THE EXPLORERS 2007: Shell never really left Alaska 11/18/2007
2007 Beaufort drilling plans on hold due to a court order, Odom says will continue to listen, learn, work with local people
When Shell re-entered Alaska in October 2001 with the $2.4 million acquisition of 56,000 acres on the North Slope, Alaskans watched to see what the U.S. EandP arm of Royal Dutch Shell would do next. Fo...

Oil taxes revisited 09/09/2007
Hybrid net-gross tax would raise more than PPT actual, less than PPT proposed
Gov. Sarah Palin wants the Alaska Legislature to change the state's oil tax system from a tax on oil company profits - a net tax - to a hybrid tax, part net and part gross. The goal is to increase rev...

Judy Brady gets the magic wand at her final AOGA-chamber luncheon 07/01/2007
The oil and gas luncheon hosted annually by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association and the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce was several magic wands short this year. Traditionally, AOGA Executive Director Jud...

Beluga ESA listing prompts debate 04/29/2007
Resource groups challenge National Marine Fisheries Service's data, proposal; question value of endangered species classification
The sparks are flying following the National Marine Fisheries Service's announcement that the agency proposes listing the Cook Inlet beluga whales as an endangered species. (See initial story in the A...

Update bill for AOGCC moves in Legislature 04/22/2007
House version passed by Oil and Gas, goes to Resources; Senate version receives Resources Committee, Senate floor approval, passes 19-0
Bills to update the statutory authority of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act, dating from the territorial Legislature more than 50 years ago, are moving in both houses of the Alaska Legislature....

Oil Patch Insider 04/22/2007
AOGA's Brady to retire; AEWC and Maggie Ahmaogak part ways; Persily heads to D.C.
Judy Brady, executive director of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, plans to retire at the end of June after 14 years with the Anchorage-based group. AOGA's deputy director Marilyn Crockett will tak...

Legislature revisits PPT deductions 02/25/2007
Senate begins hearing bill which would exclude costs of repair or replacement of improperly maintained facilities
Both the Alaska House and Senate are considering bills to amend the credit allowance for the Petroleum Profits Tax passed last year so that companies cannot deduct costs of repair or replacement for i...

THE EXPLORERS 2006 - Shell plans four Beaufort wells in '07 11/12/2006
Two wells at Siv Ullig, two at another location north of Camden Bay; seismic planned in Chukchi, Beaufort
Rick Fox, Shell's new asset manager for Alaska, said in late February 2006 that Shell was "ambitious about Alaska." He wasn't jesting. The mega-major returned to Alaska in March 2005 and shortly ther...

THE EXPLORERS 2006 - The past, the present, a new day 2006-2046 11/12/2006
The history of the oil and gas industry and the State of Alaska is the story of huge risks taken, incredible challenges met, and the promise kept to provide a secure economic base for Alaska and its p...

Bridging the Eskimo, oil culture gap 11/05/2006
The Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission seeks mutual understanding between the oil industry and subsistence hunters
The loss of land previously available for subsistence hunting, together with the impact of industrial noise on offshore hunting, form just two of the issues that are causing unease about the oil and g...

ConocoPhillips withdraws from AOGA 09/10/2006
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, trade association representing oil and gas companies operating in Alaska loses founding member
ConocoPhillips is withdrawing from membership in the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, the trade association that represents oil and gas companies operating in the Alaska. "ConocoPhillips has its own d...

With PPT oil tax passed, what's next? 08/20/2006
Administration needs to satisfy Alaska Legislature to move gas contract; industry concerned about tax rate, contract, regulations
The Alaska Legislature passed - and Gov. Frank Murkowski was scheduled to sign Aug. 19 - a major revision of the state's oil and gas production tax. The bill passed Aug. 10 was higher than the 20 perc...

Chevron to begin North Slope exploration in 2007 06/11/2006
John Zager, Chevron's general manager in Alaska, told attendees of the June 5 Alaska Oil and Gas Association meeting in Anchorage that his company expects to begin exploration drilling of its North Sl...

Shell on fast forward 03/05/2006
Purchases Arctic drilling platform, doing geotechnical boring at Hammerhead
Rick Fox, Shell's new asset manager for Alaska, wasn't kidding when he told Pac Com attendees in late February that Shell was "ambitious about Alaska." The mega-major returned to Alaska in March 2005...

Show me, says Itta 02/19/2006
New NSB mayor casts friendly eye on extended reach drilling for offshore
The new mayor of the North Slope Borough says if the oil industry can show him technology that ensures the protection of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas he would "welcome discussions" about exploring an...

Shell declares hand 01/29/2006
Focused on offshore in Alaska, committed to using cutting-edge technology
When Shell announced its re-entry to the Alaska oil and gas industry through its purchase of a swathe of leases in the March 2005 Beaufort Sea outer continental shelf lease sale, many people speculate...

Shell names three top Alaska officials 01/22/2006
Shell Exploration and Production Co. named three top officials for its Alaska operation Jan. 19. Rick Fox is Alaska asset manager, Cam Toohey is Alaska government and external affairs manager and Georg...

THE EXPLORERS 2005: Welcome to The Explorers 2005 11/31/2005
This is an exciting time for the oil and gas industry in Alaska. Prices are good and a number of major projects and previously inaccessible areas have either gotten the green light or are expected to...