2-10-12

2-10-12

ADN by Becky Bohrer, AP. A state House resolution calls on the federal government to properly plug and reclaim the sites of so-called legacy wells within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The government drilled nearly 140 drilled nearly 140 wells in the reserve as part of an exploratory oil and gas program between 1944 and 1981…. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management oversees the abandoned wells. The resolution says just seven wells have been properly plugged and reclaimed. …

Rep. Charisse Millett (NGP Photo), R-Anchorage, the resolution’s primary sponsor, said the wells threaten the Arctic ecosystem. But she told the House Resources Committee this week that the state can’t tell the federal government what to do, hence the resolution. Nearly the entire Alaska House has signed on in support of the measure.

BLM-Alaska Deputy State Director Ted Murphy testified that the agency in Alaska gets just $1 million for legacy wells. He and Cathy Foerster (NGP Photo), a commissioner with the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, said collaboration is important for moving ahead. But Foerster didn’t hold back in her frustration, pointing out what she called the hypocrisy of the federal government in wanting to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge while leaving a mess at the petroleum reserve. She showed pictures of rusting barrels that she said were taken by BLM. She said BLM claims to have an insufficient budget to clean up the barrels but had the money for the helicopter to go out to photograph the barrels and for BLM to write a report.

Gov: Senate bill an oil tax increase; senator cites drafting error, says that’s not the intent – The Republic, Becky Borher – Gov. Sean Parnell says the oil tax bill unveiled in the Senate Wednesday represents a tax increase. Technically, he’s right. But Sen. Bert Stedman says that was never the intent.

Canada, China sign investment, energy agreements – Bloomberg Business Week, Gillian Wong – Canada and China expanded cooperation Wednesday with agreements to boost bilateral investment and promote energy exports to China as Ottawa seeks to diversify its oil sales.

Alaska Senate committee begins pipeline lawsuit review – Fairbanks Daily News – Miner, Matt Buxton – The decision by Superior Court Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage raised the value of the pipeline for 2007 through 2009 by as much as $4.3 billion. She wrote that the remaining reserves on the North Slope are substantial enough to extend the life of the pipeline many years past what oil companies claim.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell helps kill latest Arctic drilling plan – The News Tribune, Rob Hotakainen – The Washington Democrat and member of the Senate Finance Committee raised objections Tuesday when Utah GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch offered a plan that would have allowed drilling rigs into the refuge and protected waters off the coast of Florida and southern California

Council considers how to pay to get natural gas – Homer News, Michael Armstrong – If the city can show a commitment to building a natural gas distribution system, it might convince Gov. Sean Parnell the city has "skin in the game," the phrase Parnell used in suggesting he might approve the gas line if he sees the city putting up part of the cost.

Senator Tom Wagoner offered an alternate viewpoint on the lifetime of the TransAlaskan Pipeline System (TAPS) in testimony before the Senate Resources Committee Thursday. Brad Keithley gave a 45 minute presentation countering the four and a half hours of testimony earlier in the week. Keithley’s point is that the issue is not the lifetime of TAPS but what is moving through it. Readers can find the press release at Senator Wagoner’s web site. -ed

About the Author: wpnorthern

Dave Harbour, publisher of Northern Gas Pipelines, is a former Chairman of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, a Commissioner Emeritus of NARUC, NARUC's Official Representative to IOGCC and Vice Chairman of NARUC's Gas Committee. He served as Gas Committee Chairman of the Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners. He also served as commissioner of the Anchorage Bicentennial Commission and the Anchorage Heritage Land Bank Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree: English, at Colorado State University, a Master of Science Degree: Communications-Journalism at Murray State University and graduated from Utility Regulatory School for Commissioners at Michigan State University. He served as a Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at Alaska Pacific University, taught bank marketing classes at the University of Alaska and was an English teacher at Los Alamos High School. Harbour served in ranks of Private - Captain during a 4-year assignment with the Army in Korea, Idaho, Georgia and Fort Meade and received the Meritorious Service Medal among other commendations. Harbour is also a past Chairman of the Alaska Council on Economic Education, the Alaska Oil & Gas Association Government Affairs Committee, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Export Council of Alaska and the Department of Commerce's District Export Council. He is a past President of the Alaska Press Club, American Bald Eagle Foundation, Consumer Energy Alliance-Alaska and Common Sense for Alaska. Harbour was instrumental in founding the American Bald Eagle Research Institute (UAS), the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, the Downtown Anchorage Business Partnership, and Arctic Power. He also served as CEO of several small Alaska organizations, including the Anchorage Parking Authority and Action Security, Inc. Harbour is also Chairman Emeritus of the Alaska Oil & Gas Congress. Harbour's wife, Nancy, is a professional, performing arts administrator and his three boys, Todd, Benjamin and William work in the fields of environmental management, energy marketing and medicine.