Our industry's longstanding commitment to safe operations was questioned by some after last year's tragic spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Today, we have more than 20 industry groups working concurrently on improving spill prevention and response. Oil companies are committing resources in the form of dollars, time and expertise to ensure that these improvements are implemented.

In March, we announced the creation of the Center for Offshore Safety. It will bring our best minds and expertise together to help operators strive for and maintain the highest levels of safety performance across the entire industry.

We have worked hard to meet the requirements for resuming operations in the Gulf. That's important because we need those energy resources, both today and in the future. Oil and natural gas... more »

It looks like a child's toy gyroscope on steroids, and it has the technology necessary to stop the flow from a well blowout on the ocean floor. It's the capping stack developed and built by a consortium of oil companies in response to the unprecedented Deepwater Horizon disaster that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico a year ago. The oil spill containment device is 30-feet tall and weighs 100 tons. In the event of an undersea blowout, it would be sent to the nearest port, transported to the well site, and lowered to either kill the well or funnel escaping oil to ships. Although it might never be needed, it is standing by and capable of capturing 60,000 barrels of oil per day from wells up to 8,000 feet below sea level. (Rigzone) Marty Massey, chief executive officer of Marine Well Containment... more »

The U.S. Justice Department filed suit against BP and eight other companies yesterday to recover billions of dollars from the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. The administration's suit asks that the companies be held responsible for all cleanup costs and damage to natural resources.

Additional defendants could be added to the suit. "This is an ongoing process," Attorney General Eric Holder said at a news conference.

Workers clear the beach of Bon Secour Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, Nov. 23, 2010

Image Source: BP

The suit acknowledges, however, that the full extent of damage isn't known. The government estimates that more than 200 million gallons of oil escaped from the well; but BP says the amount could be far less. The oil estimates are a key factor in determining penalties under the Clean Water Act... more »

The Interior Department issued two new safety rules today, setting what Secretary Salazar has called the "gold standard" for offshore oil and natural gas development. The new rules, which cover blowout preventers (BOPs), emergency response, well design and training, are part of the administration's response to the Deepwater Horizon accident.

• The Drilling Safety Rule codifies several requirements recommended in Secretary Salazar's May 27th report to President Obama. It addresses well cementing and casing practices, the use of drilling fluids, and strengthens the use of BOPs and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The rule is effective immediately.
• The Workplace Safety Rule requires offshore operators to have programs in place to identify potential hazards as well as procedures to reduce r... more »

Tomorrow, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to lay out the administration's energy strategy--including its stance on deepwater offshore drilling--in a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Observers say it's likely that Sec. Salazar will announce a new interim final rule codifying many of the new offshore requirements aimed at increasing safety and improving environmental practices.

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident in April, the administration ordered the immediate inspection of the 33 deepwater drilling rigs, all of which passed; it launched investigations into the cause of the Deepwater Horizon accident; it reorganized the former Minerals Management Service into three separate agencies to better define its roles in leasing offshore developm... more »