Oil rig explodes in Gulf-near Vermillion Bay

[IndianaGreen]

Source: CNN and WWLTV

Now breaking on CNN

On a tweet:

Oil rig explosion in Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana has injured dozens of people, CBS affiliate in New Orleans reports.

On edit:

Coast Guard reporting rig incident south of Vermillion Bay

by WWLTV.com

wwltv.com

Posted on September 2, 2010 at 10:09 AM

Updated today at 10:23 AM

The Coast Guard is responding to a reported rig incident south of Vermillion Bay.

A Coast Guard spokesman said that 13 people were on the rig and that 12 have been accounted for at this time.

Rescue choppers from New Orleans and Houston responded to the scene

U.S. Coast Guard Reports Oil Rig On Fire Some 90 Miles South Of Louisiana

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesman tells CNN that an offshore oil rig, Vermilion Oil Rig 380, owned by Mariner Energy, is on fire, some 90 miles south of Vermilion Bay.

He said there were 13 people aboard the rig. All of them have been accounted for. Twelve of them have been placed in immersion suits.

Eight Coast Guard rescue helicopters have been dispatched to the rig location. In addition, three Coast Guard cutters — Decisive, Manta and Skip Jack — are en route, with four civilian vessels.

According to The Associated Press, "the Coast Guard is responding to an explosion involving an offshore petroleum structure in the Gulf of Mexico."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/02/129602743/offshore-oil-rig-on-fire-off-the-coast-of-louisiana-u-s-coast-guard-reports

Read more: http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Coast-Guard-reporting-rig-explosion-south-of-Grand-Isle-102065593.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. "This is all completely natural." - Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R - Propagandist)

"I sincerely doubt that this will in any way impact the $40 million a year in corporate payola that greases my skanky palm for spouting Republicon propaganda - 'drill, baby, drill' -- therefore it is meaningless. To0 bad about you people who have to live on a degraded planet. Smirk."

- Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R - Propagandist)

[SugarShack]

57. Korean sub let out NC seals who blew rig--one story-and demolition--retaliation for sinking that SK

Korean sub let out NC seals who blew rig--one story--2nd--NC Korean seals on supply boat in rig assault and demolition--retaliation for sinking that SK boat which we then followed up with and EMP strike that took out Chinas main oil transmission line

(from a ret. military buddy)

[Name removed]

110. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberation]

124. North Koreans with trained seals from North Carolina?

Whaaaaa?

[wordpix]

131. these seals were on a supply boat---don't you get it???

:rofl:

[Nihil]

229. "I think you've blown a seal"

"Hey, just fix the engine and keep my private life out of it!"

[Bitwit1234]

113. I'd love to put this fat ass POS on one of the rigs

all by himself, with no way to get off and see how long he stays. He would be so damn scared he would try to swim to shore.

[Enrique]

2. i hear offshore drilling is very safe these days

with the high tech and whatnot.

[pscot]

102. The devil is in the whatnots

n/t

[CLANG]

140. I heard that too - about 7 months ago

[defendandprotect]

217. Obama: "Oil rigs no longer have spills" -- !!

and his observation since then ....

"The Gulf will bounce back!"

[LisaL]

3. Who is in charge of that one?

[SOS]

8. MSNBC reporting it's Mariner Energy

13 workers rescued from the water wearing immersion suits.
One injured.
Rig on fire.

All info per MSNBC at 11:35 AM EDT

http://www.mariner-energy.com/

[wordpix]

114. "among the largest lease holders on the continental shelf," 90 deepwater blocks, 240 fed leases

snip: According to its website, Mariner is among the largest lease holders on the continental shelf with interests in approximately 240 federal leases and more than 30 state blocks, at year-end 2009.

In deepwater, Mariner holds a working interest in more than 90 blocks. The company has participated in more than 35 deepwater projects, operating more than half of them. snip

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/coast_guard_responding_to_rig.html

Let me guess: They have 730 previous serious violations in the National Sacrifice Area.

[wordpix]

129. well, well, well - Mariner $1.2 BILLION IN DEBT

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7183306.html

snip: Mariner Energy focuses on oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Gulf of Mexico. In April, Apache Corp., another independent petroleum company, announced plans to buy Mariner in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $3.9 billion, including the assumption of about $1.2 billion of Mariner's debt. That deal is pending. snip

Keep those safety cuts coming b/c you're in debt up to your eyeballs, corpos! :sarcasm:

[defendandprotect]

218. Because government control is bad and PRIVATIZING natural resources is so great!!

[KansDem]

25. Don't you mean, "Who is suppose to be in charge of that one?"

With thousands of rigs in the Gulf, it seems we're playing a dangerous, perverted game of "Whack a Mole." No telling which one will pop up next...

[Prospero1]

34. who is in charge?

The free market of course.

[wordpix]

111. as usual, it's the multinational oil corpos who don't pay US taxes

my good guess

[Downwinder]

4. Is this the same one?

Coast Guard responding to rig fire Gulf of Mexico; people reported in water
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/coast_guard_responding_to_rig.html

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Déjà Vu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiDOMuhpqUo

[w8liftinglady]

6. oh,no...this is getting way out of hand...it reminds me of West Texas

oil fields.saw tons of guys get hurt and killed ... even recently
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26645108/

[texastoast]

162. The land of men with few fingers

Grew up there. They used to come in the grocery store where I worked.

And you know, that land will grow anything once the mesquites are knocked back. It has good, sweet water (or maybe had good water before the oil bidness disregarded a few aquifers as being important).

And it is great big Bush and oil bidness country. You are in the heart of the battlefield. Even with the elevated thyroid cancer rates and ruined water tables there, you better not say one fucking word against the oil bidness. SO glad I don't live there anymore, but Houston is not much better.

[sofa king]

7. Let us hope we have learned some lessons.

[superconnected]

17. You mean lets hope we learn lessons this time.

I don't think they learned from the last event. I mean other than what they told us - corexit is good - breaks up oil, deep water drilling is safe, and it's the workers fault that oil rigs explode.

[rhett o rick]

167. This is capitalism, fuck the lessons. nm

[superconnected]

175. Okay, yes capitalism does this, but so do socialist and communist nations.

You tell me which government doesn't have an abuse of power by politicians and the rich or now-a-days corporations.

[rhett o rick]

180. My point is that capitalism must be reigned in or kiss Democracy goodby.

I am not sure what your point is.

[superconnected]

234. I agree with your point. Capitalism needs to be regulated.

And, politicians need to be regulated. Until we have rules against collusion, and taking big money from anyone, they will not serve the public who put them there's interest. Since we put them there to serve our interest it seems like this should be the first priority of voters. Why it's not is truly baffling.

[defendandprotect]

219. Both capitalism and communism are based on exploitation ... we can do better -- !!

Or -- as Orwell put it re capitalism and communism . . . "a pox on both their houses!"

We have to move away from these exploitations of nature and anima-life --

and on to a more nature-friendly and socially responsible economic system.

[lark]

98. Ha, who cares about lessons, it's profits that are important

Ask any oil company and they will set you straight as to the real priorities.

:sarcasm:

[primavera]

103. That does seem to be the case

I thought BP's initial response was most telling, in that they weren't all that concerned: after all, stuff like this happens all the time. Who knew the media would finally report on it and anyone would care? For the oil industry, a major environmental catastrophe is just another day in the standard working week.

[wordpix]

115. profits + tax evasion, that is the important lesson to be learned here

[defendandprotect]

220. If we learned anything, we'd have reinstated the ban on off-shore drilling which stood for 26 years!

[sinkingfeeling]

9. MSNBC.com reporting one person missing.

[merh]

10. NOLA station WDSU reporting that it is reported that a rig owned by

a Houston corporation, Mariner Energy, has exploded about 60 miles south of Louisiana in Vermillion Bay - Coast Guard is responding - 13 people to have been on the rig and reports say 13 have been accounted for.

Rig is still on fire.

Edited to add: No reports of leaks - the rig not believed to be producing at the time of the explosion.

[LisaL]

14. Are there any gushing wells?

[merh]

15. They are investigating to determine if any leaks or gushers.

Not sure at this time if it was producing at the time of the explosion.

[Bette Noir]

43. The reporting for the first few days after Deepwater Horizon exploded

was that the rig was inactive, and no oil was escaping.

[KansDem]

29. Don't you mean, "oil spills?"

[bherrera]

52. It may be a simple natural gas explosion

In which case there is no oil spill.

[KansDem]

69. Then no matter how big, wait for the media to declare it...

...a "natural flatulence."

on edit: the FOX bimbos will say, "The Earth farted!" :blush:...teehee...teehee

[bherrera]

87. I doubt it

This sounds like an industrial accident, but the number of personnel (about a dozen) aboard the structure tells me it was a minor operation, and they did not suffer any deaths. Therefore it is probably a natural gas explosion and fire. I am only a guesser, because I am in Spain, not in the USA.

[Divernan]

122. Hola, senor! Your guess is as good as anyone's in the US

Because we learned from the last oil catastrophe that the US government and its agencies, including the Coast Guard kept out independent reporters/scientists and allowed BP to blatantly spin the facts, downright lie and otherwise cover up what was going on.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

49. A rig NOT producing -- EXPLODES! Wow, that's some weird shit there.

:wtf:

[IndianaGreen]

78. and it is still on fire

another weird shit.

[kirby]

88. Deepwater Horizon was not producing either...

It was an exploration well. Just pointing out...

[wordpix]

116. It's described as a kind of oil refinery ---why it's in the middle of the Gulf says "tax evasion" to

me :eyes:

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/coast_guard_responding_to_rig.html

[wordpix]

132. now the corp admits it IS a producing rig - some confusion about how deep it is, 350' v. 2500'

http://www.click2houston.com/news/24854694/detail.html

snip:

Houston-based Mariner Energy owns the platform. Spokesman Patrick Cassidy said the fixed petroleum platform is in about 320 feet of water.

"During the last week of August 2010, production from this facility averaged approximately 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and 1,400 barrels of oil and condensate," the company wrote in a statement. snip:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/09/another_oil_rig_explosion_in_g.php

snip:

The Department of Homeland Security said the rig was not in the process of producing oil and gas and was in about 2,500 feet of water and owned by Mariner Energy of Houston.

KPRC has different info from the AP/Washington Post stuff above: "Houston-based Mariner Energy spokesman Patrick Cassidy said the platform is in about 320 feet of water and was producing about 1,700 barrels of oil a day." snip

:wtf:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

233. Thanks. Amazing how words in the news have so many meanings.

Not producing = producing, but only later when there is a more concerted effort to ferret out the truth.

[femrap]

83. Maybe all the oil boyz

in Houston need to be in lockdown.

[me b zola]

86. ^^ this gets my vote.n/t

[louis-t]

99. Yahoo link says it WAS in production.

Lots of conflicting stories. Who thinks tomorrow we wil be told "It's leaking a little"?

5th line after the photo.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100902/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_rig_explosion

[Ozymanithrax]

11. Oh No, not again...

Oh No, not again...

[Ganja Ninja]

12. Oh crap!

:argh:

[bdamomma]

97. my words exactly.

just damn.

[mikelgb]

13. ..

numbness setting in

[realisticphish]

16. CNN reports all persons accounted for; no deaths, one injured

[sakabatou]

19. That probably the only good news.

[superconnected]

36. Yes, but it's also good news that this happened again so close to the last one so it focus's

on the dangers of those rigs.

I'm glad - it's like re-opening the case.

As far as the workers - glad they didn't die, hope they recover.

[realisticphish]

38. again, according to CNN

the well may not have been producing at the time, so there may not be any risk. But that's just conjecture from the Coast Guard. They say that they have reports that it wasn't operating at the time, and they aren't sure if there's a pollution risk.

[CLANG]

142. the well may not have been producing at the time

LIARS! Like they can't determine that before they start "speculating"?

[mikeytherat]

18. Calm down, people! It's just a "rig incident."

How many times did they have to pitch euphemisms for "exploded" before they came up with "rig incident?"

mikey_the_rat

[superconnected]

20. Relax, one guy may be dead but you can bet his co-workers will be company men

and totally support BP in a few weeks even though they were on the rig when this happened!

[Lightning Count]

23. Considering this is not a BP rig that would be very unusual.

:)

[Nihil]

228. Facts? Who needs 'em?

:shrug:

[nalnn]

21. Rig?

Does anyone know if this is a drilling rig or a production platform?

[florida08]

27. MSNBC

just said it was not a production rig

[florida08]

47. USA today

An oil platform has exploded in the Gulf of Louisiana, injuring at least one person. The Coast Guard tells MSNBC that the platform is still burning, but says it is not a drilling rig.

Update at 12:14 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Tiems-Picayune descrbies the facility, called Vermillion 380, as a "fixed, manned production platform." The newspaper says the platform is not involved in drilling and, unlike the ill-fated BP rig, is not a floating rig, but rather is a fixed platform.

Update at 12:11 p.m. ET: The Coast Guard tells MSNBC that the facility is not a rig, but is a platform that does not do any drilling.

[wordpix]

120. described as a small oil refinery here

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/coast_guard_responding_to_rig.html

snip: Lee Hunt, president of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, said these types of rigs are permanently in place, often with a pipeline or oil and gas and water separation facilities on board.

"It's more like a small offshore refining operation," he said.

snip

[jimlup]

22. The BOP should work this time!

The whole thing about the BP spill was that the Blowout Preventor failed. The BOP should work - it is a failsafe.

[dipsydoodle]

44. The BOP at the BP Macondo well was rated at 20,000lbs / sq"

whereas the blowout whatever was anything up to 170,000lbs sq". There is nothing in existence within the oil industry which would withstand that level.

[Frisbee]

82. I spend my days working with "Ultra High Pressure"

hydraulics. 170,000PSI is mind bogglingly high pressure. I am unaware of anything man-made that approaches those pressures. 46,400PSI is the highest pressure I am familiar with, barely a quarter of that.

[dipsydoodle]

163. The blowout wasn't man made

other than the mere act of drilling the well allowed it to happen. If you search you should find that was the pressure known to exist in the field. I assume you meant man made as in manufactured.

[Frisbee]

227. I was merely stating that that kind of pressure ...

is incredible, almost beyond the comprehension of the average person. My man-made comment was only to show how the pressures we create and use pale in comparison to the pressures found in the well.

[jimlup]

84. That seems unlikely to me.

I'm no expert but I have been following the engineering discussions. As I understood the initial failure, it wasn't because the BOP failed but rather that it failed to trigger. Am I wrong? Can you provide me with a reference?

Anyway, Here's to hoping this is just a "rig" accident and not another go-round!

[nolabear]

24. Glenn Beck thinks a flock of geese is a sign, but THIS...nah, nothing to see here. Move along.

[JuniperLea]

28. It's a clear sign to me that self-regulation is a joke...

What a horrible, horrible situation.

[Warpy]

26. I would very much like to know if it was drilling into the

same oil deposit as the BP well was, in which case all leases in the area should be suspended until engineering catches up to handling the massive amount of methane within that deposit.

At least this time they know how to cap the damned thing.

[Davis_X_Machina]

30. The platform is about 200 miles west of BP's blown out Macondo well.

and at very different depths, I would expect.

[IndianaGreen]

33. It is in 2,000 feet of water

a lot deeper than I would had thought since early reports said it was on a bay.

[Wednesdays]

42. So, it's "only" about a half mile deep, instead of a full mile

It would still be a tough one to cap, if it became a gusher like the BP well.
Fortunately, so far there's no indication of that (*knock wood*).

[Warpy]

92. Yes, I finally found the map. This is a much shallower well, thanks

so this explosion likely has a different cause.

[SkyDaddy7]

40. I read it is in 450ft of water. nt.

[Sal Minella]

41. "At least this time they know how to cap the damned thing."

You seem to be assuming these people are capable of actually LEARNING from their mistakes?

[Selatius]

48. Ultimately, drilling a relief well still takes several months in any scenario.

That's what had to be done in the end-game for Deepwater Horizon. All the other attempts BP did ultimately failed because not only was the BOP destroyed, but some of the pipework below the BOP and probably even below the surface of the ocean floor was damaged. Once the relief well was drilled, they could finally get below the damaged pipework and simply jam mud into it through the relief well.

[wordpix]

123. not a drill rig, it's an oil refinery

Lee Hunt, president of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, said these types of rigs are permanently in place, often with a pipeline or oil and gas and water separation facilities on board.

"It's more like a small offshore refining operation," he said.

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/coast_guard_responding_to_rig.html

[Joanne98]

31. Mariner Energy shares dip on reports of rig explosion

(Reuters) - Shares of Mariner Energy (ME.N) fell 5 percent to $22.30 on Thursday after reports of a possible oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, with some media reporting that the rig was operated by Mariner.

Shares of Apache Corp (APA.N), which is expected to buy Mariner Energy, also fell 1.8 percent to $90.94.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6813PH20100902

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=APA

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=ME

[NBachers]

32. The Environmental Greenpeace Militant Liberal democrat Terrists strike again

[florida08]

35. they say it wasn't drilling at the time of explosion

[Lochloosa]

37. The rig was not active at the time of the explosion.

[More_liberal_than_mo]

70. So why were 13 workers on it?

It was a production platform! If 13 workers were on it then one could assume that the reason they were there would be to either put it into production, shut down a producing well, or just maybe make sure it was in fact producing. Why else would there be workers on a non producing "production platform".

[AllTooEasy]

77. you still have to maintain it. you can't just let it sit out there unsecured

[Joanne98]

39. Here's the yahoo finance message board for Mariner Energy, Inc.

Lots of good info on here.

http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/mb/ME

[craigmatic]

45. Here we go again

[valerief]

46. Mariner is to be sold. Think the buyer will get a lower selling price?

http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Coast-Guard-reporting-rig-explosion-south-of-Grand-Isle-102065593.html

Mariner Energy focuses on oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Gulf of Mexico. In April, Apache Corp., another independent petroleum company, announced plans to buy Mariner in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $3.9 billion, including the assumption of about $1.2 billion of Mariner's debt. That deal is pending.

[YankeeLeft7x]

50. Not Surprised At All - Welcome to the 21st Century

Oh, how I am not shocked at all. Welcome to the 21st Century as the whole "shithouse goes up in flames."

Another day and another dollar. They will soon be going after your job and social security too! While the whole thing dissolves before ya too!

[jtrockville]

51. Can we PLEASE parlay this into a renewable energy policy?

[greiner3]

53. "the rig was not actively producing at the time of the incident..."

As reported by NOLA.

Damn, I wish someone would get a handle on the explosive crap, HOH. Do they have any idea how dangerous that stuff is?


One of many such sites touting this truthy;

http://www.mmmfiles.com/mmm/index.php/2007-05-28/70/

[harun]

58. Neither was the other site.

[northernlights]

54. so are they going to put the fire out with water?

like they did at Deepwater, causing the rig to sink and the gushing to start? :(

[anachro1]

55. Oh, look...

Just in time for a massive hurricane.

[harun]

56. Reading this story on Yahoo News, majority of RW posters all agree

that because we have a Dem President that is pro-environment that this is being done by him to get people off oil.

How delusional can people get. They are defending the hand that is destroying them.

[SugarShack]

59. I believe it's terrorism...and they don't want us to know!

[htuttle]

74. It's caused by something far more fearsome and destructive than terrorism!

It's caused by corporate Capitalism.

[bluesmail]

100. IMO corporate capitalism is terrorism. ( I like how you think). eom

[aquart]

89. Thank you for your concern.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

60. Breaking: Oil Rig Explodes of LA Coast

Source: MSNBC

GRAND ISLE, La. — An offshore oil rig exploded Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Coast Guard was responding to reports of people in the water.

The explosion occurred west of the site of the April blast that caused the massive BP oil spill.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel said the blast was reported by a commercial helicopter company about 9:30 a.m.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38973757/

[sinkingfeeling]

61. Already posted in LBN.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4526218

[ProfessionalLeftist]

63. oh crap

I didn't see it. Sorry. :-\

[dipsydoodle]

66. Rec'd

because you did at least apologise.

:hi:

[Ernesto]

68. You have nothing to apologize for.... nt

[Viva_La_Revolution]

62. oh good lord

:cry:

[many a good man]

64. Is it a deep water rig? nt

[northernlights]

67. 2500 feet under water

so half as deep as deepwater. but still...deep.

[TacoD]

138. CNN reports 340 feet (nt)

[northernlights]

181. yup. I saw that later...

the early report I saw (I think out of AP) said 2500 feet. I'm a lot "happier" with 340. Glad I'm wrong and thanks for update. :D

[wordpix]

242. again, DHS reported 2500' while Mariner Corp reported 340' at same time

See my post 132.

I don't think one was a later report but they sure are conflicting reports. :crazy:

[Wednesdays]

65. Oh, great.

:(

[IndianaGreen]

71. Times-Picayune news story reposted by Common Dreams

Published on Thursday, September 2, 2010 by the Times-Picayune (Louisiana)

BREAKING: Coast Guard Responding to Rig Fire Gulf of Mexico; People Reported in Water

by Bob Warren

The Coast Guard is responding to a report of a rig on fire "and people in the water'' in the Gulf of Mexico south of Vermilion Bay, authorities said.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel said the rig is around 90 miles south of Vermilion Bay and that a helicopter earlier today reported that it was in fire "and that there was smoke and there were people in the water.''

In an interview with CNN, Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough said there were 13 people on the rig and that all were accounted for. Twelve of the workers are in immersion suits and one is injured, he said.

Immersion suits protect the wearer from hypothermia.

All 13 people abandoned the rig after the explosion and are accounted for, but have not yet been rescued from the Gulf, the Coast Guard said.

Colclough said the rig was not actively producing at the time of the incident, but is still on fire. The explosion was reported around 9:30 this morning.

The injured will be taken Terrebone General Medical Center in Houma.

Eight helicopters, two airplanes and four boats are en route from Coast Guard stations in New Orleans and Houston, Ranel said.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/09/02-5

On edit, the explosion took place at 9:30 AM CDT, which would make it 10:30 am in New York.

[Lugnut]

72. Drill baby, drill!

:puke:

[jayfish]

73. Just Heard On The Radio That A Sheen of Oil Has Been Spotted At The Site.

Not sounding to good.

GRAMMAR EDIT

[AlbertCat]

80. GRAMMAR EDIT EDIT

Not sounding to good.

Uh huh... Great editing!

TOO good. TOO good.

[jayfish]

85. I edited the title as it was nearly incomprehensible.

Who cares about the commentary? ...troll much?

[retread]

95. Well if he was anywhere near the rig no wonder it exploded.

[LTX]

75. I have to wonder what the arguments against a moratorium will be now. n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

81. Trust me, they figure SOMETHING out.

They will always find a way to convince us to stay on the Oil Tit.

[bherrera]

107. Loss of employment for hundreds of thousands of workers

And the gradual loss of oil and natural gas supply from the offshore waters. I doubt this incident is related to the moratorium, because it took place in shallow water.

[wordpix]

125. 10 % of whom are foreign workers b/c the oil corps "can't find" any Americans

who are qualified.

I think they could find Americans to work on the rigs if they placed an ad, maybe.

[LTX]

128. Huh?

Where are you getting the idea that Americans aren't qualified in oil and gas operations, or that there's some shortage of qualified Americans?

[wordpix]

133. foreign-owned rigs are supposed to hire American workers but can hire foreign workers IF

and only if they can't find Americans qualified for the jobs.

10% of the Gulf's rig workers are foreign. I was sarcastically implying that we DO have Americans who could fill the jobs, but foreign rig owners bring their own foreign people here, instead, to drill on our Gulf.

[LTX]

134. Oh.

[LTX]

127. You're right about jobs,

though hundreds of thousands is a bit hyperbolic, and the effect is short term since no one proposed a permanent moratorium. And this may not have been effected by the moratorium in the first place, though 340 ft. isn't shallow. But the reasons for the moratorium related to OEM establishment of stricter drilling and production regulations, and an inspection of existing offshore operations for areas of non-compliance. This recent event only amplifies that need.

[Turbineguy]

76. Was Obama

anywhere near?

[Raschel]

79. DRILL BABY DRILL!

[Joey Kidd]

90. The more it changes...

[texastoast]

91. Don't forget that we HAVE TO DRILL OFFSHORE

Just no way around it. You can ask a bunch of DU'ers.

[fascisthunter]

93. those arguing for a Moratorium... GOOD on YOU ALL!!!

Everytime you all turn out to be right, you should be given credit, to highlight how wrong your detractors have been while personally attacking you. They should have their faces rubbed in it, especially those who were less than honest while debating you all.

[TheMuse]

94. But I thought shallow water drilling was SOOO much safer?

Can we please now push for alternative energy types? Pretty please?

[liberal N proud]

96. AGAIN?

When will we learn?


NEVER!

[Hissyspit]

135. Are you kidding? MSM are all arguing how great Iraq turned out.

Stupid time in America.

[alp227]

101. Please don't tell me that a single drop of oil spilled

We had enough crap back in April. We don't need any more oil spilling in the Gulf especially in this era of polarized politics.

[maddogesq]

104. Mile-long sheen now visible in Gulf after explosion.

Oh goody.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38973757/ns/us_news-life/

If the Dem had stones, they would immediately start calling to stop gulf drilling, and blame Jr. and the oil thugs for changing the rules. Then again, do the Dems have any stones?

[Enthusiast]

105. Drill baby drill!

Sad.

[bdamomma]

106. I hate this.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38973757/ns/us_news-life

[Clear Blue Sky]

108. I thought there was a ban on offshore drilling?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

109. New offshore drilling.

This rig was idle.

[Clear Blue Sky]

112. Ok thanks.

[TacoD]

118. Also it is a ban on deep water drilling; this one is considered shallow water (nt)

[Change Happens]

117. accidents happen, I guess, right?

All the fucking time, they do, then we fuck up the country and its beached/oceans...No big deal.


God, I really hate oil and the oil industry, WTF do we keep getting ourselves into here? Will we ever move on beyond oil?

[Lightning Count]

130. As you type on a computer made mostly of?

Unfortunately, petroleum is used for everything. I hate the industry, but I find it hard to hate oil.

[CLANG]

155. I'm typing on a natural Hemputer.

[dionysus]

164. we need alternative way to make plastic. most everything plastic is made out of oil.

[DrSteveB]

119. Let's hope the Govt. does not minimize the actual damage again

We have to be told exactly how much oil is spilling, if any.

[lib2DaBone]

121. Free Market.. Self Regulating Free Trade..(as long as it benefits Goldman Sachs)

[BDavinciNY]

126. Here we go again!

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[David Zephyr]

136. K&R. Barbara Boxer spoke about this nonsense last night debating Fiorina.

When will people understand enough is enough.

[chill_wind]

137. "Under production at the time of the fire."

according to this-

"The rig is a fixed platform that was in production at the time of the fire, according to a homeland security operational update obtained by The Associated Press.

The update said the platform was producing 58,800 gallons of oil and 900,000 cubic feet of gas per day. The platform can store 4,200 gallons of oil."

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/sep/02/10/oil-rig-explodes-louisiana-coast-ar-484740/

[AllyCat]

139. I have a new jobs plan.

Hire the average person, train them, and then put thousands of them to work investigating and inspecting all the remaining rigs. Obviously, we have learned NOTHING from the last one except how to hide the evidence.

Arrrrrgghhhh!!!!!

[MikeMc]

141. Hall i burton ? Nt

[louis-t]

143. Another rig explodes off La. coast; oil spreading

Source: AP

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Another oil rig exploded and caught fire Thursday off the Louisiana coast, spreading a mile-long oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico west of the site of BP's massive spill. All 13 crew members were rescued.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100902/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_rig_explosion

---

I'm very concerned. By tomorrow, we may be hearing "it's worse than we thought." Here we might go again.

[RandomThoughts]

144. On the bright side,

If they blow enough of them, you could probably find some pattern to it

:shrug:

What was going on during last one, what is going on during this one?

[Tesha]

145. Are you suggesting that somewhere there's an engineer saying:

"Okay, I think I've figured out what's going on;
can we try it one more time?"

Tesha

[RandomThoughts]

148. I was sorta thinking....

They are after Riggs!!!!!!!! They are after Riggs!!!!!!!!!!!

Lethal Weapon 1 -- Drug Deal Bust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUlfNMTc6Xc



Krytonite song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg8gEIBs5CU


Voss... Interesting...


If you think of it from perspective of fear, you miss the point.

[Hissyspit]

146. Drill, Baby, Drill!

[jobycom]

147. This one is in less than four hundred feet of water, if they are telling the truth about it.

Probably this isn't that big a deal. Probably. I won't trust anything these days, of course. But oil rig accidents aren't that unusual. I spent much of my childhood afraid of them, since my dad worked offshore.

[wordpix]

149. well actually DHS says it was in 2500 ft., it's the corpos saying 320 ft.

go here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4526218

My post 132:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/09/another...

snip:

The Department of Homeland Security said the rig was not in the process of producing oil and gas and was in about 2,500 feet of water and owned by Mariner Energy of Houston.

KPRC has different info from the AP/Washington Post stuff above: "Houston-based Mariner Energy spokesman Patrick Cassidy said the platform is in about 320 feet of water and was producing about 1,700 barrels of oil a day." snip


http://www.click2houston.com/news/24854694/detail.html

snip:

Houston-based Mariner Energy owns the platform. Spokesman Patrick Cassidy said the fixed petroleum platform is in about 320 feet of water.

"During the last week of August 2010, production from this facility averaged approximately 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and 1,400 barrels of oil and condensate," the company wrote in a statement. snip:

:wtf: Shallow water is now defined by an oil corp. as 1/2 mile down - more LIES!

[jobycom]

154. Figures. Conflicting reports. We'll have to wait to see which source is wrong. nt

[TexasProgresive]

153. Ixtoc I that blew out in the bay of Campece was in 160 feet of water

It blew fo about 9 months.

[realisticphish]

150. only from the oil stored

the people onsite were saying (last I heard) that all the wells had been fully closed off. The stuff burning/leaking is what was in storage

[CLANG]

152. Exactly what they said about the last one!

[ejpoeta]

151. please tell me this is a bad joke in very poor taste.

[louis-t]

158. I wish.

[kentauros]

156. All crew accounted for in Gulf blast

Source: upstreamonline.com

All crew accounted for in Gulf blast

US Coast Guard said all 13 crew members have been rescued after an explosion and fire at a facility in the Gulf of Mexico in Vermilion Block 380, about 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay off Louisiana.

Anthony Guegel 02 September 2010 15:26 GMT


The fire is now being “contained” by a vessel chartered by Mariner to douse the flames and two more fire-fighting vessels are en route in case they are needed, a Coast Guard spokesman told UpstreamOnline.

He said the oil sheen in the water is about a mile long and 100 feet wide and a Coast Guard chopper is monitoring its movement.

It has not been confirmed if the sheen came from the platform.

Coast Guard received reports around 9 am this morning of an installation on fire with 12 people in the water and one missing.

All 13 people were recovered from the water and all were wearing immersion suits.

more at: http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article228330.ece

This is a "production platform" and not a drilling rig, meaning it was drilled previously and a production platform installed on a fixed rig. These usually are there to clean the product a bit before pumping it onshore for further refinement. Also, the water depth is being reported here at 340 feet. This is not a deepwater platform.

[TBF]

157. Drill, baby, drill.

:sarcasm:

[maryf]

240. No Drill, No Spill...

stole that from an anti-fracking sign, but works here too...

[breadandwine]

159. Oil leaking from blown well, according to NY Daily News -----

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/09/02/2010-09-02_offshore_oil_rig_explodes_in_gulf_of_mexico_west_of_massive_bp_blast_and_oil_spi.html


Watch Obama F*CK this up just like the last one.

Trust the oil companies. They'll brief the president RIGHT.

[tabatha]

160. How did Obama fyck it up?

[breadandwine]

161. Um, by being a corporate suck-up maybe?

......

[tabatha]

173. what ? how ? when?

nothing you have said has supplied any info - just vague babbling

[another saigon]

171. seriously?

have you been asleep for the last five months?

[tabatha]

172. seriously.

please explain.

[another saigon]

174. explain what?

:shrug:

[tabatha]

176. "have you been asleep for the last five months?

what exactly did i miss? explain

[dionysus]

165. knew it was only a matter of time before it he gets blamed...

:eyes:

[LTX]

232. I'll second that request --

Exactly how did the President "fuck up" with respect to the BP explosion?

And I'll add an additional question -- What exactly do you want the President to do in this situation to prevent another alleged "fuck up"?

[Odin2005]

166. Oh shit, not again!

[rhett o rick]

168. Mines collapse, oil rigs explode.........just part of the business. You must learn to embrace capit...

capitalism.

[dionysus]

169. do non capitalist cars run on magic dust? what's socialist plastic made out of?

[rhett o rick]

170. Is this Alan Greenspan or the ghost of Ayn Rand?

Capitalism, of course has it's place as does socialism. Unregulated capitalism will destroy itself and us with it.

[dionysus]

178. "Unregulated capitalism will destroy itself and us with it." that's a true statement,

but what does it have to do with the world's demand for fuel?

[rhett o rick]

179. The oil companies need to be regulated. Currently they are operating with

impunity. Pres Obama needs to reign in the fucking oil companies.

[dionysus]

182. in complete agreement with you on that. we need to get a serious regulation bill going.

[rhett o rick]

215. Good luck. I think the Democrats are in the pocket of big oil as much as the republicans. nm

[wordpix]

237. socialist plastic here

http://www.cereplast.com/homepage.php

Cereplast's renewable plastics are an economically and ecologically sound substitute for petroleum-based products. All Cereplast resins replace a significant percentage of petroleum-based additives with starches made out of corn, wheat, tapioca and
potatoes.

LEARN MORE


Made from renewable resources, Cereplast’s cost remains stable and competitive with traditional resins. Exhibiting strength and heat
resistance characteristics unique to bio-resins, products containing Cereplast are manufactured by major converters on
conventional equipment.

LEARN MORE

[AsahinaKimi]

177. here we go again..

:P

[mike r]

183. Mile-long sheen after Gulf oil platform explodes

Source: Associated Press

A mile-long sheen is now visible where an offshore petroleum platform exploded and burned Thursday off Louisiana, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard said no one was killed in the explosion, which was spotted by a commercial helicopter flying over the site Thursday morning at about 9 a.m. CDT. All 13 people aboard the rig were found floating in the water in survival gear called "gumby suits", sticking close together, Coast Guard spokesman Chief Petty Officer John Edwards said...

The platform was in about 340 feet of water, considered shallow water and far less than the roughly 5,000 feet where BP's well spewed oil and gas for three months after an April rig explosion. The crew were rescued from the water by an offshore service vessel, the Crystal Clear, and taken to a nearby platform, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Eisai. All were being flown to a hospital in Houma to be checked over. Ben-Eisai said one person was injured, but the platform's owner, Houston-based Mariner Energy, Inc., said there were no injuries.

Mariner earlier said that an initial flyover showed no spill. It said the platform was located on Vermilion Block 380, approximately 100 miles off the Louisiana coast. The platform is a fixed petroleum platform that was in production at the time of the fire. It was producing about 58,800 gallons of oil and 900,000 cubic feet of gas per day. The platform can store 4,200 gallons of oil. Seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes and three cutters were dispatched to the scene from New Orleans, Houston and Mobile, Ala., Ben-Iesau said...

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38973757/ns/us_news-life/

[Parche]

184. Martin or Charlie??

:shrug::hi:

[dixiegrrrrl]

191. Bishop Fulton

monroe county hospital

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

205. The worst quip ever.

:sarcasm:

[HillbillyBob]

185. I think its time to shut them all down

Do re-inspections and make sure they have corrected any failed safety measures before they can re start.

[TexanRudeBoy]

186. Seriously?

So when Ford does a recall because a problem caused some crashes does that mean all auto manufacturers need to be recalled as well?

[Lucian]

188. That's a stupid comparison.

When cars crash, they don't hurt the environment on the same scale as an oil rig does when it leaks oil into the fucking ocean!

Gah! :eyes:

[wordpix]

194. as you note, when Ford screws up, its cars are recalled

in this case, not one well has been recalled for any number of malfunctions that have already been found in our oil drilling system

[AndyA]

195. Ridiculous comparison.

When a safety defect is detected in an automobile, the vehicles affected are recalled and corrections are made.

Cars being recalled do not damage the environment when they have a defect. They do not put hundreds of thousands of people out of work.

Are you Tony Hayward or something? How could any reasonable person possibly defend the oil companies at this point? How many environmental disasters are we expected to endure before we get serious about putting a stop to them?

[TexanRudeBoy]

198. I'm not defending BP

But unilaterally stopping all drilling because of the actions of one or two actors couldn't possibly be more irresponsible.


You do know that basically not one action in the entire industry takes place without tons of licensing and inspecting done by the government. How about laying the blame at their feet as well?

I know we just need more regulation that won't be enforced right?

[AndyA]

201. Yes, we all know how effective the Minerals Management folks have been.

They may have done their jobs in between cavorting around with hookers.

Bush has left most Federal agencies under funded and over extended.

How many oil rig fires and disasters in the Gulf is enough to finally realize inspections have been sub-par for many, many years, especially after having two OIL MEN in the White House?

I guess the best thing to do is just ignore what's happening. If we ignore it, it will go away, right? :eyes:

[TexanRudeBoy]

202. Nobody said anything about ignoring

If you think the problems of regulation is as simple as "we had two oil men in the WH" then I've got some great ocean front property in Arizona for sale.........

This is the crux of the problem with regulation period. Our government/corporate bodies are nothing but revolving doors where people switch back and forth between the two....then they take a job regulating said industry.

My solution is quite simple. Hold them accountable. Every time things like this happen its the government that steps in and caps the liability of those responsible. BP should be on the hook for every dollar and cent possible. The people running things should also be held monetarily and criminally responsible (limited liability is probably one of the worst institutions ever).

If you knew your history you would know it was the federal government that stepped in during the industrial revolution and barred communities from joining in class action lawsuits against the plants and factories that polluted their air, water, ground, and bodies. Of course the reasoning was these factories are important for the "general welfare" of the whole population.

[AndyA]

204. And yet, in order for there to be accountability, there must be regulation.

And someone will have to oversee that, most likely a government entity.

Or should we trust the industry to regulate itself and enforce accountability? That has worked out well so far, hasn't it? :eyes:

[TexanRudeBoy]

206. Need more straw for your many strawmen?

The way it is now we have cozy regulators and a government who protects these companies. You wouldn't need much regulation if companies and the people who run them were actually held accountable. This was never allowed to become the way things work because the government stopped the process from the start. Then they step in and allow limited liability and once something does happen they put caps on what these companies are responsible for.

I don't know where you're getting the idea I'm defending these companies. I actually want them held accountable where you simply want more feel good legislation and wasted resources on more regulatory position.

Since when have they "regulated" themselves? The oil industry is probably the most heavily regulated industry on the Earth. As I said though, the inherent problems with "regulation" in a fascist state don't allow them to be effective.

[AndyA]

208. No, I do not want more "feel good" legislation and "wasted resources".

I want legislation that is actually enforced and verified. Just exactly who do you propose hold these companies accountable? We're back to government.

These companies, especially the oil companies, have never had it so good since Dick Cheney invited them all in to a private, super secret meeting and decided on a plan to f&ck people over on the price of gasoline. And they did it. I still think high gas prices in 2008 are as much responsible for the recession as anything.

Again, two oil men in the White House have allowed the oil companies to party like it's a Roman Holiday.

Lack of regulation, lack of oversight, and looking the other way when there are conflicts of interest are responsible for this mess.

From what we've seen this summer, I'll take exception to your statement that the oil industry is the most heavily regulated industry on Earth. But then again, that's exactly what the oil industry wants us to think.

[TexanRudeBoy]

209. You just keep repeating the same inane argument

There's no substance. Your statement is the equivalent of loony right wingers saying "Durr Obama's a socialist and a Muslim"

How can you possibly expect regulation to be enforced by this wholly corrupt government? If you honestly think Obama and the Dems are wholly complicit then this is pointless.

Money talks. Period. If THE PEOPLE were actually allowed to hold them responsible through full monetary compensation then these companies would behave a lot better. Why bother with safety when you know the government will have your back?

[AndyA]

211. Well, when you figure out how to make that happen by excluding the government,

you have at it, and more power to you.

Until then, I think I'll disengage. Your user name and post count, along with your insults and obvious desire stir it up, have raised some red flags. Enjoy your stay.

[TexanRudeBoy]

235. I already explained how

several times but apparently nobody bother to actually read on here.............

[Downwinder]

213. Does regulation need to be enforced? I thought the Corporations

said they could be voluntarily compliant and that they did not need supervision. Are you disputing the leaders of business and the Gods of the American dream?

Course my teenage daughter said that as well.

[TexanRudeBoy]

236. Is there a special

on strawmen here at DU? You guys have a never ending supply. Try actually reading my post and you'll see I said nothing of the sort. I support actually holding companies liable for their actions.

[bdamomma]

187. yes indeed,

shut them down. they are destroying the eco system.

[Luciferous]

189. Agreed- they are destroying the ecosystem, and the livelihoods of many people

in the Gulf coast region. How much more of this will our government allow before they actually do something?!

[kysrsoze]

192. That is not realistic. There are hundeds of wells operating in the Gulf right now.

What we need is immediate, thorough and continued inspection in the way the FAA conducts airliner inspections. You don't shut production of all wells down. Much as I'd like to see us move off oil as quickly as possible, it's not happening.

Whatever happened to the expectation of realistic governance over kneejerk reaction? Any clue how much supply shock would result, and the size of the obligatory blowback the Whitehouse and Democratic Party would suffer from that action? The November election is already risky. Want to make the risk of Republican takeover of both houses an even bigger possibility? Then watch "Drill, Baby Drill" get pushed forward even more recklessly.

[wordpix]

193. no there are thousands of wells & shallow wells are the "safe ones" in our Nat'l Sacrifice Area

er, Gulf Coast region.

Sorry but they all need to be inspected since BushCo's policy of non-inspections and fox-guarding-henhouse MMS did NOTHING in this regard.

[kysrsoze]

196. I said they absolutely must be immediately inspected. That doesn't mean they need to be shut down.

[TexanRudeBoy]

199. They are already

heavily inspected and licensed by our completely inept and corrupt government. How will more of the same actions solve the problems?

[Soylent Brice]

190. yay.

:sarcasm:

[damntexdem]

197. So glad that shallow-water operations are so safe.

;-)

[IndianaGreen]

200. Initial reports were that it wasn't producing oil, now it seems that it was

Have they put the fire out?

[daggahead]

203. And it looks like ...

TD Gustav is going to head into the Gulf as a hurricane early next week.

[QC]

207. I bet them bacterias done ate it all up already! n/t

[mike r]

210. UPDATE: Coast Guard Refudiates Oil Sheen

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0902/Mariner-Energy-oil-rig-fire-extinguished-no-sign-of-oil-spill-in-Gulf

Mariner Energy oil rig fire extinguished, no sign of oil spill in Gulf
An oil rig run belonging to Mariner Energy caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday. The Coast Guard has now refuted earlier reports of an oil sheen on the water.
By Warren Richey, Staff writer / September 2, 2010

A fire on an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico has been extinguished, and officials say oil does not appear to be leaking from the facility.

The US Coast Guard is at the platform roughly 80 miles south of Vermillion Bay in Louisiana, and will continue to monitor the facility for signs of a leak, a Coast Guard official said on Thursday.

The announcement was welcome news along the beleaguered Gulf coast – a region that is still working to overcome the effects of the summer-long oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon rig.

US Coast Guard Capt. Peter Troedsson told reporters in New Orleans that officials near the rig have not been able to confirm an earlier report of a mile-long sheen of oil. No oil has been spotted in the water by Coast Guard officials, he said. “The boats and aircraft on scene cannot see a sheen,” he said. “We remain ready to respond if any sheen becomes visible.”...

[Divernan]

212. Well see, they're going to Corexit that sheen tonight before

any independent scientists, oceanographers, boaters or fishermen can confirm it. The initial report came from a Mariner employee (what reason would he have to lie? none.) and then Mariner refuted it (what reason would Mariner management have to lie? $$$$$/liability/clean up costs/push for more regulations). I think you get the picture.

Cue the black helicopters and keep your kids and pets indoors.

[ibegurpard]

214. the bacteria ate it

[wordpix]

238. someone saw a sheen a mile long yesterday but now it's gone...

AMAZING! :shrug:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

241. What a relief!!!

Shew.

[Synicus Maximus]

216. How is 80 miles "near"?

[grahamhgreen]

221. Those for offshore drilling are responsible. Please change your positions

In the long run, it is not cost effective for the planet.

[yurbud]

222. in one very narrow sense, this reminds me of 9/11:

when one plane hit the World Trade Center, it could have been a freak accident. When the second hit, you knew it was something worse.

This could be the second tower for Gulf or even Peak Oil.

[eridani]

223. How come all this shit is happening around our continent?

Why isn't it happening in the North Sea? Something to do with safety regulations, perhaps?

[freedomnorth]

224. North sea peaked production in 1999. nt.

[eridani]

225. But did they have explosions before that? n/t

[drm604]

226. Yes.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform#Risks

The nature of their operation — extraction of volatile substances sometimes under extreme pressure in a hostile environment — means risk; accidents and tragedies occur regularly. The U.S. Minerals Management Service reported 69 offshore deaths, 1,349 injuries, and 858 fires and explosions on offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico from 2001 to 2010. In July 1988, 167 people died when Occidental Petroleum's Piper Alpha offshore production platform, on the Piper field in the UK sector of the North Sea, exploded after a gas leak. The resulting investigation conducted by Lord Cullen and publicized in the first Cullen Report was highly critical of a number of areas, including, but not limited to, management within the company, the design of the structure, and the Permit to Work System. The report was commissioned in 1988, and was delivered November 1990. The accident greatly accelerated the practice of providing living accommodations on separate platforms, away from those used for extraction.

However, this was in itself a hazardous environment. In March 1980, the 'flotel' (floating hotel) platform Alexander L. Kielland capsized in a storm in the North Sea with the loss of 123 lives.

In 2001, Petrobras 36 in Brazil exploded and sank five days later, killing 11 people.

Given the number of grievances and conspiracy theories that involve the oil business, and the importance of gas/oil platforms to the economy, platforms in the United States are believed to be potential terrorist targets. Agencies and military units responsible for maritime counterterrorism in the US (Coast Guard, Navy SEALs, Marine Recon) often train for platform raids.

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon platform, 52 miles off-shore of New Orleans, (property of Transocean and leased to BP) exploded, killing 11 people, and sank two days later. The resulting undersea gusher, conservatively estimated to exceed 20 million gallons as of early June, 2010, became the worst oil spill in US history, eclipsing the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

All of which simply underscores the need for strict enforcement of effective safety requirements.

[blindpig]

230. They are begging for it...

Nationalize the Energy Sector. k&r

[wordpix]

239. one good reason to do it: the multinationals sell Gulf oil on international markets so

all their BS about "energy independence" is just that. The US gets NO Gulf oil unless it's bought through international trade, thrown in with ME oil et al.

[FraDon]

231. Odd • My 1st thought: Are we under ATTACK (by "enemies foreign or domestic")?

When were Cheney's boys last on site?

Who profits? Perhaps, more insurance fraud?

Of course, it could have been an unfortunate accident.

.