Supervisor apologizes for ‘greed’ comments

Supervisor apologizes for ‘greed’ comments

CASPER, WYO.

The supervisor of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has apologized for saying greed is motivating people in the Pavillion area who blame hydraulic fracturing for polluting the groundwater.

Tom Doll made the remarks at a meeting of state regulators in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The energy news publication Energy- Wire quoted Doll as saying Pavillion area residents are “just looking to be compensated.”

A spokesman for Gov. Matt Mead says Doll’s comments at the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission Compact meeting don’t reflect the administration’s view.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports Doll apologized for the remarks, calling them inappropriate and inconsiderate.

Fracking involves pumping water, sand and chemicals underground to crack open oil and gas deposits.

A draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report theorizes that fracking might have polluted groundwater in the Pavillion area.

Exxon Mobil Corp. considers expansion

Houston

Exxon Mobil Corp. is considering a multibillion-dollar expansion of its giant petrochemical complex near Houston.

The company estimated the expansion at its Baytown complex about 30 miles east of Houston would provide about 10,000 construction jobs, then 350 permanent jobs once new facilities are up and running. Exxon anticipates a 2016 startup.

Exxon, like other petrochemical firms that have announced expansions, is looking to take advantage of a surplus of natural gas that’s pushed prices near 10-year lows in the U.S.

“We believe the North American natural-gas resource is abundant and can support both domestic-energy needs as well as exports to the global market,” spokeswoman Margaret Ross said. “The proposed investment reflects Exxon Mobil’s continued confidence in the natural-gas-driven revitalization of the U.S. chemical industry.”

City council passes limits on drilling

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

Morgantown City Council unanimously introduced a package of zoning ordinances that would severely limit where shale-gas wells could be drilled.

The regulations are up for a public hearing this week. They would effectively limit drilling and hydraulic fracturing to about 2 percent of land within city limits, including airport property.

Wells could be drilled on West Virginia University land, but only if there’s an educational or research purpose.

Media outlets say council also voted to repeal a drilling and fracking ban it passed last summer. It was overturned by a judge who ruled the city overstepped its legal authority.

Councilman Bill Byrne was the lone dissenter. He said the city should have waited to remove the ban from its books until the new zoning laws are in place.