The Bureau of Ocean, Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has recently approved four new drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico since the Deep Water Horizon spill last April.
BOEMRE director Michael Bromwich announced Royal Dutch Shell has received approval of its proposal to drill three new exploratory wells using Noble Energy’s Jim Thompson rig. From Barrons:
This is significant, as the government had previously only approved plans that utilized wells that were already in operation or under construction before the moratorium on drilling, explains Citi analyst Robin Shoemaker.
After the completion of a site environmental assessment, this from the Department of the Interior website:
“The successful completion of this environmental assessment, and the resulting approval of Shell’s exploration plan, unmistakably demonstrates that oil and gas exploration can continue responsibly in deep water,” said BOEMRE Director Bromwich.
Houston-based ATP Oil and Gas has received a permit to resume drilling the Mississippi Canyon Block 941 #4 well in the deep water of the Gulf of Mexico. This will be the first stationary deep water facility since permits began to be issued last month. This well, in 4,000 feet of water, in 2009 was successfully drilled to 12,000 feet.
ExxonMobil has also received permission for a new well, this will be in the Keathley Canyon Block about 240 miles off the Louisiana Coast in 7,000 feet of water.
ExxonMobil, Shell, Conoco/Phillips and Chevron were part of a coalition which pooled assets for a Marine Well Containment System unveiled back in February which would assist in containing any future spills in the Gulf. BP has now also joined the group. The system is a “rapid-response” system which is highly superior to any previous for emergencies in the Gulf.
The first company to receive approval to resume drilling in the Gulf was Houston-based Noble Energy. Noble’s application was for a permit to bypass for Well No. 2 in Mississippi Canyon Block 519 about 70 miles southeast of Venice, La. It will be for resumption of drilling its Santiago well.
Interestingly enough, BP owns 46.5% of that well however Noble will be the operator.
