Repository for EPRINC’s Macondo Analysis
EPRINC has created this page as a composite repository for its analysis of the BP Macondo spill. It can be accessed at http://www.eprinc.org/macondo. EPRINC will post its own analyses of the spill as well relevant primary and secondary documentation of interest.
EPRINC Publications
Oil Spill in the Gulf - Who is in Charge? An EPRINC Briefing Memorandum - June 3, 2010
Proposed Agenda for the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - An EPRINC Briefing Memorandum - June 21, 2010
The Blowout and the Deepwater Moratorium…..putting the spill in perspective
– July 2, 2010
Alternative Safety Regimes – An overview of “safety cases” – a method of offshore safety regulation made popular in the North Sea. – Forthcoming
A Proposed Agenda for the Presidential Commission
EPRINC Briefing Memorandum
June 2010
The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling has been tasked with investigating the Deepwater Horizon accident and making recommendations on how to prevent and mitigate future spills. Given the large stakes to the marine environment, coastal and national economies, U.S. energy security, and revenues to the federal government, the Commission’s recommendations are likely to have consequences that go well beyond an investigation of the accident and implementation of a new regulatory program.
EPRINC recommends the Commission give careful review to the following agenda items:
The Deepwater and Offshore Arctic Drilling Moratorium
The costs of the moratorium on deepwater drilling are high, and the likelihood that it is not delivering substantial benefits in lower risk should place this agenda item as the first order of business for the Commission. Priority regulatory Read More >>>
Oil Spill in the Gulf – Who is in Charge?
EPRINC Briefing Memorandum
June 2010
Download PDF (includes full citations)
EPRINC staff has received a large number of inquiries on who has ultimate responsibility to address the clean up and related responses following the April 20, 2010 blowout and subsequent oil spill at BP’s Macondo well. These authorities are delineated in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The highlights are summarized in this document.
As a result of the Macondo blowout, the federal government has ordered a six month moratorium on deepwater drilling. A forthcoming EPRINC report will evaluate the economic, energy security, environment, and safety issues associated with exploring for and developing the deep water resources of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990: Defining Authority and Liability
In response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989, Congress passed comprehensive oil spill legislation: The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). Prior to the passing of OPA, oil spills were governed by a patchwork of environmental regulations. OPA defines the reach of federal authority in response to oil spills and provides means to prevent and treat oil spills. OPA also broadened the liability of responsible parties associated with oil spill cleanup and Read More >>>
Presentation before the Middle East Policy Council
EPRINC President Lucian Pugliaresi gave a presentation on Gulf oil and gas before the Middle East Policy Council on April 22 at the Rayburn Office Building in Washington, DC. The event, entitled Gulf Oil and Gas: What are the Producers Thinking?
is part of the Capital Hill Conference Series on U.S. Middle East Policy. The unedited transcript can be downloaded here.
The following is the transcript of Mr. Pugliaresi’s presentation:
As the chairman said, I’m a substitute for Herman Franssen, who is a trustee of our organization, the Energy Policy Research Foundation. EPRINC has long roots in oil and gas analysis going back to our founding in New York City in 1944. We moved from New York City to Washington only in 2007. This is a bit of a different audience for us as our presentations are generally before a more narrow community focused on developments in oil and gas markets.
Part of the motivation in the name change for EPRINC, from a focus on petroleum to a broader focus on energy was a sense that we needed to take a broader outlook, although research in petroleum markets remains our central focus. We do tend to try and take a hard look at areas where we think the conventional wisdom may be wrong and in this regard we’ve identified five areas worthy of more in depth research.
These areas include unconventional gas, which I think we can all agree has overturned conventional wisdom on U.S. gas Read More >>>
Iraq’s Ambition - Presentation at the Energy Forum
EPRINC’s April 28 presentation at the New York Energy Forum on Iraq’s plan to increase oil production to 12 million barrels per day over the next seven years is available for download as a PDF. The presentation is also posted on our publications page.
