Photo source: YouTube
Posts filed under Oil and Gas
Obama Puts Rhetoric Over Reason in Denying Keystone Pipeline
Photo source: joemiller.us
It should come as no surprise to anyone, President Obama has decided in all of his wisdom to kill the Keystone XL pipeline that was touted to bring thousands of jobs and injecting billions of dollars into the economy. Apart from a change in administration in the next election and a Republican President and Congress, this project is fundamentally dead.
Reactions from the House of Representatives and Louisiana legislators came swiftly. Congressman Charles Boustany issued the following by email shortly after the decision was announced this morning:
“The President’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline goes against years of studies showing little environmental impact but significant economic impact. I’m disappointed the President is putting a radical environmental agenda over our country’s jobs agenda when we need more jobs & energy integration with our allies. This is a tragic missed opportunity for our country.”
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise released the following statement in reaction to the decision:
“With his rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama is continuing his war on American energy, choosing the demands of a small group of radical environmental extremists over the strong majority of the American people and the more than 40,000 jobs this bipartisan project would have created,” Rep. Scalise said. “The American people deserve better than this from their President. We will not give up and the House will continue to fight for the priorities of hard-working taxpayers who know the Keystone XL pipeline is right for America's economy and for our energy security.”
Anything that this President can do to hurt the oil and gas industry, he's determined to do just that. This is just more evidence.
Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore Blasts Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell Over BP Settlement
Photo source: The Lens
Lt. Gen. Russel Honore has come out with an opinion piece that is critical of the decision by Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to settle with oilfield giant BP over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In what amounts to Caldwell being called out for aiding and abetting his big money attorney friends while ignoring the best interests of his state, Honore calls Caldwell to the carpet and states that the state could have gotten a better settlement.
Read more: BP settlement: Tens of millions for lawyers, not nearly enough for the coast
Hercules Offshore is the Latest Victim of the Downturn in Oil and Gas
Photo source: Rigzon
With the continuing downward spiral in the price of oil, another service industry provider is in the process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As noted, the 44% fall in oil prices have substantially impacted the company, which has led to a hit on both the service industry and drilling contractors.
Read more: Hercules Offshore in Deal with Debtors, to File Under Chapter 11
Louisiana Continues to Lead During Downturn in the Oil / Gas Industry
Photo source: NOLA
Even though economic times are still not optimal in the oil and gas industry in the United States, Louisiana is still continuing to surge with recent sales of leases in the state. June saw a 2-year high in sales located in the northern section of Louisiana.
Read more: Louisiana oil, gas lease sales hit 2-year high in June
RELEASE: Vitter Releases Energy Plan, "Leading With Energy"
For Immediate Release Contact: Luke Bolar
June 11, 2015 504-779-3771
Vitter Releases Energy Plan, “Leading With Energy”
New chapter of Vitter’s plan on energy released today as part of Together, Louisiana Strong
METAIRIE, LA. – David Vitter (R-LA) today released his chapter on energy as part of his plan, “Together, Louisiana Strong: Our blueprint for building a brighter future.” Chapter 9 of the Vitter plan is entitled “Leading With Energy.”
You can read Vitter’s energy plan here.
“Our energy sector represents enormous Louisiana riches—not just in natural resources, but in people, innovation, and know-how,” Vitter said. “Growing up, I saw this first-hand through the eyes of my dad, who was chief of Gulf production for Chevron. I see it today as I fight the Obama administration’s anti-oil and gas policies. As our governor, I will see Louisiana through to an even more vibrant energy future with clear vision and determined leadership.”
In Chapter 9 of “Together, Louisiana Strong,” Vitter details how he’ll work to review all state tax policy that impacts energy and will streamline the state’s regulatory process at the Department of Natural Resources. Vitter’s plan explains that he will attack environmental overregulation at the federal level and make litigation reform a real priority to end frivolous lawsuits that cost Louisiana jobs. Read all of Vitter’s proposals here.
The chapter also highlights David Vitter’s concrete, proven record in support of our energy industry. The Vitter Record includes a number of bills he authored and passed in the Senate and how he led opposition to President Obama’s drilling moratorium in the gulf until they finally agreed to issue 15 deepwater permits and withdrew the moratorium.
See the first nine chapters of Together, Louisiana Strong here.
In addition to “Leading With Energy,” Vitter has already released the following eight chapters of the plan.
· Stabilizing The Budget Through Spending & Tax Reform
· Dramatically Improving Education for All Our Children
· Building World Class Infrastructure to Relieve Traffic Congestion and Grow Jobs
· Reforming Government, Rooting Out Corruption And Cronyism
· Improving our Public-Private Hospital Partnerships, Reforming Medicaid
· Restoring our Coast, Protecting our People
· Supporting our Farmers and Fishermen
Vitter has compiled his plan by meeting with Louisianians of all walks of life and by listening to their ideas for building a brighter future. Vitter has held 382 in person Town Hall Meetings and 210 Telephone Town Halls. As a candidate for Governor, Vitter has held 12 Leadership Forums on the key challenges we face as a state specifically to develop this blueprint, with dozens of informal meetings and conference calls in addition.
Vitter will be releasing additional chapters as they’re added in the next several weeks.
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Louisiana is a World Energy Powerhouse
Photos source: The States as Energy Powerhouses
In a recent piece, if Louisiana was counted as a country, we would rank #10 in terms of global energy powerhouses with the production of natural gas. Additionally, the entire Gulf of Mexico regions would rank 19th in terms of crude production. There is no reason why we should be beholden to foreign entities and energy producing countries when we are sitting on top of these types of resources that could easily make us energy independent as a nation.
Read more: The States as Energy Powerhouses
2015 OIL & GAS INDUSTRY DAY AT THE LOUISIANA STATE CAPITAL
Photo source: International Business Times
Per the Grow Louisiana Coalition website, the upcoming industry day is on May 4th:
Monday, May 4th
Noon
Pentagon Barracks
River Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
"For over 100 years, energy companies have created the best jobs in our stand and led the way in environmental stewardship. We must work to keep it that way. Louisiana needs leaders who will step up to protect our jobs and our quality of life."
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF "CORRUPT BUDDY CALDWELL"
Source: Flickr
In a revolving door of corruption and mismanagement of taxpayer money, the ethically challenged Louisiana Attorney General, Buddy Caldwell, has stepped into another political dog pile. Past questions have been raised concerning the ties to Caldwell, political contributions and the use of consultants in the AG's office. Now, more information has been made available that highlight how much money is being paid to consultants that are working for Caldwell, specifically on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred over 5 years ago.
A chart on the Louisiana Record website highlights the gross mismanagement of taxpayer money paid to these consultants and the subsequent political contributions to Caldwell. Deepwater Horizon billings total nearly $26 million dollars and subsequent political contributions to Caldwell from the attorneys involved in the billings total over $186 million dollars.
Photo source: Louisiana Record
Smell of "quid pro quo" much?
DEEPWATER HORIZON'S EFFECTS STILL BEING FELT
Photo source: thenextweb.com
More than 5 years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster and subsequent environmental catastrophe that transpired, many industries associated with the Gulf of Mexico are making a comeback. However, there is still one Gulf dependent industry that is still reeling from the effects of this incident today.
Read more: Five Years Later One Local Industry Still Feels Effects of Deep Water Horizon Spill
DEEPWATER HORIZON FRAUD IS CONTINUING
Photo source: CBS News
A recent piece in the Louisiana Record indicates that an Alabama woman has been sentenced to two years in prison and, under a plea agreement, ordered to pay back $951,400 to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust after pleading guilty to defrauding the claims center. The defendant could have been sentenced to 20 years in prison as a result of this fraud.
The leeches that are dependent on tragedy or fraud are abundant in this case. BP has indicated that $19,942,626 has been paid out fraudulently as a result of this disaster.
The passing of the five years anniversary that took place last week only highlights that people will go to any length to make money off someone's pain.
PORTRAITS OF DEEPWATER HORIZON DECEASED; 5 YEARS LATER
Courtesy of NOLA.com
Today marks the 5th anniversary of one of the biggest natural disaster in US history, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that was caused by an explosion on the Transocean drilling rig working for BP. For the family members of those that were killed on that day, it is another reminder of a year that has passed since the loss of their loved ones. Here is a piece on those that were taken too soon.
Read more: Remembering the victims, 5 years after the Deepwater Horizon Disaster and BP oil spill
