Exploring EnErgy nEws • December 2018, Page 7

oil & gas CornErWorld – NatioN – State

Ouch! $2.2 million fine for Texas waste disposal company

Rig counts drop in Oklahoma and across

the nation“Rig counts drop in Oklahoma and

across the nation” okenergytoday.com, 21 November 2018.

Both Oklahoma and the U.S. dropped in the number of active oil and gas rigs in the past abbreviated week, according to Baker Hughes Co. which released the figures two days earlier than normal because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Oklahoma’s count dropped two to hit 144 rigs while the national count fell by three to hit 1,079. The number of oil rigs fell by 3 to reach 885 while the number of gas rigs was unchanged at 194.

The U.S. count is still 156 higher than last year’s count of 923 at this time. There are 138 more oil rigs than a year ago and the number of gas rigs is 18 higher.

Oklahoma’s count compares to Texas where the number of rigs slipped 3 to reach 532. Kansas added one rig to hit 49 according to the Red Top Rig Report.

Colorado stayed at 34 while Loui-siana added four to reach 69 and New Mexico grew bny 3 to hit 108.

North Dakota’s count fell by 3 to reach 152 while the number of work-ing rigs in Wyoming dropped two to

“Ouch! $2.2 million fine for Texas waste disposal company” okenergytoday.com, 26 November 2018.

The state of New Mexico has come down hard on a Texas-based oilfield driller and waste disposal company, fining the firm $2.2 million for pollution violations.

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department announced a state district court order that Siana Op-erating, based in Midland, Texas had to also cease disposal activi-ties and clean up polluted well sites in the state.

The sites are located in the Permian Basin which is in the southeast part of New Mexico. A spokeswoman for the agency, Beth Wojahn said Siana had not fulfilled provisions of the recent court judgment.

State regulators have accused Siana of failing to comply with a 2016 settlement agreement to address spills of oily salt water at well sites in southeastern New Mexico and cap an abandoned well.

Wastewater from oil and natural gas drilling operations is typically de-livered by truck to disposal sites like Siana’s, where most oil is skimmed off before water is injected deep underground.

Siana has been a major provider of well-water disposal services in New Mexico, but ran afoul of permit rules overseen by the Oil Conservation Division.

The State Land Office also is engaged in litigation with Siana over accu-sations the company trespassed and spilled waste on state trust lands where it stopped making lease payments years ago.

reach 28.Of the oil and gas plays, the

Permian remained at 493 while the Mississippian in Oklahoma and Kansas stayed at 7. The D-J Niobrara in Colorado remained at 29 while the Woodfords in Oklahoma were steady at 10 rigs. The Granite Wash in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle dropped one to hit 15 working rigs. Brock

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