Member Article

Oil disaster possible in the North Sea

A RECENTLY released investigation by oil-industry watchdog PLATFORM warns that a repeat of the Deepwater Horizon disaster is possible in British waters, unless current policies are changed.

The White House’s oil commission investigation into the Deepwater Horizon spill today warns that a repeat of the disaster is likely because of industry complacency, without a major shift in corporate practice.

PLATFORM’s new report warns that the oil industry has demanded a rapid return to drilling-as-usual, with plans to drill deeper in hazardous, ecologically-sensitive regions off the British coast.

Meanwhile, abandoned wells and ageing infrastructure are making the North Sea “one of the most contaminated maritime areas of the world.”

James Marriott of PLATFORM, said: “We now know just how fatally flawed BP’s standard risk assessment was for Macondo, and thereby for all its other major capital projects.

“We need to be assured that future drilling by any oil company does not pose serious threats to workers’ lives, communities’ livelihoods and the environment.”

Meanwhile, The “Off the Deep End” report exposes significant capacity shortfalls in British government inspection agencies and highlights key areas where failing regulatory oversight could allow future disasters in Scottish and English waters.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .