February 4, 2011 by offshoreenergy
The future pace of drilling approvals in the Gulf of Mexico might be slowed less by new laws or regulations stemming from last year’s massive spill but by a decades-old law that opens the door to longer environmental reviews and litigation. New York Times
We know the NEPA process is slow and repetitive, but how much value is added? NEPA reviews don’t improve well integrity, BOP performance, or safety management programs; nor do they even address these fundamental safety and pollution prevention considerations, at least not in a substantive way. Why not publish a single, comprehensive online environmental review for drilling and production operations in the region? The review would cover all possible impacts for every type of operation. This detailed “living document” would be continuously updated as new environmental information is acquired, technology advances, and regulations and standards are updated. The public could comment on specific operations as they are proposed, and could otherwise comment on the document at any time. Periodic public meetings could be held as necessary and desirable.
Posted in accidents, Regulation | Tagged accidents, blowouts, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, NEPA, offshore oil, oil spill, Regulation, well control | Leave a Comment »
February 4, 2011 by offshoreenergy
From NPR:
Russian scientists are on the verge of punching a hole into a vast Antarctic lake that’s buried under more than two miles of ice. If the Russians break through, they may tap into and disturb a primitive and pristine ecosystem has been untouched for millions of years.
One major concern is the Russians have filled the hole they’re drilling with more than 14,000 gallons of kerosene and Freon to prevent it from freezing shut. The Russians have engineered their system so that when they break through into the lake, water pressure from below is supposed to push the drilling fluids up the hole, rather than letting them pour into the lake and contaminate it.
Posted in drilling, Uncategorized | Tagged Anarctica, Lake Vostok, Russia, scientific drilling | Leave a Comment »
February 4, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Valhall Field with new PH facility (from psa.no)
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has consented to BP Norge’s use of the new Valhall PH platform as a living quarters facility.
BP will use the living quarters module on Valhall PH until the entire facility is ready for start-up/use. This will provide greater bed capacity and flexibility during the preparations for start-up.
Posted in Norway | Tagged offshore oil, PSA | Leave a Comment »
February 3, 2011 by offshoreenergy
EPA’s response plan rule for dairy farms is great fun for the Wall Street Journal and bloggers.
The EPA rule requires farms—as well as places that make cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream and the like—to prepare and implement an emergency management plan in the event of a milk catastrophe. Among dozens of requirements, farmers must train first responders in cleanup protocol and build “containment facilities” such as dikes or berms to mitigate offshore dairy slicks.
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
February 2, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Link to letter
The Louisiana coastal parishes are united in working with each other and with you to see the drilling process expedited as quickly as possible. It is imperative to our collective economies that we move forward with the process of providing the energy that moves our nation.
Posted in accidents, well control incidents | Tagged blowouts, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, macondo, offshore oil, oil spill, safety | Leave a Comment »
February 2, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Neither the rhetoric (produce more, consume less) nor our actions (produce less, consume more) ever change. When will we see the light? When will we break the cycle?
Posted in energy | Tagged energy policy, Groundhog Day | 2 Comments »
February 1, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Reposted from Platt’s Oilgram News (31 January 2011):
Brazil’s Petrobras said January 28 it was forced to shut output at its Cherne II production platform after a January 19 fire on the structure, one of the oldest working in the offshore Campos Basin. The fire in an oil transfer pump unit was brought under control without injuries to crew members, damage to the environment or major structural damage to the platform, Petrobras said in a statement. The platform was producing about 9,300 b/d of crude oil when output was shut, Petrobras said, adding the field should be ready to restart production on February 1. Brazilian oil regulators, the country’s navy and environmental officials, and Petrobras technicians are investigating the cause of the fire, Petrobras said. The platform is one of two in the Chernefield, which recorded output of about 22,000 b/d of crude in November. Brazil’s petroleum regulator had an on-site inspection of the platform scheduled for June.—Jeb Blount
Posted in accidents | Tagged accidents, Brazil, fire, offshore oil, Petrobras, safety | Leave a Comment »
February 1, 2011 by offshoreenergy
After reading our previous Cuba post, Paul Post reminded BOE that Cuba has been drilling directional wells from shore to offshore targets for many years. He sent along some images from a 2005 report on Sherritt International Corporation’s operations in Cuba. Two of those images are pasted above and below.
Posted in cuba | Tagged Deepwater Horizon, drilling, offshore oil | Leave a Comment »
January 31, 2011 by offshoreenergy
A little bit of information on the BOP “forensic” testing from the Louisiana Record:
Justice Department attorney Michael Underhill said that a forensic report on the failed blowout preventor (BOP) which led to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent Gulf of Mexico oil spill should be finished in March. Underhill spoke at a status conference for the BP multidistrict litigation in Judge Carl Barbier’s chambers at U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Barbier expressed concern over reports that the testing for the BOP and the cement used in drilling the Deepwater Horizon was falling behind. Underhill stated that the testing on the BOP should be done by the first week of March, but that’s “not a promise.” Underhill stated that the BOP investigation has already cost millions of dollars and has involved laser scanning all the equipment removed from the device. He also said that the forensic report on the BOP should be done by the end of March.
Posted in accidents, well control incidents | Tagged accidents, blowouts, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, offshore oil, oil spill, relief well, safety, well control | Leave a Comment »
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