Feds Approve First Deepwater Permit Since Deepwater Horizon Blowout
After more than an eight-month lull in deepwater oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement on Feb. 28 approved the first deepwater drilling permit in the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 20, 2010.
“This permit represents a significant milestone for us and for the offshore oil and gas industry, and is an important step towards safely developing deepwater energy supplies offshore,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich in a statement. “This permit was issued for one simple reason: the operator successfully demonstrated that it can drill its deepwater well safely and that it is capable of containing a subsea blowout if it were to occur. We expect further deepwater permits to be approved in coming weeks and months based on the same process that led to the approval of this permit.