Is The BP oil Spill In The Gulf OF Mexico Going To Change How Oil Companies Drill for Oil?
Also known as the Deep water Horizon Oil spill, the BP Oil Spill of the Gulf of Mexico which started on April 20, 2010 was as a result of an oil blowout. A catastrophic explosion claimed the lives of 11 platform workers and injured 17 others. The oil spill which is estimated at 12,000 to 100,000 barrels spill per day is certainly going to affect the way in which oil companies drill oil.
The demand for a ban on future offshore drilling has now risen in the United States to a loud shout. This came after the BP executive admittance to the members of the Congress that the gusher on the floor of Mexico could reach 40,000 barrels per day if the flow is not capped soon. The demand has been gathering worldwide support since the control of underwater gushing of oil is proving to be extremely difficult.
In the future, the companies planning to drill oil offshore will be required to have well checked drilling equipment and at least a well set plan and equipment to curb an oil spill in case the worst happens. At the very least, these companies will be charged highly to discourage offshore oil drilling and those drilling onshore will be charged less. Moreover, the safety training programs to the rig workers should be intensified.
However, whether the ban on offshore oil drilling stands or not, people are not going to stop arguing about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill any time soon. It is also not likely that oil companies will change much in terms of how the drill for oil. They will argue that the costs are too prohibitive, I just hope that the American public realise the affect that this will have on their local diesel prices.
Also the millions of oil to be found in offshore drill and its benefits far outweight any potential problems of oil spills. At least that’s what they will argue. Their solution will only be to improve prevention.
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