Commission OKs regulation change

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has approved an amendment to its regulations on training in well control.

The regulation had referred to federal statutes for training requirements. As amended it describes options which the commission will recognize as meeting the training and certification requirement in drilling well curriculum.

Commission Chair Cammy Taylor said at a Feb. 12 commission meeting that the regulation change was necessitated by changes in federal regulations and also allows operators more options in meeting training requirements. Taylor also said there was no indication that the amendment would increase the cost of training.

The Alaska Oil and Gas Association provided the only comment to the proposed amendment during the public comment period. The association said it supported the proposed changes to the regulation.