(WO) — 德克萨斯州、路易斯安那州和密西西比州已起诉美国政府，以阻止拜登政府提出的一项规则，该规则要求海上石油和天然气公司为退役旧基础设施提供近 70 亿美元的财务担保。
退役规则针对的是缺乏投资级评级或足够探明储量的小型公司，据说可以“保护”纳税人免于承担退役成本。美国海洋能源管理局 (BOEM) 估计，该规则可能会影响墨西哥湾近海约四分之三的运营商。
包括路易斯安那州总检察长利兹·穆里尔和行业代表在内的批评者认为，该规定施加了过度的财务负担，可能会导致小型运营商破产。他们还强调了海上运营商过去的破产以及可能由纳税人承担的巨额退役成本。
穆里尔对路透社表示：“这是对中级石油和天然气生产商的一次真正令人震惊的直接攻击，影响了我们州的许多企业。”
BOEM 持有 35 亿美元债券，预计可支付 400 亿至 700 亿美元的费用，根据新的退役规则，该机构将允许在三年内分阶段付款。不过，如果企业无法获得所需的债券，人们担心可能会停产。
主图（来源：路透社）
本故事最初由路透社报道。
(WO) – Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi have sued the U.S. government to block a proposed rule by the Biden administration that would require offshore oil and gas companies to provide nearly $7 billion in financial assurances for decommissioning old infrastructure.
The decommissioning rule, targeting smaller companies lacking investment-grade ratings or sufficient proven reserves, supposedly “protects” taxpayers from covering decommissioning costs. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) estimates the rule could affect about three-quarters of operators offshore the Gulf of Mexico.
Critics, including Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and industry representatives, argue the rule imposes undue financial burdens, potentially putting smaller operators out of business. They also highlight past bankruptcies among offshore operators and the significant decommissioning costs that could fall on taxpayers.
“This is a really egregious direct assault on intermediate level producers of oil and gas, and that affects a lot of business in our state,” Murrill told Reuters.
The BOEM, holding $3.5 billion in bonds to cover estimated costs between $40 billion and $70 billion, will allow phased payments over three years under the new decommissioning rule. Still, there is concern about potential production shut-ins if companies cannot secure the required bonds.
Lead image (Credit: Reuters)
This story was originally reported by Reuters.