In this week’s news update, an oilfield landfill will be constructed in west Texas, and service companies are making big cuts to their workforce.


Halliburton cut more than 6,000 jobs during the first quarter of 2016, according to its first quarter operations update the company released on April 22.

Since late 2014, the Houston-based oilfield services company has reduced its workforce by about one-third. The company now employs about 55,000 worldwide.

Another oilfield services company, Schlumberger, also disclosed on April 22, that it cut 8,000 jobs in the first quarter.

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No Big Surprise, Rig Count Drops Again
The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped by nine to 431 last week, according to data released by oilfield services company Baker Hughes on April 22.

The Houston-based company says 343 rigs sought oil and 88 for natural gas. A year ago, 932 rigs were active.

Texas lost seven rigs and Louisiana and Ohio each dropped one. Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming were all unchanged.

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The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. The previous low of 488 was set in 1999, but was eclipsed on March 11, and has continued to drop.


Petro Waste To Construct Oilfield Landfill in West Texas
Petro Waste Environmental, based in San Antonio, says it will start construction on a 217-acre oilfield landfill in Reeves County, Texas.

The landfill will accept oil- and water-based mud, drill cuttings, contaminated soil, and oil and gas waste that is exempt from Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste requirements. It will also provide truck and tank washouts.

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It will start construction this month and open in the first quarter of 2017, according to the company in a press release.


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