Using outside interests to move New Mexico ‘forward’ is not the answer As we begin a new year – an election year – already, some New Mexico politicians are distorting the facts and using misinformation against oil and gas producers to score political points. Rather than producing any real change, some of these political proposals look less like sound policy …

Oil and gas lobbyists spend big on campaigns, PACs By Steve Terrell The New Mexican Oil and gas industry revenues pay a huge share of the money that goes into the state budget. And lobbyists for big oil companies pay a huge amount of campaign contributions to New Mexico politicians. An analysis of lobbyist expense reports filed in recent days …

2 Gulf oil ministers mum on issue of oil production cuts DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Energy ministers from both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates dodged questions Tuesday about whether OPEC will extend the cartel’s oil production cuts, saying the decision will come at a planned meeting in Vienna later this week. OPEC agreed in September 2016 …

What’s up? Employment, rigs and oil in Lea County. For the first time in two years, Lea County unemployment fell below 7 percent in September, the latest data available from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the first time in more than two years, the West Texas crude oil price topped …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The cost of drilling for oil and natural gas on public and tribal land went up slightly nationwide, thanks to a fee hike that took effect over the weekend. But New Mexico producers said Monday they are more worried about a continued backlog in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s processing of permits. The delays are …

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota oil drillers and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven want federal geologists to reevaluate the amount of recoverable crude oil in the state, saying a new assessment likely would show stronger production potential and attract investment. The U.S. Geological Survey once said two massive shale formations found in North Dakota held the largest continuous oil accumulation …

Lea County is leading New Mexico’s oil patch in historic proportions. Wednesday the New Mexico State Land Office announced its July oil and gas lease sales surpassed $30 million, a record high. Lea County led that sale with two 320-acres leases selling for $7.36 million and $6 million respectively. “The July lease sale revenues far exceeded our expectations and our …

One investor’s perspective Editor’s note: This list was taken from an interview with Bill Munn, director of investments with Mack Energy. 1. It doesn’t comply withthe principles of supply and demand. Oil doesn’t follow the basic rules of supply and demand, says Bill Munn, investor for Mack Energy. As most things go, the less the supply and greater the demand, …