On Aug. 30, ConocoPhillips provided a statement from its Alaska media office in response to a request from Petroleum News for an update on Willow. It was not in a press release.
The statement that follows remains unchanged from the earlier News Bulletin.
"We continue to review U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason's decision to vacate the Bureau of Land Management's approval of the Willow project in order to determine the best course of action for advancing the Willow project. We strongly believe that the BLM and cooperating agencies performed a robust, thorough, and extensive review of the Willow project, but we will again engage with the relevant agencies to address the matters described in the Court's decision.
"On a parallel path we will continue to perform engineering design work in anticipation of a future final investment decision (FID). However, given the recent Court decision, we do not expect to make the FID decision in 2021 and continue to be clear that we won't make the FID until the legal risks are resolved.
"We, and many important stakeholders, remain committed to Willow as the next significant North Slope project. The merits of the project represent a strong example of environmentally responsible development that offers extensive public benefits, including significant employment of Alaskan skilled labor from union and non-union trade associations and financial payments to federal, state, borough, and community governments.
"The Willow decision on August 18 has no direct impact on the remainder of the company's core business in Alaska."
- KAY CASHMAN
See story in Sept. 5 issue of Petroleum News, available Sept. 2 at www.PetroleumNews.com.
For information on PN's news bulletin service, call 907-522-9469.
PO Box 231647, Anchorage AK 99523-1647
