Offshore regulation could extend to contractors

WASHINGTON-the Obama management checks whether federal oversight of offshore drilling of oil and gas companies to manipulate to expand suppliers, service providers and other contractors now outside regulators reach oil field.

Michael Bromwich, the Director of the Bureau of ocean energy management, regulation and enforcement, told reporters Tuesday, that the existing system to make artificial restrictions on what can do his agency, safer to offshore drilling.

The power ends now with oil and gas companies, the leases in U.S. waters keep drilling. ", That dramatically restricts the scope of our control," he said.

"It is very important for our regulatory oversight extend as widely as possible for all the entities that operate the offshore and not for us only to be artificially limited each operator, which shall apply to authorisations and sent exploration plans."

"Bromine wich that approach may have seemed adequate, before also almost deadly blowout of BP Macondo before a year - the 11 killed and began a multi-million gallon spill oil - said, but is not compatible with the regulatory agenda, created by the disaster."

"We urge, in an aggressive and are responsibly very interested," said he, "and if that requires us, our scope beyond the operator, this is something that seriously be considered must."Last year's accident legislators and regulators sharpened focus on the wide range of companies in the area of offshore drilling.

According to the Commission, which investigated the oil spill, which began last April 20, the disaster was the result of a series of decisions by BP and its contractors at the site, including Transocean, of which owned the deepwater horizon drilling rig, and Halliburton, the cement work.

Against GOP?Expand all of the ocean energy Bureau regulatory powers would officials likely congressional action, according to a preliminary examination of Interior Department required.

And it seems unlikely that like the Bureau rules is important legislation authority, especially in the House, strengths in which Republicans move to limit the discretion of the Agency.

The Bureau may impose requirements on the equipment used and the work of contractors, but oil and gas companies offshore are ultimately responsible for whether these mandates are met.

No immediate position ", although much of this stuff someone else runs the requirements still apply to the activity," said Erik Milito, upstream Director for the American Petroleum Institute, which authority do not take an immediate position on the expansion of the Agency.

"So far, which is responsible for ultimately, it is the operator in General.

"The Government examine separately as projects take account of company safety records and other factors in weighing their proposed offshore drilling. Bromine wich said the ocean energy Bureau evaluated the evidence "that should factor in whether a company continue to a player" but said there could be disciplinary records, history of violations and past include in fines.

Funding The other government imposed a swathe of new safety and environmental mandates after the deepwater horizon disaster, including a residence requirement companies prove, they have the equipment and crude oil from any future deep sea well blowout use the know-how.

The Ocean can count energy Bureau on a big boost in funding - at least for a few months - among the budget deal reached Congressional leaders and the White House last week.

The legislation, the Government running until the end of the fiscal year 2011 on Sept. 30 to keep includes $ 47 million more for the Bureau when it received in the fiscal year 2010.

That is about half as much as the Administration 2011 wanted to add financial year the Agency's funding, but which thrust came more inspectors amid cuts amounting to $40 billion in many non-defense Programmen.

Einstellung tariff not other units of the internal Department as well as. Funding for the Bureau of land management, the handles onshore oil and gas leases, Administration would be trimmed, for example, $ 18 million from the fiscal 2010 Ebene.

Die has asked Congress for $ 358 million in the fiscal year 2012, the Bureau to rent the 116 new offshore inspectors, Triple what it has now would allow, and 41 new allows almost doubled staff, the current 50-member team.

Much funding proposed by the Government boost would come from proposed new fees on oil and natural gas producers. Jennifer.Dlouhy@Chron.com

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Long Iceland body count rises

LONG ISLAND, n.y., April 12, UPI)-the grisly task combing long Iceland Beach for human remains of a ninth and 10th may be victims of a serial killer, produced the police says.

ABC News reported that law can say Tuesday law enforcement some of the victims have been dismembered, complications of the business determine how many victims it can together 3 1/2 km of the beaches. The network said authorities were not sure whether a skull alone Monday found was part of no. 9 victims or potential victims no. 10.

Investigators are unsure whether the victims were killed all of the same person or if they are looking for multiple killers. The network said its sources are the way at once were serial killer might downplay or still are, in law enforcement, although several persons of interest were stated with links to law enforcement or emergency services described.

Wally Zeins, a former NYPD homicide detective, said that the manner, the bodies were hidden in the, indicates that the murderer is very familiar with the area.

"It is very easy to dispose of a body, either under the brush or dig it," said Zeins. "It tells me that he knew [the killer] area, knew that where not many people go this one area to go."

ABC said that it has at least learned that a victim of "homicidal asphyxiation"-strangled or suffocated died.

"Every time, if they can find out more, it's like it the whole tragedy over and over again begins." It is how we find out it our own child, which is on again found ", said Lorraine ELA, the mother of 22-year-old has victim Megan Waterman, and added that it daily sends Facebook messages related to other victims." "they are like a family." "We are like one big family."

Are ELA get together June 11 for a monument to the victims of organized the families of the victims has, ABC, said.

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Zener Home: A zero energy home dream

Printer-friendly send friend a dream home that consumes no energy comes to life

A real life example, the "Zener home," which means "Zero energy" in German, was built in the city of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Zener home exterior

Located townhouses and apartments of Bansong-dong in which, Zener home used, solar, wind and geothermal energy, and reduces energy waste, giving the visitors a view from first-hand an energy-efficient home.

The two-story house, which opened in August 2010, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, kitchen and roof garden. Also, in contrast to most other energy efficient houses in Korea that show primarily as houses were built, Zener was home for real use, and includes 70 Daewoo engineering and construction of environmentally-friendly technologies developed.

"Many people who visit here actually like you this House very much and say it is more convenient than she expected", said Lee Ji-Yun housing management Zener home. Those who are interested in the House can apply through its homepage (Zener home) (Korean only).

Many aspects of the House are designed to both energy saving and provide an additional layer of convenience. For example, the taps in the kitchen of solar power to pump water use, and by a switch on the lower edge of the sink touch enabled.

The porch on the second floor is used as a roof garden and offers a beautiful view. Up to two degrees the additional insulation from the garden helps increase the temperature in the winter. Held special construction methods, the weight of the roof garden and the rest of the House, make the whole House light.

Despite the strong winter's chill home earlier this year of Zener uses little energy for heating purposes, according to Lee, who uses statistical data as evidence. The House used to create "passive" and "active" technologies to reduce energy consumption and renewable energies.

Passive technologies to prevent, that the House waste of energy. Daewoo construction used low-emission glass for all Windows in the House, which offers high isolation and privacy, thanks to a special film. Aerogel was used to cover the outer wall of the House to prevent energy waste. The ventilation system helps also use less energy for heating and cooling by ventilation, only when and where it is needed.

Active technologies were used such as solar, geothermal and wind power energy production, also in Zener home. Hybrid shine lights at night in the garden of solar and wind energy collected during the day. Solar panels installed on the roof provide electricity and hot water. "The temperature of the hot water is around 43 degrees and the boiler is only when needed,", Lee said. The temperature inside the House helps geothermal energy all year round 100 metres of the heating pipes on the floors.

Zener home produces 624 kilowatts of energy per hour and stores 230 kilowatts per month. Compared with a normal home, the 700 kilowatts per hour used it stores energy more than 150 kilowatts each month.

Daewoo plans to apply to many of the technologies that used it in building Zener home to his apartment complex in the next few years. The zero energy homes can also for Koreans in the next few years, meets a greener and more sustainable housing market to bring about dream.

Source: Apec-vc

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Radiation levels no threat to the marine life - Japanese speaker

The Japanese marine life said in no danger regardless of that radiation values 1 nuclear power plant in the waters close to the crippled Fukushima, Government spokesman Yukio Edano on Saturday.

The nuclear and industrial Agency 1,250.8 times of the permitted Friday morning in sea water was radioactive iodine-131 in a concentration detected sample approx. 330 m (1, 083 ft) South of the plant, located near the drain outlets of his troubled four nuclear reactors.

"The increased no influence level of radiation in the sea water to marine life,", Edano said during a briefing on the situation at the Japanese nuclear accident.

Kyodo News Agency quoted Government officials as saying that the radiation levels in sea water are an immediate danger to human health, but that it is well above the normal level and fan, thus of fish products in the northeastern Japan.

She confirmed the deaths of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami stands at more than 10,000, according to police, and more than 17,440 are listed as missing.

Operations have continue to try the cooling systems in Fukushima's six reactors, restart to avoid a radioactive major release.

On Friday asked leave the Japanese Government people within 30 km (19 miles) of the damaged plant due to lack of food and other essential.

Moscow, March 26 (RIA Novosti)

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Rosneft to defend the BP venture

ROBERT DUDLEY hopes to revive BP with Russian crude oil.State-controlled Rosneft will seek to enforce a 7.8 billion US dollar share swap and Arctic partners venture with BP after the British company business Russian billionaire has been blocked.Rosneft "defend its position in the deal, a deal is that is good for Russia," said Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, also Chairman of the oil producer, Friday. "BP suits us as a partner."BP shall apply for a decision on whether the share-swap can be continued, said the company in a statement. It is disappointed by Thursday's result and is looking for, their differences of opinion "to solve Russian billionaire with its partners in TNK-BP, a major oil producer".BP partner, represented by the AAR group, claim the right for TNK-BP, to pursue new opportunities in Russia for the London oil company. Last month, she won an injunction on the deal, which was expanded by an arbitration tribunal Thursday.The ruling is a setback for efforts of BP, one of the world's largest untapped oil exploit finds. The January agreement with Russia of the State oil company was part of CEO Robert Dudley's strategy, the producer to revive u.k. after the last year's Gulf of Mexico of oil Spill.In judges other BP developments: A a judge can cause BP additional tests on the deepwater horizon drilling equipment of rig's Blowout Prevention now", that reviewers have completed their own forensic tests Government."Will be the additional BOP testing in a way that possible preserved the evidence to the maximum extent possible, "US District Judge Carl said Barber on its behalf with reference to the blowout preventer." He decided that other companies, the disaster now additional tests to run, as long as each monitoring procedures and parts in the results.The stack of 300 tons of valves could not in last April ever spilling BP runaway well cordon firing a fatal rig explosion and worst offshore oil of the United States. Documented to increase monthly compensation of $850,000 to nearly $ 1.3 million provided by the administrator of the BP claims Fund for Gulf oil spill victims show that the oil giant agreed to his Office.The documents included a letter from former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey call Czar Kenneth Feinberg. Mukasey said his belief that the extra money was justified because of Feinberg had grown obligations. Feinberg criticized the approximately 500,000 claims which have not submitted, since he took over management of the Fund $20 billion in August for the speed of processing.

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BP tries to salvage Russia deal Tribunal

LONDON - BP Friday said that it plans to court permission to the lead with only half of its partnership agreement with Rosneft search, a Swedish court of arbitration was blocked a day after the entire deal.

The British oil giant is seeking to its 8 billion US-dollar contract with the Russian State oil company, save includes exploring a plan for a joint venture of the Russian Arctic.

BP said that it will go for the share exchange part of the partnership, would question, because it resulted not actual business in Russia, while it seeks, the dispute with other Russian partners.

"BP now apply for a determination whether the exchange of shares alone can continue," said BP.

The Russian group of billionaires who are BP partners in TNK-BP have opposed the agreement with Rosneft since it was announced in January. They argue, that said the business with its own shareholder agreement, in which BP conflict, obliged, to monitor Russian business opportunities with them exclusively.

The Tribunal ruling late Thursday has swap both the Arctic exploration deal a setback at BP efforts, which in the wake of the oil spill in Gulf of Mexico was blocked remake. BP shares fell 1 percent in early trading on Friday in London.

BP said that it remained committed to the business with Rosneft. "BP looks forward to the search for a way, their differences of opinion with their Russian partners allow this important Arctic developments in the future, continue to resolve" the company said in a statement. He said that TNK-BP BP "Vehicle in Russia primary business."

BP company in Russia are decisive for their future. Russia is about a quarter of the BP global oil output, and drilling in the Russian Arctic remains one of the best ways of the company, to increase reserves and production in the future.

The dispute is also hurting BP finance as the Russian partners have blocked TNK-BP payout multi-billion dollar dividends until a solution is found. The Russian venture has retained already $1.7 billion due to BP.

After the accident in the Gulf of Mexico in April last year, in which 11 workers died and leaked millions barrels of oil in the Gulf, BP has forced, $40 billion claims, numbers aside shoots required, selling it assets all over the world.

But recovered significantly in the last months of the company's share price has and returns its new Chief Executive, Robert Dudley, a sense of resistance to its operations. He has lined up more than 30 projects around the world, but to none as potentially important as the Rosneft handle drill in the Arctic.

The Russian partners say that with BP, after an earlier in the year 2008 newly negotiated all potential new business in Russia or the Ukraine in the TNK-BP Board offer their shareholder agreement BP before he signed it regardless. For the exchange of shares and Arctic ventures, Mr Dudley negotiated but instead directly with the State oil company, Rosneft.

The Russian partner had proposed that BP relax this agreement and TNK-BP to leave his facing similar conditions take place. As BP owns 50 percent of Russian venture, this approach BP would the value of which can keep the initial deal, the half.

BP representatives voted this proposal at a March 12 meeting the Supervisory Board of TNK-BP, and the pages now appear in a cul-de-sac.

"Deliberately ignored the provisions of the agreement shareholder was a serious misjudgment of BP, Stan Polovets, the Chief Executive of AAR, said in a statement after the verdict Thursday.""We expect to Bob Dudley, to correct the situation and rebuild the trust that has been lost."

The Tribunal herrschenden is also a setback for the Russian Government, the BP decided first major project of offshore oil in the Arctic drilling for his, says it was the most qualified for this work experience of the company with disaster in the Gulf.

BP and Rosneft must now find a way to save the business. While BP has indicated that it could negotiate a compromise, Rosneft may use his connections to the Government, the Russian partners a resolution achieve pressure so that offshore exploration this summer as planned.

Wall Street analysts said that they thought that BP would finally in the Russian Arctic, despite the setback to drilling. Some say, probably require BP to its TNK-BP partners in the deal, bring a dilution of BP, what means any profits. Others think that only try Russian partners in TNK-BP to force a buyout of BP.

"To determine the final outcome of the game in the third inning as the ball game not over, is", said Mark Gilman, oil and gas analyst at benchmark. "It will be negotiated out." "How, which discusses remains to be seen."

Fadel Gheit, a senior analyst at Oppenheimer & company, said that with the support of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin V., the BP deal with Rosneft finally would need funding situation. "The question is not if;" It's like, "he said."This way basically to force TNK BP hand out to buy them. "This is your exit strategy."

Clifford Krauss contributed reporting from Houston

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