Will the Horizon Disaster Convince MMS to Investigate Atlantis Quickly?
Given our work on BP’s Atlantis, last week was a somber reminder of the dangers we face if we don’t handle our search for more energy responsibly. In the midst of Earth Day 2010, we were surprised by the tragic news of another oil rig catastrophe – British Petroleum’s (BP’s) Deepwater Horizon platform, which exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. The disaster has left 26 workers injured and 11 missing. According to The New York Times, the sunken oil rig has been leaking 5,000 barrels or 210,000 gallons of oil per day into the ocean.
The real surprise here might be the lack of proper oversight at a time when our nation is stepping up efforts to find oil, thus exposing more people to potential danger. The Christian Science Monitor’s Patrik Jonsson commented quickly about the accident. Jonsson called the disaster, “a reminder of how the task of supplying the world’s oil amid dwindling reserves is becoming ever-more complex – and dangerous – despite technological advancements.” Indeed, the oil industry is proud of its advances. But, part of that danger comes from lack of proper and thorough government oversight as companies race to drill for more oil in newer locations off the outer continental shelf.
BP's Horizon oil platform explodes off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. The disaster could bring necessary attention back to the potentially dangerous Atlantis platform.
Since 2006, there has been a 43% increase in deep-water rigs. Companies practically brag about their ability to drill deeper and farther out than ever before. Even when news of the Horizon explosion first hit, some media focused on how much money BP would stand to lose per day. While the Coast Guard was in the middle of their search and rescue mission, The Wall Street Journal reminded us of the industry priority with the headline, “BP Was Close to Oil Find as Rig Sinks.” A few days and several thousand gallons of oil later, there are new questions about the actions of BP and Transocean, the company that owns the platform and leases it to BP. Relatives of some of the victims allege that BP and Transocean failed to provide a safe environment for the platform workers.
It’s almost as if the general machismo of oil companies gets more attention than the steps they may or not be taking to ensure safety. Granted, drilling for oil is dangerous business, and workers on the platforms accept that danger as part of their jobs. But, oil companies are falling far too short of following the very safety protocol they claim to help create, and taking risks they do not have to take. Which brings us back to Atlantis.
BP’s Atlantis, also in the Gulf of Mexico, is another deep-water floating platform, which we believe could be another disaster waiting to happen. Last year, a whistleblower and former BP-contracted engineer alleged that the Atlantis platform has been operating without a large percentage of engineer-approved documents for below water components, which are required for safe operation of the rig. These missing documents are needed for safe construction and safe operation of the platform.
Considering BP’s current record with oil disasters, including Thunder Horse, Texas City and the leaking of Alaska’s North Shore pipeline, should they be held accountable for the reckless endangerment of their workers and the environment? Are our standards for safety high enough?
On the heels of Earth Day activities, it would certainly be a nice gesture for the Minerals Management Service (MMS), which oversees offshore drilling of oil and gas in the United States, to swiftly and thoroughly investigate the Atlantis Project and potentially prevent another catastrophic incident from taking lives and further damaging the Gulf’s ecosystem.
Be it the MMS or the House Natural Resources Committee, our government needs to step up and ensure that BP and other companies are operating safely. If not, they should be penalized to the full extent of the law. Because one thing seems certain: the people of Louisiana and the ocean life in the Gulf are sure being penalized.
-Rich Bindell