Wyoming Energy News January 4

The School of Energy Resources features information about the energy industry on a weekly basis. Here is a recap of this week's stories.

Baker Hughes Rig Counts

Baker Hughes reports the following rig counts.

• Wyoming decreased 1 rig to 33.
• Colorado increased 1 rig to 35.
• New Mexico decreased 1 rig to 105.
• North Dakota remains steady at 53.
• Total U.S. rig count is 1,075 down 2 from last week.

Opening prices from Bloomberg Energy on January 4

• West Texas Intermediate (WTI) opened at $46.90 up from $45.33 on December 28.
• Brent Crude shows a slight increase from $55.67 from $52.20.
• Natural gas opened at $2.91 down from $3.30.

U.S. Energy Information Administration

• Energy commodity prices fell significantly in the last quarter of 2018. The spot energy index in the S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index ended the year 21% lower than at the beginning of the year.
• Crude oil prices end the year lower than they began the year. Brent and WTI prices were at their highest on October 3 and fell to an annual low on December 24.
• U.S. average retail gasoline prices ended the year lower than they started. A rapid price decline beginning in October led to average regular gasoline prices lower than they began since 2015.

Wyoming Public Media

• Bill Seeks to Close Loophole Benefiting Minority Mineral Lease Owners. Gillette Senator Michael Von Flatern plans to introduce a bill that would limit some of the benefits minority owners of oil and gas rights receive.
• Groundwater Contamination Report At Three WY Pacificorp Plants

Casper Star Tribune

• Nation's coal consumption in 2018 expected to be lowest since 1979
• Wyoming's oil sector drives a 73 percent increase in Converse County's tax figures

AP News

• Utility proposed new Cheyenne-area wind farm