BOEMRE Approves Fifth Deepwater Drilling Permit that Meets New Safety Standards
NEW
ORLEANS–The
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation
and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today approved a fifth
deepwater drilling permit that complies with
rigorous new safety standards implemented in the
wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and
resulting oil spill. This includes satisfying
the requirement to demonstrate the capacity to
contain a subsea blowout. The approved permit is
a revised permit to drill a new well for Chevron
USA Inc.’s Well #1 in Keathley Canyon Block 736
in 6,750 ft. water depth, approximately 216
miles off the Louisiana coastline, south of
Lafayette, La. Today’s is the first deepwater
permit approved for completely new exploration
since the deepwater drilling moratorium was
lifted; this means that this is the first
exploratory well drilled into this reservoir or
field, which has never produced.
“Today’s permit approval further demonstrates industry’s
ability to meet and satisfy the enhanced safety
requirements associated with deepwater drilling,
including the capability to contain a deepwater loss of
well control and blowout,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R.
Bromwich. “We will continue to review and
approve those applications that demonstrate the
ability to operate safely in deep water.”
Initial drilling on Chevron’s Well #1 began March 2010.
Drilling was suspended on June 9, 2010 due to the
temporary drilling suspensions imposed following the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Chevron has contracted with the Marine Well
Containment Corporation to use its capping stack
to stop the flow of oil should a well control
event occur. As part of its approval process,
the bureau reviewed Chevron’s containment
capability available for the specific well
proposed in the permit application and confirmed
that the capabilities of the capping stack met
the requirements specific to the proposed well’s
characteristics.
BOEMRE has worked diligently to help industry adapt to
and comply with new, rigorous safety practices. These
standards ensure that oil and gas development continues,
while also incorporating key lessons learned from the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This new permit meets the
new safety regulations and information requirements in
Notices to Lessees (NTL) N06 and N10, and the Interim
Final Safety Rule.
Today’s permit adds to the number of permits that have
been approved since new safety regulations have been put
in place. For a list of well types, pending and approved
permits, and information on new safety regulations, go
to:
http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/offshore/safety/well_permits.html.
This
fifth permit approval comes the same week that
the bureau
announced the
first new deepwater exploration plan approved
since new safety and environmental regulations
were implemented. This followed the completion
of a site-specific Environmental Assessment
(SEA) for deepwater oil and gas exploration. An
exploration plan describes all exploration
activities planned by the operator for a
specific lease or leases, including the timing
of these activities, information concerning
drilling vessels, the location of each planned
well, and other relevant information that needs
to meet important safety standards. Once a plan
is approved, additional new applications for
permits to drill can be issued. For more
information, go to:
http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Interior-Approves-First-Gulf-of-Mexico-Deepwater-Exploration-Plan-with-Post-Deepwater-Horizon-Environmental-Review.cfm..
Contact:
BOEMRE
Public Affairs-Gulf |