Count of active oil and gas drilling rigs in Permian Basin is up 14 percent in first 2 weeks of 2021, according to reports from Baker Hughes. As of Jan. 15, there were 189 rigs in Permian Basin (179 previous week, 175 to start 2021), 169 rigs in Texas (161 previous week, 161 to start […]

Texas Petro Index declined for the 21st straight month in November 2020 to 137.0 from 139.9 in October 2020 and 194.8 in November 2019 (down 30 percent in past year). The monthly TPI report from petroleum economist Karr Ingham added, “Improvements in prices and rig count will eventually – and hopefully sooner rather than later […]

In its quarterly announcement of results for 2020Q4, Houston-based Halliburton said this week that it successfully deployed the industry’s first electric-powered fracturing operation for Cimarex Energy in Permian Basin. Halliburton has completed more than 300 stages across multiple wells using utility-powered electric frac pumps that demonstrated “consistent superior performance.” Halliburton said its electric-powered equipment is […]

WaterWorld and E&E News EnergyWire reported that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved Texas’ request to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) within the state and regulate discharges of produced water, hydrostatic test water, and oil and gas discharges. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will assume permitting authority for the discharges of oil […]

Oslo-based research firm Rystad Energy said Jan. 14 that the share of gross natural gas output that is flared at the wellhead in Permian Basin plummeted to a modern shale-era record low in 2020Q4. Rystad said preliminary data show 1.6 percent of Permian gas production was flared in 2020Q4. The absolute amount of flared gas […]

Three new members will be added to the Petroleum Hall of Fame April 29 at Bush Convention Center in Midland. They are Frank M. Late, a native of Arkansas and automobile dealer who launched his oil and gas career in 1944 with the beginning of Cactus Drilling; Paul L. Morris, a native of West Virginia […]

Port of Brownsville said Jan. 5 it reached long-term lease agreement with Texas LNG Brownsville to secure the Texas LNG export project site for up to 50 years. The port’s announcement said, “The lease agreement is an important milestone bringing the FERC-permitted project closer to a final investment decision while also confirming to LNG buyers […]

Minneapolis-based Northern Oil and Gas said Jan. 7 its 11 transactions in 2020Q4 included 4 in Permian Basin that accounted for 1.1 net wells in process, 219 net acres and 0.6 net undrilled locations. Northern invests in non-operated minority working and mineral interests in oil and gas properties in Permian and Williston. Northern’s $8.4 million […]

U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland (D-NM) is president-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees land management, ocean energy management, wildlife management and science, and geological sciences. Haaland, 60, is a graduate of Highland High School in Albuquerque and University of New Mexico and a former chair of the […]