Offshore platforms play a critical role in meeting global oil demands. Most of these platforms are located in the Gulf of Mexico, followed by the Persian Gulf. There are different types of platforms for varying purposes, including jack-up rigs , fixed platforms, semi-submersibles, and more. Some are meant for shallow waters closer to shore while others can operate in extremely deep waters in the ...
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COVID-19 has impacted every American’s life in some way. In March of 2020, when stay-at-home orders were issued, schools were closed, and non-essential businesses were forced to cease in-person operations, every person felt the impact in a different way. The same was true for offshore workers. Certain oil and gas workers involved in drilling and production operations were considered “essential ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
In 2018, the Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), led by Director Scott Angelle, changed well-drilling safety rules that had just been changed two years earlier during the previous presidential administration. Rule-changing processes involve a great deal of memos and responses, all of which create a written record of how new rules are formed. The purpose of keeping a written record ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon erupted into flames after repeated neglect caused the offshore oil rig to explode. The disaster claimed the lives of 11 workers and injured 17 more. The well beneath the rig leaked for months and polluted the Gulf of Mexico with over 4.9 million barrels of oil. It was the worst oil spill in history—at least it was at the time. The Taylor oil spill, which started 6 ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
The Corporate Giants that Control the World’s Oil Production Energy is one of the largest business sectors in the world. In the United States, oil companies such as John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company became notorious for their power and influence over the American economy. Today, Rockefeller’s name is synonymous with might and wealth in the business world. Today, energy is a globalized ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
In August, the Bureau of Transportation Safety released its annual Blowout Prevention System Safety (BPSS) report . The report is a component of the SafeOCS program, a joint effort by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. SafeOCS enables workers to report information on the offshore industry. As a result, the program gathers, aggregates, ...
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As the offshore industry continues to struggle, Ensco has found itself in a difficult spot. In response to continued losses, the company has decided to take action by scrapping 12 drilling rigs, including one drillship. The company opted to scrap the rigs in order to eliminate their overall costs and reduce the global rig supply. These drastic measures have been taken after the 2015 year resulted ...
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In a move that illustrates the weakening demand for deepwater drilling, BP has chosen to exit two ultra-deepwater floater contracts early in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The rigs in question were the following: ENSCO DS-4: 12,000 ft. DP Drillship (2010) West Sirius: 10,000 ft. Semisubmersible (2008) Both rigs had been working in the GOM and had proven to be extremely capable, meaning that the early ...
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The oil and gas industry is constantly growing in the U.S., and one of the biggest hubs of activity and growth is the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 23% of America's crude oil production, along with 7% of natural gas. New wells are constantly being researched, providing an opportunity for those ...
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