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of the Alaskan North Slope |
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This Charter for Development of the Alaskan North Slope is entered between the State of Alaska, BP and ARCO on November __, 1999. BP and ARCO historically have been major participants in the development of oil resources on the North Slope of Alaska. ARCO discovered the giant Prudhoe Bay oil field in 1968. BP participated in the discovery of Kuparuk the following year. Both were leaders in building the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. Today, they are two of the largest interest owners and operators on the North Slope. The environment for finding, developing and producing oil and gas is challenging and complex, in Alaska and the world. The giant Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk fields are in decline. World energy markets continue to experience price volatility, competition for capital and opportunities, and financial and technical challenges to discover, develop and produce new fields. These challenges have led to large-scale industry consolidation in recent years. Earlier this year, BP and ARCO proposed to merge. The merger and its potential impact on Alaska have been analyzed and discussed by the Governor, his Cabinet-level review team, the Legislature and the public in private, in hearings and in the media since the announcement. There is potential both for benefit and risk to Alaska in the merger as initially proposed. In BP and ARCO's view, Alaska would benefit from the combination's financial strength and expertise, and the increased efficiencies and synergies of the combination would help make Alaska more attractive in a global oil marketplace. But Alaska would, in the State's view, lose a measure of competition, diversity and balance in the exploration, development and production of North Slope resources, and Alaska would lose the varied contributions of a leading corporate citizen. The State of Alaska is committed to maintaining and enhancing competition, diversity and balance in the exploration, development and production of North Slope resources, sustaining and growing both oil and gas production, and ensuring that the State's natural resources are developed in an environmentally and socially sensitive and responsible manner. The State has determined therefore that its support for the merger must be conditioned upon BP and ARCO making substantial marketplace and community commitments to Alaska. Therefore, in order to provide for greater competition, diversity, corporate responsibility, renewal and growth in the exploration, development and production of Alaskan North Slope oil and gas, the State, BP and ARCO agree to this Charter and its terms as set forth below. I. BP and ARCO Commitments Regarding Competition, Diversity and Growth. A. Sale of Current Production.
After the merger is completed, BP and ARCO will sell the following
properties in the following manner: 2. Sale of Interests including Kuparuk. BP and ARCO will enter into a contract of sale with a single qualified company ("Buyer A") for at least 125,000 barrels of working interest oil per day, including at least 40% of the Kuparuk River Unit total interest, and will take all reasonable available steps to enable that company to become the operator of that unit. In no event will BP or ARCO continue as operator of that unit after sale of the working interest oil. For purposes of this subparagraph 2, "qualified company" means a company which is currently a joint interest owner in the Kuparuk River Unit, or a company primarily in the energy business with assets of not less than $8 billion. 3. Sale of Interest in Alpine. BP and ARCO will enter into a contract of sale with a single qualified company ("Buyer B") for sufficient interest in the Colville River Unit that after the sale is completed that company will hold at least 40% of the total Colville River Unit interest. BP and ARCO will, in addition, take all reasonable available steps to enable that company to become the operator of that unit. In no event will BP or ARCO continue as operator of that unit after sale of the interest. For purposes of this subparagraph 3, "qualified company" means a company which is currently a joint interest owner in the Colville River Unit, or a company primarily in the energy business with assets of not less than $3 billion. 4. Sale of Share of Pipelines. BP and ARCO will enter into a contract of sale with Buyer A and Buyer B for a commensurate interest in TAPS and intermediate pipelines as provided in Paragraph H. B. Sale of NPRA Lease Interests.
BP and ARCO will sell not less than 220,000 net acres of their
aggregate NPRA holdings to one or more purchasers. BP and ARCO
will enter a contract of sale with either Buyer A or Buyer B
for not less than 100,000 net NPRA acres, including at least
40% of the net interests in one of the sections of the NPRA designated
on Exhibit A to this Charter, and will take all reasonable available
steps to enable that company to become the exploration operator
in that section. D. Terms of Sales. Contracts for the full aggregate amount of the interests sold under paragraphs I.A. and I.B. will be signed within 6 months after the merger is completed and those transactions will be closed not later than 12 months after the merger is completed. Transfers under paragraph I.C. will be made within the period prescribed by law. All transfers of whole or partial interests in the properties and pipelines referenced in paragraphs I.A.-I.C. will be absolute, in good faith and with no minimum price. BP and ARCO agree that they will not reacquire interests transferred under paragraphs I.A.-I.C. by any means without advance approval of the State. Except as specifically provided in paragraphs I.A-I.C. and otherwise in this Charter, the sales contemplated in paragraphs I.A.-I.C. may be to various parties and include interests from various units and leases as determined by BP and ARCO. BP and ARCO may retain an interest in the units and leases it sells under paragraphs I.A.-I.C., subject to the requirement that any interest retained in exploration leases be subject to non-consent provisions permitting investment by other interest owners without BP or ARCO's consent. Any transfer under paragraphs I.A-I.C. will be subject to all necessary state and federal regulatory approvals and other requirements. BP and ARCO will use their best efforts to secure such approvals. E. Data Availability. After
the merger is completed, BP and ARCO will make their proprietary
North Slope seismic and well data publicly available for purchase
by any person where they have the legal right to do so. Where
they do not currently have the legal right to do so, they will
diligently and in good faith seek permission from the other joint
interest owners to make the data available. Unless otherwise
approved by the State, BP and ARCO will make the data available
by contracting with a third party company that will market the
data at prices it independently determines. BP and ARCO will
ensure that the data is publicly available as soon as is reasonably
practicable but in all events not longer than 3 months after
the merger is completed. BP and ARCO will provide the State with
(1) a list of which of their North Slope seismic and well data
can be made available on their own and which requires the consent
of parties other than BP or ARCO, and (2) a list or lists showing
all of BP and ARCO's North Slope seismic and well data from 1958
on indicating the acquisition area, the size of the acquisition
area, the ownership status (sole, joint, group shoot, trade,
purchase or license), when the data was acquired, the survey
type, and the operator and the contractor. For data acquired
after 1984, these lists will be provided as soon as is reasonably
practicable but in all events before December 31, 1999. For data
acquired before 1985, these lists will be provided as soon as
is reasonably practicable but in all events within 3 months after
the merger is completed. H. Divestiture of TAPS and
Feeder Lines. J. Natural Gas. 1. During the period through December 31, 2001, BP and Arco agree to commit up to 1.2 billion cubic feet per day of working interest gas to a project to commercialize Alaska North Slope gas, that meets the following criteria by such date: a. The project has sufficient financial backing to underpin a long term 100% take or pay arrangement from the purchaser if the project requires a long term gas sales commitment from the producer(s). b. The project has the demonstrated ability to acquire all requisite governmental and partner approvals. c. The project commits to a project schedule which includes full ramp-up no later than 2010. d. If the project is an LNG project, it must have a minimum netback price for the gas of P = $1.00 * (WTI/$17.50) where "P" is the Price per MMBtu applicable to the month of delivery; "WTI" is the Final Settlement price for NYMEX West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil contract for the prompt month. BP or Arco shall realize the above netback after payment of any taxes, including severance, fees or assessments imposed with respect to the gas at and after the delivery point. e. If the project is a pipeline to the Lower 48, it will have a defined tariff structure applicable to gas transported on behalf of BP or Arco resulting in a total volumetric tariff to Chicago of $1.60/mcf transported, or less. BP or Arco may put forward their own project to take advantage of this commitment. If more than one project meets the criteria set forth above before December 31, 2001, then the project that offers the highest product of wellhead netback price (net of production, severance or other taxes or fees) times sales volume during the first five years of its life will receive the gas commitment. 2. To be eligible for this commitment, the project shall also be subject to the following : a. The delivery point for gas will be the Residue gas discharge point of the Low Temperature Separators at the Prudhoe Bay Unit Central Gas Facility, or such other point as agreed by the Parties. b. The gas will be taken at normal operating conditions at the Residue gas discharge point of the Low Temperature Separators at the Prudhoe Bay Unit Central Gas Facility, or such other point as agreed by the Parties. c. BP or Arco will retain the right to recover the liquids contained in the gas stream delivered to any downstream delivery point(s) or extracted while in transit on any pipeline. II. BP and ARCO's Environmental and Community Commitments. A. North Slope Environmental Commitments. After the merger is completed, BP and ARCO will take the following steps to improve and protect the environment on the North Slope. 1. Cleanup of Abandoned Sites. BP and ARCO will take a leadership role in the assessment and environmental clean up of the North Slope "orphan sites" identified in Exhibit D1, up to a maximum expenditure under this paragraph II.A.1. of $10,000,000. In carrying out this role, BP and ARCO will consult with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) concerning site goals, standards and methods and will substantially complete the assessment and cleanup to the standards approved by ADEC under applicable law within six years after the merger is completed. In addition, BP and ARCO will work cooperatively with ADEC to develop a joint database of North Slope contaminated and solid waste "orphan sites" which includes the nature and location of the sites, the responsible parties and the relative priority for cleanup of each site based upon preliminary evaluation of the risk of harm to human health and the environment posed by the site. BP and ARCO will meet and confer with ADEC from time to time thereafter to arrange for priority re-ordering and substitutions and additions to Exhibit D1 as requested by ADEC, subject to the spending cap identified above and to the further requirements that there is no known viable responsible party for any substitute or additional site and the site has been wholly vacated. 2. Cleanup of Abandoned Empty Barrels. BP and ARCO will require contractors conducting seismic or exploration work for them to collect and deliver abandoned empty barrels to BP or ARCO operations for handling, to inventory and map locations of empty barrels and barrels containing product, and to report any visible signs of ground contamination associated with the barrels. BP and ARCO will periodically report to ADEC regarding this effort and provide ADEC with the inventory lists, maps and reports which are developed. 3. Cleanup of Existing BP
and ARCO Sites. BP and ARCO will assess and clean to the standards
approved by ADEC under applicable law the contaminated sites
listed on Exhibit D2. BP and ARCO will work cooperatively with
ADEC and the land manager to develop cleanup plans and schedules
to complete required assessment and cleanup activities at these
sites. Assessment and cleanup activities at sites which are currently
accessible will be substantially completed by year-end 2005 for
the sites listed as "high" priority sites in Exhibit
D2 and by year-end 2007 for the remainder. Sites which due to
operational restrictions cannot be fully cleaned until facility
or equipment abandonment will be identified by BP, ARCO and ADEC
for completion according to a mutually agreed schedule. Nothing
in this paragraph is intended to eliminate or supercede any other
obligations BP or ARCO may have to assess, cleanup or restore
these or any other sites. 4. Cleanup of Inactive Reserve Pits. BP and ARCO will comply with the requirements of 18 AAC 60.440 with respect to their inactive reserve pit sites and will close the inactive reserve pits subject to the Order dated May 3, 1993 in Natural Resources Defense Council Inc. v. ARCO Alaska, Inc., No. A88-287 CIV (D. Alaska) as amended within the designated time period established by the court in that matter, and will close other ARCO and BP inactive reserve pits listed on Exhibit D.3.A. by the end of 2007 (except that in the event of currently unprojected operational delay affecting any BP site, that site may be completed on a separate mutually agreed schedule). BP and ARCO will close the ARCO and BP inactive reserve pits listed on Exhibit D.3.B. according to a mutually agreed schedule that ends a reasonable period after work on the D.3.A. sites has been completed.
6. Commitment to Corrosion Monitoring. BP and ARCO will, in consultation with ADEC, develop a performance management program for the regular review of BP's and ARCO's corrosion monitoring and related practices for non-common carrier North Slope pipelines. This program will include meet and confer working sessions between BP, ARCO and ADEC, scheduled on average twice per year, reports by BP and ARCO of their current and projected monitoring, maintenance and inspection practices to assess and to remedy potential or actual corrosion in these lines, and ongoing consultation with ADEC regarding environmental control technologies and management practices. 7. Additional Expenditure Commitment. BP and ARCO will pay or spend up to an aggregate total of $500,000 each year during the 10 year period following completion of the merger for any combination of the following as requested annually in writing by the ADEC Commissioner: additional orphan site assessment or cleanup in excess of cap established in subparagraph 1; additional Arctic spill response research and development in excess of amount established in subparagraph 5; and/or an expert or experts chosen by ADEC to provide expert advice to ADEC regarding pipeline corrosion issues. B. Marine Environmental Commitments. 1. Renewed Commitment to OPA 90. BP and ARCO renew their commitment that neither of them will seek to be relieved of the vessel retirement or replacement requirements of the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ("OPA 90"), nor will either of them lobby for a reduction in its current requirements, nor will they take any other action to extend the retirement dates of the non-double-hulled tankers in their combined fleet beyond the currently scheduled retirement dates . 2. Replacement Vessels. In furtherance of their continuing commitment to meet or exceed the OPA 90 standards and timetable, BP and ARCO will complete the purchase and delivery of the three ARCO Millennium class tankers on current order to replace single hulled tankers now used in the combined fleet, and will order and purchase additional tankers to meet their combined fleet requirements on average one year earlier than required by OPA 90, with the expected result that the combined fleets will be entirely double-hulled by mid-year 2007. These additional purchased tankers will each have safety related attributes substantially equivalent to or better than Millennium or Cape class tankers, including new build double-hulls (wholly new construction), main power plant redundancy, twin propellers, twin rudders, twin independent sets of steering gear, and proven electronics (including navigation, course tracking, collision alarms, engine room monitoring, cargo and ballast monitoring, and fire and safety systems). 3. Marine Operations. After
the merger is completed, BP and ARCO will continue to encourage
and support the company operating ANS tankers for them in using
a performance management program for the regular review of its
practices related to its management and operations including
a safe environment, training and qualifications, and vessel operation,
maintenance and management procedures. The parties expect this
program will include meet and confer working sessions between
the operating company and ADEC, scheduled on average once per
year, reports at those working sessions by the operating company
of their current and anticipated management and operations practices,
ongoing consultation between the operating company and ADEC regarding
ANS trade tanker management and operations practices, and the
involvement of BP and ARCO in those sessions and consultations
on a monitoring basis. In addition, BP and ARCO will encourage
the operating company to allow the opportunity for ADEC to observe
management and vessel audits performed as part of a certification
or re-certification process for the International Maritime Organization's
International Safety Management Code or for the International
Standards Organization. D. Community Charitable Commitment. Within three months after the merger is completed, BP and ARCO will establish a charitable entity dedicated to funding organizations and causes within Alaska. The entity will provide 30% of its giving to the University of Alaska Foundation and the remainder to general community needs. Funding decisions by the entity will be made by BP and ARCO, with the advice of a board of community advisors. BP and ARCO will provide ongoing funding to this entity in an amount that is equal to .2% of BP's and ARCO's combined aggregate net Alaska liquids production after royalty times the price for WTI. Specific entity funding levels will be calculated annually, on the same date each year, referencing the liquids production and the average NYMEX WTI prompt month settlement price for the 12 months immediately preceding the calculation. III. Alaska's Commitments. The State of Alaska finds
that this Charter adequately addresses the concerns raised by
the State during its merger review, that this Charter will provide
for greater competition, diversity, corporate responsibility,
renewal and growth in the exploration, development and production
of Alaskan North Slope oil and gas and is by virtue of these
significant benefits in the best interest of Alaska and its people.
The State accordingly agrees that, in exchange for BP's and ARCO's
fulfillment of their obligations under this Charter, it will
not seek to enjoin the merger or seek additional orders or judgments
under AS 45.50.580 related to a claim that the merger is unlawful
under AS 45.50.568. BP Amoco, p.l.c. acknowledges that, after the merger is completed, it will be the ultimate parent company of the BP and ARCO corporate entities owning the Alaska assets which are the subject of this Charter and which accordingly are the primary parties with the State of Alaska herein. In order to provide further assurance to the State that the commitments made in this Charter by these primary parties are fulfilled in all respects, BP Amoco, p.l.c. guarantees that (1) these BP and ARCO corporate entities, or such other BP/ARCO Group companies to which the obligations under this Charter are assigned or otherwise transferred, will remain fully capable during the term of this Charter to fulfill all commitments made by them herein and (2) if for any reason a commitment made by them in this Charter goes unfulfilled past the time performance is due, BP Amoco, p.l.c. will cause that performance to be otherwise fulfilled. V. General Provisions. A. Definitions. As used in this Charter: "State" and "State of Alaska" means the State of Alaska, through its Governor, Attorney General and Commissioners of Natural Resources and Revenue; "BP" means BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.; "ARCO" means ARCO Alaska, Inc.; "merger" means the proposed merger between BP and ARCO's parent companies; the merger is "completed" on the earliest of the date of closing, the effective date of the merger, or the first day after ARCO parent stock is exchanged for BP parent stock; "sell" and "transfer" mean divest; "well data" includes, in digital and analog format, any mud log, lithology log, wireline well logs, conventional core and sidewall core descriptions, repeat formation tester, log curve, directional survey, velocity survey, vertical seismic profile, geologic markers, test result, test summary, porosity and permeability data, biostratigraphic data, palynology and paleontology data, geochemical data, vitrinite reflectance data, petrographic data, and completion reports, regarding onshore or offshore exploration acreage west of the Canning River onshore and west of and including the Kuvlum prospect offshore; "seismic data" includes all seismic and ancillary data required to interpret or reprocess a seismic survey including digital files in standard exchange formats containing survey and location data, original field records, final stack and migrated processed data, final stacking and migration velocities, and a report describing the acquisition and processing of the data, regarding onshore or offshore acreage west of the Canning River onshore and west of and including the Kuvlum prospect offshore. B. Enforcement. This Charter is governed by Alaska law. The parties agree that, except as provided in Section V.C., it may be enforced as a contract by (a) the Attorney General (for Alaska) and (b) its authorized representatives (for BP and ARCO) in any state or federal court in Alaska, the commitments made in this Charter may be specifically enforced, a trustee may be appointed by the court in such an action to effectuate any property transfers not accomplished as committed, and the court may also order any other appropriate remedy consistent with law. If BP, ARCO and the Federal Trade Commission enter into a consent decree or other agreement related to the merger, the terms of that decree or agreement that relate directly to or affect Alaskan assets or activities within or touching Alaskan waters may be incorporated by the State into this Charter by reference, and are enforceable by the State as though fully set forth herein. BP and ARCO acknowledge that they are subject to the personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court within the State of Alaska for the purposes of enforcing the terms of this Charter. BP Amoco, p.l.c. consents to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court within the State of Alaska for the purposes of enforcing its commitments under section IV of this Charter. C. Enforcement of Section II. Commitments. Section II of this Charter contains corporate citizenship commitments to the Alaskan community at large. The parties do not intend for them to be enforced by lawsuits but to be judged in the forum of public opinion, and no right of action is created with respect to them. D. Construction. This Charter may be amended only in writing by the principals to this agreement or their successors. This Charter will be binding on the parties and their respective successors and assigns, and is not intended to confer any rights or remedies upon any other persons (as used herein, "assigns" includes a transferee of substantially all of the assets of BP or ARCO but does not otherwise include a transferee of property, under this Charter or otherwise). Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, nothing herein shall be construed to impose a duty or obligation on BP or ARCO to make any additional agreements with or concessions to any other governmental or regulatory body. Where an act required of BP or ARCO under this Charter is subject to regulatory approval or action, the time limits stated in this Charter will be deemed extended as may be necessary to accommodate the time involved in securing those regulatory approvals if BP and ARCO have acted with reasonable diligence in obtaining those approvals. E. Reporting, Notice and Access to Records. 1. BP and ARCO will submit an initial compliance report at the time they execute this Charter and will submit additional compliance reports beginning thirty (30) days from the date when this Charter is entered, and every thirty (30) days thereafter until the divestitures required under Section I have been completed or a trustee is appointed. Such reports will be in writing and each such report shall include, for each person who during the preceding thirty (30) days made an offer, expressed an interest or desire to acquire, entered into negotiations to acquire, or made an inquiry about acquiring any ownership interest in all or any portion of the divestiture assets, the name, address, and telephone number of that person and a detailed description of each contact with that person during that period. BP and ARCO will maintain full records of all efforts made to divest the assets under Section I. 2. BP and ARCO will notify the State of any proposed divestiture within two (2) business days following execution of a letter of intent or agreement for sale of the assets under Section I. The notice shall set forth the details of the proposed transaction and list the name, address, and telephone number of each person not previously identified who offered or expressed an interest in or desire to acquire any ownership interest in the divestiture assets. Within ten (10) days after receipt of the notice, the State may request additional information concerning the proposed divestiture, the proposed Purchaser, and any other potential Purchaser. BP and ARCO will furnish the additional information within ten (10) days of the receipt of the request. Within twenty (20) days after receipt of the notice or within ten (10) days after receipt of the additional information, whichever is later, the State will notify BP and ARCO in writing if it objects to the proposed divestiture. If the State fails to object within the period specified, or if the State provides notice that it does not object, then the divestiture may be consummated. If the State objects, the proposed divestiture may not be accomplished unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. 3. For the purpose of determining or securing compliance with this Charter, and subject to any legally recognized privilege and reasonable notice, the State will be permitted access during office hours to inspect and copy all books, ledgers, accounts, correspondence, memoranda, and other records and documents in the possession or under the control of BP or ARCO relevant to BP or ARCO's compliance with this Charter. Subject to the reasonable convenience of BP and ARCO, and without restraint or interference from them, the State may interview their directors, officers, employees, and agents regarding any such matters. No information or documents obtained by the State under this paragraph shall be divulged by any representative of the State to any person other than a duly authorized representative of the Attorney General, except in the course of legal proceedings to which the State is a party, or for the purpose of securing compliance with this Charter, or as otherwise required by law. F. Effectiveness. This Charter shall be effective as of the date it is entered as written above. This Charter shall remain fully effective thereafter, except in the event that the merger shall not be completed by June 30, 2000, then any party may terminate this Charter by written notice to all other parties, in which event this Charter shall become null and void and of no effect, as if it were never entered. G. Term of Charter and Action Period. This Charter will remain in effect through January 15, 2008. No action alleging a failure of performance under this Charter may be commenced more than four years after the alleged failure, and no action alleging a failure of performance under this Charter may be commenced in any event after January 15, 2009. H. Attorneys Fees. Within 30 days of the effective date of this Charter, BP and ARCO will pay the State $______________ as reimbursement for its attorney's fees and costs reasonably incurred in connection with the merger. I. Warranty of Authority.
Each of the persons signing below represent and warrant that
he has the authority to execute this Charter on behalf of the
party for which he signs. BP and ARCO specifically warrant and
represent that they are fully authorized and able to make, and
to ensure the performance of, the commitments made herein and
that, with respect to any Alaska assets currently owned by affiliates,
they have taken or will take such steps as are necessary to ensure
that the commitments they make herein are accomplished. Signatures: STATE OF ALASKA by_______________________ by_______________________ by_______________________ by________________________
BP EXPLORATION (ALASKA) INC. by________________________
ARCO ALASKA, INC. by_________________________
BP AMOCO, p.l.c. by_________________________ |
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