Chevron Sells Interests in Africa

Posted on by July 15, 2014

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) announced on June 13 that its subsidiary, Chevron Global Energy Inc., has sold its 25 percent non-operated interest in a producing oil concession in southern Chad and the related export pipeline interests to the Republic of Chad for approximately $1.3 billion.

“This sale demonstrates our focus on strategically managing our portfolio to maximize the value of our global upstream businesses,” said George Kirkland, vice chairman of San Ramon-based Chevron Corporation.

Trillium Opens CNG Station in Tulare

Posted on by July 15, 2014

A new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station, built by Trillium CNG, is now operating at the Roche Oil, Inc. truck fueling station in Tulare.

The new Trillium CNG station is expected to be the primary fueling location for Northwest Food Products Transportation LLC, which operates a fleet of CNG-fueld trucks.

The refueling station is designed for access by heavy-duty fleet trucks. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it allows two semitrailers to fuel at the same time.

Fracking Moratorium Bill Dies in State Senate

Posted on by June 1, 2014

Senate Bill 1132, which would have imposed a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells, failed May 28th in an 18-16 vote, three short of the 21 votes needed for approval. Four Democrats voted against it, and three more Democrats abstained.

The bill had been proposed by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, and Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who argued that the measure would “pause” the technique that has been opposed by environmental activists.

Opponents of the measure noted that California last year passed a law to regulate fracking. Continue reading →

State Shale Recovery Estimates Cut By 96%

Posted on by May 21, 2014

California’s Monterey Shale formation may yield 600 million barrels of oil, a small fraction of the 13.7 billion barrels formerly estimated, according to news reports linked to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The Los Angeles Times and other publications said Wednesday, May 21st, that the agency will release revised estimates next month, reducing the expected output by 96%. Continue reading →

Dr. Steven Bohlen Is New Head of DOGGR

Posted on by May 13, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Steven Bohlen, of Sonoma, as supervisor of the California Department of Conservation Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) on Tuesday, May 13th.

Dr. Bohlen, 61, has been program director at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory since 2013, and was deputy program director there from 2011 to 2013. Continue reading →

Carson Allows Oil Drilling Moratorium To Expire

Posted on by April 30, 2014

The Carson City Council declined to extend a fracking-inspired moratorium on all oil and gas drilling in a vote taken in the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 30th.

The council enacted a 45-day ban on drilling on March 19th, to give the city time to review the alleged safety risks of oil and gas operations, including hydraulic fracturing. The only planned drilling in the city was a proposal by Occidental Petroleum to drill more than 200 wells, none of which would involve fracking.

Continuation of the moratorium would have required a four-fifths supermajority vote by the city council. Only two council members voted to extend the ban. Two others opposed, and one member abstained.

Also discussed at the meeting was the pending lawsuit filed by some Carson residents related to homes built over abandoned oil operations that have been affected by contamination in the soil. Continue reading →