By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Kansas oil producers set another unwelcome record last year. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, total oil production in the state reached 35.82 million barrels. That includes an additional of 2.85 million barrels in December. The total is over two million barrels less than last year and marks the lowest annual production since 2005.

Ellis County continues to lead the way with an additional 213,000 barrels in December for a yearly total of 2.64 million barrels. Next comes Haskell County with 2.45 million barrels for the year. Barton County was next, with an annual total of 1.699 million barrels. Finney County had total production last year of 1.63 million barrels. Russell County’s total for the year was 1.599 million barrels. Stafford County brought its total for last year to 1.049 million barrels of crude.

Here are the annual totals for the top ten producing counties in Kansas:
Ellis County: 2.643 million barrels
Haskell County 2.453 million barrels
Barton County: 1.699 million barrels
Finney County: 1.636 million barrels
Russell County: 1.599 million barrels
Rooks County: 1.592 million barrels
Ness County: 1.484 million barrels
Stafford County: 1.049 million barrels
Harper County: 996,000 barrels
Barber County: 948,000 barrels
(Source: Kansas Geological Survey)

Operators filed 50 permits for drilling at new locations across the state last week, 27 east of Wichita and 23 in western Kansas, including one permit each in Ellis and Stafford counties. So far this year we’ve seen 333 new permits filed. Operators filed 145 new drilling permits across Kansas in February.

Independent Oil & Gas Service notes 29 new well completions over the last week in Kansas, 339 so far this year. There were 18 completed wells reported in eastern Kansas, and 11 west of Wichita, including one dry hole in Barton County. Independent reported 136 new well completions across the state last month.

Baker Hughes reported 990 active drilling rigs across the US last week, up four oil rigs and one gas rig. In Canada there was another seasonal drop, down 54 to 219 active drilling rigs. Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 15 active rigs in eastern Kansas, up six, and 26 west of Wichita, which is down one for the week. Operators report drilling ahead on two leases in Stafford County. They’re moving in completion tools at two sites in Barton County, four in Ellis County, two in Russell County and one in Stafford County

The Kansas Geological Society recognized and named five new oil fields in Kansas during a meeting last month. That’s five so far this year, including the Beran South Field in Barton County.

Injured oil-field workers in Oklahoma can now sue well operators for injuries suffered on a drilling rig. That’s according to a ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. A law under court challenge said operators could be sued only in worker’s compensation court, and not in civil court. Justices called that unconstitutional, a “special law,” that gives preferential treatment to oil rig operators.

The boom in Texas shale production, along with displaced homeowners after Hurricane Harvey, have prompted a nearly ten percent growth in hotel revenue in Texas. The consulting firm Source Strategies tells the San Antonio Express News that the lodging industry reaped $10.9 billion in revenue last year, up from $10 billion the year before. About one fourth of that was generated by residents affected by the Harvey storm system. But the consultant asserts that the booming oil and gas sector would have propelled hotel receipts upward without the storm.

A lingering problem for heavy crude producers in Canada may be coming to an end. Analysis by Bloomberg shows the discount of Canadian crude to the near-month contract for WTI is about $25/bbl. But contracts for later delivery are trading at less than $20 below the US benchmark. Canadian prices have plummeted because of pipeline slowdowns and the lack of other transportation options.

Reuters is reporting at least 11 major oil companies have agreed to buy back billions of dollars worth of stock. The list includes Chevron, Devon Energy, Hess Corp and Noble Energy. Companies have reportedly committed to buy back about $3.6 billion in stock shares since February.

Lawmakers in North Dakota this week unanimously agreed to tighten requirements for royalties as well as oil and gas spills. The Department of Mineral Resources said the 43 changes would require what it called “sundry” notices for spills not responded to with adequate resources, as well as site assessments before and after reclamation if necessary, and changes in royalty information statement requirements.

Russia plans to sharply increase fuel exports and carve out a larger share of the European market. Reuters reports the initiative follows a rigorous $55 billion refit of the country’s refineries. Russia embarked on a modernization of its biggest refineries in 2011 following a fuel shortage crisis. That modernization is ongoing. It has already led to a surge in output of light oil products, including diesel fuel exports that have hurt European refineries’ margins.

The annual small business recognition awards ceremony was held last week for 17 deserving Kansas businesses.

From northwest Kansas two awards were given. The Export Business of the Year was awarded to Double D Family Mat Shop, Inc., owned by Dale and Dena Goetz of Park, KS. Goetz started his own feedlot business outside Park in 1993. Their business started with Dena making doormats from sidewalls of car tires. Dale heard of a feed yard that had poured concrete in front of the cattle chutes and the cattle were slipping and getting hurt on the slick concrete. Dale thought about the rubber doormats and came up with the idea of stitching the tire treads on hand together to make a large mat. This proved to work for the feed yard, was environmentally friendly and a way to re-use old tires. Goetz has a patent-pending on a Sled‘n’Sling that will allow livestock handlers to move injured animals in a safe and humane way. This family business exports its products to places like Canada and Australia.

Honored for an existing business of the year was KYVZ Radio. Joe and Becca Vyzourek of Atwood own and operate KYVZ radio. Back in September of 2013, Joe set out in his quest to start a radio station. Through much adversity and with a great deal of patience on March 16, 2016, the only locally owned and operated radio station in western Kansas and southwest Nebraska, was on air. Joe reports that one of his biggest accomplishments in becoming an entrepreneur is the ability to give back to his community through support of area projects and having the ability to donate to local clubs and businesses. Joe hopes to expand his radio station in the future so people will have access to his station online and through smart phones.

Tuesday, I testified before the House Fed and State committee on the Home-owned Amusement Ride bill. The bill is scheduled to be worked either Monday or Tuesday and I hope it will get to the floor this week.

HB2476 was passed out of the Senate last week. This bill would allow licensed microbrewers in the State to produce beer containing up to 15% alcohol by weight. Current law prohibits microbrewers from producing beer with more than 10% alcohol by weight. A microbrewery licensee would be allowed to sell beer manufactured by the licensee in refillable and sealable containers to consumers for off-premises consumption if the containers do not contain less than 12 fluid ounces or more than 64 fluid ounces of beer. Licensees would be required to affix labels to all containers sold, which would include the licensee’s name, the name and the type of beer in the container.

There were two gun bills passed out of the Senate last week. HB 2145 would prohibit gun ownership to those convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence offense within the last 5 years. HB 2145 would also amend state law by adding throwing star with the intent to harm as a crime. Before this amendment, an individual could be held accountable for simply possessing a throwing star. This amendment clarifies that individuals can only be held accountable if they possess a throwing star and have intent to harm another person.

HB 2042 allows for the recognition of out-of-state concealed carry permits. HB 2042 requires individuals with out-of-state concealed carry permits to abide by Kansas law while in the state.

True Facts: Since President Trump’s time in office the United States has 2 million less people on food stamps.

It is my honor and pleasure to represent the 40^th Senate District. Please contact me at 785 296-7399 with your suggestions or concerns.

 

Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, 109^th Kansas House

March 19, 2018

Kansas Safe and Secure Schools Act

On Tuesday, March 6, the Republican House Leadership, including myself, unveiled House Bill 2773, referred to as the Kansas Safe and Secure Schools Act.  This act is a comprehensive approach to make schools safer for our children by ensuring a coordination with schools and law enforcement to improve school security infrastructure.

The bill encourages the Kansas State Board of Education and other agencies to develop statewide standards for school buildings to be safe and secure.  In addition, the bill will also empower local school districts to coordinate with local law enforcement, establish the Safe and Secure Schools Grant Program to be used for improvements, provide standardized firearm safety education that may be offered to school districts, and appropriate funding for the Department of Education to evaluate school safety and security plans.

The details of this bill would encourage schools to make improvements, such as reinforced doors, additional security cameras, and provide training opportunities to enhance the overall safety and security of our schools.

The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2773 on Friday, March 16, with the intent of working the bill on Monday, March 19.

Education Deadline Approaches

Late Thursday, March 15, the comprehensive K-12 education study by Lori Taylor from Texas A&M University was released to the Kansas Legislature.  There has been much expectation on what this study would conclude, namely the amount that needs to been funded for K-12 education, especially since the Kansas Supreme Court rendered its opinion of the unconstitutionally of the funding mechanism on October 2, 2017.  Leadership decided that the attorneys for the House and the Senate would evaluate the study and then have the details publicly released to a joint hearing with the House and Senate Education committees on Friday, March 16, at 1:30 pm.  Lori Taylor is expected to present her study on Monday, March 19, to the House Education Budget Committee.

Appropriations Committee

Last week in the Appropriations Committee, we continued the budget reports from the respective budget committees and held several bill hearings.  The major bill that we had a hearing on was Wednesday with House Bill 2468, which will ultimately become the budget bill for the Appropriations Committee.  We also had a bill hearing on House Bill 2747, which would abolish the division of post audit with the Legislature and instead create a post audit division within the office of the State Treasurer.

The committee also continued our budget analyses on budgets from certain state agencies and departments.  We needed to finish the budget report outs so we can then begin work on the final supplemental budget bill for fiscal years 2018 and 2019.  Some of the budgets we heard from were the Kansas Water Office, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Education.

Contact Information

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected].  Also, if you happen to visit the statehouse, please let my office know.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions.  I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.