Deepwater Horizon
Senate Bill Re Oil Spill Economic Damages
Senator Vitter (R-LA) introduced a bill (S. 3461) to create a fair and efficient system to resolve claims of victims for economic injury caused by the Deepwater Horizon incident, and to direct the Secretary of the Interior to renegotiate the terms of the lease known as ``Mississippi Canyon 252'' with respect to claims relating to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill that exceed existing applicable economic liability limitations. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (6/7/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)
Gulf Oil Spill – Conservationists Sue for Dispersant Harm
Lawsuits filed by conservation groups against EPA, USCG, for authorizing toxic oil spill dispersants two years after the Deepwater Horizon spill Conservation groups have sued the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard for authorizing toxic oil dispersants without ensuring that these chemicals would not harm endangered species or their habitats. The groups want the EPA to immediately study the effects of dispersants on endangered and threatened species in all U.S
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over GOM Explosion
Attorneys with the Houston trial law firm Arnold & Itkin LLP filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of Aaron Dale Burkeen, one of 11 men still missing after the recent oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. A resident of Philadelphia, Miss., Burkeen worked as a crane operator on the Deepwater Horizon, a massive oil rig owned by Swiss-based Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) and operated by UK-based BP PLC (NYSE:BP) .
Safety Alert No. 2: Deepwater Horizon Explosion
April 30, Safety Alert on the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Fire Resulting in Multiple Fatalities and Release of Oil On April 20, 2010, a loss of well control occurred and resulted in an explosion and fire on the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon. Eleven lives were lost in this incident and the MODU subsequently sank. As of the date of this safety alert the well has not been secured, and the resulting release of oil has been declared a spill of national significance with oil
Deepwater Criminal Charges for Former BP Engineer
Former BP Engineer Arrested for Obstruction of Justice in Connection with the Deepwater Horizon Criminal Investigation; First Criminal Charges to Result from the Deepwater Horizon Task Force Investigation. Kurt Mix, a former engineer for BP plc, was arrested today on charges of intentionally destroying evidence requested by federal criminal authorities investigating the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon disaster, announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A
BP Resolves US Government Deepwater Horizon Claims
BP announces resolution of all criminal and securities claims against the company relating to Deepwater Horizon accident. BP has reached agreement with the United States government, subject to court approval, to resolve all federal criminal charges and all claims by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against the company stemming from the Deepwater Horizon accident, oil spill, and response. • Resolution of all criminal claims with
Transocean Employees Focus of BP Spill Investigators
According to a July 21 report from Bloomberg, Transocean Ltd. employees onboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig when it exploded in the Gulf of Mexico have become the focus of a U.S. government probe into the cause of the fatal disaster. Stephen Bertone, chief engineer on the rig, and Mike Williams, chief engineer technician, were designated as parties of interest July 20 by a joint U.S. Coast Guard-Interior Department investigative panel
Investors Ask Oil Companies for Risk Reduction Strategies
According to an August 6 report from Environment News Service, suffering deep financial losses from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and in response to a proliferation of deepwater offshore drilling for oil worldwide, investors have sent a joint letter to 27 major oil companies seeking transparency on risk reduction strategies for their offshore oil operations. Fifty-eight investors in the United States and Europe, representing trillions of dollars in assets
Damaged Blow Out Preventer Removed
National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, said Sept. 4, 2010, "The damaged Blow Out Preventer (BOP), along with the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap, have been removed from the Gulf of Mexico and are currently on board the Q4000. The BOP is considered evidentiary material, and is now under the supervision of the Deepwater Horizon Criminal Investigation Team and FBI Evidence Recovery Team."
In Rememberance of the Deepwater Horizon Tragedy
In remembrance of the 11 lives lost as a result of the April 20, 2010 explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico: The tragedy forever impacted the lives of the victims families, friends and coworkers and the entire oil and gas industry in the Gulf. May 2011 and beyond bring continued support for those personally effected and more professional collaboration toward preventing any future tragedies.
The Macondo Spill Trial
Offshore U.S. Gulf energy operators have already paid a steep price; more pain could come. Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is now close to levels seen before the April 2010 Macondo spill that took 11 lives and caused the nation’s worst offshore oil spill
Director Watson Leads Deepwater O&G Containment Exercise
As part of the Obama administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the oil and gas industry’s ability to respond in the event of a deepwater blowout and ensure that offshore oil and gas production can continue to expand safely and responsibly
Subsea Well Blowout Response Tested in GofM
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Noble Energy, Inc. and the Helix Well Containment Group (HWCG) participated in the exercise. A full-scale deployment of critical well control equipment was employed to assess Noble
Coast Guard Patrols with New RB-S II Vessel
Most people who encounter the Coast Guard near shore will get a good look at a Response Boat-Small (RB-S). With more than 400 boats in operation, the RB-S is the largest vessel class in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The boats are in constant use
Leading Industry towards Offshore Excellence
Working offshore can be dangerous business. Miles from shore with nothing but water in all directions, offshore crews perform highly complex operations with little margin for error, and the potential for severe consequences if something goes wrong.
The Continued Pressing Need for Responder Immunity Enhancements
It has been over 2.5 years since the tragic incident involving the Deepwater Horizon occurred, resulting in the deaths of 11 and injuries to 17 men working on the platform and the discharge of approximately five million barrels of oil. The cleanup response required thousands of responders working
R/V Cape Hatteras Will Embark on New Phase
Famed for Finding Oil Deposits on the Seafloor after the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon Accident, the Invaluable Seagoing Laboratory is up for Sale. Meticulously tended to by a professional crew, and certified for another decade of exploration
Deepwater Horizon: All Criminal Claims Resolved
BP announces US District Court’s acceptance of its plea relating to the Deepwater Horizon accident. BP announce that the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has accepted the company’s plea resolving all federal criminal charges against the company stemming from the
Legendary Research Ship on Sale
The R/V 'Cape Hatteras' is for sale after 31 years service to Duke-University of North Carolina Oceanographic Consortium (DUNCOC). Currently on the market with an asking price of $1.25 million, the ship's future owner will acquire a legendary craft highly respected by the international
Deepwater Horizon Disaster: Transocean Sentenced
Transocean pleads guilty, sentenced to pay $400-million in penalties for criminal conduct leading to the disaster. Transocean Deepwater Inc. has pleaded guilty to a violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) for its illegal conduct leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster
Europe Deliberates Avoidance of a Second 'Deepwater Horizon'
A provisional deal on proposed legislation for the safety of offshore oil and gas operations has been struck by MEPs and Council negotiators. Before oil and gas firms can get a licence to drill, the directive would require them to submit major hazard reports and emergency response plans and prove
Nor-Shipping 2013 Announce Speaker Lineup
Nor-Shipping 2013 opens just three months from now with a cast of speakers featuring top executives from world-leading companies covering the entire value chain of themaritime industry – from shipowners and technology and service companies to regulators and financiers.
BSEE Completes Final Rule
As part of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) commitment to promoting offshore safety at all levels, at all times, Director Jim Watson has announced another step in a series of efforts to further identify, address and manage operational safety hazards and impacts
BOEM Reviews Two Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale Proposals
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for proposed oil and gas Lease Sales 233 and 231, the third and fourth sales scheduled in the current 2012-2017 five-year program. As part of the Obama Administration’s
By the Numbers: Oil Spill Response
The Coast Guard’s Incident Specific Preparedness Review (ISPR) – January 2011 An explosion aboard the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon on April 20, 2010 set off a chain of events that led to its sinking and subsequent oil spill