Oil and Natural Gas See Positive Outlook for 2018

Duke Ligon, Oklahoma City

A longtime Oklahoma City business leader, Duke Ligon has brought together diverse aspects of oil and natural gas, finance, and law over his decades of entrepreneurial experience. Duke Ligon has extensive knowledge of natural resource exploration and extraction spanning Oklahoma and Texas and has served on the board of enterprises such as Vantage Drilling Company and Panhandle Oil and Gas, Inc.

Recent news has brought attention to positive momentum for the U.S. oil and gas sector, with gas prices rising toward peaks not seen since 2014. An Oil & Gas 360 article described a particular surge in natural gas consumption, with several export terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG), including at Cove Point in Maryland, set to open in the next year. Exports to Mexico through Texas are also a critical part of this, with the Sur de Texas pipeline set to open in the latter half of 2018. With approximately 13 gigawatts of capacity from conventional steam coal plants set to retire, LNG-powered plants are expected to pick up the electricity production slack.

The Dallas News also reports that surges in oil prices are already having a positive impact on the state coffers. In particular, prices per barrel, driven to historic lows by fracking, are now on the rebound, with crude’s benchmark price breaking the $60-a-barrel barrier and continuing to rise.

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A University of Texas Law Area of Concentration

 

University of Texas at Austin Law
Image: uaw.utexas.edu

A longtime executive in the oil and gas industry, Duke Ligon is an Oklahoma City-based businessman who recently joined Peter J. Solomon Company as senior advisor. Duke Ligon also serves as an advisory board member for the University of Texas at Austin Law School’s Center for Global Energy, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law.

In partnership with the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Business, the center offers a law degree concentration in global energy, international arbitration, and environmental law that combines critical discussion, collaborative research, policy analysis, and hands-on experience in urgent areas of natural-resource and energy policy. In addition to offering students the flexibility to combine three distinct areas of education, the center produces the UT Law Grid blog, which has fostered vital debate in contentious areas such as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

The center also facilitates the Distinguished Lecture Series, in which visiting speakers cover important topics in global energy and environmental law. Notable past speakers include Mexican senator Ninfa Salinas Sada, who spoke on the future direction of Mexico’s environmental and energy sectors.

Duke Ligon Joins Peter J. Solomon Company as a Senior Advisor

Duke Ligon
Image: pjsc.com

Duke Ligon is an accomplished Oklahoma City attorney and business leader with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. He led Devon Energy Corporation for decades and presently serves on the boards of companies such as BlueKnight Energy Partners, LP, and Panhandle Oil and Gas, Inc. Expanding his leadership responsibilities, Duke Ligon recently accepted a senior advisory position with the Peter J. Solomon Company.

As reported by the Westminster College News, the new position builds on a longstanding relationship with the Houston-based firm’s energy advisory practice. Peter J. Solomon Company CEO Marc S. Cooper described a sense of excitement in welcoming the Oklahoma City executive to his senior advisory team. In particular, Mr. Ligon has long served as a mentor to energy group members, and he has a unique vantage point that spans Wall Street and the oil sector.

In the news article, Mr. Ligon additionally mentioned the long-lasting career impetus he received from Dr. William Parrish at Westminster College when he studied there. In addition to propelling him on a quest to improve his learning, Dr. Parrish introduced him to unique synergies between the law, oil, and banking.

Peter J. Solomon Company Helps Raise Awareness About Food Deserts

 

Peter J. Solomon Company
Image: pjsc.com

Duke Ligon, an Oklahoma City energy executive, owns and manages the Mekusukey Oil Company, LLC. Recently, Duke Ligon also became a senior advisor to the Peter J. Solomon Company, a leading Wall Street financial advisory firm, which he counsels regarding energy matters.

Peter J. Solomon’s Food Retail & Restaurants practice recently held an event to raise awareness about the more than 20 million Americans who live in “food deserts.” Food deserts are places where people lack access to grocery stores with fresh food. Taking center stage at the event was a nonprofit organization named UpLift. Its mission is to increase access to fresh, healthy foods for economically disadvantaged people in food deserts nationwide.

With an eye on practical solutions, UpLift acts as a liaison between food retailers, developers, and city, state, and federal programs to encourage the development of profitable food stores in areas that need them.

For those interested in making a contribution, go to www.UpLiftSolutions.com.