A recent analysis in “Today in Energy” looked at oil production in Alaska and concluded that oil exploration in the US Arctic continues despite the current low price environment. No surprise there given that the energy industry requires long lead times for new projects and new production in order to replace ‘extracted reserves’ and meet… Keep reading →
Last month President Obama defended administration policies on oil and natural gas development after opponents of Arctic drilling criticized a federal agency’s decision to give conditional approval to Shell’s exploratory drilling plans in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska. The president: Until the U.S. transitions to other fuel “we are going to continue to be using fossil fuels.… Keep reading →
WASHINGTON— Today, when visiting the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, Deputy Energy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood announced that as part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the Department of Energy has selected five Alaska Native villages to receive technical assistance through the Alaska Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) Program.… Keep reading →
Tough timing for Shell on this announcement from the National Transportation Safety Board: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the grounding of the mobile offshore drilling unit Kulluk was Shell’s inadequate assessment of the risk for its planned tow of the Kulluk, resulting in implementation of a tow plan insufficient to mitigate that… Keep reading →
A couple of important points on Arctic energy development from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska at an event hosted recently by CSIS: The biggest obstacle to U.S. development of its Arctic energy reserves is the U.S. Development of Arctic energy resources will occur regardless of whether the United States engages in it. A discussion of… Keep reading →
News that the Interior Department has reaffirmed Shell’s right to drill in the Chukchi Sea off the Alaskan coast is an important step toward to Arctic energy development. While the company still must secure individual drilling permits and overall federal approval of its exploration plan, this week’s action advances the larger objective of safe and… Keep reading →
The DOI has proposed additional regulations for exploratory drilling in the Alaska OCS to ensure that operators implement necessary measures – including integrated operations and spill-response plans – through all phases of offshore exploration. The oil and gas resource potential of the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) has received considerable attention from industry. On February… Keep reading →
Who Will Rule the Oil Market? The New York Times (Daniel Yergin): A historic change of roles is at the heart of the clamor and turmoil over the collapse of oil prices, which have plummeted by 50 percent since September. For decades, Saudi Arabia, backed by the Persian Gulf emirates, was described as the “swing producer.” With… Keep reading →
Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge regained national attention over the weekend when the Obama administration announced plans to prevent oil and gas drilling along the coastal plain, which is expected to contain considerable hydrocarbon resources. Senator Lisa Murkowski and state officials vehemently oppose the action and are digging in for a fight. Murkowski, Gov. Bill… Keep reading →
Energy Department Expands Support of Alaska Native Clean Energy At White House Tribal Nations Conference, DOE also Recognizes Two Tribes as Climate Action Champions and Launches New Online Tool to Support Tribal Energy Development WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to help tribal communities across the country enhance their energy security, build… Keep reading →
