Mark Your Schedules For BOEMRE’s February Foray Into Alaska

Tomorrow Night’s Industrial Outlook Forum: 2011 and Beyond Features Energy Who’s Who

ADN by Lisa Demer.  As temperatures dropped at Prudhoe Bay and the shutdown of the 800-mile pipeline continued Tuesday, federal and state regulators agreed to allow Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. to temporarily restart the flow of oil even though some will ooze out of a leaking secondary pipe.  The flow of oil back into the pipeline was to resume Tuesday night, said Alyeska spokeswoman Michelle Egan.  That was expected to raise the temperature of oil in pipelines and tanks, avoid a more complex cold restart, avoid expected problems with freezing and wax buildup and allow North Slope operators to resume higher levels of production, Alyeska said.

Webcastr Video.  "We now look forward to construction of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline," said Bob Reid (NGP Photo-l, with author), president of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group.  *  Wall Street Journal.  A plan to build a massive gas pipeline through Canada’s Mackenzie Valley is likely to get final government approval as early as next week….  *     CBC by Greg Weston.  After almost 40 years of conflict and controversy, the massive Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline project is expected to get final government approval as early as next week with one major caveat — no federal subsidies.   *   Canadian Press/Winnipeg Free Press.  A go-ahead from cabinet would be the next step in the process after the National Energy Board gave its approval in December, although it attached 264 conditions in areas such as engineering, safety and environmental protection.  At the time, the pipeline’s lead partner, Imperial Oil Ltd. (TSX:IMO), said it was pleased by the NEB decision calling it both a "vital" and a "significant step."  However, Imperial spokesman Pius Rolheiser said it was "only one of a number of necessary steps that need to take place, milestones that need to be achieved before this project could become a reality.”   The proposed 1,220-kilometre Mackenzie pipeline would carry natural gas from near the coast of the Beaufort Sea in the N.W.T. to southern markets. *  Darcy Higgins Blog: Pipe Dream.

Consumer Energy Alliance.  NOIA President Randall Luthi today issued the following statement in response to theNational Oil Spill Commission’s Final Report – Deep Water: The Gulf Oil Disaster and the Future of Offshore Drilling.  “ The Commission has put forth recommendations that should be vetted, aired and in some cases possibly implemented. The Commission went through a thoughtful, lengthy, deliberative process and now it is time for Congress and industry to do the same in evaluating the Commission’s findings. This report will become required reading for the offshore industry for years to come.  “However, the report is not an indictment of offshore oil and gas production.  While many opposed to offshore exploration will undoubtedly use the report to bolster their calls to stop offshore oil and gas development, even the Commission Members themselves recognize the importance of moving ahead with additional development."   *  CEA Analysis/Release by David Holt (NGP Photo-r).