Archive for April, 2015
Job cuts in 31 US states – oil and gas industries take hit
Job cuts numbers highest in Texas, followed by Oklahoma Employers in 31 U.S. states cut jobs last month as weak economic growth weighed on hiring and a slowdown in oil and gas drilling caused big job losses in some states. The Labor Department said Tuesday that unemployment rates rose or were unchanged in 27 states […]
Driverless cars: Increasing safety, changing roadway infrastructure
Driverless cars may reduce congestion, speed harmonization By Peter Stone, Professor of Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin Certain technologies go from being almost unimaginable to commonplace in what seems like the blink of an eye. For example, it was a relatively short time between when microwave ovens were introduced and when they became […]
Energy companies can face states’ price fixing claims: Supreme Court
Energy companies can be sued under state antitrust laws The U.S. Supreme Court says a group of energy companies can be sued under state antitrust laws for illegally manipulating natural gas prices more than a decade ago during California’s energy crisis. The justices on Tuesday ruled 7-2 against American Electric Power Co., Duke Energy Co. […]
2004 Gulf oil leak: Senator presses for data, records
Drilling platform toppled during Hurricane Ivan, resulting in Gulf oil leak A U.S. senator from Florida is pressing federal officials to disclose technical data and other information about a decade-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, after an investigation by The Associated Press revealed evidence that the spill is far worse than a company or government regulators […]
Bront Bird: NFL linebacker turned Permian entrepreneur
NFL players entrust Bront Bird with savings to help start West Texas pipe inspection company What do professional football and oilfield businesses have in common? According to Bront Bird, running his Midland-based pipe inspection company like an NFL team gives him a big leg up over his competitors. Bird brings the same fiercely competitive nature […]
Halliburton cut 9,000 jobs in 6 months, maybe more to come
Halliburton posts loss of $643M in first quarter Halliburton Co. has cut 9,000 jobs, more than 10 per cent of its workforce, in about six months and is considering more cost-cutting moves as falling oil prices sap demand for its drilling help. Halliburton executives disclosed the job cuts Monday on a conference call with investors. The […]
USA upgrades oil by rail regulations, why not Canada?
Canada lagging on oil by rail regulations? Transport Minister Lisa Raitt is being left in the dust by her American counterparts and her lack of action could have serious consequences for Canadian towns and cities as oil by rail transport continues to expand. On Friday, US transportation officials introduced new regulations requiring oil by rail […]
Possible oil, drilling fees hike by Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management: Current regs failed to keep pace with advances, market The Obama administration took a first step Friday toward a possible increase in fees charged for oil and gas companies to drill on federal lands. The Bureau of Land Management issued a notice seeking public comment on whether regulations are needed to […]
Oil by rail trains told to slow down by US transportation officials
Railroads also asked to more closely inspect oil by rail trains U.S. federal transportation officials said Friday they’re taking a series of steps to improve the safety of oil by rail trains hauling flammable liquids, including an emergency order limiting train speeds to no more than 40 mph in “high impact” urban areas. Among other steps […]
Voluntary methane emission targets best strategy for American oil and gas?
Industry says methane emission levels have dropped dramatically in recent years despite much higher production The American energy industry is ignoring a potent political push back in its battle with the Obama Administration over methane emission regulations : Committing to doing the job better and faster voluntarily than cumbersome regulation could ever achieve. On Tuesday, […]
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