Explorers 2011: EPA issues air permits for Shell

Alan Bailey

Petroleum News, Oct. 30, 2011

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final air permit for Shell’s planned use of its Kulluk floating drilling platform for exploration drilling in the Beaufort Sea starting in July 2012. The permit comes about a month after the issue of similar permits for the use of the drillship Noble Discoverer in both the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

“EPA’s final permit significantly reduces the potential air pollution from Shell’s drilling operations and protects the National Ambient Air Quality Standards,” EPA said on Oct. 21 when announcing its issuance of the permit for the Kulluk. “Strict pollution controls in the permit include selective catalytic reduction units and catalytic oxidation reduction units on some engines, use of low-sulfur diesel fuel fleet-wide, and limits on operational hours.”

Public appeals for review of the permit must be received by the Environmental Appeals Board by Nov. 28, EPA said. The agency published a draft version of the permit in July and after a public review period made a number of technical changes before issuing the final version.