I have written previously about the ongoing debate surrounding the causal role of hydrofracturing—”fracing” for short, as the industry spells it, without a “k”—in what critics have dubbed “man-made” seismic activity. The hot-button issue is front and center once again, as a perfect storm of mainstream media attention and high-profile litigation have brought renewed focus to the controversial practice. Last week, […]
Earthquake Fracing Lawsuits Coincide With Renewed Scrutiny Of Texas Railroad Commission
Texas Railroad Commission Proposes Rule Changes to Generate Efficiencies and Cost Savings in the Oil-and-Gas Industry
Yesterday, Christi Craddick—one of the State’s three elected Railroad Commissioners—introduced the Texas Oilfield Relief Initiative, a nine-point plan aimed at easing regulatory burdens on the energy industry. The initiative will be rolled out in multiple phases over the next several years. The first phase of the program is slated for completion by January and will […]
The (Missing) Link Between Fracing and Earthquakes: The Texas Railroad Commission Weighs In
It’s no secret that hydraulic fracturing is squarely within the crosshairs of environmental crusaders and other activist groups across the nation. Be they tall tales of kitchen sinks transformed into miniature flamethrowers or fanciful claims that trace cancer to fracing chemicals, the many scandalous fictions about hydraulic fracturing remain a thorn in the side of […]
Post-Production Deductions and Affiliate Sales: A Potential Minefield for Unwary Operators
Chesapeake has not had a good run in the courts lately. It has been hammered over the last year with lawsuits brought by mineral lessors alleging that the natural gas giant has swindled them out of millions of dollars in royalty payments. And the plaintiffs in these cases are winning–or settling out of court for what […]
When Damage Control Is Damaging: A Cautionary Tale for Publicly Traded Energy Companies
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently reviewed a district court’s decision to certify a class of investors in British Petroleum securities. The case, Ludlow v. BP, P.L.C., No. 14-20420, centers on BP’s alleged misstatements relating to the catastrophic blowout of the Macondo exploratory well off the coast of Louisiana. The […]