DEEPWATER HORIZON: IS OFFSHORE DRILLING SAFE?
While We're on the Subject w/ Anthony Mixer
4/22/19
On the evening of April 20, 2010, an explosion engulfed an offshore drilling rig known as the Deepwater Horizon. The fire that raged on throughout the next two days caused the rig to sink in the Gulf of Mexico. Pipes that extended deep into the gulf that made way for oil underneath the water to come to the surface ruptured, causing the largest accidental marine oil spill in the world. It’s also listed as the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.
How did this happen? Seven reports on the disaster named six causes for the explosion and resulting fire.
A small diameter hole obstructed dirt circulation.
Valves that prevented cement backflow did not close.
The cementing was inadequate.
Pressure tests were wrongly interpreted.
Rising oil and gas weren’t monitored.
Fail-safe on seabed wellhead was unable to close.
British Petroleum (BP), which owned and operated the Deepwater Horizon, was found to have ignored the advice of safety critical software. This was in an attempt to save time, according to a BP presentation slide obtained by federal investigators.
But how does this affect the offshore drilling debate seen across both sides of the political isle? Let’s take a look at some history of the offshore drilling policies. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed an executive order banning all offshore drilling in U.S. waters, while at the same time called for offshore drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This order came a year after a large oil spill took place in Alaska, which was caused by the running aground of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez. Later in 2008, President George W. Bush lifted the executive order. The topic soon became part of the energy independence issue during the 2008 Presidential election.
During March of 2010, the Obama administration planned to open new areas of U.S. waters for drilling. But only a few weeks later, the Deepwater Horizon incident occurred. The total estimate of oil that plagued the Gulf of Mexico was around 4.9 million barrels. A few months after the disaster, the well where oil was leaking was declared sealed. However, 2012 reporting believes that the well was still ruptured. In November of 2010, Obama rescinded the decision to open new areas for drilling. Drilling has continued however in areas off of the Texas and Louisiana coasts.
What are the positives and negatives for offshore drilling? Energy independence is a major factor at play. President Trump has been all for independence from other nations when it comes to energy production, rather than having dependency on imported oil. In a geopolitical sense, the U.S. would be less vulnerable to hostile oil-producing countries sanctions. Trade deficits would be lowered as well since oil imports would be substantially reduced, and another reduction that would take place would be the price of fuel.
The negative sides poses the arguments of military training, endangered species, and international relations, especially those posed by Cuba and Russia. However, the biggest negative issue would be that of the main subject to the article, and that is oil spills.
So while we’re on the subject of the Deepwater Horizon, let’s remember some critical figures. Should we stop being energy independent because of an event that doesn’t occur all that often? Or should we continue to take the risks and provide America with the best energy from our resources? Human responsibility for maintaining a safe procedure during the mining of American resources is widely the case that should be made to keep a strong economy going for years to come.
Anthony Mixer is the Chief Editor and a weekly columnist for As a Matter of Fact.
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