MMS Acted Within Its Authority to Order Plugging of Well

摘要

Noble Energy, Inc. (Noble) filed a complaint seeking a de-claratoryjudgmentthatthe Minerals Management Service's (MMS) decommissioning order requiring Noble to permanently plug and abandon a well exceeded the scope of its authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). In Noble Energy, Inc. v. Salazar, Civ. Action No. 09-2013 (EGS), 2011 WL 996776 (D. D.C. Mar. 22, 2011), the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia affirmed MMS's order and held that the government's breach of contract under its oil and gas lease did not discharge Noble's obligation under the applicable regulations to permanently plug and abandon a well.