Deepwater Horizon accident (continued)

Offshore oil rig accident lawyers in Texas and other states will see interesting developments over the next few years.  The giant oil slick presents serious risks to the energy sector. Federal offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico produces about one-third of the United States’ total crude production. Floating oil in nearby waters poses a serious threat of fire and is also a threat to workers’ health. As such, other rigs may have to shut down if the oil spreads to their location.

Shipping may also face serious challenges. Although oil does not usually damage these ocean-going vessels, it can cling to their hulls. They will have to be cleaned before they enter U.S. ports or waterways so they do not contaminate the inland waters. The incoming oily ships would have to transfer their cargo or be thoroughly cleaned.

The political consequences are not yet known. However, drilling offshore of California and other places will have even stronger opposition. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has just scrapped his plan to expand offshore drilling off the coast of California to bring in more revenue to the cash-strapped state.

Questions and issues about deepwater drilling technology will continue. Figuring out the answers is costly and often beyond the information available to oil rig accident lawyers. The rig itself was valued at about $560 million. It was one of the most advanced in the world. In 2009, it even broke the record for drilling the world’s deepest well at 35,000 feet beneath the Gulf. It is so advanced that there are only approximately 70 comparable rigs in the world today. Many questions and issues will arise about whether these deepwater drilling rigs are reliable, safe and technically sound. There will certainly be many more expansive and intensified inspections, as well as new maintenance reviews. These will all raise the costs of drilling these deepwater rigs.

We will not know the full extent of the economic, political and environmental damage for a long time. We can only hope BP can stop the flow of oil as soon as humanly possible.

Contact Texas oil rig accident attorney Scott Nelson if you need help with an offshore matter.  Mr. Nelson serves Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Brownsville and all of Texas.