NEWS & INFORMATION
Texas Oil Fields on Fire With Polluting Flares From Fracking
In West Texas, an oil boom is creating a major problem for producers and locals alike: wasting natural gas by burning or flaring it, which sends billions of cubic feet of CO2 into the atmosphere. Not only does the flaring cost the industry money, but the release of gases damages the climate and could be toxic to those living near the fracking rigs dotting Texas oil fields.
Activists and Researchers are Working to Keep Tabs on Oil and Gas Emissions Near Balmorhea
Wilson’s camera can reveal plumes of smoke pouring into the air, though the camera can’t tell the difference between say, steam or toxic chemicals. But, Wilson is pretty sure what she’s seeing is pollution. “If you’re seeing something and it’s coming from the equipment on an oil and gas site then the gases are most likely going to be hydrocarbons. No matter what the industry tries to tell us. It certainly not cotton candy.”
Apache Corp. Creates Endowment for Iconic West Texas State Park
Houston oil company Apache Corp. has doubled a gift to help save a revered West Texas swimming hole.
In addition to donating $1 million to repair the shuttered Balmorhea State Park Pool, the company has donated an additional $1 million to create an endowment to preserve and support the iconic West Texas state park.
Oil vs. Astronomy: The Race to Protect the Night Sky in West Texas
West Texas is famed worldwide for its vast crude oil reserves. But for more than 75 years, a small patch of the Permian Basin has also been valued for its pitch-black night sky. Those two prized natural resources have clashed in recent years as oil drilling has brightened the sky near the McDonald Observatory.
How an Oil Boom in West Texas is Reshaping the World
The Permian Basin, the heart of American oil country, is where the massive oil and gas boom is changing not just Texas but also the nation and the world.
Ever Heard Of Severance Tax? It's How Texas Makes Money Off Oil And Gas Drilling.
The tax rate hasn't changed since the 1950s, but some say it's time for an update.
In the Permian Basin, An Increase In Traffic Accidents Is Taking A Toll On EMTs
“These aren’t fender benders, these are violent violent crashes. I mean it looks like you’ve stomped on a tin can.”
Oil Companies Inject $100 Million to Bolster Crumbling Permian Basin Infrastructure
An influx of people as a result of the booming energy industry in the area has strained roads, and services like health care and education.
The Eyes of Texas Are on Falling Oil Prices, and Struggling Energy Sector Stocks
The continuing downward trend may affect local economies from Houston to the West Texas oil fields.
As Oil and Gas Exports Surge, West Texas Becomes the World’s “Extraction Colony”
An unprecedented drilling boom in the Permian Basin is great for business. But it’s polluting the air, overwhelming communities and threatening the planet.