Deepwater Drilling Rigs Blossoming

By early 2012, more deepwater drilling rigs will be operational in the Gulf of Mexico than there were in the days of the Deepwater Horizon incident, according to Jonathan Fahey of the Associated Press (AP). Currently, operations in the Gulf of Mexico produce enough oil to account for 27% of the US's total output and to meet 8% of the country's demand, research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie told news agency AP. According to the Denver Post, oil executives describe the Gulf of Mexico as the best place to drill in the world. 

BSEE, USA, has issued permits for 97 new shallow-water wells since 8^th June 2010. Since the ban on deepwater drilling was lifted on 12^th October 2010, 226 permits have been approved for 61 unique wells for permits requiring subsea containment. Deepwater drilling permits without requirements for undersea containment have been issued 56 times. These activities include water injection wells and procedures using surface blowout preventers.

 

In related news, AFP, citing the Wall Street Journal, reported that US prosecutors were preparing the first criminal charges in the Deepwater Horizon accident. Sources reportedly told the Journal that prosecutors "are focusing on US-based BP engineers and at least one supervisor who they say may have provided false information to regulators on the risks of deep water drilling in the Gulf."