Legislature(2005 - 2006)HOUSE FINANCE 519

04/28/2006 01:30 PM House FINANCE


Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

Audio Topic
01:49:27 PM Start
01:49:44 PM SB305
03:16:20 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 305 OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION TAX TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
Smaller Producers and Explorers
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                       April 28, 2006                                                                                           
                         1:49 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault called the House Finance Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 1:49:27 PM.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Richard Foster                                                                                                   
Representative Mike Hawker                                                                                                      
Representative Reggie Joule                                                                                                     
Representative Mike Kelly                                                                                                       
Representative Beth Kerttula                                                                                                    
Representative Carl Moses                                                                                                       
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Jim Holm                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kurt  Olson;  John  Zager,  General  Manager,                                                                   
Chevron-Alaska;  Ken  Sheffield,   President,  Pioneer;  John                                                                   
Barnes,  Production  Manager,   Marathon  Oil,  Alaska;  Mark                                                                   
Hanley, Manager, Public Affairs, Anadarko-Alaska                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Jim Weeks, Managing Member, UltraStar Exploration LLC; Frank                                                                    
Weiss, President and Branch Manger, Alaska Anvil                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
              Smaller Producers and Explorers                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 305(FIN) am                                                                                                                
          "An Act  repealing the  oil production tax  and the                                                                   
          gas production  tax and providing for  a production                                                                   
          tax on oil and gas;  relating to the calculation of                                                                   
          the gross  value at the point of production  of oil                                                                   
          and gas  and to the  determination of the  value of                                                                   
          oil and  gas for purposes of the production  tax on                                                                   
          oil and gas; providing  for tax credits against the                                                                   
          production  tax on  oil  and gas;  relating to  the                                                                   
          relationship  of the production tax on  oil and gas                                                                   
          to  other taxes,  to the dates  those tax  payments                                                                   
          and   surcharges   are    due,   to   interest   on                                                                   
          overpayments  of the tax,  and to the  treatment of                                                                   
          the  tax  in  a  producer's   settlement  with  the                                                                   
          royalty owners; relating  to flared gas, and to oil                                                                   
          and  gas  used  in  the operation  of  a  lease  or                                                                   
          property under the production  tax; relating to the                                                                   
          prevailing   value  of  oil   and  gas   under  the                                                                   
          production  tax;  relating  to surcharges  on  oil;                                                                   
          relating   to  statements   or  other   information                                                                   
          required  to  be filed  with  or furnished  to  the                                                                   
          Department  of Revenue, to the penalty  for failure                                                                   
          to file certain reports  for the tax, to the powers                                                                   
          of   the  Department   of  Revenue,   and  to   the                                                                   
          disclosure  of certain  information required  to be                                                                   
          furnished   to  the   Department   of  Revenue   as                                                                   
          applicable  to  the   administration  of  the  tax;                                                                   
          relating   to  criminal  penalties   for  violating                                                                   
          conditions   governing   access  to   and  use   of                                                                   
          confidential  information relating to the  tax, and                                                                   
          to  the  deposit  of  tax money  collected  by  the                                                                   
          Department of Revenue;  amending the definitions of                                                                   
          'gas,' 'oil,' and certain  other terms for purposes                                                                   
          of  the production  tax, and  as the definition  of                                                                   
          the term  'gas' applies in the Alaska  Stranded Gas                                                                   
          Development  Act, and  adding further  definitions;                                                                   
          making conforming amendments;  and providing for an                                                                   
          effective date."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 305  (FIN) am was heard and HELD  in Committee                                                                   
          for further consideration.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:49:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 305(FIN) am                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  repealing the  oil production  tax and  the gas                                                                   
     production  tax and  providing for  a production  tax on                                                                   
     oil and  gas; relating to  the calculation of  the gross                                                                   
     value at the  point of production of oil and  gas and to                                                                   
     the  determination  of the  value  of  oil and  gas  for                                                                   
     purposes  of   the  production  tax  on   oil  and  gas;                                                                   
     providing for tax credits  against the production tax on                                                                   
     oil  and  gas;  relating  to  the  relationship  of  the                                                                   
     production  tax on oil  and gas to  other taxes,  to the                                                                   
     dates  those tax  payments  and surcharges  are due,  to                                                                   
     interest  on  overpayments   of  the  tax,  and  to  the                                                                   
     treatment  of the  tax in a  producer's settlement  with                                                                   
     the royalty  owners; relating to flared gas,  and to oil                                                                   
     and gas  used in  the operation of  a lease  or property                                                                   
     under  the production  tax; relating  to the  prevailing                                                                   
     value of oil and gas under  the production tax; relating                                                                   
     to surcharges  on oil; relating  to statements  or other                                                                   
     information  required to be  filed with or  furnished to                                                                   
     the Department  of Revenue,  to the penalty  for failure                                                                   
     to file  certain reports for  the tax, to the  powers of                                                                   
     the  Department of  Revenue,  and to  the disclosure  of                                                                   
     certain  information  required to  be  furnished to  the                                                                   
     Department   of    Revenue   as   applicable    to   the                                                                   
     administration   of  the   tax;  relating  to   criminal                                                                   
     penalties for  violating conditions governing  access to                                                                   
     and  use of  confidential  information  relating to  the                                                                   
     tax, and  to the deposit  of tax money collected  by the                                                                   
     Department  of  Revenue;  amending  the  definitions  of                                                                   
     'gas,' 'oil,'  and certain  other terms for  purposes of                                                                   
     the production  tax, and as  the definition of  the term                                                                   
     'gas'  applies in  the Alaska  Stranded Gas  Development                                                                   
     Act, and  adding further definitions;  making conforming                                                                   
     amendments; and providing for an effective date."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JOHN  ZAGER,   GENERAL  MANAGER,  CHEVRON-ALASKA,   began  by                                                                   
stating  that his  company stands  by  previous testimony  on                                                                   
PPT.   He referred to a  handout throughout his  presentation                                                                   
entitled  "Chevron-Alaska  Area"  (copy  on  file.)  For  the                                                                   
overall tax  credit rate, the  20/20 is in the  best interest                                                                   
of the  state.   For Cook  Inlet the  5 percent  tax is  more                                                                   
appropriate   because   it   encourages    additional   vital                                                                   
investment.    Regarding  the  standard  deduction,  Chevron-                                                                   
Alaska supports either the $12  million credit or the current                                                                   
5,000  BOEPD  exemption.   He  opined  that the  $12  million                                                                   
credit  makes  the most  sense  and  is the  most  simplistic                                                                   
approach.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Zager addressed  transition  capital  - Chevron  accepts                                                                   
that it must  be earned again on  a 2 for 1 ratio.   He urged                                                                   
extending the time period to 10  years.  He noted an error in                                                                   
the effective date of April 1,  which should read July 1.  He                                                                   
addressed  challenged  oil,  where an  additional  credit  is                                                                   
warranted due to the large resource  waiting to be developed.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:56:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager addressed the abandonment  expense.  Chevron-Alaska                                                                   
believes that it  should be prorated and that it  should be a                                                                   
qualifying expense.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault asked if that  issue should be addressed as                                                                   
a special piece  of legislation.  Mr. Zager  saw the benefits                                                                   
of rolling it into this bill.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager  talked about  gas storage  costs, which  should be                                                                   
explicitly  recognized  as  qualifying  costs.    It  is  not                                                                   
explicitly covered in the bill.   The alternative is to drill                                                                   
many more wells at a great cost.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:59:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly  pointed out that for pump  storage, the                                                                   
product brings a higher price at retail.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager  responded  that in  the Cook Inlet,  where gas  is                                                                   
priced on  long-term contracts,  there is no  differentiation                                                                   
for gas  in storage vs. gas  produced out of wells,  in terms                                                                   
of price.  Gas  storage is a process of the  treatment charge                                                                   
- it's  what is  required to get  the gas  ready to  meet the                                                                   
market.   Henry Hub prices  are a component.   It's  the most                                                                   
capital efficient way of meeting that obligation.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly asked if  it is a two-part process.  Mr.                                                                   
Zager  explained  "peaking",  which  is  only  in  effect  if                                                                   
another    producer   fails    to   meet   its    obligation.                                                                   
Representative Kelly spoke of extreme situations.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:01:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager  spoke about the  progressivity provision  on Slide                                                                   
3.     He   said  that   Chevron-Alaska   does  not   support                                                                   
progressivity, but  if it has to be, then it  must be logical                                                                   
and sensible.   He  referred to  the reason  the state  wants                                                                   
progressivity: to get a fair share  when there is a price run                                                                   
up accompanied  by large profits.   It is not to  raise taxes                                                                   
if  the   price  increase  is   gradual  over  time   and  is                                                                   
accompanied by  increases in costs  and thus not  accompanied                                                                   
by increased profits.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Zager  described  the  problems  with  progressivity  as                                                                   
currently proposed.   The  trigger price tied  to ANS  is not                                                                   
inflated, and over time costs  will rise.  High cost oil will                                                                   
be produced in increasing quantities.   Over the long term, a                                                                   
fixed trigger price will not work  as intended and is grossly                                                                   
unfair.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:04:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager  noted that  in the current  Senate bill,  at $250,                                                                   
the tax  is 100 percent.   He cautioned  to be careful  about                                                                   
tying   into   one   number  that   is   not   connected   to                                                                   
profitability.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault  inquired if Chevron-Alaska is  in favor of                                                                   
a long-term  oil contract.   Mr. Zager  replied that  the 20-                                                                   
year number has nothing to do with his company.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly  asked where  the  line should  flatten                                                                   
out.  Mr. Zager replied that he would cover that shortly.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager continued  with Slide 4, concern about  costs.  The                                                                   
Cambridge Energy Research Associates  report entitled "Rising                                                                   
Capital Costs  Bear Down on E  & P Profitability"  was issued                                                                   
on 4/24/2006.  He read several quotes from the report:                                                                          
     Higher oil and gas prices  have encouraged a wave of new                                                                   
     investments  for discovering  and developing  resources.                                                                   
     However,  soaring costs  of  exploration and  production                                                                   
     (E&P) programs and the volatility  of energy prices have                                                                   
     left many producers uneasy  about future profit margins.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     E & P capital costs are accelerating  and have increased                                                                   
     approximately  42  percent  from  2000  to  2005  (third                                                                   
     quarter)  compared  with   a  15  percent  rise  in  the                                                                   
     Consumer Price Index.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Increasing costs and energy  price volatility are having                                                                   
     an impact  on investments.   Oil  and gas projects  that                                                                   
     were profitable  at $22 per barrel in 2002,  now require                                                                   
     $35 per barrel to achieve similar returns.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager  pointed  out that the  oil industry  in Alaska  is                                                                   
made up of more than just the  producers - service companies,                                                                   
drilling companies,  and engineering  firms - and  they, too,                                                                   
would like  a fair  share.  Costs  are going  to go  up along                                                                   
with oil  prices.  He emphasized  looking at the  net effect,                                                                   
not just pegging the index with the WTI.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:09:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Zager  referred  to Slide  5,  "Proposal:  Progressivity                                                                   
Based on Net  Profits".  Each company already  will calculate                                                                   
a net  profits every month and  divide them by  production to                                                                   
get a  "net profits/boe".   The trigger  point should  be set                                                                   
and  the  escalation  factor  should  be  based  on  the  net                                                                   
profits/boe.  He  suggested that the trigger point  be set at                                                                   
$50  per barrel  with 1.0  percent  for each  $5 increase  in                                                                   
profits.   The original Senate  CS adopted this  methodology.                                                                   
It would  provide a  minimum rate  of 20  percent tax  on net                                                                   
profit, and  a maximum general rate  of 30 percent.   The cap                                                                   
is reasonable and would give comfort to producers.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
He  spoke to  the advantages  of progressivity  based on  net                                                                   
profits.  It  would be self-correcting for  inflation, costs,                                                                   
different commodities,  and high cost production,  as well as                                                                   
avoiding    the   discussion    regarding   WTI   vs.    ANS.                                                                   
Progressivity  would   capture  a  windfall   upside  without                                                                   
creating unintended  consequences.  The system  would be fair                                                                   
to  everybody, since  taxes and  progressivity  will only  be                                                                   
attached to actual company profits.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:13:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager noted that Slide 6 shows  examples of a net profits                                                                   
trigger.   In the first windfall  case, the price was  up and                                                                   
the costs were  fixed.  The second case shows  that there are                                                                   
increased profits when prices  go up and costs go up.  In the                                                                   
final case,  which is an extreme  end point, the  profits are                                                                   
constant and if the price is up,  the costs keep pace.  Under                                                                   
this proposal if  producers could cut costs,  the state would                                                                   
see an increase in revenue without  an increase in oil price.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:16:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Zager  concluded with Slide  7.  Chevron-Alaska  believes                                                                   
that Net Profits is the fair and  logical method to implement                                                                   
progressivity.  The  Cook Inlet 5 percent tax is  in the best                                                                   
interest  of the  state.   He  urged a  cautious approach  to                                                                   
increasing taxes.   He voiced appreciation for  the hard work                                                                   
and diligence of  the legislature on this historic  bill.  He                                                                   
pointed out  that Chevron has  been in Alaska for  many years                                                                   
and intends to continue an active  exploration and production                                                                   
operation in  the state if a  sound and stable  fiscal regime                                                                   
can be offered.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:17:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kerttula asked  what would jump the cost up to                                                                   
$57.    Mr.  Zager  replied  that   was  intended  to  be  an                                                                   
illustrated  example.   He related  a 20-year  extrapolation.                                                                   
He maintained that there are a lot of inflationary factors.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kerttula asked  if Mr. Zager sees a difference                                                                   
between the  large and  small producers.   Mr. Zager  replied                                                                   
that  it would  be hard  to generalize.   To  some degree  it                                                                   
matters on a  worldwide scale.  In Cook Inlet,  the worldwide                                                                   
scale is  not a factor.   He mentioned cost  inflation, which                                                                   
continues.  Representative Kerttula  asked if Chevron's costs                                                                   
have  increased.     Mr.  Zager   said  yes,  and   they  are                                                                   
representative of the industry as a whole.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly summarized  that Chevron prefers the net                                                                   
to the gross on  progressivity.  He asked if they  use WTI of                                                                   
$60 before  progressivity hits and  if it lays over  at about                                                                   
$110.  Mr. Zager  said that is correct for both  WTI and ANS.                                                                   
Profitability  is not a  one-to-one relationship  between oil                                                                   
price and "what  you get at the  end of the day" due  to many                                                                   
factors.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:23:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN SHEFFIELD,  PRESIDENT, PIONEER NATURAL  RESOURCES-ALASKA,                                                                   
expressed thanks  to the members.   He referred to  a handout                                                                   
from Pioneer  throughout his  testimony (copy  on file.)   He                                                                   
shared several  of Pioneer's  projects.   He related  that in                                                                   
Pioneer's  portfolio, as  seen through  the governor's  bill,                                                                   
there is a  modest incentive for investment.   The governor's                                                                   
bill aims  to strike  a delicate  balance between  incentives                                                                   
and taxes.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Sheffield   addressed  tax   rate.      For  oil,   the                                                                   
recommendation  is  a  20  percent rate,  for  gas,  the  7.5                                                                   
percent rate, and for Cook Inlet,  5 percent.  The outcome of                                                                   
the bill  could affect Pioneer's  decision on  a Cosmopolitan                                                                   
project in Cook Inlet.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sheffield talked  about base allowance.   SB 305 contains                                                                   
a 5,000  BOPD equivalent  credit capped at  $14 million.   He                                                                   
spoke of value deterioration and  the calculation methodology                                                                   
as a disincentive.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kerttula  asked  for  clarification  on  that                                                                   
point.   Mr.  Sheffield  explained how  the  formula works  -                                                                   
multiply 22.5  percent by 5,000  barrels per day,  divided by                                                                   
the amount produced, and multiplied  by the net income.  This                                                                   
equals a  tax credit much smaller  than the cap.   He offered                                                                   
to go over it later on using numbers.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:29:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sheffield  addressed the 10-year sunset  provision, which                                                                   
is problematic for explorers.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Sheffield   recommended    the   House   Resources   CS                                                                   
methodology.   It  is simpler  and contains  flat tax  credit                                                                   
currently  at $12  million.   He  requested several  changes:                                                                   
increase  $12 million  to $14 million,  eliminate the  annual                                                                   
investment requirement, and eliminate the sunset provision.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault  asked if Pioneer  would propose  a trigger                                                                   
on  the  day  of production.    Mr.  Sheffield  replied  that                                                                   
Pioneer  is  looking  at  a  10-year  window  if  the  sunset                                                                   
provision is required.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:31:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sheffield  spoke  to  refundable  credits.    The  House                                                                   
Resources  CS contains  $10 million  in annual  credits.   He                                                                   
called  it  a significant  incentive  to  explorers  with  no                                                                   
current production.    There's a thin market  for credits and                                                                   
few buyers.   It would allow explorers to receive  full value                                                                   
for some credits at no extra cost to Alaska.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Pioneer requests  an increase  of the  credit to $30  million                                                                   
annually and to allowing credits  to apply to lease bonus and                                                                   
rentals.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sheffield addressed  transition capital  and the  sunset                                                                   
provision.   Pioneer has  invested over  $100 million  in the                                                                   
state  and  will easily  spend  the  2  for  1 to  earn  back                                                                   
credits,  but  would be  unable  to utilize  capital  credits                                                                   
earned with  2:1 in 7 years.   It would be a  disincentive to                                                                   
invest  beyond  2:1,  so Pioneer  requests  no  sunset  after                                                                   
credits are earned.  If a sunset  is required, they recommend                                                                   
allowing  7 years  following  the  first utilization  of  the                                                                   
credits.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:33:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Pioneer  does  not support  the  concept of  a  progressivity                                                                   
surcharge.  If required, it should  be based upon net profits                                                                   
consistent with  PPT structure.  He recommended  a $45/barrel                                                                   
net profit trigger in the SB 305 draft version.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Sheffield spoke to the point  of production for gas.  Gas                                                                   
treatment facilities  should qualify for credits  because the                                                                   
facility is  required for  marketable gas.   There  should be                                                                   
equal treatment for gas vs. oil.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:35:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN  BARNES,  PRODUCTION  MANAGER,   MARATHON  OIL,  ALASKA,                                                                   
pointed  out that Marathon  Oil's activities  are focused  on                                                                   
Cook Inlet Natural  Gas.   He observed that  the industry has                                                                   
come together  on many  important aspects  of the  production                                                                   
tax.  He  referred to page two  of a handout provided  to the                                                                   
Committee (copy on file), which  compares Alaska to the North                                                                   
American oil and gas business.   He noted that WTI has risen.                                                                   
He referred to  North American Rig Count and  maintained that                                                                   
there is  a strong correlation to  oil price.  The  rig count                                                                   
in  North  America  has  risen  from  700  to  2,000  working                                                                   
drilling rigs since  April of 2001.  The rig  count in Alaska                                                                   
has not risen similarly nor been driven by product price.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Barnes referred to page three  - "PPT - A World Class Tax                                                                   
Structure".    He  pointed  out  that  Cook  Inlet  is  small                                                                   
compared to  the North  Slope and  its issues are  different,                                                                   
thus the need  for incentivization.  He maintained  that Cook                                                                   
Inlet needs  to be addressed  differently, and  observed that                                                                   
SB 305 has done so.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:40:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Barnes  reviewed  page four  regarding  Cook  Inlet  gas                                                                   
concerns.  He observed the difference  between Cook Inlet gas                                                                   
and oil.   Gas  is sold at  a discount  and there are  strong                                                                   
drivers to  keep the cost low.   He discussed why  capital is                                                                   
not being  drawn into Cook Inlet.   He spoke in support  of a                                                                   
reduction in the tax.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Barnes did not support progressivity  for gas.  If it has                                                                   
to be used, then  it should be based on net  and not on gross                                                                   
and based on actual transaction value, not Henry Hub.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kerttula referred  to the  Alaska rig  count.                                                                   
She observed that there was not  investment under the ELF and                                                                   
questioned  if  further  reductions   would  result  in  more                                                                   
activity.  Mr. Barnes stressed  that many factors apply: some                                                                   
fields pay  taxes under ELF,  some don't; some  companies can                                                                   
factor   in  tax   structures   into  investment   decisions;                                                                   
permitting is a factor.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:44:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault questioned if  there is a difference in the                                                                   
cost  of Alaskan  and Texan  rigs.   Mr. Barnes  acknowledged                                                                   
that there are  significant differences and that  Alaska is a                                                                   
much more costly environment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Chenault asked  about  a certain  category of  rig.                                                                   
Mr. Barnes responded that they were not considered.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Weyhrauch summarized  that the state of Alaska                                                                   
must take  it on faith that  lower taxes will result  in more                                                                   
exploration,  since there  are no contract  agreements.   Mr.                                                                   
Barnes stressed that he represents  a gas company in the Cook                                                                   
Inlet.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:47:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARK   HANLEY,  MANAGER,   PUBLIC  AFFAIRS,   ANADARKO-ALASKA                                                                   
stressed that  Anadarko's goal is  to have a fair  tax system                                                                   
that  encourages   more  exploration   and  development   and                                                                   
increases production.   He  noted that there  would be  a big                                                                   
tax increase  on existing  production, but Anadarko  supports                                                                   
the   governor's  proposal   because   it   is  balanced   by                                                                   
exploration  incentives.  The   changes  have  been  measured                                                                   
against the  existing system.   He observed that  exploration                                                                   
has  not occurred  while  the  price  remained around  $20  a                                                                   
barrel.  Now that the price has  gone up, the prospective for                                                                   
exploration has  increased.  He suggested  that progressivity                                                                   
start at higher  prices, $60 or higher.  He  spoke in support                                                                   
of  a 20  percent tax  rate.   Anadarko  supports the  Senate                                                                   
approach for gas, since it is less economic than oil.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:51:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kerttula  asked why the tax should  be reduced                                                                   
to 7.5  percent and the  credits left  the same.   Mr. Hanley                                                                   
emphasized  that  credits help  the  economics  and  it is  a                                                                   
balancing act.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kerttula questioned  if keeping the tax up and                                                                   
the credit rate up would be the most affective.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hanley emphasized  that a  lower  tax rate  is the  most                                                                   
important.     The  point  of   choice  is  a   policy  call.                                                                   
Representative Kerttula  felt that the balance  was not found                                                                   
in the Senate version of the bill.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:53:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hanley felt that the trigger  point needs to be higher on                                                                   
equivalent basis than  it is at $50 per barrel.   He spoke in                                                                   
support of a July  1, 2006, effective date.  He  spoke to the                                                                   
$73 million  allowance - the House  approach of a $12  to $14                                                                   
million credit  is preferred.   He did  not want a  sunset on                                                                   
the  credit.    He  suggested  allowing  the  10-year  sunset                                                                   
provision  to begin  on the  start  date of  production.   He                                                                   
spoke  in support  of the  Senate  transition allowance,  the                                                                   
2:1, which  has a sunset  of 7 years.   He would like  to see                                                                   
that  sunset extended.   There  are  two issues.   A  company                                                                   
could run  out of time to  use the allowance.   The allowance                                                                   
cannot be used if under $40 per  barrel of oil.  He suggested                                                                   
once  the  allowance is  earned,  it  should  be taken  on  a                                                                   
schedule.  If the $40 is off, it should be rolled forward.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:56:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kerttula felt that  lack of a sunset would put                                                                   
the legislature in a precarious position.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hanley clarified  that there were two  different sunsets.                                                                   
He emphasized  how essential timing  is with the  credits and                                                                   
the  allowance.  He  explained   that  Anadarko  timed  their                                                                   
investments  wrong, since  they have  two projects for  which                                                                   
they  would  not  be  allowed  to  capture  the  credit.    A                                                                   
transitional  allowance  would  rectify  this, but  there  is                                                                   
still a problem  with when they can be taken.   He noted that                                                                   
there is  a difference  between when they  can be  earned and                                                                   
when they can be used.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kerttula  reiterated  concerns  with  credits                                                                   
rolling forward indefinitely.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:59:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hanley  spoke  to  the  point  of  production.  The  gas                                                                   
treatment  facility  should qualify  because  it  is a  cost.                                                                   
Anadarko  has agreed to  support Senate  language that  would                                                                   
allow part of the treatment facility  as credit, but not as a                                                                   
tariff.  He voiced support for  exploration incentive credits                                                                   
and  more opportunities  to buy  back  credits for  companies                                                                   
that don't have production.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kerttula asked  if there was any reason not to                                                                   
have a  flow-through credit.   Mr. Hanley felt  that Anadarko                                                                   
would support the concept.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:03:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly observed  that the price of oil has been                                                                   
low before and  that it may be low again.   He questioned how                                                                   
to include and implement a floor.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hanley observed that if there  is a floor and the low and                                                                   
high  sides  are   taken  away,  then  investment   would  be                                                                   
affected.   He   suggested   that   protections   should   be                                                                   
implemented at low  price environment.   He  suggested paying                                                                   
down  debt and  buying  back stock  to  keep investment,  and                                                                   
saving money  during the  high times.   He stressed  that the                                                                   
windfalls should be set aside during the high times.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:07:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JIM   WEEKS,  ULTRASTAR   EXPLORATION   LLC,  testified   via                                                                   
teleconference.  He observed that  Ultrastar is a very small,                                                                   
independent  explorer,  formed in  2002  for  the purpose  of                                                                   
exploring  and   developing  leases   on  the  North   Slope.                                                                   
UltraStar is 100% owned by Alaskans.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weeks  observed that he had  testified and listened  to a                                                                   
lot  of testimony  on the  Governor's  original proposal,  in                                                                   
several committees.   He  observed that  the bill has  gotten                                                                   
more complicated, but that Ultrastar  could support it with a                                                                   
few modest changes.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     The  Administration's original  proposal was  for a  $73                                                                   
     million  base  allowance  for net  profits  below  which                                                                   
     there would  be no PPT, with  no sunset provision.   The                                                                   
     Senate, rightfully  so in my view, changed  that to 5000                                                                   
     barrels of  oil per day,  but established a  sunset date                                                                   
     of  2016,  after  which the  allowance  will  expire.  I                                                                   
     question the  need for a 10-year time limit  after which                                                                   
     the tax  exemption will expire.   UltraStar is  a small,                                                                   
     start-up company  that is  poking around the  fringes of                                                                   
     existing  units and  known reservoirs.   Our leases  are                                                                   
     too  small  to  stand  alone,   so  access  to  existing                                                                   
     facilities, owned mostly  by the major producers, is the                                                                   
     only  way we  can develop  anything we  might find.   It                                                                   
     took our  sister company, Winstar, 6 years  to negotiate                                                                   
     access with the  KRU to enable the drilling  of the well                                                                   
     that  was completed  in  2003.   UltraStar  has been  in                                                                   
     negotiations  with the PBU for  over 3 1/2 years  now to                                                                   
     get  seismic  data and  facility  access  to enable  the                                                                   
     drilling of our Dewline Prospect.   It takes a long time                                                                   
     for these  things to  get done, and  I question  why our                                                                   
     investments  should be  put at risk  with this  relative                                                                   
     short  sunset provision,  whereas current producers  can                                                                   
     use the  allowance immediately after the  effective date                                                                   
     of the  bill, and  receive the  full ten years  benefit.                                                                   
     During this debate, I've  heard more than once about the                                                                   
     need for a  "level playing field".  No  sunset provision                                                                   
     does indeed level the playing field.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weeks  observed that  a 10-year  time field for  everyone                                                                   
would level the playing field.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:10:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Next is  the issue  of the effective  date for  the PPT.                                                                   
     We agree that  July 1, 2006 is an appropriate  date, but                                                                   
     also suggest  that taxpayers  should be given  a 6-month                                                                   
     "grace period"  to come into  complete compliance.   I'm                                                                   
     not suggesting  that any taxes  not be paid, or  be paid                                                                   
     late, but rather that companies  be allowed to get their                                                                   
     act together within 6 months  before the stiff penalties                                                                   
     and interest provisions apply.   During this period, any                                                                   
     adjustments can be made for  under and/or over payments.                                                                   
     This  bill   requires  a  complex  calculation   of  the                                                                   
     appropriate  amount of  tax, and  conforming to  it will                                                                   
     take some time, even for  the current producers with tax                                                                   
     accountants and attorneys  on staff.  UltraStar hopes to                                                                   
     have production  in the future,  and we will be  glad to                                                                   
     pay  our  fair share  of  taxes,  but  we will  need  to                                                                   
     contract for  tax accounting  and legal services  on the                                                                   
     street  at  market  rates,  and frankly,  I  don't  know                                                                   
     whether or  not we can even  find them.  Anyone  we hire                                                                   
     will need to get familiar  with the law and regulations,                                                                   
     and develop  the algorithms needed to comply  with them.                                                                   
     This  will take  some  time, and  I  think that  6-month                                                                   
     grace period is the minimum  amount of time necessary to                                                                   
     assure  compliance  before  the penalties  and  interest                                                                   
     starts.   Obviously, to  accommodate production  not yet                                                                   
     on stream,  the 6-month grace  period should  begin when                                                                   
     taxes under  the PPT are  due, and not necessarily  July                                                                   
     1, 2006.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:12:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weeks commented on the 20/20 provisions and the                                                                             
progressivity feature of the bill, and their relationship to                                                                    
the gas pipeline.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     I  graduated  from  the University  of  Wyoming  with  a                                                                   
     Petroleum Engineering  degree in  1969.  In the  fall of                                                                   
     1968,  nearly  40 years  ago,  as  a class  project,  we                                                                   
     designed  a gas pipeline  from Prudhoe  Bay to  Chicago.                                                                   
     After graduation, I joined  ARCO, and in the early 70's,                                                                   
     spent several  years working in project  engineering and                                                                   
     construction,  based in Dallas,  headquarters  of ARCO's                                                                   
     North  American operations.   I  spent hours talking  to                                                                   
     the real  life engineers  who spent nights  and weekends                                                                   
     at  the  office,  sleeping  on  cots,  designing  a  gas                                                                   
     pipeline from  Prudhoe Bay to Chicago.   For seven years                                                                   
     in the late 80's and early  90's, I was in charge of all                                                                   
     of   ARCO's  Prudhoe   Bay   interests,  including   the                                                                   
     commercialization  of natural gas.   Except  perhaps for                                                                   
     Governor  Hickel,  I've  probably  worried  longer  than                                                                   
     anyone  in the State  about getting  North Slope  Gas to                                                                   
     market.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weeks felt that the proposal has never been closer to                                                                       
coming to being realized.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:13:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     The  legislature is  to be  commended for  the fair  and                                                                   
     full  hearing the PPT  has been  given.  Many  thankless                                                                   
     hours  of hearings,  reviewing  complicated drafts,  and                                                                   
     debates have  been spent by  you and your  colleagues in                                                                   
     both houses,  and in  my mind you  all deserve  a medal.                                                                   
     During  the  process, I've  heard  more  than once  that                                                                   
     there  is  no  linkage  between  PPT and  the  gas  line                                                                   
     project.  But  as the Governor said this  week, there is                                                                   
     indeed  linkage between  the two.  I think  we all  know                                                                   
     that.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Also of concern  to me as an Alaskan who  hopes to build                                                                   
     a business  here that my  kids and their kids  can carry                                                                   
     on, is  the "so what"  attitude I've heard  from several                                                                   
     legislators.   They say "so  what" if the big  guys walk                                                                   
     from  the  gas line  deal  over  disgust with  the  PPT.                                                                   
     Causing them  to walk from the  gas line as a  result of                                                                   
     the  PPT would  be a  huge  disservice to  the State  of                                                                   
     Alaska.   To forego  the long term  benefits of  the gas                                                                   
     line  in favor  of short-term  higher taxes  in the  PPT                                                                   
     would  be   a  very  mistaken,  shortsighted   approach.                                                                   
     Therefore,  I  encourage  you to  adopt  the  Governor's                                                                   
     20/20  proposal, with no  progressivity. Twenty  percent                                                                   
     of the net profits on seventy-dollar  oil is progressive                                                                   
     enough.     Oil  companies   compete  worldwide.     The                                                                   
     governments of  China, Russia and the Middle  East don't                                                                   
     put  their  domestic  oil  companies  at  a  competitive                                                                   
     disadvantage  with windfall  revenue  or profits  taxes.                                                                   
     Why should  the State of  Alaska?  However, if  you feel                                                                   
     compelled to take a bigger  share at higher prices, then                                                                   
     that bigger  share should be  on net profits,  not gross                                                                   
     revenue.  Be careful, though, lest they walk.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weeks observed  that they are as close to  a gas pipeline                                                                   
project than they  have ever been and cautioned  not to throw                                                                   
out the baby with the bath water.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:16:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FRANK  WEISS, PRESIDENT  AND  BRANCH MANAGER,  ALASKA  ANVIL,                                                                   
testified  via teleconference.   He gave  a brief history  of                                                                   
his company and his involvement  with it.  He maintained that                                                                   
an  industry must  have consistent  taxation.   SB  305 is  a                                                                   
message in conflict with Alaska's  staying open for business.                                                                   
At today's  prices, the governor's  bill will  increase taxes                                                                   
paid into the state  by producers.  He questioned  how high a                                                                   
tax rate is high  enough.  He spoke strongly in  favor of the                                                                   
governor's bill and against SB 305.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SB  305  was   heard  and  HELD  in  Committee   for  further                                                                   
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 3:21 PM.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects