Transocean_offshore_explosion
The fallout from the Transocean oil rig explosion last week is believed to be much worse than earlier expected. In fact, the federal government is becoming concerned at the failure of BP, the company that operated the Deepwater Horizon semisubmersible rig, to contain the spill. BP this week confirmed that it would welcome any help from the US military, in containing the spill.
According to several news reports, the size of the spill is believed to be at least five times worse than initially thought. Early estimates had placed the leak at about 1,000 barrels a day. A major problem in stopping the leak seems to be that the rig did not have a remote control shutoff switch. If the rig had come with a switch like this, then crews would have been able to activate an underwater valve to shut off the well.
Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard is using tough measures to minimize the effect of the leak. It is burning off oil from the water surface. On Wednesday, the agency managed to reduce some of the oil in the water.
There are other long-term concerns that are causing alarm in oil industry circles. Once the oil slick reaches coastlines, which it now seems like it will, there’ll be more environmental effects that will get the public riled up. You will have dead birds and marine life washing up on shores and coastlines. You will have local economies impacted negatively by the oil spill, and the public won’t take kindly to this during a bad economy. There’s bound to be a public outcry against the offshore oil and gas industry.
The repercussions could reach as far as Washington DC. Some experts believe it would impact the recent decision by the Obama administration to open up oil and gas drilling efforts in other areas. It is not expected to impact oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico as much, because the industry is well established here. However, new efforts could come under increased scrutiny.
“Drill, baby, drill” doesn’t sound quite so lyrical when you have 11 workers killed, 17 injured and more than 100 workers, traumatized by an explosion. As an offshore injury attorney I’ve always believed that expansion of oil and gas drilling efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, should go hand-in-hand with increased safety for the offshore workers who man these rigs.
