A new deep-water drilling permit has been issued to the Houston based company Noble Energy. Company will be drilling a bypass well in 6500 feet deep-water. This is the first deep-water drilling permit for the Gulf of Mexico after the oil spill. However industry experts and local politicians have shown their concern for safety.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement issued this permit.

Company had been drilling the area prior to BP oil spill spewing 200 million gallon oil in gulf. But its operations in Gulf of Mexico were halted as government issued a legal notice to delay the drilling.

Obama administration fastened the process of approval after increasing lobbying from politicians and pressure by court. Learning from BP oil spill experiences, Obama administration tightened the approval guidelines.

Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Michael Bromwich said "This permit was issued for one simple reason: The operator successfully demonstrated that it can drill its deep-water well safely and that it is capable of containing a sub-sea blowout if it were to occur".