By Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Monday eased new environmental barriers to some oil and gas deepwater projects, but companies will still have to meet stringent regulations before drilling resumes.
Oil companies and Republican lawmakers have complained that regulations imposed after the BP oil spill have brought Gulf of Mexico drilling to a standstill.
The department's decision to waive some environmental requirements comes as Noble Corp announced that Marathon Oil Co canceled a four-year, $752 million contract for a deepwater rig in the Gulf due to lack of drilling permits.
The policy will impact 13 companies with projects that were already underway when the department imposed its ban on deepwater drilling. Companies will be able to forego additional environmental reviews depending on new calculations of the worst-case flow rate estimates for their wells.
While removing one potential obstacle for these companies, it does not automatically mean drilling will begin immediately.
Affected companies such as Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell, which were drilling wells when the department imposed its moratorium, must still meet new offshore drilling regulations before restarting their projects.
'We are taking into account the special circumstances of those companies whose operations were interrupted by the moratorium and ensuring that they are able to resume previously approved activities,' said Michael Bromwich, head of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Since lifting its ban in October on drilling at depths more than 500 feet, the department has yet to approve any new deepwater exploration drilling permits.
Republicans, who will control the House of Representatives in the new Congress, vow to press the Obama administration on the slow permitting process.
Although the agency said it was still working to enhance its environmental reviews in the future, Bromwich called Monday's announcement 'a significant step' toward allowing the affected companies resuming their permitted activity.
The National Ocean Industries Association applauded the department's decision, but said companies still need clarity on certain new drilling regulations.
'This is a positive development for an industry that has been anxiously waiting to get back to work,' NOIA President Randall Luthi said in a statement.
Other companies affected by the new drilling policy include: Marathon Oil Co, Murphy Oil Co, Noble Energy Inc and Statoil.
(Additional reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by John Picinich and Jim Marshall; Editing by David Gregorio and Sofina Mirza-Reid)
((ayesha.rascoe@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 310 5683; Reuters Messaging: ayesha.rascoe.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: OIL DRILLING/PERMITS (For help: Click 'Contact Us' in your desk top, click here or call 1-800-738-8377 for Reuters Products and 1-888-463-3383 for Thomson products; For client training: training.americas@thomsonreuters.com ; +1 646-223-5546) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Monday eased new environmental barriers to some oil and gas deepwater projects, but companies will still have to meet stringent regulations before drilling resumes.
Oil companies and Republican lawmakers have complained that regulations imposed after the BP oil spill have brought Gulf of Mexico drilling to a standstill.
The department's decision to waive some environmental requirements comes as Noble Corp announced that Marathon Oil Co canceled a four-year, $752 million contract for a deepwater rig in the Gulf due to lack of drilling permits.
The policy will impact 13 companies with projects that were already underway when the department imposed its ban on deepwater drilling. Companies will be able to forego additional environmental reviews depending on new calculations of the worst-case flow rate estimates for their wells.
While removing one potential obstacle for these companies, it does not automatically mean drilling will begin immediately.
Affected companies such as Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell, which were drilling wells when the department imposed its moratorium, must still meet new offshore drilling regulations before restarting their projects.
'We are taking into account the special circumstances of those companies whose operations were interrupted by the moratorium and ensuring that they are able to resume previously approved activities,' said Michael Bromwich, head of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Since lifting its ban in October on drilling at depths more than 500 feet, the department has yet to approve any new deepwater exploration drilling permits.
Republicans, who will control the House of Representatives in the new Congress, vow to press the Obama administration on the slow permitting process.
Although the agency said it was still working to enhance its environmental reviews in the future, Bromwich called Monday's announcement 'a significant step' toward allowing the affected companies resuming their permitted activity.
The National Ocean Industries Association applauded the department's decision, but said companies still need clarity on certain new drilling regulations.
'This is a positive development for an industry that has been anxiously waiting to get back to work,' NOIA President Randall Luthi said in a statement.
Other companies affected by the new drilling policy include: Marathon Oil Co, Murphy Oil Co, Noble Energy Inc and Statoil.
(Additional reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by John Picinich and Jim Marshall; Editing by David Gregorio and Sofina Mirza-Reid)
((ayesha.rascoe@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 310 5683; Reuters Messaging: ayesha.rascoe.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: OIL DRILLING/PERMITS (For help: Click 'Contact Us' in your desk top, click here or call 1-800-738-8377 for Reuters Products and 1-888-463-3383 for Thomson products; For client training: training.americas@thomsonreuters.com ; +1 646-223-5546) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.