Since cranking up permitting after the Deepwater Horizon
disaster and subsequent drilling moratorium, US regulators are
averaging just under two approvals a week. The Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement has signed off on
eight drilling permits and one exploration plan since it gave
the first one to Noble Energy on February 28.
How quickly will these companies start piercing the seafloor again? ExxonMobil said it's a matter of weeks before contractor Maersk Drilling can have a rig ready to go at its Keathley Canyon Block lease.
"We have a newly built, state-of-the-art drilling rig standing by and we are prepared to spud the well within a few weeks," ExxonMobil spokeswoman Margaret Ross said March 24.
How quickly will these companies start piercing the seafloor again? ExxonMobil said it's a matter of weeks before contractor Maersk Drilling can have a rig ready to go at its Keathley Canyon Block lease.
"We have a newly built, state-of-the-art drilling rig standing by and we are prepared to spud the well within a few weeks," ExxonMobil spokeswoman Margaret Ross said March 24.
Here's our running list of deepwater operations approved by
BOEM, including which of the two subsea mechanisms the companies
told regulators they would use in the event of a blowout.
Drilling permits approved
1. Noble Energy, February 28 -- resume bypass well in 6,500 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 519, about 70 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana. Helix Well Containment Group.
2. BHP Billiton, March 14 -- resume pre-moratorium operation in 4,234 feet of water in Green Canyon Block 653, about 120 miles south of Houma, Louisiana. Helix Well Containment Group.
3. ATP Oil & Gas, March 18 -- resume drilling halted by the moratorium in 4,000 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 941, about 90 miles south of Venice. Helix Well Containment Group.
4. ExxonMobil, March 22 -- start drilling approved before the spill in 6,941 feet of water in the Keathley Canyon Block 919, about 240 miles south of Lafayette, Louisiana. Marine Well Containment Company.
5. Chevron, March 24 -- resume drilling started before Macondo in 6,750 feet of water in Keathley Canyon Block 736, about 215 miles south of Lafayette. Marine Well Containment Company.
6. Statoil, March 25 -- start drilling well that had rig under contract before spill in 7,134 feet of water in Alaminos Canyon Block 810, about 215 miles south of Texas City, Texas. Helix Well Containment Group.
7. Shell, March 30 -- new well and first permit under an exploration plan reviewed entirely after moratorium. Allows drilling in 2,721 feet of water in Garden Banks Block 427, about 140 miles south of Lafayette. Marine Well Containment Company.
8. Eni, April 1 -- sidetrack well that had rig on location before moratorium. Allows drilling in 2,823 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 460, about 60 miles southeast of Venice. Helix Well Containment Group
Exploration plans approved
1. Shell, March 21 -- three wells in 2,950 feet of water in the Auger field, about 130 miles offshore Louisiana.
Drilling permits approved
1. Noble Energy, February 28 -- resume bypass well in 6,500 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 519, about 70 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana. Helix Well Containment Group.
2. BHP Billiton, March 14 -- resume pre-moratorium operation in 4,234 feet of water in Green Canyon Block 653, about 120 miles south of Houma, Louisiana. Helix Well Containment Group.
3. ATP Oil & Gas, March 18 -- resume drilling halted by the moratorium in 4,000 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 941, about 90 miles south of Venice. Helix Well Containment Group.
4. ExxonMobil, March 22 -- start drilling approved before the spill in 6,941 feet of water in the Keathley Canyon Block 919, about 240 miles south of Lafayette, Louisiana. Marine Well Containment Company.
5. Chevron, March 24 -- resume drilling started before Macondo in 6,750 feet of water in Keathley Canyon Block 736, about 215 miles south of Lafayette. Marine Well Containment Company.
6. Statoil, March 25 -- start drilling well that had rig under contract before spill in 7,134 feet of water in Alaminos Canyon Block 810, about 215 miles south of Texas City, Texas. Helix Well Containment Group.
7. Shell, March 30 -- new well and first permit under an exploration plan reviewed entirely after moratorium. Allows drilling in 2,721 feet of water in Garden Banks Block 427, about 140 miles south of Lafayette. Marine Well Containment Company.
8. Eni, April 1 -- sidetrack well that had rig on location before moratorium. Allows drilling in 2,823 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 460, about 60 miles southeast of Venice. Helix Well Containment Group
Exploration plans approved
1. Shell, March 21 -- three wells in 2,950 feet of water in the Auger field, about 130 miles offshore Louisiana.
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