AOGCC contracts some investigative work

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is soliciting bids for a professional investigator. The agency said in a request for proposals dated Oct. 7 that it is looking for “an experienced investigator” to assist with “responsibilities to investigate and adjudicate regulatory issues associated with oil and gas operations throughout Alaska” on an as-needed basis.

This is a one-year contract with an option to renew for three one-year terms.

Contracted work would include performing on-site investigations of “allegations, actual violations and accidents” under the commission’s regulatory mandate.

The agency said recent increases in the number of reported incidents have required extensive investigation by its inspectors and engineers, with several incidents leading to enforcement actions, and cited public concern about industry operations as having a significant role in its decisions to initiate recent investigations.

The commission said “the public’s confidence in safe, efficient and environmentally sound oil and gas development depends to a large extent upon AOGCC’s ability to respond quickly to incidents. The continued occurrence of incidents is expected as activities become increasingly complex, operating personnel continue to be tasked with increased responsibilities and existing infrastructure is stretched beyond its initial design life in support of continued hydrocarbon extraction.”

The commission said having an investigator available on an as-needed basis will allow its “technical staff to remain focused on their core responsibilities, including proactively addressing efforts to prevent waste and improve regulatory compliance.”

The commission’s staff includes three petroleum engineers, two reservoir engineers and five petroleum inspectors.

—Petroleum News