Tag: Deepwater Horizon

The court found that BP assumed full responsibility for oil released from the well A U.S. judge said Tuesday that BP PLC (BP) isn't entitled to receive money from Transocean Ltd.'s (RIG) insurers for costs related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.The U.K. oil giant had sought U.S. courts to rule that it was covered under Transocean's insurance for the doomed Deepwater Horizon rig, even though its contract with the drilling company stated that BP would assume responsibility for spill costs.U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, of Louisiana's Eastern District, said "BP is not entitled to the declarations of coverage it seeks," because in the drilling contract it signed both BP and Transocean split responsibilities. The court found that Transocean agreed to bear the cost of any accidents occurring above the surface of the water from spills, leaks or fuel discharges, while BP assumed full responsibility for oil released from the well."BP is not entitled to the declarations of coverage it seeks," the judge ruled. The policies included about $750 million of coverage, the court filing said.Under federal laws, the oil company in charge of a lease--in this case, BP--assumes the cost of stopping a spill and cleaning it up, to ...

Final Notice of Sale Outlines Lease Terms That Will Promote Safe and Responsible Development of Gulf Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Tommy P. Beaudreau announced that BOEM will hold the first oil and natural gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. This announcement is consistent with steps President Obama announced in May, 2011 to expand domestic oil and gas production safely and responsibly.This sale follows BOEM's completion of a supplemental environmental impact statement analyzing the effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill on the Western Gulf of Mexico. Lease Sale 218 will be held in the Louisiana Superdome in downtown New Orleans on Dec. 14, 2011. The sale will include all available unleased areas in the Western Gulf Planning Area offshore Texas."This sale is an important step toward a secure energy future that includes safe, environmentally-sound development of our domestic energy resources that will continue to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create jobs here at home," Secretary Salazar said. "Since the Deepwater Horizon spill, we have strengthened oversight at every stage of the oil and gas development process, including deepwater ...

Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in a trial scheduled for February The companies involved in the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history are trying to prevent government investigations blaming them for the disaster from being used against them by the people and businesses who are suing them.Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in a trial scheduled for February to determine whether rig owner Transocean can limit what it pays those making claims under maritime law and to assign percentages of fault to Transocean and other companies involved.BP, Transocean and cement contractor Halliburton filed motions late Monday in federal court in New Orleans seeking to keep certain government oil spill reports out of the civil case. BP also wants a judge to bar plaintiffs' lawyers from using past criminal, civil and regulatory proceedings against the British firm in the civil case. The companies cited rules of evidence and other procedural issues.The filings deal with the two most comprehensive federal investigations of the disaster. One that was issued in September by the U.S. Coast Guard and the agency that regulates offshore drilling concluded that BP bears ultimate responsibility for the disaster. The other report by the presidential oil ...

Insights on the effects of water depth on oil and gas operations The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's (BSEE) yesterday concluded a two-day workshop that brought together experts from the oil and gas industry, and drilling and supply contractors to share information and insights on the effects of water depth on oil and gas operations. This type of information sharing was recommended by the Interior Department's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Safety Oversight Board in its September 2010 Report."It is critical that we obtain input from industry experts about the range of unique challenges presented by operating in deep water," said BSEE Director Michael R. Bromwich. "We will continue to follow-up on the insights and recommendations raised at this week's discussion so that we can better meet the special challenges of deepwater, and ensure that oil and gas in deep water is explored and developed in the most safe and environmentally responsible manner."The workshop drew approximately 140 people including oil and gas operators, drilling contractors, service and supply contractors, and BSEE personnel. Attendees focused on six areas of deepwater operations: well control with surface blowout preventers; well control with subsea blowout preventers; well drilling and completion design and barriers; pre-incident ...

To prevent accidents like Deepwater Horizon The European Commission on Friday proposed new rules to force oil-drilling companies to pay for pollution caused up to 200 nautical miles off European coastlines.Under the proposals, the "polluter pays" principle for damages by oil and gas conmpanies will be extended to 200 miles (about 370 kilometres) against the current 12 nautical miles."Today, most oil and gas in Europe is produced offshore, often in harsh geographical and geological conditions. Given our growing energy demand, we will need all the oil and gas from beneath our seas," said EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger."But we need to prevent accidents like Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico from happening," he said.The April 2010 blast killed 11 people and sent some 4.9 million barrels of oil gushing into the Gulf over a three-month period, wreaking havoc on the region's environment and economy. It took BP 85 days to stem the flow from its leased rig.Europe's worst oil disaster was the 1988 destruction in a fire of the Piper Alpha rig off Scotland in July 1988, which killed 167 men. The rig was later judged to have been ill-maintained and overcrowded.Of 1,000 platforms in the EU, 486 are ...

A Fisherman's Farewell? Mark Stewart is a third generation fisherman from the Mississippi Gulf fishing community of Pass Christian. He's a proud and tough working man of the sea,used to hauling in nets until his armsnearly fall off andfishing all night until his eyelids are crusted shut like a saltine sandwich.That's the life he knows, the life he wouldn't have any other way.And it's the life he fears he may never lead again.Ever sinceBP's mammoth Deepwater Horizon rig blew 15 months ago, Mark's life -- and the lives of thousands of fishermen across the Gulf -- has never been the same. Many say they were poisoned by oil and chemical dispersants after being thrust into cleanup jobs they were woefully unprepared for.But it's the aftermath that really worries them now. Stewart and his fishing colleagues say the 4.9 million barrels of BP oil spewed into the sea is wrecking havoc with their fishing grounds and threatening their livelihoods. Fishermen like Stewart are seeing what they describe as their worst nightmare, the collapse of teeming fisheries that were once themost productive in the world. But not now, they say. Shrimp, oysters, crab, nearly all of the bounty of the sea appear ...

BOEM confirmed BP's compliance with the bureau's standards establish after the oil tragedy The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved a supplemental Exploration Plan (EP) submitted by BP for deepwater oil and gas activities. BOEM conducted a site-specific Environmental Assessment (EA) of the activities described in the plan. This is the 44th plan that has been approved following the completion of a site-specific EA since stronger regulations were implemented in June 2010.Prior to any drilling under the plan, BP must obtain drilling permits from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), which will continue to assess the information that is necessary to allow specific activities.This is the first EP that BP has had approved since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill. Before approving this EP, BOEM confirmed BP's compliance with the bureau's rigorous, heightened standards established following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. In July 2011, BP announced additional safety enhancements and performance standards they would voluntarily implement in connection with its deepwater drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico. BOEM has verified that BP has met the relevant voluntary performance standards."BOEM is dedicated to ensuring that the development of the nation's energy resources is conducted ...

Reference to DeepWater Horizon oil spill Clay Maitland, Founding Chairman of NAMEPA and Managing Partner International Registries, is giving a presentation regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill tragedy, during the 2nd Annual Safety4Sea Forum, Session 1The 2nd Safety4Sea Forum, a PRO BONO event, successfully completed on 5th of October 2011 in Athens, covering a wide range in QHSE issues.The event has been attended by over 340 delegates at the venue representing more than 170 companies, plus more than 100 persons watching live streaming. The event organized by IBS Marine Consulting Group and sponsored by Aspida Maritime Security, Dorian Hellas, Transmar Shipping and Lloyd's Register and supported by BIMCO, Intermanager, SaveOurSeafarers campaign, Steamship Mutual, Green Award, Cardiff University, ELNAVI, NAFTIKA XRONIKA, Tanker Operator, Shipmanagement International and Marintech NewsFor more information about the Forum visithttp://www.safety4sea.com/forum/2For more information about Safety4Sea visit the official site http://www.safety4sea.com

Adarko agreed to pay $4 billion to BPas part of a settlement Anadarko Petroleum Co. has agreed to pay $4 billion to BP PLC as part of a settlement related to last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill, adding weight to BP's contention that it was not solely responsible for the disaster.BP said Monday that Anadarko's payment will form part of the British company's $20 billion trust fund, which has paid out $7 billion so far to settle claims from individuals and businesses. Eleven workers were killed when the Deepwater Horizon rig at the Macondo well exploded off Louisiana on April 20, 2010, causing the largest oil spill in U.S. history.BP has now reached settlements with both of its partners in the Macondo well.However, it is still embroiled in lawsuits and countersuits with Transocean Ltd., operator of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, and Halliburton Co., which was responsible for cementing the well. The suits are scheduled to go to trial in New Orleans in February.BP also faces the prospect of fines in the tens of billions of dollars.The market cheered the Anadarko agreements, pushing BP shares 4 percent higher at 433 pence in early afternoon trading on the London Stock ...

The violations were issued as Incidents of Non-Compliance The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement issued the initial group of violations resulting from the findings of the Joint Investigation on the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. The violations were issued as Incidents of Non-Compliance (INC); a total of 15 INCs were issued by faxed letters to BP, Transocean and Halliburton."The issuance of INCs to BP, Transocean and Haliburton is an important step in addressing the regulatory violations found during the joint investigation. To ensure the safe and environmentally responsible conduct of offshore operations, companies that violate federal regulations must be held accountable," said BSEE Director Michael R. Bromwich. "The joint investigation clearly revealed the violation of numerous federal regulations designed to protect the integrity of offshore operations; these INCs are the next step in vindicating the regulatory program designed to protect the interests of the public."The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE)/U.S. Coast Guard Joint Investigation Team released its final investigative report on the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon explosion, loss of life, and resulting oil spill on September 14, 2011. Volume II, covering the areas of the investigation under BOEMRE jurisdiction, includes findings on the ...