MMS, Norwegians sign nonbinding MOU

The U.S. Minerals Management Service has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. The nonbinding MOU, signed May 6, is a cooperative agreement to exchange resource management information addressing issues of mutual interest related to offshore oil, gas and mineral resources, MMS said in a statement.

“We are happy to enter this agreement with our Norwegian counterparts,” MMS Acting Director Walter Cruickshank said in a statement. He said the information exchange would “enhance our efforts to develop the outer continental shelf resources in a safe and responsible manner, as well as strengthen our and Norway’s practices and procedures.”

“During the years, the NPD and MMS have had a very fruitful cooperation,” said NPD Director General Bente Nyland, adding that he was pleased to have the formal agreement.

Nyland said he thought the agreement would be “beneficial to both parties as we both have a substantial offshore petroleum industry,” and the MOU provides “an even better platform for exchanging views and learning from one another.”

Objectives of the agreement are to establish and build relationships; promote cooperative resource management activities in exploration and production; promote the sharing of scientific and technical information, exploration and production strategies and technical solutions; and conduct cooperative research studies.

MMS said this MOU complements an existing MOU between MMS and Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority, “helping both countries to improve all aspects of our oil and gas programs.”

—Petroleum News