By Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Monday eased new environmental barriers to some oil and gas deepwater projects, but other stringent regulations remain that could prompt companies to keep delaying exploration.
Oil companies and Republican lawmakers have complained that regulations imposed after the BP oil spill have brought Gulf of Mexico drilling to a standstill.
The department's decision to waive some environmental requirements comes as Noble Corp announced that Marathon Oil Co canceled a four-year, $752 million contract for a deepwater rig in the Gulf due to lack of drilling permits.
While waiving new environmental reviews for projects already underway removes one potential obstacle for these companies, it does not mean drilling will begin immediately.
Affected companies such as Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell, which were drilling wells when the department imposed its moratorium, still must meet new offshore drilling regulations before restarting their projects.
Companies may also have to submit to additional environmental reviews based on new calculations of the worst-case flow rate estimates for their wells.
"We are taking into account the special circumstances of those companies whose operations were interrupted by the moratorium and ensuring that they are able to resume previously approved activities," said Michael Bromwich, head of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Since lifting its ban in October on drilling at depths more than 500 feet, the department has yet to approve any new deepwater exploration drilling permits.
Republicans, who will control the House of Representatives in the new Congress, vow to press the Obama administration on the slow permitting process.
Although the agency said it was still working to enhance its environmental reviews in the future, Bromwich called Monday's announcement "a significant step" toward allowing the affected companies resuming their permitted activity.
Other companies affected by the new drilling policy include: Marathon Oil Co, Murphy Oil Co, Noble Energy Inc and Statoil.
(Additional reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by John Picinich and Jim Marshall; Editing by David Gregorio)
