Mackenzie Good For Canada - President Obama Squeezes Domestic OCS Exploration and Production - Shell Stands By Alaska

Vancouver Sun by David Finlayson.  The economic benefits of the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline will far outweigh the cost,and it must move ahead quickly or lose out to the rival Alaska project, Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland (Photo: Jimmy Jeong) said Wednesday.  The 1,220-kilometre pipeline from Inuvik to the Alberta border has as much potential to boost the economy as the railways that opened up Canada, and the Hibernia offshore gas field in the East, Roland told Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

ADN by Erika Bolstad.  As President Barack Obama announced a slowdown of nearly all deepwater exploration and canceled offshore leases planned in some parts of the United States, Shell officials said they understand the decision and welcome the additional scrutiny the delay brings.  The company will "work closely with the government and other experts during this suspension in drilling activities," said Pete Slaiby (NGP Photo), the Dutch oil giant's head of Alaska operations.  "We respect and understand today's decision in the context of the tragic spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but we remain confident in our drilling expertise, which is built upon a foundation of redundant safety systems and company global standards," he said. Since spending more than $2 billion in 2008 to acquire federal oil and gas leases in the Chukchi, "our drilling plans have undergone an unprecedented level of review, including scrutiny from the courts, regulators and stakeholders," he said.

Newsroom America by Peter Fowler.  President Obama has defended his administration's response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, as he shut down drilling on 33 oil wells in the Gulf and announced new restrictions on offshore drilling.