"The American Petroleum Institute (API), the trade organization for the oil and natural gas industry, has just begun running a feel-good commercial that argues “America’s future” lies in drilling out domestic reserves of oil and natural gas off our coasts, in our western lands, and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Monday, April 28, 2008
"In the clear: Real-estate slowdown comes at good time for developer"
"Lot sales in Commonweal's Southern Crescent subdivision ground to a halt last summer, with nine of 22 lots sold since they were first offered in 2006. Harrison said the finicky market for conservation lots in a unique development probably dried up on news of possible oil-and-gas drilling in the area and on the tide of a nationwide real-estate slowdown driven by last year's credit crisis."
The Schreiber Report
The "Schreiber Report" is a first hand account of the Rio Arriba County oil & gas drilling permitting moratorium process.
"Nonprofit Buys Land in Galisteo Basin"
"A Santa Fe nonprofit has now purchased more than half of a 13,222-acre former ranch in the Galisteo Basin that it intends to use for open space and new homes.
The recent acquisition of 2,444 acres brings Commonweal Conservancy's total holdings to date to 8,235 acres.
Commonweal has an agreement to purchase the former Thornton family ranch in phases.
The purchases include not just the land but also the mineral rights, at least in cases where the family owned them, spokeswoman Lauren Whitehurst said Saturday. Some of the mineral rights are also owned by the Bureau of Land Management, she said.
Mineral rights have become a big concern in recent months among land owners in the region ever since Tecton Energy of Houston announced plans to explore for oil and gas."
The recent acquisition of 2,444 acres brings Commonweal Conservancy's total holdings to date to 8,235 acres.
Commonweal has an agreement to purchase the former Thornton family ranch in phases.
The purchases include not just the land but also the mineral rights, at least in cases where the family owned them, spokeswoman Lauren Whitehurst said Saturday. Some of the mineral rights are also owned by the Bureau of Land Management, she said.
Mineral rights have become a big concern in recent months among land owners in the region ever since Tecton Energy of Houston announced plans to explore for oil and gas."
"Land Deal Has Us Star Struck Again"
"ORALE SANTA FE: It was pretty interesting to read last week that the Santa Fe County Commission officially cleared the way to buy 65 acres it's been leasing as a business park from the state Land Office. The plan is to allow a movie studio to be built there under the county's jurisdiction.
It's just the latest chapter of the movie industry's love affair with New Mexico— an understandable infatuation, because we live in such a photogenic state. At a press conference last week, county commissioners Mike Anaya, Virginia Vigil and Jack Sullivan handed over a $1.82 million dollar check to state Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons— a nice chunk of change for, yes, you've heard it before, "the children of New Mexico" whose schools benefit from revenue from state trust lands managed by the Land Office (as does the state prison system, by the way, although no one at the Land Office brags too much about all the dough raised for "the felons of our state")."
It's just the latest chapter of the movie industry's love affair with New Mexico— an understandable infatuation, because we live in such a photogenic state. At a press conference last week, county commissioners Mike Anaya, Virginia Vigil and Jack Sullivan handed over a $1.82 million dollar check to state Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons— a nice chunk of change for, yes, you've heard it before, "the children of New Mexico" whose schools benefit from revenue from state trust lands managed by the Land Office (as does the state prison system, by the way, although no one at the Land Office brags too much about all the dough raised for "the felons of our state")."
Sunday, April 27, 2008
"The Real Side"
"As they battle the evil oil monster, opponents of energy exploration near Santa Fe drape the green cape of environmentalism around their shoulders. Underneath they wear a body stocking knit with threads of hypocrisy.
Many of the anti-oil activists live around the Galisteo Basin, the area Tecton Energy wants to explore. Rather than occupy modest quarters inside city limits where they could leave a smaller carbon footprint, many of these activists have fed the sprawl gobbling up the countryside. Starting with McMansions in the Eldorado subdivision, they’ve pushed roads and utilities into land that will never again qualify for the adjective “pristine.”'
Many of the anti-
"Neighbor county OKs drilling ban"
"ESPANOLA — The Rio Arriba County Commissioners unanimously passed an amended moratorium on new oil and gas drilling within their county, approving a four-month ban while it continues to study environmental concerns."
"San Juan County outranks major metro areas in carbon emissions"
"FARMINGTON — San Juan County is ranked No. 6 on the nation's Top 20 Worst Offenders for Carbon Dioxide Emissions list in research published by a Purdue University professor.
Being one of few non-major metropolitan areas included on the list further sets San Juan County apart from other cities listed by Kevin Gurney, Ph.D.
San Juan County follows counties that include Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit.
"This is really due to the electrical demand," Gurney said. "There is a wide-spread phenomena (in the U.S.) to produce power and send it to other areas."'
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
"Rancher's road slimed by drilling fluid; produce(r) says it will be cleaned"
"FARMINGTON — Río Arriba County rancher Bill Smith lost his patience with the oil and gas industry shortly before noon Tuesday.
He's shared the 4,140 acres his family homesteaded near Gobernador in 1910 for years, but he's kept his mouth shut about the industry that generates a lot of money for New Mexico.
But Smith had quite a few things to say when he discovered a quarter mile-long, six- to 12-inch wide swath of drilling fluid leading to a Paul and Sons-owned oil field water truck at about 11:30 a.m.
"ConocoPhillips just drilled a well that has a reserve pit," Smith said. "When I came out here on my motorcycle I found a truck that looked like it dumped this on the road."...
..."Río Arriba County commissioners vote Thursday on a resolution proposing a six-month moratorium on all new drilling in the county, with the exception of American Indian land."Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Nova: "Car of the future" / Chevrolet Volt & Tesla Motors
Nova: "Car of the future"
Tesla Motors
Wikipedia - Tesla Motors
YouTube - Tesla Motors
Chevrolet site - Volt
GM - Volt
Wikipedia - Volt
YouTube - Volt
Monday, April 21, 2008
"Waste Not" - TheAtlantic.com
"Opening the grid to competition is one of the more important steps to take if we’re serious about reducing fossil-fuel use and carbon emissions, yet no one’s talking about doing that. Democratic legislators are nervous about creating incentives for cleaner, cheaper generation that may also benefit nuclear power. Neither party wants to do the dirty work of shutting down old, wasteful generators. And of course the Enron debacle looms over everything.
Technocratic changes to the grid and to industrial plants don’t easily capture the imagination. Recycling industrial energy is a solution that looks, well, gray, not green. Steel plants, coated with rust, grime, and a century’s worth of effluvia, do not make for inspiring photos. Yet Casten, pointing to the 16 heat-recycling contraptions that sit on top of the coke ovens at the East Chicago steel plant, notes that in 2004 they produced as much clean energy as all the grid-connected solar panels in the world. Green power may pay great dividends years from now. Gray power, if we would embrace it, is a realistic goal for today."
Lisa Margonelli is a fellow at the New America Foundation and the author of Oil on the Brain: Petroleum’s Long, Strange Trip to Your Tank, just published in paperback.
Related article, "The Unsung Solution," by Bill McKibben
Sunday, April 20, 2008
"Recovering From Wyoming's Energy Bender" -- The New York Times
"They imply that anything less than full support for the oil companies is un-American. But a bumper sticker on a pick-up truck hints at the truth: “The war is over. Halliburton won.”'...
..."Oil and gas are accustomed to dominating the debate. But Ms. Williams’s forums have created an opportunity for grass-roots rebuttal. Residents, who have so far been cowed by the enormous tax contributions that energy companies make to the state’s coffers, are upholding values not counted in dollars. “My hope is that with our backs against the wall we will finally speak up,” another weather reports participant said.
..."Oil and gas are accustomed to dominating the debate. But Ms. Williams’s forums have created an opportunity for grass-roots rebuttal. Residents, who have so far been cowed by the enormous tax contributions that energy companies make to the state’s coffers, are upholding values not counted in dollars. “My hope is that with our backs against the wall we will finally speak up,” another weather reports participant said.
Maybe Wyomingites, justifiably proud of their roughneck heritage and anxious to keep the oil field work, have realized that this boom isn’t going away soon, and they’d like a little of Wyoming left when the oil companies move back to Texas. “We’re Mother Nature’s bodyguards,” a billboard sponsored by Sportsmen for the Wyoming Range warns. “And yes, we are heavily armed.”'
"San Juan's producers unhappy with latest pit rule delays"
Something unexpected for some readers of the article, "San Juan's producers unhappy with latest pit rule delays, " "The issue of reclaiming and reusing produced and "frac" water is drawing attention in Texas. Reporter Mella McEwen, of the Midland Reporter-Telegram, recently covered an announcement by a local oil and gas company, Stan Weiner of Weiner Oil & Gas, that he planned to partner with General Electric to enter into the "emerging market" of reusing the liquid by-product.
The article was an outgrowth of a Barnett Shale symposium held at Midland College in December.
The state of Texas deals with 6 billion barrels of produced water annually. The amount of produced water brought up by New Mexico's oil and gas producers was not immediately available." (click here for referenced article)
Is the future of oil and gas producers to become water producers?
The article was an outgrowth of a Barnett Shale symposium held at Midland College in December.
The state of Texas deals with 6 billion barrels of produced water annually. The amount of produced water brought up by New Mexico's oil and gas producers was not immediately available." (click here for referenced article)
Is the future of oil and gas producers to become water producers?
"My view: 1872 Mining Act doesn't apply to Ortiz" - Bill Condit
From "My View: 1872 Mining Act doesn't apply to Ortiz, " In other words, whatever happens in Washington D.C. to amend or revoke rights under the 1872 law will have no effect upon Santa Fe Gold Corp.'s lease of the Ortiz area. Exploration and development of the leased area will be governed by state laws, no doubt with ample input from Santa Fe County citizens, not unlike the Tecton Energy oil and gas leases, also entirely on privately owned land and minerals." Point of fact, Santa Fe County has a Mining Ordinance that will apply at the local level for proposed exploration and development of the Ortiz.
From a previous Alamagorda Daily News article, July 23, 2006: Industry leaders insist drilling plan protects Otero Mesa
"HEYCO consultant Bill Condit sat in the Santa Fe municipal airport, his flight to a Colorado energy forum delayed. Loudspeakers crackled overhead, announcing boarding times with static.
"I was a liaison in Vietnam ... there, being a liaison could get you shot. And now I may be in that position again," Condit quipped, surprised that Yates tapped him for a talk with the press.
...
Like Gallagher, Condit attributed fears of irreparable damage on Otero Mesa to misunderstandings of the oil and gas production process.
...
But despite the top geologists and pricey software, Condit admits there's much HEYCO has to learn, and can only learn, from drilling.
"It's absolutely true that more information is necessary before the next step after the next exploratory well," he said. "BLM can talk about the 1,589 acre cap (on total surface disturbance), but that's a long way from happening."
Condit can't admit much else, because most of the company's information is considered proprietary. He cannot reveal how much natural gas production the company anticipates, how it would conduct its exploration, or how much it discovered in 25-1 and 1-Y, the only successful wells ever dug on Otero Mesa.
"We believe one of the reasons George's wells were successful and the others weren't is because they drilled with an air mist, not water," said Condit.
...
"George understands he's going to be constrained by the new plan," said Condit.
...
If U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Black, who is expected to rule any day now, allows the BLM to implement its plan and proceed with drilling, Condit says Yates is committed to using the most environmentally sound techniques available."
From a previous Alamagorda Daily News article, July 23, 2006: Industry leaders insist drilling plan protects Otero Mesa
"HEYCO consultant Bill Condit sat in the Santa Fe municipal airport, his flight to a Colorado energy forum delayed. Loudspeakers crackled overhead, announcing boarding times with static.
"I was a liaison in Vietnam ... there, being a liaison could get you shot. And now I may be in that position again," Condit quipped, surprised that Yates tapped him for a talk with the press.
...
Like Gallagher, Condit attributed fears of irreparable damage on Otero Mesa to misunderstandings of the oil and gas production process.
...
But despite the top geologists and pricey software, Condit admits there's much HEYCO has to learn, and can only learn, from drilling.
"It's absolutely true that more information is necessary before the next step after the next exploratory well," he said. "BLM can talk about the 1,589 acre cap (on total surface disturbance), but that's a long way from happening."
Condit can't admit much else, because most of the company's information is considered proprietary. He cannot reveal how much natural gas production the company anticipates, how it would conduct its exploration, or how much it discovered in 25-1 and 1-Y, the only successful wells ever dug on Otero Mesa.
"We believe one of the reasons George's wells were successful and the others weren't is because they drilled with an air mist, not water," said Condit.
...
"George understands he's going to be constrained by the new plan," said Condit.
...
If U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Black, who is expected to rule any day now, allows the BLM to implement its plan and proceed with drilling, Condit says Yates is committed to using the most environmentally sound techniques available."
HEYCO: heycoenergy.com
Saturday, April 19, 2008
"Drilling Ban," - Rio Grande Sun
"Drilling Ban," Rio Grande Sun:
"The moratorium could last six months or longer while the (Rio Arriba) County develops an ordinance addressing the environmental and cultural effects of the proliferation of wells. It will apply to "any portion of the territory within the County that is not within the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality or not within Native American designated lands," the proposal states. Federal lands are also included in the draft." (full article)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
"Critics slam energy corridor planning," - trib.com
"Critics slam energy corridor planning," from trib.com:
"The vast majority of a draft environmental analysis focuses on explaining why the corridors will have no impact on the environment, said Joanna Prukop, secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. "We disagree with that," she testified.
The corridor designation process is currently proceeding without compliance with key federal laws, consideration of renewable energy resources or efforts to protect the other natural resources and communities, she said....
...The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directed federal agencies to designate energy corridors for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electricity transmission facilities on federal lands in portions of 11 Western states.
Last November, federal agencies released a draft programmatic environmental impact statement. They are currently analyzing 14,000 public comments. They hope to have decisions signed by the end of this year that would designate corridors and amend land management plans in those areas." (full article)
The corridor designation process is currently proceeding without compliance with key federal laws, consideration of renewable energy resources or efforts to protect the other natural resources and communities, she said....
...The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directed federal agencies to designate energy corridors for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electricity transmission facilities on federal lands in portions of 11 Western states.
Last November, federal agencies released a draft programmatic environmental impact statement. They are currently analyzing 14,000 public comments. They hope to have decisions signed by the end of this year that would designate corridors and amend land management plans in those areas." (full article)
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
"The Green Team," Santa Fe Reporter
"The Green Team," by Laura Paskus, sfreporter.com:
"Here—just in time for Earth Day on April 22—are the stories of 10 folks making a difference in New Mexico." (full article)
"Environmental News for New Mexicans," Laura Paskus
"Gold claims draw skepticism"
"Gold claims draw skepticism," santafenewmexican.com:
"An Albuquerque-based mining company has announced plans to mine for gold in the Ortiz Mountains south of Madrid. But a local author who wrote a book about gold mining in the area said the company seems more interested in mining investors than gold....
...Bill Baxter, a San Marcos-area resident who wrote the book The Gold of the Ortiz Mountains, about the history of gold mining in the region, said several of the company's claims raise red flags for him....
...Baxter said he's already been contacted by frantic residents concerned about the proposed development. "If I'm right, this is a tempest in a teapot," he said. "They won't have to worry. This is a stock market event more than it is any kind of gold mine. There is always the chance they may stumble onto King Solomon's mine there, and it's that insanity that makes people who look for gold a little bit crazy."' (full article)
For Albuquerque Journal North online subscribers:
"A company with offices in Albuquerque has plans to mine for gold and possibly other materials in the Ortiz Mountains southeast of Madrid in Santa Fe County, according to information on the company's Web site.
Although Santa Fe Gold Corporation— formerly Azco Mining— said it intends to "begin mining operations as soon as practicable," it also acknowledges on its Web site that it needs various permits and approvals from federal, state and county governments in order to proceed."
"Gold Mining Proposed"
"In the 1980s, Gold Fields Inc. took thousands of ounces of gold using cyanide at the Cunningham Hill Mine, just north of the two sites— the Carache and Lukas deposits— where Santa Fe Gold wants to mine.
State officials said groundwater pollution persisted at the site, and, in 1996, three mining companies that had purchased the mine from Gold Fields reached a settlement over cleanup.
But Carson said he wasn't worried that his company's proposed mining operations could ignite a firestorm.
"Certainly, we would have concerns (about opposition), and it would be up to us to determine that the mining was environmentally safe and (allay) any concerns people might have," he said." Oh, really? What about the regulatory agencies? What about the citizens?
"Gold Mining Planned"
...Bill Baxter, a San Marcos-area resident who wrote the book The Gold of the Ortiz Mountains, about the history of gold mining in the region, said several of the company's claims raise red flags for him....
...Baxter said he's already been contacted by frantic residents concerned about the proposed development. "If I'm right, this is a tempest in a teapot," he said. "They won't have to worry. This is a stock market event more than it is any kind of gold mine. There is always the chance they may stumble onto King Solomon's mine there, and it's that insanity that makes people who look for gold a little bit crazy."' (full article)
For Albuquerque Journal North online subscribers:
"A company with offices in Albuquerque has plans to mine for gold and possibly other materials in the Ortiz Mountains southeast of Madrid in Santa Fe County, according to information on the company's Web site.
Although Santa Fe Gold Corporation— formerly Azco Mining— said it intends to "begin mining operations as soon as practicable," it also acknowledges on its Web site that it needs various permits and approvals from federal, state and county governments in order to proceed."
"Gold Mining Proposed"
"In the 1980s, Gold Fields Inc. took thousands of ounces of gold using cyanide at the Cunningham Hill Mine, just north of the two sites— the Carache and Lukas deposits— where Santa Fe Gold wants to mine.
State officials said groundwater pollution persisted at the site, and, in 1996, three mining companies that had purchased the mine from Gold Fields reached a settlement over cleanup.
But Carson said he wasn't worried that his company's proposed mining operations could ignite a firestorm.
"Certainly, we would have concerns (about opposition), and it would be up to us to determine that the mining was environmentally safe and (allay) any concerns people might have," he said." Oh, really? What about the regulatory agencies? What about the citizens?
"Gold Mining Planned"
Monday, April 14, 2008
"Santa Fe Gold eyes mining in the Ortiz Land Grant" - KSFR
April 14, 2008 -- On KSFR's Monday's midday report:
'As a company eyes gold mining in Santa Fe County, we talk with the state energy and minerals department about how it is regulated. Plus reaction from "DrillingSantaFe."'
http://tinyurl.com/4b2j3p
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Santa Fe Gold Corporation to Mine the Ortiz?
From Seeking Alpha:
"The company (Santa Fe Gold Corporation) owns the Summit Silver-Gold property in a mill site and processing equipment in southwestern New Mexico; mineral lease rights for the Ortiz Gold property in north-central New Mexico, believed to contain 2 million ounces of gold...
...Earnings potential. The Summit and Ortiz properties form a solid base for long-term earnings growth. The operating earnings at $650 gold for Summit are projected to be $10 million a year and for Ortiz $35 million a year....
"The company (Santa Fe Gold Corporation) owns the Summit Silver-Gold property in a mill site and processing equipment in southwestern New Mexico; mineral lease rights for the Ortiz Gold property in north-central New Mexico, believed to contain 2 million ounces of gold...
...Earnings potential. The Summit and Ortiz properties form a solid base for long-term earnings growth. The operating earnings at $650 gold for Summit are projected to be $10 million a year and for Ortiz $35 million a year....
At the current metal prices, which of course are much higher than the $650 gold, I think gold now is around $950, those operating earnings go up quite substantially. And we'll have a look at that as well.
I do also want to make another point about these assets, the Ortiz and the Summit assets. Both of them are quality assets in the sense that when they go into production, they will be in the lower quartile of operating costs worldwide for gold production and that's a very important thing for us." (full article, click here)
For link to Santa Fe Gold Corporation, click here
Damascus Citizens for Self-Government and Friends, LLC
A reader emailed about the below grassroots group:
Damascus Citizens for Self-Government and Friends, LLC
From the website linked above, "CITIZENS' GROUP FORMED IN
Regarding Gas Drilling - It Is Not a Benign Activity . . .
We are a grassroots group in
"Damascus Citizens for Self-Government and Friends, LLC" - abbreviated as DCS.
We are working very hard to prevent the dire effects of gas well drilling, such as polluted drinking water, carcinogens in the farmland and food chain, torn-up roads, risk of gas fires, plummeting real estate values, and screeching noise pollution."
Saturday, April 12, 2008
"Threat or promise?" - aspendailynewsonline
"Threat or promise?" - aspendailynewsonline:
"There is a finite supply of oil and gas. Why not slow the process and end the cycle where the bust is sure to follow the boom? We’d experience less pollution, safer water, less crime, and easier housing. Our communities would be more stable, and there might even be some oil and gas left for our grandchildren. We could avoid installing “man camps” on private property against the will of the property owners."
"Lt. Governor talks energy: Denish puts oil and gas high on priority list" - The Daily Times
"Lt. Governor talks energy: Denish puts oil and gas high on priority list" - The Daily Times:
"Regarding the Río Arriba County Commission's interest in imposing a six-month countywide moratorium on new oil and natural gas drilling, Denish suggested the county might want "more economic development" from drilling, and may see a way to gain from it financially.
"It would be in the interest of the oil companies to sit down with them (the commissioners) and see if an enterprise zone could be developed," she said. "I want to see their thinking."
San Juan County producers worry the moratorium, if enacted April 24, would affect about 50 percent of the drilling work available to their field workers.
Sticking to her statement that New Mexicans want to see responsible drilling, Denish raised the possibility they might drill directionally rather than create separate well pads and roads to them for each site.
"I think a lot of this is spurred by the Galisteo Basin moratorium and the realization that a county can put on additional standards," she said regarding the seemingly new focus on where drilling is allowed, and to what regulations it should adhere." (full story)
Friday, April 11, 2008
"Area home prices fall in first quarter" - Santa Fe New Mexican
From the Santa Fe New Mexican, "Area home prices fall in first quarter":
"Shalizi said sales in Santa Fe County have been affected by a company's announced plan to drill new wells for oil and gas in various parts of the county. "I know a couple of (home) sales that were terminated due to concerns about the (planned) drilling," he said."
Thursday, April 10, 2008
"Editorial: Feds study gas damage; isn't that something?"
"Editorial: Feds study gas damage; isn't that something?" - Santa Fe New Mexican:
"It isn't as if governmental bosses have suffered a surge of concern over harvesting coal and its gaseous by-product in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and other stretches of the West. The energy bill approved by Congress in 2005 said such a study was to have been completed within a year. But such is the resistance from today's Washington to the likes of Congress that some environmental groups sued the Interior Department earlier this year to get its agencies off the dime.
The concern about coal-bed methane has to do with the way it's produced — by pumping out groundwater that traps the gas down in coal seams. Once the gas is extracted, the leftover water is injected into the ground, in New Mexico's case, or run into rivers up in Wyoming and southeastern Colorado. "
The concern about coal-bed methane has to do with the way it's produced — by pumping out groundwater that traps the gas down in coal seams. Once the gas is extracted, the leftover water is injected into the ground, in New Mexico's case, or run into rivers up in Wyoming and southeastern Colorado. "
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