Oil & Gas

Oil and Gas professionals to meet on array of topics in New Orleans

A two-day comprehensive seminar on the oil and gas business in Louisiana will be held in New Orleans on September 21-22, 2009, at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel on Canal Street.

Sponsored by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the seminar covers a slate of oil and gas industry issues including regulations and laws, mineral leasing, permitting, taxes and revenue, unitization of wells, safety topics, and the SONRIS online records and reporting systems established by the department.

Speakers from several other government agencies and the private sector will join DNR professionals to discuss current topics such as the Haynesville Shale, alternative energy programs, bid rules for leasing state properties, and the ease of conducting business online on SONRIS.

Called Louisiana Oil and Gas: From SONRIS to Sunset 2009, this is the third annual conference of its kind that also qualifies for continuing education credits for attorneys, engineers, and landmen in Louisiana and Texas.

“We have much to offer at these sessions, and we believe it is appropriate to provide information to the industry that helps companies work most efficiently,” said DNR Secretary Scott Angelle.

Working in Louisiana to produce the energy that fuels the nation involves working with several agencies of state government – from DNR’s oversight of oil and gas operations to the state Department of Revenue’s role in taxation to the Department of Environmental Quality’s efforts to maintain a clean environment.

“We want to deliver a robust seminar that gives the people and companies attending the opportunity to draw good information from agencies representing all aspects of doing energy exploration and production business in the state of Louisiana,” Angelle said.

A panel of industry leaders will speak on Tuesday, September 22 at 8 am on the topic, Louisiana’s Future in Oil and Gas Exploration and Energy Production. Those scheduled as panelists are Renea Conley, President and CEO Entergy Louisiana; Ginger Sawyer, LABI; Chris John, La. Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association; Don Briggs, La. Oil and Gas Association; Harold Leggett, DEQ Secretary; James Welsh, La. Commissioner of Conservation and DNR Secretary Angelle.

Registration for the seminar is now underway and available online at www.regonline.com/oilandgas2009