Category Archives: offshore oil

fossil fuels, gulf of mexico clean-up, offshore oil, oil pollution

Houston Business Journal: 2012 explosion cost Black Elk millions

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http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2013/11/21/black-elk-has-paid-millions-due-to.html

Nov 21, 2013, 2:41pm CST

Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC has spent millions so far this year on costs associated with the 2012 explosion at its West Delta 32 Gulf of Mexico platform.

Olivia Pulsinelli
Web producer-
Houston Business Journal

Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC has spent millions so far this year on costs associated with the 2012 explosion at its West Delta 32 Gulf of Mexico platform, and it’s still dealing with the repercussions of the incident.

According to regulatory filings, Black Elk spent $4.7 million in the third quarter – and a total of $12.4 million in the first nine months of the year – on costs associated with the Nov. 16, 2012, explosion, which killed three subcontractor workers. The Houston-based company operated the platform, located 17 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La.

In addition to reporting a net loss of $18.4 million for the third quarter, Black Elk noted the following in its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:
Total oil, natural gas and plant product production declined 18 percent for the third quarter and 23 percent for the first nine months of year, compared to the same periods a year earlier, “as a result of downtime in the fields requiring hot work, which was delayed due to the (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement) requirements for approval after the West Delta 32 incident, pipeline repairs, and the asset field sales to Renaissance on March 26, 2013, and July 31, 2013. The year-to-date variance was also a result of a longer winter weather season.”

“As of Nov. 12, 2013, several civil lawsuits have been filed as a result of the West Delta 32 Incident. Š We believe we have strong defenses and cross-claims and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.”

“On Oct. 15, 2013, the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office issued a subpoena pertaining to all physical evidence collected and maintained by (Black Elk) and ABSG Consulting as part of the investigation of the West Delta Incident.”

In August, Black Elk released the results of the ABSG investigation, which said contractor Grand Isle Shipyard violated its contract by hiring a subcontractor to perform construction work.

Black Elk filed its third-quarter report on Nov. 14, the same day BSEE issued incident of noncompliance citations against the company and its contractors on the West Delta 32 platform. Black Elk said in a Nov. 15 statement it “does not agree with the basis for the INC (citations) and is evaluating its options for response.” The companies have 60 days to appeal the citations.

Earlier this month, BSEE released a report of its investigation into the incident, and Black Elk said in a statement that it is fully cooperating with BSEE in the investigation and will be carefully reviewing the report.

“Black Elk Energy always has in its thoughts and prayers the victims of this tragic accident last November,” John Hoffman, Black Elk’s president and CEO, said in the statement.

Special thanks to Richard Charter

fossil fuels, fracking, national ocean politics, offshore oil, tar sands

Huffington Post: Fracking Industry Campaign Contributions At Record Levels, Report Shows

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/20/fracking-campaign-contributions_n_4311016.html

The Huffington Post | By Jared Gilmour
Posted: 11/20/2013 4:21 pm EST | Updated: 11/20/2013 6:45 pm EST

Fracking industry contributions to congressional campaigns spiked 231 percent between 2004 and 2012 in districts and states with fracking activity, according to a report released Wednesday.

Compiled by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and based on MapLight’s collection of federal campaign contribution data, the report showed a smaller, 131-percent uptick in fracking industry contributions to candidates outside of fracking areas. The fracking industry’s level of contributions increased steadily from $4.3 million to just under $12 million between 2004 and 2012, according to the report, just as fracking’s importance to the U.S. energy industry grew.

“Like many industries under increasing scrutiny, the fracking industry has responded by ratcheting up campaign donations to help make new friends in Congress,” CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said in a statement.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the controversial process of injecting water, sand and chemicals into oil and gas wells to unlock fossil fuels trapped in layers of rock. The process has revolutionized oil and gas production in the U.S., but faces strong criticism from environmentalists, who worry the chemicals used in fracking could harm the environment.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) received the most in contributions, the report found, raking in $509,447 between the 2004 and 2012 elections. Barton is a former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

During his tenure as chairman of the committee, Barton was a sponsor of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, according to the CREW report. The act exempted fracking from federal oversight under the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was another major recipient of fracking money, with $384,700 in contributions in the 2004-2012 period.

Republican congressional candidates benefited most from the fracking industry’s largesse, the CREW report showed, garnering almost 80 percent of total contributions.

Special thanks to Richard Charter

energy policy, natural resource management, offshore oil

Common Dreams: Sen. Sanders, Rep. Ellison Introduce Legislation to End Fossil Fuel Tax Breaks

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http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2013/11/21-7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2013
3:56 PM

CONTACT: Congressman Keith Ellison

Mike.Casca@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON – November 21 – As House and Senate budget negotiators look for ways to lower deficits, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) today introduced legislation to eliminate tax loopholes and subsidies that support the oil, gas and coal industries.

The End Polluter Welfare Act of 2013 would remove tax breaks, close loopholes, end taxpayer-funded fossil fuel research and prevent companies from escaping liability for spills or deducting cleanup costs. Under current law, these subsidies are expected to cost taxpayers more than $100 billion in the coming decade.

The White House budget proposal for next year calls for eliminating several of the same provisions that the legislation by Sanders and Ellison would end.

“At a time when fossil fuel companies are racking up record profits, it is time to end the absurdity of American taxpayers providing massive subsidies to these hugely profitable fossil fuel corporations,” Sanders said.

“The five biggest oil companies made $23 billion in the third quarter of 2013 alone. They don’t need any more tax giveaways,” Ellison said. “We should invest in the American people by creating good jobs and ending cuts to food assistance instead of throwing tens of billions of taxpayer dollars at one of the biggest and most profitable industries in the world.”

The five most profitable oil companies (ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP and ConocoPhilips) together made more than $1 trillion in profits over the past decade.

Taxpayers for Common Sense, Friends of the Earth, 350.org, Sierra Club, Environment America, Greenpeace, Oil Change International, Public Citizen, Earthjustice support the bills.

energy policy, fossil fuels, offshore oil

RT.com: Russian court grants bail to 9 foreign Greenpeace activists

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http://rt.com/news/russia-bail-foreign-greenpeace-951/

Russia
Published time: November 19, 2013 12:04
Edited time: November 19, 2013 16:28

greenpeace
A Russian police officer puts handcuffs on Greenpeace International activist, one of the “Arctic 30,” Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel from Brazil, in a defendant cage in a court in Russia’s second city of Saint Petersburg, on November 18, 2013.(AFP Photo / Olga Maltseva)

Nine foreign Greenpeace activists were granted bail by Russian court in the city of St. Petersburg. A total of 12 out of 30 crewmembers detained over the protest at an oil rig in the Barents Sea have had bail approved.

They all are to be released while awaiting trial as soon as Greenpeace makes bail for them.

The court in St. Petersburg on Tuesday set bail at 2 million rubles ($61,500) for each of them. Greenpeace said it would transfer the money as soon as possible.

Greenpeace activists granted bail:
1. Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel (BRA)
2. Miguel Hernan Perez Orsi (ARG)
3. David John Haussmann (NZ)
4. Tomasz Dziemianczuk (PL)
5. Camila Speziale (ARG)
6. Cristian D’Alessandro (ITA)
7. Paul Ruzycki (CAN)
8. Sini Saarela (FI)
9. Francesco Pisanu (FRA)
10. Yekaterina Zaspa (RUS)
11. Denis Sinyakov (RUS)
12. Andrey Allakhverdov (RUS)

“We still have no idea what conditions our friends will endure when they are released from jail, whether they will be held under house arrest or even allowed outside,” Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo, said reacting on news stressing that they were still “charged and could spend years behind bars if they are convicted.”

On Monday another St. Petersburg court granted bail to three Russians who were aboard the ship: a doctor, Ekaterina Zaspa, freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov and Greenpeace Russia press office chief Andrey Allakhverdov.

Greenpeace said Tuesday that it has prepared 6 million rubles (US$184,500) in bail for the three Russian crew members. A wire transfer of the money is required within two working days.

A separate court in St Petersburg also on Monday refused to free Australian activist Colin Russell.

“Colin was refused bail and sent back to prison for three months. The Arctic 30 will not be free until every last one of them is back home with their families,” Naidoo said.

Greenpeace International activist, one of the “Arctic 30,” Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel from Brazil, holds a poster as she stands in a defendant cage in a court in Russia’s second city of Saint Petersburg, on November 18, 2013.(AFP Photo / Olga Maltseva)

The 28 activists and two reporters from 18 different countries were arrested on September 19 following their protest at Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya oil platform in the Barents Sea a day earlier. They were first charged with piracy, which carries a possible jail sentence of 15 years. However, Russia’s Investigative Committee reduced the charges to hooliganism. The hooliganism charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years.

Special thanks to Richard Charter

energy policy, fossil fuels, natural resource management, ocean pollution, offshore oil

New Zealand: Protesters’ flotilla awaits drillship

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9410561/Protesters-flotilla-awaits-drillship

ELTON SMALLMAN

BEN CURRAN/Fairfax NZ

protestors
SPEAKING UP: Raglan residents at the car park in Manu Bay on Saturday, protesting against oil company Anadarko’s offshore drilling programme.

Oil Free Seas Flotilla
A flotilla of protesters is promising to defend the ocean from deep-sea oil exploration as an Anadarko vessel sets a course for their location.

The flotilla of ocean-going yachts, which include the Greenpeace yacht Vega, raced the drillship the Noble Bob Douglas to the site at the Romney Prospect, 110 nautical miles off the Raglan coast, at the weekend.

Greenpeace executive director Bunny McDiarmid, who was on one of the six boats, said they planned a peaceful protest where Anadarko will drill in 1500 metre of water in what will be New Zealand’s deepest well.

“Our objective is to faithfully defend our oceans and our coastline, defend our climate, defend out future generations against very risky and unnecessary deep-sea oil drilling,” she said.

Changes to the Crown Minerals Act, known as the Anadarko Amendment, limits protest activity in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone and requires all boats to remain 500m clear of drilling operations.

“Seeing as the ship is not here yet there is no restricted zone where we are. We’re just sailing off the coast of New Zealand in very beautiful water.”

The Oil Free Seas flotilla was a loose alliance who wanted to halt exploration and said coastal communities would suffer in a major spill. “The Raglan community and that coastline there would be in the direct path of any major oil spill if it should happen so they have a lot to lose.”

Former Green party leader Jeanette Fitzsimons was also on the flotilla and said Anadarko threatened her grandchildren’s right to a clean environment.

Anadarko’s drilling ship the Noble Bob Douglas was 50 nautical miles off New Plymouth last night and was due to depart overnight.

They will set up in the permitted area and corporate affairs manager Alan Seay expected everything to run smoothly.

“We respect their right to protest and I’d ask that they respect our right to go about our lawful business and respect the safety zone that will be around the Noble Bob Douglas,” he said. “I do understand that they are not allowed to interfere with that location that they must move off when the drillship arrives so we very much hope that that is what happens otherwise they will be interfering.”

Special thanks to Richard Charter