The NewsRoom
Release:
Date: August 10, 2009
MMS Determines Shell Exploration Plan for Beaufort Sea Complete
Agency Now to Analyze Plan for Operational and
Environmental Requirements
WASHINGTON – The
Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) has
received Shell Offshore, Inc. Exploration Plan to explore two leases
in the Beaufort Sea and has deemed it “complete.”
The MMS has a 30-day time frame to analyze and evaluate Shell’s
plan. Included in its review, the agency will prepare an
Environmental Assessment (EA) specific to Shell’s exploration. Upon
completion of the technical and environmental review, MMS must
decide if the plan is approved, requires modifications, or is
disapproved.
“The responsible development of offshore resources is part of our
nation’s comprehensive energy plan, which includes a renewed
emphasis on conservation and an aggressive effort to develop
renewable resources so we can move the nation towards energy
independence,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “Now that
Shell’s plan has reached this important milestone, we will review it
carefully to ensure that it is technically sound and will protect
the Beaufort Sea and Alaska’s environment.”
Shell proposes activities limited to the far western area of Camden
Bay, including use of one drillship with one tending ice management
vessel drilling two wells over the course of one year. The two
leases are about 16 and 23 miles north of Point Thompson, Alaska.
The two leases were obtained by Shell Offshore, Inc. during Beaufort
Sea oil and gas lease sales 195 and 202 in 2005 and 2007. The sales
were included in the 2002-2007 five year oil and gas leasing program
and are not affected by the recent court decision on the current
leasing program, which sent the 2007-2012 program back to MMS for
additional environmental reviews.
Before MMS would allow activity to proceed, Shell must also meet the
coastal zone management requirements of the State of Alaska, air and
water quality rules by the Environmental Protection Agency, and
Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service.
The Beaufort Sea is estimated to contain 8.22 billion barrels of oil
and 27.64 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (undiscovered
technically recoverable mean estimate).
Contact:
Hugh Vickery (202)
208-6416
Nicholas
Pardi
(202) 208-3985
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Last Updated:
09/17/2010,
05:10 PM
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