Submitting

The nation’s top regulator of offshore oil and natural gas activity said the agency suspects that some in industry are purposely submitting insufficient permit applications to test just how stringent and precise the post-BP review process is.

The nation’s top regulator of offshore oil and natural gas activity said the agency suspects that some in industry are purposely submitting insufficient permit applications to test just how strict and precise the review process is.

Calling newly proposed air emission standards to be imposed on the oil and gas industry an “overreach,” industry groups on Friday continued to lobby the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rethink its plans. In fact, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) warned that the standards could stifle natural gas production, which could promote the use of other less-clean energy sources.

It looks like no one in the energy industry is attempting to beat the rush by submitting the required Form 552 natural gas trading data to FERC early for 2009. With one month left before market participants must comply under the latest extended deadline, the Commission shows no submissions.

It looks like no one in the energy industry is attempting to beat the rush by submitting their Form 552 trading data to FERC early for 2009. With less than one-and-a-half months left before market participants must comply under the latest extended deadline, the Commission shows no submissions.

The head of the new Bureau of Ocean Energy (BOE) agency told a House committee Wednesday that a fine of $5.2 million was being imposed on BP America for submitting false reports related to onshore energy production.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil to begin submitting semi-annual operation reports and significant incidents reports for their liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal and storage facility in Kenai, AK. The Commission in 1967 approved the companies’ request for authorization to export LNG from the Kenai facility, but FERC at the time did not subject the facility to the reporting and inspection requirements that now apply to all other operational LNG terminals. The Kenai facilities, which export LNG to Pacific Rim countries, “will be subject to a cryogenic design and technical review of the facility’s design, operation and maintenance” by FERC; regular Commission staff technical reviews and site inspections on at least an annual basis or more frequently; and will be required to file semi-annual operational reports that identify changes in facility design and operating conditions, abnormal operating experiences, plant modifications and future plans. Reports are to be filed within 45 days after each period ending June 30 and Dec. 31.

Backing off earlier proposals for an all in one strategy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration announced Monday that the governor will be submitting a modified proposal later this week for creating a state energy department with a Cabinet-level energy secretary. The department will be centered on a revised California Energy Commission (CEC) consolidated with several other energy units — the Electricity Oversight Board and the basically inactive state Consumer Conservation Financing and Power Authority. The California Public Utilities Commission remains outside the fold.

American Electric Power (AEP) has extended a deadline for the submittal of bids on all 29 of the power generation units of its AEP Texas Central Co. subsidiary, which have a total capacity of 4,497 MW.