Ann McElhinney
High School Students Attend Oil & Gas Education and Career Fair
October 2, 2012 by
New Mexico Students to Learn about Technologies and Career Opportunities
On October 2-3, 2012, 250 high school juniors and seniors from across New Mexico will be in Artesia to learn more about the workings of the state’s oil and gas industry at the New Mexico MESA (Math Engineering and Science Achievement) Oil and Gas Education and Career Fair.
Students will have the opportunity to learn about job opportunities in many different areas of the oil and gas industry. They will also visit oil and gas exploration/production sites near Artesia. “The oil and gas industry has a high demand for young math, engineering, and science oriented individuals, and this event is designed to let them know of the great opportunities for careers in this industry.,” says New Mexico MESA, Executive Director, Toney Begay.
Members of the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association (NMOGA) are sponsoring the event. “The oil and gas industry is proud to be bringing some of our state’s best and brightest high school students to learn more about our industry,” says Kent Cravens, NMOGA Director of Governmental Affairs.
Amanda Trujillo, a former New Mexico MESA student who graduated from Cibola High School in Albuquerque and New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, conceived of the event. Ms. Trujillo started as in intern with Yates Petroleum in Artesia and now works for the company as an environmental scientist.
The event will also feature an outdoor equipment exposition at the Bulldog Bowl parking lot. Oil and gas service and equipment companies will display numerous pieces of technical equipment. The companies will have their engineers and technicians at the event to explain the detailed workings of the equipment to the students.
Comment Period Extended for Potash/Oil & Gas Order
August 16, 2012 by
Comment Period Extended for Draft Secretarial Order Revising Rules for
Co-Development of Oil and Gas and Potash Resources in Southeast New Mexico
Santa Fe, NM – The Department of the Interior has granted a 15-day extension of the public comment period for the draft Secretarial Order to promote orderly and safe development of oil and gas and potash resources in southeast New Mexico. The request for additional time was made by Senators Udall and Bingaman to allow the State of New Mexico, affected counties, affected companies, and citizens to consider the implications of the proposed secretarial guidance and to formulate substantive and meaningful comments for the Secretary to consider in a final rule.
The public comment period will now close on Friday, August 31, 2012 and no further extensions will be granted.
The draft secretarial Order and original 30-day comment period was announced by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on July 12, 2012. Public comment on the draft order is encouraged so that all comments can be considered in the final rule, which is expected to be completed later this year.
Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
E-mail: therrell@blm.gov;
Fax: 505-954-2115; or
Mail: Bureau of Land Management
New Mexico State Office
301 Dinosaur Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87508
For further information, please contact Tony Herrell, Deputy State Director, Mineral Resources; telephone 505-954-2222; address 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508; e-mail: therrell@blm.gov.
BP Donates $4 million to San Juan College School of Energy
August 15, 2012 by
FARMINGTON, NM – BP America Production Company today announced a $4 million donation to San Juan College to help build a new facility for students pursuing careers in energy-related fields.
BP’s gift to the School of Energy is designed to help meet growing workforce development needs in the San Juan Basin’s energy industry and across onshore production businesses in North America.
The gift will go towards the development of a new building on the Farmington campus in a location yet to be determined, as well as state-of-the-art curriculum and training courses in disciplines ranging from natural gas to solar power.
“We are extremely grateful for BP’s generosity and partnership in this endeavor,” said Dr. Toni Pendergrass, President of San Juan College. “With BP’s support, the investment will bring new revenues to local businesses, while at the same time expanding the current tax base and revenues for the state of New Mexico.”
The School of Energy has already created one of the most successful technical education and training programs in North America. It graduates approximately 250 students per year in associate degree and certificate energy-focused programs, while training over 7,000 individuals per year in various industry curricula.
With their accredited Natural Gas Compression and Lease Operator program, students are able to earn an Associate Degree or certification. In addition to natural gas production, the School of Energy offers programs in commercial driving licensure (CDL), solar energy, and occupational safety.
BP’s donation, to build a new “BP School of Energy” facility, will enable the School of Energy to meet growing workforce training needs in the industry, expanding opportunities for students and employers alike.
BP currently recruits employees from the School of Energy, and sends employees to the College for an eight-day “Jump Start Immersion Program.”
“The School of Energy is leading BP’s onshore workforce development program,” said Tim Harrington, BP’s North America Gas Regional President. “The programs offered here at San Juan College will prepare students well to ensure the safety of people and the protection of the environment in natural gas development.”
In addition to the initial $4 million donation provided by BP, San Juan College’s governing board has pledged $2 million toward the project. The San Juan College Foundation will initiate a capital campaign, and once the Foundation raises an additional $3 million, BP has pledged to match another $1 million.
“The San Juan College Foundation Board is excited to join BP’s effort in furthering the training capacity of the School of Energy,” says Gayle Dean, SJC Foundation executive director. “Thanks to the longstanding partnership between BP and the School of Energy and a generous community, this joint endeavor will benefit the community and energy workforce in countless ways now and in the future.”
“New Mexico is a leader in energy production and this investment will provide an important boost to our state’s economy,” said Governor Susana Martinez. “With a talented workforce and a commitment to responsible development of our resources, New Mexico and San Juan County are a perfect home for BP’s training efforts.”
Why not say Frack or Fracking in New Mexico?
August 1, 2012 by
Oil, gas industry opposes use of word ‘fracking’ for method
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:22 am by Associated Press in Fracking, Natural Gas
NEW YORK — A different kind of F-word is stirring a linguistic and political debate as controversial as what it defines.
The word is “fracking” — as in hydraulic fracturing, a technique long used by the oil and gas industry to free oil and gas from rock.
It’s not in the dictionary, the industry hates it, and President Barack Obama didn’t use it in his State of the Union speech — even as he praised federal subsidies for it.
The word sounds nasty to some, and environmental advocates have been able to use it to generate opposition — and revulsion — to what they say is a nasty process that threatens water supplies.
“It obviously calls to mind other less socially polite terms, and folks have been able to take advantage of that,” said Kate Sinding, a senior lawyer at the Natural Resources Defense Council who works on drilling issues.
Industry executives argue that the word is deliberately misspelled by environmental activists and that it has become a slur that should not be used by media outlets that strive for objectivity.
Click here to read entire story
Even though we like to call it hydraulic fracturing in New Mexico, click here for more information.
Associated Press Story on Hydraulic Fracturing
July 31, 2012 by
Image Cortesy of API
By KEVIN BEGOS
— Jul. 22 6:44 PM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — In the debate over natural gas drilling, the companies are often the ones accused of twisting the facts. But scientists say opponents sometimes mislead the public, too.
Critics of fracking often raise alarms about groundwater pollution, air pollution, and cancer risks, and there are still many uncertainties. But some of the claims have little — or nothing— to back them.
For example, reports that breast cancer rates rose in a region with heavy gas drilling are false, researchers told The Associated Press.
Fears that natural radioactivity in drilling waste could contaminate drinking water aren’t being confirmed by monitoring, either.
And concerns about air pollution from the industry often don’t acknowledge that natural gas is a far cleaner burning fuel than coal.
Draft Secretarial Order Revising Rules for Co-Development of Oil & Gas and Potash Resources in Southeast New Mexico
July 12, 2012 by
A draft Order to promote orderly and safe development of oil and gas and potash development was announced by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on July 12, 2012. The public is encouraged to comment on the draft Order during the 30-day public comment period. All comments will be considered in the final rule, which is expected to be completed later this year.
You may submit comments related to the draft Secretary’s Order by any of the following methods:
E-mail: therrell@blm.gov;
Fax: 505-954-2115; or
Mail:
Bureau of Land Management
New Mexico State Office
301 Dinosaur Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87508
All comments will be considered in the final rule, which is expected to be completed later this year. For further information, please contact Tony Herrell, Deputy State Director, Mineral Resources; telephone 505-954-2222; address 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508; e-mail: therrell@blm.gov.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Not Listed as Endangered Species
June 13, 2012 by
Landmark Conservation Agreements Keep Dunes Sagebrush Lizard off the Endangered Species List in NM, TX
Date: June 13, 2012
Contact: Kate Kelly, (DOI) 202-208-6416
Tom Buckley, (FWS) 505-248-6455
WASHINGTON – As a result of unprecedented commitments to voluntary conservation agreements now in place in New Mexico and Texas that provide for the long-term conservation of the dunes sagebrush lizard, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the species does not need to be listed under the Endangered Species Act.
“This is a great example of how states and landowners can take early, landscape-level action to protect wildlife habitat before a species is listed under the Endangered Species Act,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “The voluntary conservation efforts of Texas and New Mexico, oil and gas operators, private landowners and other stakeholders show that we don’t have to choose between energy development and the protection of our land and wildlife – we can do both.”
State-led voluntary conservation efforts to protect existing shinnery oak dune habitat and greatly reduce the impact of oil and gas development across the species’ range now cover over 650,000 acres in New Mexico and Texas, totaling 88 percent of the lizard’s habitat. These measures also minimize the anticipated impacts of other threats, such as off-road vehicle traffic, wind and solar development, and increased predation caused by development.
“The states of New Mexico and Texas have worked tirelessly with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management and scores of landowners and operators in the Permian Basin to conserve and protect habitat that supports the dunes sagebrush lizard and many other species,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “These ongoing efforts will play a key role in ensuring the future of the lizard, while allowing responsible oil and gas development to continue.”
The Endangered Species Act requires that listing decisions be based solely on the best available science. A species is listed as endangered when it is threatened with extinction through all or a significant portion of its range.
Since the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the rule to list the dunes sagebrush lizard in December, 2010, the Service has received and reviewed a wide range of scientific information. New information provided by the BLM and Texas A&M University has enabled the Service to refine mapping of suitable and occupied shinnery oak dune habitat in New Mexico and Texas and identified more known occupied sites for the lizard, especially in Texas.
After a careful analysis of the scientific data and the protections provided by the voluntary conservation efforts, Service biologists determined the lizard is no longer in danger of extinction, nor likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
The Service will closely monitor the conservation measures to ensure they are being implemented and effectively address identified threats. The Service can reevaluate whether the dunes sagebrush lizard requires Endangered Species Act protection.
For more information on the conservation agreements in New Mexico and Texas, please visit here.
For more information on the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard and the withdrawal of the proposed rule, please visit here.
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