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Archive for the ‘energy policy’ Category

Hunterbrook – “Zombie Pipeline: Why Sable is Still a Pipe Dream”

Posted in California, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, Regulation, tagged , , , , , on January 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Updated Hunterbrook Media summary of Sable’s prospects for restarting Santa Ynez Unit production:

“Exxon spinoff Sable Offshore faces seven barriers to restart its pipeline, idled since a major oil spill in 2015. One of those approvals needs to come from the California Coastal Commission, which Sable CEO Jim Flores criticized for its “Teflon” “eco-Nazi attitude” in a leaked call recording newly obtained by Hunterbrook. Because of these barriers — and despite Trump Administration intervention — Sable’s project, originally scheduled to go online in Jan 2024, may never sell oil. At least not under the ownership of Sable ($SOC), which is quickly running out of cash.“

Exxon’s options per Hunterbrook:

The Exxon purchase agreement gives Exxon a free reassignment option: If Sable fails to “restart production” by Mar. 31, Exxon can demand reassignment of the assets within 180 days, “without reimbursement of any Purchaser costs or expenditures.” 

In other words: Exxon can just take back the asset. For free.

And if Sable’s regulatory pathway is really just delayed, not denied — as Sable claims — that may be a more appealing proposition for Exxon than it once was.

Or, perhaps, Exxon will decide to retire the project, recognizing the Sisyphean path to production. (Exxon already took a $2.5 billion write-down as part of exiting offshore operations in California.)

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TMC files the first consolidated deepsea minerals application

Posted in Regulation, energy policy, deep sea mining, tagged , , , , , on January 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Metals Company has filed the first consolidated application for an exploration license and commercial recovery permit under NOAA’s new regulations.

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Positive step for deepsea mining – revised NOAA regulations are now final

Posted in deep sea mining, energy policy, Regulation, tagged , , , , , , , on January 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Remotely operated vehicle traverses over an extensive field of ferromanganese nodules that form the bulk of the hard seafloor substrate. Credit: NOAA.

Links to final rule and post about the draft rule

“The objective of this rule is to provide the option for a consolidated application streamlining the process for qualified applicants.”

Reflecting on advances in environmental science, seafloor mapping, and offshore mineral-collection technologies, the revised rule allows qualified companies that gather the necessary site information to proceed to the collection phase. Deepsea mining is now more closely aligned with offshore oil and gas in that companies acquiring licenses are able to proceed to production after regulatory approvals.

The preamble nicely summarizes the opposition to the rule for environmental and jurisdictional reasons:

“General opposition to deep seabed mining was expressed for a variety of stated reasons, including, but not limited to the following assertions: effects on the environment; effects on seabed habitat and to marine species including undiscovered species especially in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone; harm to cultural resources and Pacific Islander livelihoods and beliefs; inadequate scientific research and information; inadequate resource protection measures and regulations; uncertainties regarding environmental impacts and a nascent industry; significant technical challenges to deep seabed mining; opposition to deep seabed mining from many U.S. states, countries, and global companies; that deep seabed mining is contrary to international agreements and efforts; the need for moratoria; that deep seabed minerals are not needed to meet U.S. demand for critical minerals and domestic sources and recycling of such minerals should be used instead; the U.S. needs to focus on building domestic refineries; using renewable and alternative resources rather than deep-sea minerals; and jeopardizing vital carbon sinks.”

“Commenters stated that acting unilaterally on deep seabed mining undermines the ISA (International Seabed Authority) process, international norms, global stability, and the rule of law, and that it could result in harm to protected areas, such as Areas of Particular Environmental Interest designated by the ISA.”

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Santa Ynez Unit – no production but great theater!

Posted in California, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, Regulation, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“The Santa Barbara Channel has been dubbed the Galápagos of North America” ~ Maggie Hall, Environmental Defense Center attorney. (comments: 1. clever branding ala calling ANWR “America’s Serengeti!;” 2. no natural oil seeps in the Galapagos Islands; 3. 130 years of oil production history in the Channel)

Sable opponents organize entertaining rallies featuring famous celebrities:

Ted Danson
Jane Fonda
Julia-Louis Dreyfus

Meanwhile, Sable has some starpower of its own with strong public support from golfer Phil Mickelson.

Senior Federal officials and key agencies are outspoken Sable supporters:

“Only in California! Newsom is blocking oil production off California’s coast from reaching their own refineries, driving gasoline prices even higher for Californians! Now, this oil production will have to be shipped elsewhere, lowering gas prices for other areas— just not for California! This is the opposite of common sense!” ~ Energy Secretary Chris Wright

BSEE declared victory 6 months ago: “This is a significant achievement for the Interior Department and aligns with the Administration’s Energy Dominance initiative, as it successfully resumed production in just five months.”

on December 23, 2025, the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) declared jurisdiction over and issued an emergency special permit for the Santa Ynez Pipeline System.

Perhaps most entertaining are the exchanges on X between Sable bulls and short-sellers. A few examples are embedded below:

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“Alternatives to New England’s Energy Affordability Crisis” – natural gas saves hundreds of $billions

Posted in climate, energy policy, natural gas, Wind Energy, tagged , , , , , , on January 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Always On Energy Research report is attached. Conclusion:

“In other words, dispatchable generation saves New England hundreds of billions of dollars and avoids blackouts. In the end, the idea that New England can run its electric grid on wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries is a dangerous and unserious proposition.“

1.13.2026 Alternatives to New Englands Energy Affordability CrisisDownload

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Carbon disposal is a big issue in Louisiana US Senate race

Posted in CCS, climate, energy policy, tagged , , , , , , on January 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming

Senator Bill Cassidy hopes to retain his seat in the US Senate, but faces a stiff challenge from Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming.

Fleming is opposed to carbon capture and sequestration: “If elected to the U.S. Senate, the first bill I will submit will be to fully defund and repeal the 45Q tax credits that pay for this. There’s no market for this. People don’t buy this technology.”

“This is purely crony capitalism, where you have the government paying wealthy companies that are going to make a lot of money out of this, and the average landowner is going to suffer from it. So I’ve committed that I will submit the bill that will defund it so that money will no longer be available, and it will stop all these projects.”

posts on carbon disposal

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John Smith comments on HR 5745 – Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act

Posted in decommissioning, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, rigs-to-reefs, tagged , , , on January 19, 2026| 1 Comment »

Juvenile rockfish seen on an oil platform off the coast of Santa Barbara. For the scientists who study them, preserving these accidental marine ecosystems has become a moral issue. Photograph: Scott Gietler

John Smith, decommissioning specialist and BOE contributor, has shared his comments (attached) on the Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act. This legislation would expand the successful reefing programs on the OCS by facilitating the conversion of retired production platforms into artificial reefs.

Comments HR 5745 JBSmith 011626Download

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Modest progress in refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Posted in energy policy, tagged , , , , on January 16, 2026| 1 Comment »

10 million bbls were added in 2025. Only 67 million bbls (<10% of capacity) have been added since the 7/7/2023 nadir. Unsurprisingly, It’s easier to deplete strategic national assets than replace them.

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More from JL on Sedco’s early years

Posted in drilling, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, Regulation, tagged , , , , , on January 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Screenshot

Per JL Daeschler, Sedco’s Far East, North Sea, and South America operations were all run from Dallas in the late 60’s. In 1970, an old schoolhouse became Sedco’s corporate headquarters (see picture and narrative pasted above). Thank you Bill Clements for saving this historic building – what a beautiful headquarters for the challenging and booming offshore industry!

JL: After 2 years with SEDCO in Miri, East Malaysia (1971) I moved to Brownsville Tx. But in 1979 I returned to the old school house in Dallas in secondment to Sedco Hamilton Production Services from Hamilton Brothers Oil & Gas. The main objective of the joint venture was promotion of floating production systems and in particular use of semi sub technology.  One project assignment was the BP “Buchan” field in the North Sea. (Note: this work was a precursor to the deepwater floating production units that are now the method of choice for deepwater development in the Gulf.)

JL is pictured (right below) on the Sedco 135 during operations offshore East Malaysia.

Wisdom from JL: Rules were pretty simple, as you can read on the rig wall in the picture. No App, pin, or password…. In fact no internet and mobile phone, just a radio operator.

Safety was grounded in the attitude and respect of 100 + people living and working together  (47 working / 47 sleeping and 6 managing and protecting others.  More difficult was the integration of the visiting contractors, logging/cementing / diving / VIPs. (Still true today!)
No division amongst ages, nationality ( sometimes 6 of them) religions, Job position , and ethnicity. Just get along and do what you get paid for!
Safety issues were dealt with immediately with short, unscheduled “toolbox” meetings – less reporting and more fixing.

(As an aside, Dan Bourgeois and I were on assignment to Petronas in 1977 and visited their East Malaysian operations. Does anyone in Petronas remember us? 😉)

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Judge Lamberth again rules in favor of Revolution Wind

Posted in energy policy, Offshore Wind, Regulation, tagged , , , on January 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »

See the attached order. This is the second time that Judge Lamberth has ordered the lifting of a shutdown order for this project. As we previously concluded:

Orsted has a lease contract, and no matter where you stand on offshore wind, you have to have a compelling case to halt a project that is in the advanced stages of development. 

gov.uscourts.dcd.284486.63.0_2Download

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