Mexico’s energy reform has set the stage for significant changes in exploration and development activity in Mexican waters, and the opportunities for collaborative engagement with existing offshore players in U.S. waters could define how oil and gas is developed and produced in the Gulf of Mexico for years to come. This daylong conference focused on the latest developments and emerging opportunities in offshore oil and gas regulation, safety and environmental protection. There was discussion of the state of reform efforts in Mexico, the potential impact of these reforms on the recently approved transboundary hydrocarbon agreement, the reforms as a catalyst for transboundary cooperation in oil and gas, the prospect of common safety and environmental expectations, and emerging regulatory opportunities.
The conference was sponsored by the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies and Mexico Center, in conjunction with the American Petroleum Institute, the Center for Offshore Safety, the Center for U.S. and Mexican Law at the University of Houston, the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute.
Scroll down to view the photo gallery and video from the event. Click on the presentation titles in the agenda below to view the speakers' PowerPoints.
Agenda
8:00 amRegistration and Coffee
8:30 amWelcome
Kenneth B. Medlock III, Ph.D., James A. Baker III and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics, and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute
Duncan Wood, Ph.D., Director, Mexico Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
8:50 amEnergy Reform in Mexico: Current Status and Impacts on Offshore Production
Facilitator: Duncan Wood, Mexico Institute, Wilson Center
“Implementing Mexico's Energy Reform”
Luis Fernando Herrera Fallas, Deputy General Director of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Energy, Mexico
“Regulatory Reforms in Mexico: Energy Production and Environmental Protection”
Carlos de Regules, Executive Director, National Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment of Mexico
“Energy Reform in Mexico: PEMEX and Its New Role as a State-Owned Enterprise”
Fernando Cano-Lasa, Of Counsel, Squire Patton Boggs; and Former Vice President of Legal and Strategy, PEMEX Procurement International Inc.
Q&A and Discussion
10:10 amCoffee Break
10:25 amTransboundary Hydrocarbon Issues: Exploration, Production and Spill Response
Facilitator: Larry D. McKinney, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
“The Transboundary Hydrocarbon Treaty: International Legal Issues”
Richard J. McLaughlin, Endowed Chair for Coastal and Marine Policy and Law, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Guillermo J. Garcia Sanchez, Doctoral Candidate, Harvard Law School; and Affiliated Scholar, Center for U.S. and Mexican Law, University of Houston
“Status of U.S. Policies: Leasing and Developing Hydrocarbons in Transboundary Areas”
Robert Sebastian, Special Assistant to the Chief, Office of Strategic Resources, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
“Transboundary Spill Preparedness and Response: U.S. Perspective”
Scott Lundgren, Technical Advisor and Deputy Chief, Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy, United States Coast Guard
“Transboundary Safety and Enforcement: U.S. Perspective”
Doug Morris, Chief, Office of Offshore and Regulatory Programs, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Q&A and Discussion
NoonKeynote Luncheon
Philip B. Smith
General Manager, Emergency Management and Deepwater Regulatory Affairs, Shell
The Role of Mexico's Energy Reforms as a Catalyst for Cooperative Engagement in the Gulf of Mexico
Facilitator: Kenneth B. Medlock III, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute
“Opportunities for Improving Collaboration in Developing Common Safety and Environmental Standards”
Charlie Williams, Executive Director, Center for Offshore Safety
“Using Technology to Enhance Conventional Oil Spill Response Tools”
Judith Roos, Vice President for Marketing, Customer Services and Corporate Relations, Marine Spill Response Corporation
“The Role of Industry Standards in Improving Offshore Safety”
David Miller, Director of Standards, American Petroleum Institute
Q&A and Discussion
2:45 pmClosing Remarks
3:00 pmConference Adjourns
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