Shell oil gets conditional permission to drill in the Beaufort Sea

[pscot]

http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/story/979077.html

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The federal Minerals Management Service said it will allow Shell to drill for oil and gas in the far western area of Camden Bay, west of Kaktovik, if certain conditions are met. For the project to go forward, it must comply with state and federal environmental requirements and Shell needs to obtain a drill permit from MMS, the service announced Monday.

Shell is also seeking permission to drill one or two wells on its leases in the Chukchi Sea next year. Alaska Native organizations and environmentalists have sued to block the drilling, and under court order, the MMS is revising its analysis of the company's plans for its Chukchi leases.

National environmental groups said the latest decision ignores threats to the Arctic environment and its wildlife, and at least one of them said a lawsuit challenging it was likely.

MMS officials said Monday they are committed to responsible development.

"Now that we have approved Shell's plan and reached this important milestone we will continue to work with Shell to ensure that all activities are conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner," said MMS Director Liz Birnbaum.
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Shell said it plans to drill two wells between July and October on its Camden Bay leases, and hasn't decided yet whether to pursue additional drilling in the Beaufort in future years. The company agreed to suspend drilling and take its vessels out of the area in August during the fall subsistence bowhead whale hunts by two villages, Kaktovik and Nuiqsut.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Obama admin is throwing Sen. Begich a bone.

If they would have shut down all the plans Begich be bounced out after his first term.

[pscot]

2. Seems a little premature

Since Begich won't be running again for 5 years.

[Arctic Dave]

3. Not really considering the wingers up here are going nuts over anything with D in front

of their name. Uncle Ted has already been making the rounds trying to get support for a comeback. If Mark doesn't get ahead of the game democratic alaskans will lose out. Shell was going to drill eventually no matter what, it might as well be on our terms and not theirs.

[Braulio]

4. Sounds like a good idea to drill offshore

I don't see what's the big deal, why not let them drill offshore? The state of Alaska and the Federal government can collect taxes.

[angryfirelord]

5. The oil doesn't go directly to us

That's the main problem with the "drill drill drill" chant is that even if we did open up all offshore drilling and ANWR, the price of oil is a global commodity. If we were able to extract oil tomorrow, there's certainly not enough to make any kind of significant dent in the price of oil.

Although if push comes to shove, I would rather see offshore drilling compared to trying to get oil out of tar sands and shale.

[Braulio]

7. The oil doesn't have to go directly to you

I think it's a very simple idea: oil companies drill, and if they find the oil, they spend money to develop it and produce it. Their profits are taxed, and the activities generate employment. It's not too complicated, is it? As for tar sands and shale, if it's done properly, why not do it? It allows for economic activity as well.

[Arctic Dave]

6. Drilling offshore has a lot of problems. Both enviromentally and culturally.

Of course they have been drilling offshore and producing for a while already.

[Braulio]

8. What exactly is your objection?

I would like to know what are the environmental problems you think exist. As for cultural problems, what's the deal? Alaskans seem to like drilling the oil. It's a way of life for them.

[Arctic Dave]

9. I don't think they exist, I know they exist. Since I've been working in the oilfield

in the arctic, both onshore and offshore, and when they start with this project I will be working with them just like I did with BP, PNR and ENI. As for Alaskan are for drilling, we are, to a point. If it is good for us. As for the people who actually live were they want drill it is really in their best interest to make sure it is done in the absolutely most safe way possible since they are extremely dependent on subsistance living.
Now in my view if it's between the native population losing their way of living and someone needing cheap gas for their SUV or Or ATV I will always side with the natives.

[pscot]

10. It's a way of life in Louisiana too

and the state has all kinds of environmental problems as a result. An oil spill or a well blow-out in the pack ice would be devastating environmentally and would be impossible to clean up. If you don't think that matters, then we don't have much to talk about.