A Billion-Barrel-A-Year Problem

A key solution to the earthquake crisis in Oklahoma and some other energy states is the long-term management of an enormous amount of oil-field wastewater likely triggering the shaking. The energy industry is working to solve this billion-barrel-a-year problem, and one promising alternative to risky disposal wells is reusing wastewater instead of pumping it underground.

What Do You Want To Know About The Latest Energy News?

Coal, earthquakes and electric vehicles have been big news in recent days. These headlines raise as many questions as they answer. Here’s a quick recap of the last week’s most interesting energy stories, and we want to know: what questions do they raise for you? Wyoming Coal Cuts Jobs
The U.S.’s two largest coal mines are each laying off 15 percent of their employees in Wyoming. In the announcement last week, Peabody Energy and Arch Coal said that low natural gas prices, a warm winter season and environmental regulations forced the layoffs, which will affect more than 450 people.

Oklahoma Earthquakes: Who Pays?

New maps released by the U.S. Geological Survey reveal that seven million people are now living in areas at high risk for earthquakes. Not naturally occurring earthquakes but man-made – induced by oil and gas operations that pump wastewater deep underneath the ground. Parts of Oklahoma and Texas are at highest risk. Last year Oklahoma had more than 900 quakes, up from 3 in 2007. But homeowners have few options when they try to recoup damages from insurance companies or the oil and gas industry.