Alaska

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is attempting to push ahead commercialization of North Slope natural gas reserves by holding back, at least for awhile, a necessary plan of development (POD) approval of the oil-producing Prudhoe Bay Unit (PBU), which is operated by BP Exploration (Alaska).

The Alaska Gasline Development Corp.(AGDC) has appointed Keith M. Meyerpresident following a five-month search to replace Dan Fauske, who resigned. Meyer has more than 35 years of industry experience, including 15 years focused on liquefied natural gas (LNG) initiatives. He has managed the development of large-scale infrastructure projects spanning four continents to include LNG terminals, natural gas pipelines, power plants, gas liquids plants, storage, and gas separation projects. He joins AGDC from LNG America, an energy logistics company he founded in 2008 to provide end-to-end LNG distribution solutions to increase the use of LNG as a fuel source within the marine, transportation and other high-horsepower industries. Meyer was previously president of Cheniere LNGwhere he oversaw the development of the Sabine Pass receiving terminal in Louisiana. He has also worked for CMS Energy Inc.and ANR Pipeline Co.Meyer takes the helm of AGDC following the state of Alaska’s $65 million acquisition of TransCanada Corp.’s interest in the Alaska LNGproject (see Daily GPI,Nov. 5, 2015). AGDC holds the state’s 25% interest in the 20 million tonne per annum LNG export project, which is completing a $400 million preliminary front-end engineering design phase this year.

Both chambers of the Republican-controlled Alaska Legislature passed a controversial oil tax reform bill on Monday and sent it to Gov. Bill Walker for his signature, but it was unclear whether he would sign it.

After spending billions and waging legal battles for years, Royal Dutch Shell plc is abandoning all but one leasehold in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea and is evaluating its Beaufort Sea holdings, citing an “unpredictable” regulatory environment and poor initial drilling results. ConocoPhillips and two other operators also have dropped hundreds of leaseholds in the frigid waters.

After spending billions and waging legal battles for years, Royal Dutch Shell plc is abandoning all but one leasehold in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea and is evaluating its Beaufort Sea holdings, citing an “unpredictable” regulatory environment and poor initial drilling results. ConocoPhillips and two other operators also have dropped hundreds of leaseholds in the frigid waters.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said there were no bids placed in an oil and gas lease sale for the Cook Inlet and the Alaska Peninsula on Thursday, marking the first time in state history that there were no bidders for the inlet.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said there were no bids placed in an oil and gas lease sale for the Cook Inlet and the Alaska Peninsula on Thursday, marking the first time in state history that there were no bidders for the inlet.

The oil price collapse has drawn more clouds over Alaska’s plans to commercialize its North Slope natural gas via liquefied natural gas (LNG) export. On Wednesday Gov. Bill Walker said the state and producers have more work ahead to hammer out project costs, and changes are expected.

Eight conservation groups led by Earthjustice have filed to intervene and defend a decision by federal officials to deny Royal Dutch Shell plc the right to extend its drilling leases offshore Alaska.