Energy Director to run for Colorado Weld County Commission
Jason Maxey, the director of the Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department, will run for county commissioner of District 1 next year.
Commissioner Mike Freeman, the current District 1 commissioner, is serving his third and final term through the end of 2024.
Maxey has served as the director of the Oil and Gas Energy Department since county commissioners voted to create the department in 2019. In a news release announcing his candidacy, Maxey said he’ll continue to value the importance of the agriculture industry, advocate for private property rights and work to support a robust and diverse energy industry.
Maxey, a Weld County resident of more than 33 years, has more than 15 years of experience in the energy industry, including consulting, project management, key account management, governmental affairs and oil and gas regulatory work.
Maxey’s campaign website is available at www.maxeyforweld.com. His campaign can also be found on Facebook, “Maxey for Commissioner – District 1.” (Feel free to wish him luck and say hello from The Crude Life and yourself!)
Wyoming Sees Litigation Issues In Oil
Nearly every lease and permit issued in Wyoming since 2021 has faced litigation from various anti-fossil fuel groups. As a result, 2 million acres are languishing in a holding pattern awaiting court decisions that will take years.
The Bureau of Land Management is withholding oil and gas drilling permits on leased acres on public land, if the leased acres are in litigation.
Pete Obermueller, president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, said the agency is doing this by its own choice.
Nearly every lease and permit issued in Wyoming since 2021 has faced litigation from various anti-fossil fuel groups, he said.
As a result, 2 million acres are languishing in this holding pattern awaiting court decisions that may take years.
“The agency has an extreme bunker mentality resulting from the onslaught of litigation on their every decision that approves human activity on federal land,” Obermueller said.
Energy Supply Chain Refocusing on Oil and Gas: EIC
Despite growing demand and ambitious country pledges for net zero, the energy supply chain is shifting into oil and gas, triggered by a lack of consistent and profitable work in green projects, raising concerns that net zero 2050 commitments will also be delayed
This is according to the Energy Industries Council's (EIC) 7th Survive and Thrive report.
The world's oil and gas markets are experiencing a period of significant growth and a return to boom times, according to the EIC Report. This finding is backed up by EIC's Financial Investment Decision (FID) data, which paints a sobering picture. It suggests that oil and gas projects are more valuable and more likely to proceed with full funding compared to renewable and transition technologies such as wind and hydrogen.
The report shows that oil and gas segments, including upstream, midstream, and downstream, have the highest FID rates, averaging around 20% for projects with startup dates between this year and 2028. In contrast, renewable energy and energy transition technologies have much lower FID rates. Offshore wind stands at only 8%, hydrogen at 3%, carbon capture at 2%, and floating offshore wind at just 1%.
This new data raises the prospect of rapidly widening disparities between green ambitions and the reality of what businesses actually see in their order books, the report concludes.
‘Wild West’ Oil Exploration Ending on Nevada BLM land?
A government auction this week for 4,700 acres in Nevada failed to draw any bids for oil and gas exploration. That’s a big change from just a few years ago, when speculators were rushing to lease land in Nevada.
So what’s changed? Quite a bit, actually.
Biden administration policies are raising the cost of exploration through Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leases, kicking up the price from $2 per acre to a new rate of $5 per acre. Changes passed in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) last year also mean more up-front fees for companies looking for oil.
“This tepid interest in new leasing suggests drillers are already sitting on the vast majority of federal land that is ever likely to produce oil,” according to the Center for Western Priorities, which describes itself as a nonpartisan conservation and advocacy organization.
OMV Discovers “Largest Gas Deposit” in Austria
Austria’s OMV has confirmed its largest domestic gas discovery this century on the same day it signed a long-term LNG supply deal with supermajor BP.
OMV said that deep exploration well Wittau Tief-2a is now a confirmed new natural gas discovery, the biggest of its kind for the company in 40 years.
Alfred Stern, OMV chief executive, said: “As we continue to work on our strategy to diversify our supply sources of natural gas, this new find marks a major contribution to the natural gas supply of our customers especially in Austria, with an expected increase of our local production.”
The OMV operated well is located in Lower Austria and was drilled to a final depth of 5000 metres after five months of operations.
Preliminary evaluation indicates potential recoverable resources of approximately 48 terawatt hour or 28 million barrels of oil equivalent.
After full development of the discovery, OMV expects its natural gas production in Austria to increase by 50%.
On September 18, 2023 The Crude Life will host it’s Fourth Annual Podcast Party at the Energy Exposition being held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This year, three energy producing state governors will be joining us.
The Energy Exposition has educated tens of thousands of people in Gillette, Wyoming; Billings, Montana, and Loveland, Colorado, over the last 20 years on procedures, technology, safety, environmental practices, and equipment used in the oil and gas industry.
Exhibitors and Symposiasts represent a wide range of services, including but not limited to, exploration, production, downstream, and all phases of support to the oil and gas industry.
Energy Producing states Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will be attending this year’s expo and kick-off party.
To reserve Exhibit Space contact
Austin Jennings
239-898-3923
austin@energyexposition.com
For discounts and a special gift, use promo code OTIS
The Earth’s Champion Johnny Green (taking pic) is Cleanin’ and Johnny Greenin’ across America engaging with All Walks of Life.
The Greatest Environmentalist on Earth is spreading the word that “Renewables Ain’t Doable Without Fossil Fuelables”.
If you would like The Earth’s Champion Johnny Green and the 15-pounds of Eco-Authority to come to your event, school or town, contact The Crude Life for more info.
“All Energy Has A Purpose, And We Are All Energy,” Johnny Green reminds people of all ages.
Click here to read The Oilman Magazine’s feature on The Earth’s Champion Johnny Green
Click here to read Natural Gas Now’s feature on The Earth’s Champion Johnny Green
The Crude Life Daily Radio News & Lifestyle Update
Curtis Shuck, chairman of the board, Well Done Foundation, explains the difference between “orphan” and “abandoned” wells as well as explain why the term “Zombie Well” is a social media creation and more common than one would think.
The Crude Life Daily Update has been running as a 3-minute news and lifestyle short on radio stations since 2011. In 2015 online podcast portals and news outlets were added to the list of distributors.
Expert interviews, news updates and multimedia crossovers available upon request.
If you have a news release, energy innovation, story idea, community lifestyle feature, guest, music band or show topic requests, email studio(at)thecrudelife(dot)com
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About The Crude Life
Award winning interviewer and broadcast journalist Jason Spiess and a team of Content Correspondents engage with the industry’s best thinkers, writers, politicians, business leaders, scientists, entertainers, community leaders, cafe owners and other newsmakers in one-on-one interviews and round table discussions.
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Weld County Leadership, Largest Gas Deposit Discovered, Supply Chain and are Zombie Wells a Media Creation or Real?