoff Company
Tracker Resource Development
U.S. Bank
Vaughey & Vaughey
Visit westernenergyalliance.org/HOF for more information including registration.
Please contact Becca Ness with any questions regarding the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Hall of Fame.
Annual Utah Call-Up
October 20-21, 2009 in Salt Lake City
Please save the date for the Annual IPAMS Utah Call-Up. It will be October 20th and 21st in Salt Lake City, in conjunction with legislative interim committee meetings. Registration and an agenda will be available next week. Contact Spencer Kimball if you are interested in attending this year’s trip and if you have suggestions for new events or meetings with different officials.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Final EIS/RMP
BLM has released the final EIS for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument RMP, and IPAMS has protested the document in conjunction with Public Lands Advocacy.
The protest is available on IPAMS RMP page.
IPAMS Annual Photo Contest is Here!
We are looking for scenic photographs featuring wildlife, oil and gas operations, or any picturesque scenes from around the West.
The winner will have their photo appear on the cover of IPAMS 2010 Calendar, which is distributed to member companies, media, other trade organizations, government officials, and business associations. The calendar has proven to be a very helpful tool in demonstrating industry talking points and illustrating visually that oil and natural gas development has a small and temporary environmental impact. The calendar will feature photos of former development areas that have since been reclaimed, wildlife near development, technological advances, etc. Each month will also include a fact that highlights the importance of our industry and the steps we take to minimize environmental impacts
Please submit all photos (300 dpi or better) to Jon Haubert no later than October 9, 2009.
Become a Fan of of IPAMS Facebook Page
If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing up as a fan of IPAMS on Facebook and catch great industry articles and view photos from events and trips. Already a fan? Invite your friends and co-workers to join too!
IPAMS Welcomes Its Newest Member:
First Western Trust Bank
Iofina Natural Gas
Meeting with DoI Inspector General on BLM I&E Program
September 15, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
The Inspector General is preparing a report on the effectiveness of BLM’s Inspection & Enforcement (I&E) Program for oil and gas leases, and will be meeting with IPAMS on September 15th at 10:00 at IPAMS to get industry input. Because changes in procedures are likely to arise from the report, it’s best that industry provide input at this stage, rather than just having to live with the conclusions. Please help us provide input by sending a representative from your company who can talk about their experiences with the I&E program. The IG is evaluating BLM’s strategy for selecting which leases to inspect, the quality of the inspections, and the enforcement process (including the issuance and resolution of INCs). Please contact Kathleen Sgamma if you can attend.
Other Upcoming Meetings
* Wyoming Basin Advisory Network – September 22nd at 10:30 a.m.
* Wildlife Committee Meeting - September 22nd at 2:30 p.m.
* Air Quality Committee – Bi-Weekly Call – September 22nd at 3:00 p.m. (Note date Change)
* Leasing Advocacy – Biweekly Call – September 24th at 10:00 a.m. (Note date change.)
* New Mexico Basin Advisory Network – September 24th, 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.
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
BLM must boost defenses against fraudulent lease bids — audit (IPAMS Quoted)
published in: E&E News, Subscription Required on: 09/09/2009 by: Eric Bontrager
The Bureau of Land Management has taken many steps forward to protect its oil and gas leasing from fraudulent bids but must do more, the Interior Department’s chief investigator concluded in a recent report. It has been nearly 10 months since an environmental activist won $1.8 million in auctioned Utah leases that he had no intention to buy because BLM did not have adequate deterrence for bad-faith bidders or other “bid-walkers,” the department’s inspector general said in a report released last week.
IPAMS Releases WRAP Phase III Air Emissions Inventory for the North San Juan Basin
The final North San Juan 2006 baseline inventory and 2012 projections are now available on the IPAMS Air Quality page. Thank you to Doug Blewitt and Dana Wood of BP for providing the detailed information and review necessary to make that inventory possible. IPAMS is still accepting surveys for the Green River, Great Plains, and Williston basins.
Colorado
Drilling blocked in Colorado’s San Luis area
published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 09/08/2009 by: Alan Petzet
A federal district court in Denver has blocked drilling at least temporarily in Colorado’s San Luis Valley 30 miles north of Alamosa. The court granted a motion by San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council for a preliminary injunction against the US Fish & Wildlife Service. FWS, surface owner of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge in Saguache County, had issued a finding of no significant impact for the proposed Baca gas drilling project (OGJ, Nov. 10, 2008, p. 44).
Local governments getting windfall from energy revenues
published in: Aspen Daily News on: 09/07/2009 by: Catherine Lutz
Local governments are benefiting from an unusual windfall from revenue from energy development this year, but for Garfield County, its share will make all the difference in the world in these troubled times. The state last week announced that an unprecedented $80.4 million would be distributed to municipalities and school districts from a severance tax and federal mineral lease fund. A state Senate bill co-sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass Village) authorized a new method and formula to determine the distribution of energy impact dollars. That new calculation, coupled with the increase in revenues from the energy industry boom, resulted in a record-high distribution amount.
Some rooms to spare in Rifle, for now
published in: Glenwood Springs Post Independent on: 09/06/2009 by: Dale Shrull
Trent Pierson decided to hold off on any improvements to his Buckskin Motel until business picks up again. Elizabeth Kudasik decided this was the perfect time to tackle some improvements to her Winchester Motel, since it’s easier to get work done when rooms are empty. Tyler Hartman and a friend were weary travelers cruising down Interstate 70 on their way to Moab, Utah when they spotted the La Quinta Inn in south Rifle and decided to stop for the night.
40 years later, dust still hasn’t settled from Project Rulison nuclear blast
published in: The Daily Sentinel on: 09/06/2009 by: Dennis Webb
The ground rippled when a nuclear blast shattered the earth beneath Doghead Mountain south of Rulison 40 years ago, witnesses remember. “It was an ocean wave that came across the valley, and you could see it coming at you clear as a bell,” said Cristy Koeneke, who was a college freshman watching the detonation of Project Rulison from an observation tent set up several miles away, across the Colorado River.
Energy companies idle while gas prices low
published in: The Daily Sentinel on: 09/04/2009 by: Dennis Webb
Energy companies generally are in a holding pattern with their northwestern Colorado drilling activity, or lack thereof, as natural gas prices continue to remain low, according to companies represented this week at the quarterly Northwest Colorado Oil & Gas Forum in Rifle. “It all will be dependent on the gas prices &hellip but currently it’s looking pretty slim for us,” said Russ Truby, a drilling superintendent with Marathon Oil.
Montana
Natural-gas-fired power plant gains tentative air permit nod
published in: Great Falls Tribune on: 09/04/2009 by: Richard Ecke
The state Department of Environmental Quality has again given a Billings-based developer preliminary approval for an air quality permit for the proposed Highwood Generating Station. This time around, the power plant is to be powered by natural gas rather than coal. The DEQ previously revoked an air quality permit for the coal-fired project at the request of the Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative, the project’s developer.
New Mexico
Council lets oil companies off hook despite harsh words
published in: Farmington Daily Times on: 09/09/2009 by: Steve Lynn
City councilors, arguing late into Tuesday night’s meeting, blasted two oil and gas companies accused of commissioning construction of an illegal fence that a man contends blocked access to his property. “Quite frankly, I’m mad about it,” Councilman Jason Sandel said. “It’s astounding to me that this goes on inside our community.”
Farmington councilors discuss whether to reverse well fence ruling
published in: Farmington Daily Times on: 09/09/2009 by: Staff
City councilors were scheduled to decide whether to reverse Tuesday their decision last month to deny permits for Energen Resources Corporation and XTO Energy Inc. The companies allegedly commissioned construction of an illegal fence on Dr. Robert Lehmer’s property. Councilors, company representatives and attorneys discussed the matter late into the night.
North Dakota
New North Dakota Find Could Be a Gusher
published in: The Heartland on: 09/09/2009 by: H. Sterling Burnett
Dozens of very productive new wells near North Dakota’s Bakken oil field have state officials believing another massive new oil find may be at hand. A newly discovered oil field in the Three Forks-Sanish formation is producing high yields, and some analysts believe it may surpass production in the huge Bakken oil field just above it. The Bakken oil is sandwiched between shale above and below, while the Three Forks-Sanish oil sits in porous rock and sand directly beneath the Bakken shale.
ND Reports Record Number of Wells in Past Year
published in: KFYRTV on: 09/03/2009 by: Staff
The director of North Dakota`s Department of Mineral Resources says a record 381 oil wells have been drilled in the state over the past year. Lynn Helms gave his report to oil industry representatives meeting in Medora. He says 335 of the wells drilled in the past year were in the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations.
Utah
Tim De Christopher – Right or Wrong? (IPAMS Quoted)
published in: Outdoor Utah Adventure Journal on: 08/14/2009 by: Greg Aitkenhead and Kathleen Sgamma
Back on December 19th in Salt Lake City, University of Utah student Tim De Christopher walked into a BLM land lease auction for gas and oil parcels throughout Utah on public lands, and near national parks. He was given a bidders paddle, and he proceeded to drive up the prices on several of the auction lease prices, and actually won the lease rights to 22,000 acres of land at a total price of $1.79 million. De Christopher readily admitted that he had neither the means, nor the intention to pay for any of the leases, and made no apologies for obstructing the leases in Utah’s redrock country- contending they were acts of civil disobedience.
Beneath the surface: Hard times, high hopes meet in Uintah Basin
published in: Deseret News on: 09/05/2009 by: Lois M. Collins and Elaine Jarvik
The honking begins as soon as the guy in the cowboy hat takes his position on Main Street. As usual, he’s holding a sign, one of those slogans with a red heart instead of a verb. Honk, it says. Honk if you (heart) drilling. Sedans, tanker trucks, pickups: Nearly everybody who drives by honks — and not just a little tap on the horn but long blasts that make you cover your ears.
Utah gov, senator decry federal cap-and-trade bill
published in: Associated Press on: 09/03/2009 by: Brock Vergakis
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch are criticizing proposed federal legislation that calls for the nation’s first limits on pollution linked to global warming. The Republicans released a report Thursday that said the price of electricity in Utah would increase under the bill, which has already passed in the House. “Cap-and-trade legislation has the potential to have a significant impact on our economy,” said Herbert, who contends Utah’s energy prices would be disproportionately increased under the bill.
Natural gas filling stations increasing in Utah
published in: Cache Valley Daily on: 09/03/2009 by: Craig Hislop
Questar’s network of 25 natural gas fueling stations in Utah is about to grow to 41 using nearly $15 million in federal stimulus funding. The money will also pay for an upgrade in compression at the existing public access compressed natural gas (CNG) outlets. These improvements will provide motorists more places to fill up, plus faster refills. One of the outlets is in Logan, at the LW’s Travel Plaza. “We’ve operated it about 20 years here in our Logan facility,” said General Manager Brent Miller, “and for just about a year in our Perry facility outside of Brigham City.”
Uinta Basin Air Quality Study (UBAQS) Data Available
The UBAQS modeling report is available on IPAMS website. Companies wishing to obtain the data may do so by contacting Kathleen Sgamma. Because of the large data volumes, there is a charge to obtain the files from Environ, as outlined below. In addition, IPAMS is charging $10,000 to companies to obtain the data, in order to make up for the cost of the study. Companies that have already funded will have their contribution subtracted from the $10,000 cost (i.e., no cost to those companies contributing over $10,000), but will be required to pay Environ for the data processing costs below.
| No. | Description |
Size |
Cost (w/o HD) |
Cost (w/ HD) |
| 1. | CMAQ 2005 and 2006 36 km and 12/4 km inputs and 12/4 km outputs for 2005 and 2006 Actual Base Case, 2006 Typical Base Case and 2012 Base Case emissions scenarios (no 3-D output for CMAQ 36 km run) |
~4,000 Gb |
$3,000 |
$3,640 |
| 2. | Pre-merged emissions for 2005 and 2006 Actual Base Case, 2006 Typical Base Case and 2012 Base Case emission scenarios |
~1,500 Gb |
$1,100 |
$1,340 |
| 3. | Complete SMOKE emissions processing data set including inputs and scripts |
~100 Gb |
$750 |
$830 |
| 4. | 2005 and 2006 MM5 36/12 km output files |
~2,300 Gb |
$1,300 |
$1,700 |
Wyoming
Still time to submit Wyoming Wildlife Trust applications
published in: Gillette News-Record on: 09/09/2009 by: Steve McManamen
The Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust program, which funds projects across the state to improve wildlife habitat and natural resource values, is asking for applications for funding by the end of the month. The trust only processes applications twice a year — September and March. More than $20 million for projects has been awarded since 2005, but only a couple of those have been for projects in Campbell County.
EnCana answers critics about Wyoming gas field groundwater study
published in: Glenwood Springs Post Independent on: 09/07/2009 by: Jon Colson
A natural gas company has hit back at its critics, at least indirectly, regarding possible groundwater contamination in a gas field in central Wyoming. EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) sent out a letter on Aug. 28, addressed to the residents of Pavillion, Wyo., emphasizing that the Environmental Protection Agency has not reached any conclusions yet about the groundwater contamination question, and urging the residents to keep an open mind on the subject.
Working in Wyoming: Boom has turned to bust
published in: Wyoming Tribune Eagle on: 09/06/2009 by: Bill McCarthy
Wyoming’s workforce faces the same old problem for workers this Labor Day: Boom has turned to bust. Wyoming has faced the bottom of the cycle many times before because its economy is dependent on the energy industry. The jobless rate of 6.5 percent is the highest in 20 years. In the 1980s, the bottom fell out of the energy industry as well.
Washington Watch
Natural Resources Republicans Launch New Website
Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee launched a new website to better communicate information directly to the American people regarding their efforts in Congress.“It’s important for the American people to have a modern, user-friendly way to access information about Republican Committee Members’ efforts to increase American energy production and create all types of energy jobs, while protecting our environment. We hope that our new website will serve as a one-stop shop for news and events regarding America’s natural resource issues,” said Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04).
New features include: More about the Committee and Subcommittees, “Issues in the Spotlight,” the All-of-the-Above Energy Plan, Youtube video, Tracking Committee Members’ votes at mark-ups and Calendar of Upcoming Events.
Sweeping Rahall bill draws criticism, qualified support
published in: E&E News, Subscription Required on: 09/10/2009 by: Noelle Straub,
New House legislation to overhaul federal oil and gas leasing policy drew mixed reviews yesterday, including harsh criticism from some energy producers, caution from moderate lawmakers and tempered praise from environmental groups. H.R. 3534 from House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), would create a new Interior Department agency to govern oil and gas leasing on federal lands while pressuring oil companies to develop leases more quickly and raising several industry costs. It would also alter planning for offshore energy development, address wind and solar programs, and boost funding for ocean conservation and land acquisition (Greenwire, Sept. 9).
IPAMS Issue Paper on House Natural Resources Energy Bill
The Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act is expected to be introduced in mid-September. The draft is available on the IPAMS web site, along with IPAMS detailed position paper.
The bill calls for repeal of all section 390 Categorical Exclusions (CX). In order to fight the CX repeal, IPAMS would like to gather some information on how well CXs have worked. Does your company have experience successfully using the CX provisions which enabled development without having another layer of redundant environmental analysis, or where your company was able to produce more easily on multi-well pads using the CXs? Any backup data or pictures would be very helpful as well. IPAMS would like to point out the benefits of CXs and how they can be used to develop American energy while still being protective of the environment.
U.S. Senate Democrats skeptical about climate bill
published in: Reuters on: 09/09/2009 by: Richard Cowan
Several U.S. Senate Democrats, including a top leader, on Wednesday questioned whether it would be possible to vote on a climate change bill this year, especially with healthcare reform eating up so much of the lawmakers’ time. “It’s a difficult schedule” with many members already “anxious” about healthcare reform, Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat, told Reuters when asked about prospects this year for a bill to cap emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
National security concerns gain steam in climate debate
published in: E&E ClimateWire, Subscription Required on: 09/09/2009 by: Jessica Leber
National security experts are angling to be clutch players in this fall’s campaign to pass climate legislation in the Senate. By emphasizing the security threats posed by risks like rising sea levels and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, the bill’s supporters hope to increase their chances of convincing still-undecided lawmakers to support global warming legislation.
Salazar says U.S. climate bill high on agenda
published in: Retuers on: 09/08/2009 by: Richard Cowen
Despite Washington’s nearly single-minded focus on healthcare reform, the Obama administration still expects the U.S. Senate to pass climate change legislation, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday. “Right now we are focused on this crusade for healthcare reform for the country and that’s where our time and energy will go for the days ahead,” Salazar said during an interview at the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit.
U.S. looking at “variable” oil, natgas royalties
published in: Reuters on: 09/08/2009 by: Tom Doggett
The Obama administration is considering charging oil companies “variable” royalty rates for drilling on federal lands that would reflect the difficulty in finding oil and natural gas supplies, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday. To ensure oil companies pay reasonable rates as oil prices rise, the Interior Department plans to issue proposals to update royalty rates by the end of the year, Salazar said at the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit.
Natural Gas Hits a Roadblock in New Energy Bill
published in: New York Times on: 09/07/2009 by: Clifford Krauss
The natural gas industry has enjoyed something of a winning streak in recent years. It found gigantic new reserves, low prices are encouraging utilities to substitute gas for coal, and cities are switching to buses fueled by natural gas. But its luck has run out in Washington, where the industry is having trouble making its case to Congress as it writes an energy bill to tackle global warming.
Media Watch
Editorial: Permit for gas-fired plant good news for energy future
published in: Great Falls Tribune on: 09/06/2009 by: Staff
Supporters of new sources of electricity in northcentral Montana got some good new s this past week when the state Department of Environmental Quality gave preliminary approval to an air quality permit for the revisedHighwood Generating Station. The plant proposal is revised in a very significant way: Instead of burning coal, the HGS proposed by the Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative would burn natural gas to generate about 120 megawatts of electricity.
Op-ed: Oil price dip a poor excuse for inaction
published in: Pueblo Chieftain on: 09/08/2009 by: Ben Lieberman, The Heritage Foundation
Gasoline prices are relatively low these days, which, in a way, is unfortunate. Fact is, it takes extreme events for many politicians to come to their senses and support increasing domestic oil supplies. This time last summer, public outrage over $4-a-gallon gas pushed President Bush and Congress into a belated repeal of drilling restrictions in federally controlled waters. This summer, California’s severe budget crunch induced Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to talk with state lawmakers about scaling back similar restrictions off the California coast. Unfortunately, California officials in recent days retreated from these small steps.
Energy: The Conservative Alternative
published in: Human Events on: 09/08/2009 by: Reps. Rob Bishop and Cynthia Lummis
There are two competing visions on energy policy in America today. One leads down a road toward a regressive national energy tax that intentionally increases energy prices, restricts economic growth, and aims to dictate and regulate Americans into a new “green” energy future. This “cap-and-tax” energy vision assumes that a massive national carbon tax is the only possible solution to create new energy jobs and reduce our carbon footprint.
Editorial: Natural gas may not be the cure-all Pickens thinks it is
published in: Deseret News on: 09/06/2009 by: Jay Evensen
Can you envision a near future in which America fuels its cars and trucks solely with natural gas? Neither can I, but then you and I are not T. Boone Pickens. He called me the other day as part of a concerted effort to reach editorial writers to voice support for a natural-gas incentive bill sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Pickens, you may recall, is a financier with a grand plan for making the United States energy-independent. The recent drop in energy prices hasn’t been kind to the 81-year-old from Oklahoma, but it hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm or drive, either.
Environment and Wildlife
Ahead of Endangered Species Act decision, sage grouse season nears
published in: Associated Press on: 09/09/2009 by: Mead Gruver
Listing a species as endangered and hunting it might seem mutually exclusive, but the same environmentalists who want sage grouse listed aren’t absolutely opposed to hunting the birds. Meanwhile, a group that opposes listing sage grouse, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, says hunting doesn’t send the best message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service while the agency reviews whether to list the species as endangered.
US carbon emissions to fall 6 percent in 2009: EIA
published in: Reuters on: 09/09/2009 by: Timothy Gardner
U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, should fall 6 percent in 2009 as the recession curbs electricity demand, the government forecast on Wednesday. The Energy Information Administration’s monthly forecast saw a bigger drop in 2009 emissions than it did in its August forecast, which said output would fall 5 percent.
Congressional groups aim to make Colorado more wild
published in: Denver Post on: 09/06/2009 by: Bruce Finley
Members of Colorado’s congressional delegation are gearing up to seek protection for thousands of acres of pristine wilderness, part of 1.9 million acres in the state that environmental groups are trying to place under the strictest federal protection. A suite of parcels proposed by environmentalists for protection would expand Colorado’s current wilderness (3.7 million acres, 3 percent of the state) by 50 percent. The designation bars motorized vehicles and other mechanized activity except in emergencies.
Judge blocks Canadian oil company from drilling in San Luis Valley wildlife refuge
published in: Colorado Independent on: 09/05/2009 by: David O. Williams
A U.S. District Court judge Thursday blocked a Canadian company from exploring or drilling for natural gas in the 79,000-acre Baca National Wildlife Refuge near Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley. A coalition of environmental groups challenged a U.S. Fish and Wildlife decision during the Bush administration in 2007 that would have allowed Lexam Explorations to drill for oil and gas on the former Baca Ranch. Lexam purchased the mineral rights before the federal government acquired the ranch for preservation purposes in 2000.
U.S. FWS Region 6 Reserve Pit Management
September 2009
This document is intended to help U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) employees and other natural resource managers understand reserve pits, their uses, associated mortality risk to birds and other wildlife, and alternatives to the use of reserve pits in drilling for oil and gas. The information is provided to help Service employees in the review of oil and gas development projects and development of recommendations to prevent or minimize impacts to Service trust resources such as migratory birds, federally-listed threatened and endangered species, and National Wildlife Refuge system lands. The document also provides a summary of state and federal oil and gas rules that relate to reserve pits.
Click here to read the document.
Technology, Alternatives & Renewables
Study claims climate bill could create 7,100 jobs in Colorado
published in: Denver Business Journal on: 09/09/2009 by: Cathy Proctor
Colorado could see 7,100 new jobs — and consumer savings of $158 per household per year — by 2020 under provisions of the climate-change bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in June, according to a national report Wednesday. The Senate is expected to take up the bill this fall.
Xcel launches Boulder as first ‘smart grid’ city
published in: Denver Business Journal on: 09/08/2009 by: Cathy Proctor
Xcel Energy Inc. said Tuesday it has finished building the infrastructure and has launched the software needed to run its “SmartGridCity” project in Boulder, making it the world’s “first fully functioning smart grid enabled city.” The $100 million venture, funded by the utility and its partners, is testing new technologies that could be used to upgrade the nation’s electric power grid.
New Solutions for Oil’s ‘Produced Water’
published in: New York Times Green Inc. on: 09/04/2009 by: Jeremy Miller
“Produced water,” as it is known in the oil industry, is briny fluid trapped in the rock of oil reservoirs. It is by far the largest toxic byproduct produced by the oil industry, and in addition to salt, it is often loaded with chemicals, residual oil and heavy metals. As oil fields age, water production increases. By one estimate, the volume of water produced by oil fields worldwide exceeds petroleum by a factor of three. According to Department of Energy figures, at the most “mature” oil fields in the United States, the amount of water extracted may exceed oil by more than 50 times.
Markets
Bain & Co.: Tough decisions loom on costs, investments
published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 09/08/2009 by: Staff
Tentative economic recovery and volatile oil prices will force managers of the oil and gas industry to make tough decisions soon, warns Bain & Co., Boston. Price gains in the second quarter of 2009 restored oil company profits hurt by the slide in last year’s second half. But they create hazards, the consultancy says: Further price increases might slow the global recovery and hurt efforts to lower costs.
Schlumberger sees no big mergers in oil services
published in: Reuters on: 09/08/2009 by: Staff
Larger U.S. oil services companies are unlikely to buy each other, the Chief Executive of industry leader Schlumberger (SLB.N) said, despite speculation that a new round of industry consolidation was coming. Andrew Gould said anti-trust issues would preclude companies such as Schlumberger, the world’s largest provider of services to oil companies by market value, from buying rivals.
Gas prices remain low, despite perceived global potential
published in: Fort Worth Business Press on: 09/07/2009 by: John Laurent Tronche
A natural gas analyst said gas production can fuel the world’s needs for years to come, thanks to technological advancements of the past and those coming in the future. Guntis Moritis, production editor of Oil & Gas Journal, said the vast resources of coalbed methane, shale gas and tight-sand gas worldwide are a hot topic, with experts increasingly debating their economic potential.
Industry News and Events
PWC: Oil, gas industry major contributor to US economy
published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 09/09/2009 by: Sam Fletcher
The oil and natural gas industry supports more than 9 million US jobs while contributing to the national economy as both an employer and purchaser of US goods and services, according to a new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) for the American Petroleum Institute. The report said the oil and gas industry currently supplies more than 60% of the nation’s total energy demands and more than 99% of the fuel used by US motorists in their cars and trucks, while 900 of the next 1,000 US electric power plants are projected to use natural gas.
Clinton, others sued over Alberta Clipper oil line approval
published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 09/04/2009 by: Nick Snow
Four environmental and Native American groups sued US Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton and other federal officials on Sept. 3 to protect US Department of State approval of the proposed Alberta Clipper oil pipeline. The Indigenous Environmental Network, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, National Wildlife Federation, and Sierra Club filed their 37-page complaint in the US District Court for Northern California. They are represented by the nonprofit law firm Earthjustice.
Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) 2009 Annual Golf Tournament
September 18, 2009
Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) is holding its Fourth Annual “Put a Little Wildlife in a Child’s Life Celebrity Golf Tournament” on September 18th at 11:00 am at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. ELK is still looking for players and sponsors and all proceeds support science education, mentorship and leadership training for culturally diverse youth through ELK. As a Denver-based 501(c)3, ELK was established in 1996 by two wildlife biologists who saw a growing need to introduce and educate Colorado’s urban youth about science, leadership and careers. Since ELK’s founding, 70,000 youth and families have been introduced to and immersed in science education, and many youth have become first-generation high school graduates and college students. Click here to view the invite for the event and click here to view a list of sponsorship opportunities.
Buys & Associates’ Stormwater Training Seminars
According to figures reported by the EPA, states in the Rocky Mountain Region have increased enforcement to target stormwater violations, especially at construction, industrial, and oil and gas sites. With above average summer rainfall and anticipated heavy snowfall for the coming winter, poorly planned sites or ineffective stormwater management programs may result in timely project delays and costly fines for operators found out of compliance.
Buys & Associates, Inc. will be hosting two Stormwater Management & Erosion Control training workshops in September.These seminars are designed to help companies properly plan sites from the beginning, identify and fix sites found out of compliance, and will assist in minimizing costly stormwater violations in the future. B&A’s Stormwater Program Manager and Training Instructor, Mr. John A. Jehn, has trained hundreds of satisfied oil and gas companies on stormwater program management, federal and state permitting, inspection and reporting requirements, and final site stabilization and project closeout.
September 24, 2009- Sheridan, WY
Updated: RPSEA Member Reception
September 21, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
All RPSEA Members and their Washington advisors are invited to join the RPSEA Board of Directors and staff for a Member Reception the evening of Monday, September 21, from 5:30-7 p.m. The reception will take place at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room B369, on Independence Avenue, SE, across from the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress and Senators will be special guests at the event, as will be Administration officials.
Please click here to RSVP for this event or contact Danette Mozisek for more information.
DJ Basin Energy Expo
September 23, 2009 in Greeley, CO
Anadarko, Noble and EnCana sponsor this expo so residents can learn more about energy development in northeast Colorado. At this community event, attendees will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with representatives from the natural gas and oil industry, as well as the alternative energy industry, and governmental and regulatory agencies.
Click here for more information.
The Front Range Energy Career Expo and Forum (Expo)
October 15, 2009 at Tivoli Auraria Campus
The Front Range Energy Career Expo and Forum is 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 three years.
Click here for the Sponsorship Form.
Hydraulic Fracturing Conference
November 12-13, 2009 in Denver, Colorado
Presented by the American Institute of Professional Geologists, this day and a half conference is designed to focus on technical, regulatory, legal, and political aspects of this production-enhancing technology. Presenters and attendees will represent the private sector, government, and academia. The conference is structured to allow for consideration and ample discussion of the most crucial aspects of the hydrofracing process as it pertains to oil & gas production, groundwater production, environmental, and economic impacts.
The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) was founded in 1963 to certify the credentials of practicing geologists and to advocate on behalf of the profession. AIPG represents the professional interests of all practicing geoscientists in every discipline. Its advocacy efforts are focused on the promotion of the role of geology and geologists in society.
Click here for Call For Abstracts and Click here to Register Online (click on Events)
For additional details contact Cathy Duran or (303) 412-6205.
