2004 Study Says Gulf Rig Safety Equipment Faulty in Deep Water (Iraq, companies)

[carterstamp]

Great, Now the gulf coast is paying the price of 6 Years of doing nothing. Drill, baby, drill? I don;t think so. Ask the commercial fishing industry as well as the tourism industry if in hindsight this was a good idea.

Safety Device Questioned in '04

Safety Device Questioned in '04 - WSJ.com

Federal regulators learned in a 2004 study that a vital piece of oil-drilling safety equipment may not function in deep-water seas but did nothing to bolster industry requirements.

The equipment, called shear rams, is supposed to seal off out-of-control oil and gas wells by pinching the pipe closed and cutting it.
As oil companies drilled wells in deeper water, the shear rams had to become stronger and manufacturers responded. But the federally commissioned study questioned whether enough was known about the force required to shear off a pipe at these depths to set proper standards.

[ovcatto]

Well youda thunk two ole oil hands like Dubya and Dick wooda known about all thar is ta know about that thar problem.

[carterstamp]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

Well youda thunk two ole oil hands like Dubya and Dick wooda known about all thar is ta know about that thar problem.

Amazing. 2004, these people were warned in 2004, and chose to do nothing. Another fine mess.....

[florida.bob]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

Well youda thunk two ole oil hands like Dubya and Dick wooda known about all thar is ta know about that thar problem.

I think they were still trying to find those WMDs in Iraq, at the time.

[carterstamp]

Originally Posted by florida.bob

I think they were still trying to find those WMDs in Iraq, at the time.

Maybe they were used to blow up the rig...ever think of that????

Hmmmmmm......

[Holdencaulfield]

Since it's their mess, should they compensate people whose livelihood depended on the waters in the region?

[Memphis1979]

Yes

[DC at the Ridge]

I'm sure there will be numerous lawsuits.

[db1025]

No, if you think that, then WallStreet and the Fed Govt. needs to start writing checks to the American people for putting them out of work with their corruption that led to the collapse. Let's be fair and consistent shall we?

[Jaggy001]

If it is outside territorial waters then I am not sure they have any liability. The US has typically held to a very narrow definition of what constitutes territorial waters and this could come back to bite us.