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Permit to Drill Well that Yielded Chevron Discovery Result of Back to Work Coalition Leadership

Wednesday, September 7, 2011—Today, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Scott A. Angelle noted that Chevron's recent major oil discovery in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the resulting jobs are due in part to the leadership of the Back to Work Coalition throughout and following the federal government's moratorium on deepwater drilling. 

Chevron reported this week that an exploratory well at Keathly Canyon in the Gulf of Mexico discovered more than 380 feet of oil reserves. 

Angelle and Back to Work Coalition Members met with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael Bromwich and members of BOEMRE staff 13 times and hosted 11 conference calls throughout the moratorium and the months following to cut through the red tape and bring clarity to the permitting process. 

"Back in February, in one of our many meetings with Director Bromwich, we learned that 57 wells that would be able to resume previously approved drilling activity that was interrupted by the moratorium without the requirement for revised exploration or development plans for supplemental federal environmental review," explained Angelle. 

"Those 57 wells represented the 57 best opportunities to reinvigorate drilling activity and the economy of the energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico," he added.

Following that announcement from BOEMRE, the Back to Work Coalition went to work addressing the challenges that stood between those 57 permits and approval - compliance with NTL-10 and a decision on the Interim Final Rule. 

Chevron's permit to drill the well that made this discovery was one of those 57 and their first moratorium well that was re-permitted after the moratorium was lifted.

Chevron began drilling the site - known as the Moccasin project - in March 2010, but was required to halt all drilling due to the deepwater drilling moratorium.  Chevron resumed drilling the site in March 2011 and was the first post-moratorium exploratory well. The well is located 216 miles off the coast of Louisiana in 6,700 feet of water and has been drilled to a depth of 31,545 feet.

"We are very grateful to both Governor Jindal and Secretary Angelle for taking the lead in this effort to revive drilling in the Gulf of Mexico," said Lori LeBlanc, Executive Director of the Gulf Economic Survival Team. "Without Louisiana's leadership, the industry would not have experienced the progress that we've seen thus far."

"Discoveries such as Chevron's are proof that the Gulf of Mexico is full of opportunities - opportunities for jobs and opportunities for America's energy independence," said Angelle.  "An active Gulf of Mexico energy industry means economic stability, energy security and jobs for the mean and women of Louisiana who are the backbone of the Gulf's energy industry."

"However, even in the presence of good news, the Back to Work Coalition will not lose focus until drilling in the deep and shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico is steady, bringing with it a steady stream of economic activity and stability for Louisiana's coast.