Producers May See E&P Offshore Alaska in 2012; Lawsuits Possible

摘要

The summer of 2012 could be the season that long-anticipated exploratory drilling take place in the Alaskan offshore, with the federal Environmental Protection Agency now saying it plans to clear a round of permits soon that leaseholders Shell and ConocoPhillips need before they can break ground. However, industry representatives and environmental groups alike tell Natural Gas Week that the EPA's plans to sign off on hotly contested, draft air permits this fall is not the end of the road for companies that hope to drill on their leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, which are said to be rich in natural gas and oil.