AOGCC reschedules regulations hearing

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has rescheduled to Sept. 15 a hearing on whether changes or additions may be needed to its regulations governing drilling, rig workover and well control in offshore and ultra-extended reach wells.

Originally scheduled for May 11, the commission rescheduled the hearing based on an extension received for the final report being prepared by the joint investigation team of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The original date was set after the issuance of the Report to the President from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

The intent of the commission hearing is to review and assess the adequacy of Alaska’s relevant statutes and regulations and the commission said it believes its own inquiry will benefit from having the final report from the joint investigation team before convening its own hearing.

Interested persons may attend and testify at the hearing, or may submit written comments by Sept. 14.

The hearing will be held at the commission’s Anchorage office and will begin at 9 a.m.

—Petroleum News