Drilling by Italian energy company Eni is set for the Arctic waters off the coast of Alaska in December, the U.S. Interior Department announced.

"After a comprehensive review and consideration of comments received from the public, stakeholders, and Federal and state partner agencies and tribes, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today conditionally approved a Beaufort Sea exploration plan it received from Eni U.S. Operating Co. Inc.," the agency announced.

The BOEM is a division of the Interior Department.

In one of his final moves in office, former President Barack Obama used parts of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to ban oil and gas work in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the coast of Alaska, as well as Atlantic coast areas. President Donald Trump in April used executive action to review plans, which could undermine parts of the ban. When it was issued, environmentalists told UPI that the president doesn't have the authority to put lease considerations back on the table if there were already banned.

The Eni lease is in part of the Beaufort Sea not included in Obama's order.

The Italian energy company acquired leases more than a decade ago that would've expired by the end of the year without further action. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the Trump administration rushed the leases through with little time for public comment.

"Approving this Arctic drilling plan at the 11th hour makes a dangerous project even riskier," Kristen Monsell, an attorney with the center, said in a statement.

The Center for Biological Diversity and a group of other concerned parties filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after his executive order was filed. It's pending in a federal court in Alaska.

Eni in 2014 said it reached a production milestone of 25,000 barrels of oil per day at its Nikaitchuq field offshore Alaska. Development came from facilities built in part on an artificial island built by Eni in the Beaufort Sea.

"We know there are vast oil and gas resources under the Beaufort Sea, and we look forward to working with Eni in their efforts to tap into this energy potential," Walter Cruickshank, acting BOEM director, said in a statement.

Drilling is slated for December and will be conducted only during winter months.

Tweet

Total petroleum production in Norway higher than last year
Washington (UPI) Jul 13, 2017
Total petroleum production in Norway so far this is more than 1 percent, or about 9 million barrels, higher than last year, the government said. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate published data for year-to-date production. About 754 million barrels of oil equivalents were produced so far this year, with most of that existing as oil. The total production so far is about 8.8 million bar ... read more

Related Links
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only