Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (abbreviated OERB) is an agency
of the state of Oklahoma
. Funded voluntarily by Oklahoma's oil
and natural gas
producers and royalty owners, OERB conducts environmental restoration
of orphaned and abandoned well sites, encourages the wise and efficient use of energy, and promotes energy education.
The Board is composed of 21 members. 7 members are appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
, 7 are appointed by the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
, and 7 appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
. All members are either independent oil or natural gas producers or representatives of major oil companies that do business in Oklahoma. The Board, in turn, appoints an Executive Director to serve as the chief administrative officer
of the Board.
The current board chairman is David House, president of Jireh Resources, LLC in Tulsa, OK.
OERB was created by the Oklahoma
Legislature and energy industry leaders in 1993 during the term of Governor of Oklahoma
David Walters
.
, the Chair of the Board, and the Executive Director of OERB. Under Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
, Bobby Wegener serves as Secretary, David House serves as the Chairman and Mindy Stitt serves as the Executive Director.
program. It has made restoration progress in 62 of Oklahoma's 77 counties and has a restoration budget of $5 million for the current fiscal year.
Unique is OERB's funding process – though it is funded by a 0.1% assessment on oil and gas sales (not uncommon among similar agencies), it is a voluntary assessment. Any producer or royalty owner may opt out of the program by requesting OERB (between January 1 and March 31 of each year) for a refund of previously paid assessments. OERB states that over 95% of participants remain in the program.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Funded voluntarily by Oklahoma's oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
producers and royalty owners, OERB conducts environmental restoration
Environmental restoration
Environmental restoration is a term common in the citizens’ environmental movement. Environmental restoration is closely allied with ecological restoration or environmental remediation...
of orphaned and abandoned well sites, encourages the wise and efficient use of energy, and promotes energy education.
The Board is composed of 21 members. 7 members are appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
, 7 are appointed by the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
The President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking State Senator. The Oklahoma Constitution states the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves ex officio as President of the Senate, and is the highest-ranking...
, and 7 appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions in the House, but most importantly remains a representative of his...
. All members are either independent oil or natural gas producers or representatives of major oil companies that do business in Oklahoma. The Board, in turn, appoints an Executive Director to serve as the chief administrative officer
Chief administrative officer
A chief administrative officer is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive officer. In some companies,...
of the Board.
The current board chairman is David House, president of Jireh Resources, LLC in Tulsa, OK.
OERB was created by the Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
Legislature and energy industry leaders in 1993 during the term of Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
David Walters
David Walters
David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering...
.
Mission
The missions of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board are:- to educate Oklahomans about the importance of petroleum (oil and natural gas) in their lives through traditional and non-traditional school curricula, advertising, and public relations
- to environmentally restore abandoned well sites to productive land use
- to promote environmentally sound production methods and technologies
- to research and provide educational activities concerning the petroleum exploration and production industry
Leadership
OERB is under the leadership of the Secertary of EnergyOklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
, the Chair of the Board, and the Executive Director of OERB. Under Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
, Bobby Wegener serves as Secretary, David House serves as the Chairman and Mindy Stitt serves as the Executive Director.
Board of Directors
As of 2009, the Board of Directors of OERB is as follows:- David W. House - Chairman
- Ronnie Irani - Vice Chairman
- Julie S. Kruger - Secretary
- Susette Hatfield - Treasurer
- Terry J. Adamson
- Mark Aebi
- Lee Boothby
- Pete Brown
- Mike Cantrell
- Phil Cook
- Mike Cross
- Bill Gifford
- Tom Goreson
- Rob Johnston
- Jim Medico
- John Pilkington
- Will Whitley
- Michael T. Wiskofske
Environmental Restoration
Since its creation in 1993, the OERB has committed $61 million to restore more than 10,400 abandoned and orphaned well sites as part of its environmental restorationEnvironmental restoration
Environmental restoration is a term common in the citizens’ environmental movement. Environmental restoration is closely allied with ecological restoration or environmental remediation...
program. It has made restoration progress in 62 of Oklahoma's 77 counties and has a restoration budget of $5 million for the current fiscal year.
Unique is OERB's funding process – though it is funded by a 0.1% assessment on oil and gas sales (not uncommon among similar agencies), it is a voluntary assessment. Any producer or royalty owner may opt out of the program by requesting OERB (between January 1 and March 31 of each year) for a refund of previously paid assessments. OERB states that over 95% of participants remain in the program.
Education
Throughout its history, the OERB has reached more than 1 million Oklahoma students with energy curricula, classroom supplies, field trips, college scholarships and presentations. OERB reaches all academic grade levels – from kindergarten through college with its energy education programs, including:- The OERB Petroleum Scholar Program distributes up to $300,000 each year to Oklahoma college students majoring in petroleum-related fields. The deadline for these scholarships is March 1, 2011 and applications can be found at the official OERB Petroleum Scholar page.
- The PetroTech Program provides training and certification for Oklahomans interested in Geo Tech, Land Tech and Engineering Tech positions within the oil and natural gas industry. Detailed information about the programs can be found at the official PetroTech page.
The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board created the PetroTech Program to help prepare Oklahomans for careers in the energy industry. A year after its inauguration, the program had accepted more than 400 students and industry employers are now hiring PetroTech graduates.
- Petro Pros gives oil and natural gas professionals an opportunity to volunteer their time to visit classrooms and show children the science and business side of the industry.
- Little Bits is a kindergarten through second grade energy curriculum that introduces simple energy terms through games and reading.
- Fossils to Fuel is an elementary school energy curriculum with more than 4,000 teachers trained.
- Petro Active is a middle school energy curriculum with more than 1,200 teachers trained.
- Core Energy is a high school energy curriculum with more than 1,000 teachers trained.
- Museum Partnerships allow the OERB to partner with several museums across the state to enhance energy education curricula and provide free classroom field trips.
- The OERB uses Safety Videos to demonstrate the dangers of playing around well sites. The video entitled, "What's the risk" can be found at OERB's safety page
- Well Site Safety Day is an annual event at the State Capitol to spread awareness of well site dangers to children, parents and teachers.