The state of Alaska has the right to make public data from exploration wells drilled by ConocoPhillips in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, an appeals court has ruled. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, issued Wednesday, overturns a 2023 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason that allowed well data to remain under…
North Slope
Oil industry has an idea to speed permitting on western Arctic leases. BLM likes it.
Rather than study each proposal in the NPR-A, the industry wants the feds to study one and grant permits for all similar proposals. Foes deride the “cookie-cutter” approach.
$164M: Auction for drilling rights in Alaska’s Arctic sets new records
Eleven companies bought oil and gas leases on 1.3 million acres of the NPR-A, including tracts around Teshekpuk Lake, a previously protected area.
Washington and other Democratic-led states drop lawsuit against Arctic Refuge oil drilling in Alaska
A group of environmental and tribal groups had filed suit in 2020 at the same time as the Democratic-led states. Last month, that coalition renewed their suit.
Investigation continues over massive oil rig toppling on North Slope as Nuiqsut residents raise concerns
The Department of Environmental Conservation said it has been unable to get close to the wreckage, due to worries that metal from Rig 26 might fall on response team members.
Lawsuit challenges Trump administration approval for Arctic Alaska oil exploration plan
The lawsuit faults the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for greenlighting ConocoPhillips’ winter seismic and drilling program after a public comment period of only 7 days.