Minerals

The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) believes “substantial amounts” of natural gas could exist in the North Aleutian Basin, which lies in the southern Bristol Bay region of the Bering Sea off the northern shore of Alaska, the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) told Congress.

Randall Luthi, who was director of the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service between July 2007 and January 2009, Monday became president of National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), which represents the offshore energy industry. He succeeds Tom Fry, who retired after heading up the organization for years. The NOIA board of directors selected Luthi as Fry’s successor at its meeting last fall. “I’m honored to have this opportunity to represent the NOIA membership and excited by the upcoming challenge of working to impact policies favorable to the offshore energy industry,” Luthi said.

Randall Luthi, who was director of the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service between July 2007 and January 2009, Monday became president of National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), which represents the offshore energy industry. He succeeds Tom Fry, who retired after heading up the organization for years. The NOIA board of directors selected Luthi as Fry’s successor at its meeting last fall. “I’m honored to have this opportunity to represent the NOIA membership and excited by the upcoming challenge of working to impact policies favorable to the offshore energy industry,” Luthi said.

The Minerals Management Service’s plan to shorten the initial lease terms for an upcoming Central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sale “is one more impediment to the development of domestic oil and natural gas,” the head of the American Petroleum Institute (API) said.

The Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) Tuesday held its first meeting with officials from Rhode Island to discuss renewable energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). MMS is in the process of establishing task forces to consult with states concerning renewable energy leasing and development on the OCS.

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service has released the guide “Oil and Gas Leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf,” detailing the federal offshore oil and gas leasing process. The 10-page brochure highlights statutory requirements and authorities, the process for developing the Five Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program, the process for planning and conducting specific lease sales and other related topics. “Given the importance of the national discussion regarding offshore energy development and this administration’s commitment to transparency, we are providing this brochure as a quick reference on the basic processes for authorizing oil and gas development on the OCS,” MMS Director Liz Birnbaum said. The guide is available at www.mms.gov.

The Minerals Management Service’s plan to shorten the initial lease terms for an upcoming Central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sale “is one more impediment to the development of domestic oil and natural gas,” says the head of the American Petroleum Institute (API).

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) has approved, with conditions, Shell Offshore, Inc.’s plan to explore two leases in the Beaufort Sea off the north coast of Alaska, MMS said Monday.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has no “reasonable assurance” that it receives its share of natural gas royalty-in-kind (RIK) payments, and it risks losing millions in revenue because of a lack of tools and staff, according to an audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).