Results tagged “drilling”

More than 5,500 energy workers and private citizens packed the George R. Brown Convention Center as well as two venues in Port Arthur and Corpus Christi today to stand up for jobs and the economy.

With thousands of jobs threatened by the offshore drilling moratorium, proposals for higher energy taxes, and a faltering economic recovery, people whose jobs and livelihoods depend on the oil and natural gas industry came together to send a message to Congress and the administration: They will make their voices heard in Washington and at the ballot box.

Whenever this nation is confronted by a major incident such as the Gulf oil spill, opinion-leaders step forward to offer their thoughts in print and online op-ed pages. Their comments are often thought-provoking and informative.

A congressional proposal to raise the liability limit from $75 million to $10 billion on the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund could threaten the viability of deepwater operations, significantly reduce U. S. domestic oil production, and harm U.S. energy security.

A number of prominent voices in the energy debate are discussing the need for continued safe, environmentally responsible offshore oil and natural gas development. EIA estimates demonstrate that the United States will consume 14 percent more energy in 25 years, including alternatives, renewables and oil and natural gas.

A new Zogby poll shows that 63 percent of Americans believe offshore energy development should be expanded, despite the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. Interestingly, 62 percent of respondents also said they believe expansion plans should be postponed until the accident's cause is found.

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident, one of the most often asked questions is: What does this mean for the future of offshore drilling?

While many people are understandably concerned about the safety and environmental risks associated with offshore drilling, we are encouraging all Americans not to rush to judgment on this issue until we've learned what went wrong. This tragic accident shouldn't be used as an excuse to roll back the gains that have been made in developing new technologies to explore and develop our own energy resources.

A few days ago, Shell's new oil platform Perdido began producing "first oil" in the Gulf of Mexico. To get a better understanding of the technology and engineering required to produce oil from the deep waters of the Gulf, take a look at this video.

A new study prepared for the Florida House of Representatives says offshore oil and natural gas activities "are unlikely to present a major risk to Florida."

The study, conducted by Willis Structured Risk Solutions, is part of an ongoing effort to gather information about the costs and benefits of offshore drilling. State leaders are considering whether to open state-owned offshore areas to oil and natural gas development.

As J. Hunt Perkins points out in a Lexington Herald-Leader op-ed, there's something wrong with an energy policy that promotes offshore drilling but at the same time, proposes to place higher taxes on the oil and the natural gas industry.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has signed a law that would allow his state to file eminent domain proceedings against the federal government.

The goal: to gain control of state lands where energy development cannot occur because they are surrounded by protected federal lands.

With an unemployment rate of 10.4 percent, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, was the ideal setting for a job fair last week, featuring 50 employers including members of the oil and natural gas industry.

Sitting atop the Marcellus Shale formation, county residents have the opportunity to join an industry that already supports 9.2 million American jobs and is poised to create more.

In a Tallahassee Democrat op-ed published this week, the Florida Petroleum Council's Dave Mica challenges recent inaccurate claims that oil and natural gas jobs are declining and production off Florida's coast will harm the tourism industry.

Shell has announced a "significant new oil discovery" in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

The find is located in the Appomattox prospect area in the Mississippi Canyon. The well was drilled through more than 7,200 feet of water to a total depth of 25,077 feet where it found a 530'-thick layer containing oil.

Are you perplexed by the administration's energy policy? You're not alone. Many observers have noticed a disconnect between the administration's various energy proposals.

As William F. Shughart II points out in an op-ed titled, "The President's Bipolar Energy Policy," the administration included federal guarantees in the proposed 2011 budget for new nuclear power plants, but also it proposes to eliminate funding for the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Today, the preliminary results of Central Gulf Lease Sale 213, held in New Orleans, were announced. 

The sale received 642 bids on 468 leases--34 percent higher than last year's Central Gulf Lease Sale 208--and garnered $949 million in high bids, up from $703 million in last year's sale.

An op-ed published in Sunday's Richmond Times-Dispatch illustrates the support for Virginia's offshore drilling plan.

Titled "Energy in Virginia: An Easy Decision for Obama," the op-ed is authored jointly by Brett Vassey, president and CEO of the Virginia Manufacturers Association, and Mike Ward, executive director of the Virginia Petroleum Council.

As the ranking Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) is in a position to closely observe and act on the administration's proposed energy policies. 

Today in an op-ed published in The Washington Times, he provides an explanation for what he calls the administration's "mixed signals" on offshore energy production.

Tomorrow Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will defend his agency's proposed 2011 budget before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Salazar calls it a "tough choices budget" requesting about $12 billion for the Interior Department (DOI), which is a slight decrease from 2010. (Environment & Energy Daily)

Offshore drilling will be on the agenda when Florida's annual legislative session begins tomorrow. No legislation has been introduced yet, but AP reports that resolutions have been introduced to lift drilling bans in federal waters near Florida's coastline.

Bruce Allen, a physicist from Santa Barbara, California, is a man on a mission. As co-founder of SOS California (Stop Oil Seeps California), he came to Washington this week to deliver a message that he believes could change the debate over offshore energy development.