Federal regulators are asking for additional details about BP’s deepwater drilling proposal in the Gulf of Mexico, days after Democrats in Congress called on the Trump administration to reject the project.
BP aims to start production at the Kaskida oil field in 2029, using high-pressure technology to produce up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day. Democratic lawmakers argue the so-called 20K technology — which is designed to handle pressures of up to 20,000 pounds per square inch — poses severe environmental risks.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which manages offshore energy at the Interior Department, is now directing BP to make changes to its plan for the project.
“BOEM has requested that BP submit a modified version with additional information,” Interior spokesperson Elizabeth Peace said in an email Friday. “Once BP provides the requested updates, BOEM will resume its evaluation of the plan.”
