2017 News Archive

IADC Comments on Lebanese Petroleum Authority’s Environmental Strategy Assessment

The Lebanese Petroleum Authority (LPA) recently issued a draft Environmental Strategy Assessment, which will likely contribute to a regulatory framework for the country’s burgeoning offshore oil and gas operations

IADC Disappointed in House Committee Vote Regarding ANWR

“Opening a portion of ANWR to oil and gas development and production has been a goal of IADC’s since the 1980s as it represents an extraordinary opportunity to responsibly develop the vast resources that the area is believed to contain. Therefore, IADC is disappointed by today’s vote in the House Natural Resources Committee that attempts to block future development of ANWR.

IADC Praises Senate Confirmation of David Bernhardt as Secretary of Interior

“As Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt’s mandate will be to develop the tremendous natural resources within the U.S., and to ensure that this is done in a safe and environmentally sound manner.

IADC Accreditation Retains ISO 9001:2015 Certification

he International Association of Drilling Contractor’s (IADC) Accreditation Department recently successfully passed the ISO 9001:2015 recertification audit with zero findings.

IADC Joins Coalition to Support Congressional Passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

To advocate for the swift passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during the 116th Congress, the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) has joined the Pass USMCA Coalition.

IADC Praises Nomination of David Bernhardt to Lead Department of Interior

“IADC welcomes the nomination of David Bernhardt to serve as the next Secretary at the Department of Interior. Given his background and depth of knowledge, coupled with his interim leadership at Interior, we believe that Mr. Bernhardt is deeply committed to managing the development of the tremendous natural resources within the U.S., with a focus on ensuring that work is done in a safe and environmentally sound manner.

IADC Recognizes Trent Latshaw, President of Latshaw Drilling, with 2018 Contractor of the Year Award

he International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) presented its Contractor of the Year Award to Trent Latshaw, President of Latshaw Drilling Co., during last week’s IADC Annual General Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Senate Passage of Ballast Water Discharge Regulation a Positive for Offshore Drilling Contractors

“We have long advocated for sensible, uniform regulation when it comes to ballast water discharge. IADC members with offshore operations own and operate maritime vessels that are subject to the current maze of conflicting regulation which is administered under two Federal agencies and exists alongside multiple state rules.

IADC Supports Interior’s Approval of Plan to Drill in Arctic Waters

“Interior’s approval yesterday of the Alaska Liberty project is a step forward in tapping the rich potential of the Arctic’s natural resources. Arctic reserves are estimated at more than 90 billion barrels of oil, and with decades of experience operating in Alaska’s harsh climate, drilling contractors have developed safe and effective environmentally sensitive methods to retrieve the region’s vast oil and gas reserves.

New U.S., Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement a Win for Business, Oil and Gas Industry

“IADC is pleased to see the advancement of a new trade agreement with all three countries at the table. A trade agreement that promotes the swift movement of equipment and personnel across the borders in North America is important to IADC’s membership and we will continue to monitor it as it moves toward a Congressional vote.

Revisions to BSEE Offshore Safety Rule Enhance Offshore Oil and Gas Safety, Operations

“IADC is pleased to see today’s results of the exacting approach taken by BSEE to enhance its production safety regulations. Far from making industry operations less safe, as detractors have alleged, the judicious assessment of all 484 provisions contained within the original 2016 rule will afford stakeholders an opportunity to effectively apply these revised requirements as they were originally intended.

IADC Praises Coast Guard Withdrawal of Decades Old Offshore Proposed Regulation

“The withdrawal of this proposed rule by the U.S. Coast Guard is long overdue. After sitting on the shelf for nearly 20 years, the provisions contained in the proposed rule have long ago been rendered obsolete by an industry that prides itself on embracing technological advances.

IADC Welcomes Revised BLM Rule

Today’s Interior announcement is gratifying in that industry concerns have been heard and the resulting regulation encourages energy development while still remaining vigilant about protecting the environment from unnecessary methane emissions.

IADC Donates Drilling Matters Kiosk to Ocean Star Rig Museum

The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) recently donated a kiosk loaded with interactive educational information about the upstream oil and gas industry to the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum and Education Center in Galveston, Texas.

IADC Supports House Natural Resources Committee Passage of BLM Onshore Permitting Bills

The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources passed three bills that will eliminate delays in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) onshore permitting process. IADC supports today’s passage of H.R. 6087: Removing Barriers to Energy Independence Act; H.R 6088: Streamlining Permitting Efficiencies in Energy Development Act and H.R. 6107: Ending Duplicative Permitting Act.

IADC Recognizes 30 Senators and Members of Congress with Legislator Awards

ADC honored 30 Senators and Members of Congress with the first IADC Legislator Awards, which recognized support for the drilling contractor industry in the 115th Congress.

IADC Comment on BSEE Blowout Preventer/Well Control Requirements

“As the owners and operators of drilling rigs and blowout preventers, IADC members have been acutely impacted by some provisions of the rule. Far from advocating scrapping the entire well control rule or other rules issued after Macondo, as some opponents of today’s proposal have argued, IADC has asked that the well control rule’s requirements be appropriately refined to increase their effectiveness while removing those provisions that add unnecessary costs without increasing safety, and it sounds like this is exactly what BSEE has done through its surgical approach in its revision of the rule."

IADC Comment on BOEM’s Successful Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale

“Today’s sale, with 159 bids from 33 bidding companies on the 148 tracts offered, reflects the oil and gas industry’s improving market conditions and a regulatory environment which is favorable to the safe and responsible development of the vast amount of U.S. offshore natural resources.

Drilling Offshore Florida Would Benefit Economy, Jobs

“The State of Florida often points to its beaches and thriving tourism industry as justification for its exclusion from drilling activity. The reality is that outdoor tourism and offshore oil and gas exploration and production can coexist, and we believe that they should. The Eastern Gulf of Mexico alone, at 64.5 million acres, is projected to contain 3.6 billion barrels of oil, which would in turn support 230,000 jobs and contribute $18 billion per year to the economy. And for Florida, the available data indicates that the recoverable resources lie 100 miles or more off the coast; far from the beaches and the view of tourists who can only see 3-12 miles out on the horizon.”

IADC Disappointed by Secretary Zinke’s Remarks Regarding Waters Offshore of Florida

International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) President Jason McFarland issued the following statement regarding Interior Secretary Zinke’s announcement that the 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Proposed Program will exclude waters offshore Florida:

IADC Comment on 2019-2024 OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Proposed Program

“Today’s draft proposed program is an important step forward in the legislatively mandated process that will ultimately determine the available leasing areas for oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf."

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Advances Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted on legislation that would open parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas development. It was approved with a vote of 13-10.

IADC Contractor of the Year, Exemplary Service Awards Recognize Industry Excellence

The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) presented its Contractor of the Year Award to Dr. Tom Burke, President and CEO of Rowan Companies, during last week’s IADC Annual General Meeting in Austin, Texas.

IADC Supports H.R. 4239, the SECURE American Energy Act

n comments submitted today to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, IADC affirmed its support for H.R. 4239, the Strengthening the Economy with Critical Untapped Resources to Expand American Energy Act (SECURE Act).

5th Circuit Rules in Favor of Offshore Contractors on Contractor Liability under OCSLA

Today, a panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the government with regard to its attempt to exercise criminal enforcement powers against contractors and subcontractors.