WSJ: Leaking Oil Well Lacked Safeguard Device

[XanaDUer]

"U.S. regulators have considered mandating the use of remote-control acoustic switches or other back-up equipment at least since 2000. After a drilling ship accidentally released oil, the Minerals Management Service issued a safety notice that said a back-up system is "an essential component of a deepwater drilling system."

The industry argued against the acoustic systems. A 2001 report from the International Association of Drilling Contractors said "significant doubts remain in regard to the ability of this type of system to provide a reliable emergency back-up control system..."


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704423504575212031417936798.html

[Rex]

1. So instead they go with no back-up control system?

Once again greed wins.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. I saw earlier today that this remote switchoff costs $500k

I bet they are rethinking that little investment now.

Greedy bastards fought tooth and nail against a $500k dead man switch. Unbelievable.

[neverforget]

2. I think I'm going to be sick......

:puke:

[XanaDUer]

3. Yeah, I just found this out

I', even more pissed now.

[luckyleftyme2]

4. never give an industry the right to govern saftey

Who would let your neighbor guard your gold? why let the oil industry guard our fisheires?
of course you need over sight-and we need to constantly update safety equipment!
no back -up is insane!

[XanaDUer]

6. Exactly

this is another case of corporations not being good citizens unless forced to by regulations.

[sabrina 1]

7. So, the technology existed to prevent this, but greed

ruled again.

This kind of blows Obama's belief that there will be enough new technology by the time his ban on offshore drilling begins to take effect, to prevent disasters like this. Having something available to a greedy Corporation, doesn't mean they'll use it.

I thought Obama was a smart man who, unlike his predecessor could figure out things like this.

Why do people continue to leave out the human factors that have been behind every disaster like this?

[XanaDUer]

10. Pretty much.

nt.

[Octafish]

8. Bush + Cheney LUV Big Oil so they nixed the requirement and let BP save $500,000.

Nice to have friends in high places.

From the article:

The U.S. considered requiring a remote-controlled shut-off mechanism several years ago, but drilling companies questioned its cost and effectiveness, according to the agency overseeing offshore drilling. The agency, the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service, says it decided the remote device wasn't needed because rigs had other back-up plans to cut off a well.

[Marr]

9. Here's your omniscient market in action.

This is why we have regulation. The market will only fix problems that have proven cost effective to fix. Even then, they'll only fix them to the most cost-effective level.

[XanaDUer]

11. They will only fix them if required to.

nt.