Yesterday a federal judge in New Orleans refused to stay his order lifting a 6 month drilling ban on deepwater drilling that he issued on Tuesday. Martin C. Feldman, a Reagan appointee and long term resident of New Orleans, Feldman said the moratorium caused "irreparable
harm" to the businesses in the gulf that depend on drilling activity
and that the President had not given sufficient basis for the pause in drilling. The decision was met with cheers from the industry and the politicians it had purchased.
In his 22-page order Feldman gave passing reference, in a footnote, to the deaths of the 11 on the Deepwater Horizon and the vast destruction of wildlife and eco-systems caused by the spill. He also trivialized the the loss of generations-long fishing and seafood businesses caused by this disaster. In his order, he was concerned about the government's generalizing the massive failure of the Horizon's safety systems to all deepwater rigs, asserting that the ban should be rig-specific, ignoring the fact that all deepwater rigs use virtually identical technology that just failed so catastrophically. The Interior Department has pledged to rewrite the moratorium order to answer Fedlman's assertions, also appealing the stay that he issued.
I am acutely aware of the economic concerns of businesses and people who work in the deepwater. But I am just as concerned about the 11 deaths, the vast destruction to the economies of 4 Gulf states, deaths of untold wildlife, and the massive losses of those who depend on the Gulf for their livelihoods. The lives are irreplaceable. How much are the costs? $40 billion? $50 billion? Maybe even $100 billion? We can't ignore those losses while focusing solely on a short term loss of a specific business segment.
When I was with NBC at the Deepwater Horizon site earlier this week, we met with a Coast Guard boat captain who had boarded us to guide us for an up-close look at the well control operations. When we met with him for a briefing, he learned from Kerry Sanders that I was "oil field". After our meeting, he pulled me aside and asked me to tell everyone that the workers out there are very aware and respectful that they are working over a gravesite, and that they feel alone out there, 50 miles offshore. They watch coverage about the oiled shoreline, dead wildlife, the ruined seafood businesses, and Tony Hayward's latest gaffe, while worrying about their own families and homes who are just as threatened. He said that these people, good people, are doing everything they can to stop this monster, and for us to remember them. I, for one, DO remember them every day, and will fight for their safety so this never happens again.
I understand the painful economic realities of a pause in deepwater drilling, but I am personally unwilling to support the risk of human lives and the environment for money. BP should pay for this pause while the industry, with government oversight, cleans up their mess and rethinks just how we do all this.
More on The Daily Hurricane Energy page.
In his 22-page order Feldman gave passing reference, in a footnote, to the deaths of the 11 on the Deepwater Horizon and the vast destruction of wildlife and eco-systems caused by the spill. He also trivialized the the loss of generations-long fishing and seafood businesses caused by this disaster. In his order, he was concerned about the government's generalizing the massive failure of the Horizon's safety systems to all deepwater rigs, asserting that the ban should be rig-specific, ignoring the fact that all deepwater rigs use virtually identical technology that just failed so catastrophically. The Interior Department has pledged to rewrite the moratorium order to answer Fedlman's assertions, also appealing the stay that he issued.
I am acutely aware of the economic concerns of businesses and people who work in the deepwater. But I am just as concerned about the 11 deaths, the vast destruction to the economies of 4 Gulf states, deaths of untold wildlife, and the massive losses of those who depend on the Gulf for their livelihoods. The lives are irreplaceable. How much are the costs? $40 billion? $50 billion? Maybe even $100 billion? We can't ignore those losses while focusing solely on a short term loss of a specific business segment.
When I was with NBC at the Deepwater Horizon site earlier this week, we met with a Coast Guard boat captain who had boarded us to guide us for an up-close look at the well control operations. When we met with him for a briefing, he learned from Kerry Sanders that I was "oil field". After our meeting, he pulled me aside and asked me to tell everyone that the workers out there are very aware and respectful that they are working over a gravesite, and that they feel alone out there, 50 miles offshore. They watch coverage about the oiled shoreline, dead wildlife, the ruined seafood businesses, and Tony Hayward's latest gaffe, while worrying about their own families and homes who are just as threatened. He said that these people, good people, are doing everything they can to stop this monster, and for us to remember them. I, for one, DO remember them every day, and will fight for their safety so this never happens again.
I understand the painful economic realities of a pause in deepwater drilling, but I am personally unwilling to support the risk of human lives and the environment for money. BP should pay for this pause while the industry, with government oversight, cleans up their mess and rethinks just how we do all this.
More on The Daily Hurricane Energy page.
offshore:
No, the boat was an OSV hired by NBC, outside of the operational area. We were required to wear flotation when outside the primary deck area (which we did while providing underwater camera images), and complied with all directives from the Coast Guard and the Captain. We were assigned muster areas in case of abandon ship emergencies, were briefed on fire drills and safety procedures. It was a tight ship, signed off on by the USCG.
Joe,
That's an odd response, since President Obama is the first President in 40 years, including 5 Republicans, to open new offshore areas for exploration. He was rewarded, less than 2 months later, with the largest environmental catastrophe in US history, courtesy of BP. The Business Roundtable? Try again.
Yes, I agree the government is broken after decades of Republican leadership that valued winning and power over governing.
Independent? I doubt it. You are parroting too many talking points.
I thought from the start that a total moratorium was overreaching. As we hear more of what really happened, it's obvious to me that all of the blame lies with BP and their poor choices while drilling a rank wildcat into unknown territory.
I go with the recommendation some have made to allow development and appraisal drilling where the geology is better understood and the risks are lower. I would also allow drilling from fixed platforms in deep water that run casing to the surface, the Mars, Bullwinkles, etc.
At the same time, develop regulations requiring best practices for wildcats, like no single strings to formation, lockdown sleeves, etc. Also, don't let expedience allow removal of the second set of shear rams to facilitate testing. Industry will have to be involved in developing those regulations.
Through all of this I remember what an old driller told me. Wildcat wells cost what they cost. Never take shortcuts when you go into the unknown, because you will kill someone.
There also needs to be consequences for the BP staff involved in the well. If possible, they should be banned from working on wells in US waters, as they've proven themselves unable to make decent decisions.
With all due respect, Jefe (and I honestly do respect you and your views), I think Judge Feldman was right in ruling that the moratorium was too broad. Some people are calling this a freak accident. I am not one of those people. I tend to believe that there were policies that were not adhered to and warning signs that were ignored. I know that's speculation because the investigation is ongoing, but I would bet it is true. In other words, it was behavior that led to this tragedy. I can't speak for everyone in deepwater but, as of April 20th 2010, my behavior has been permanently modified and I think that’s probably true of many of the people out here. Those tragic deaths will be at the forefront of my mind before I start any job, no matter how routine. Those tragic deaths will be at the forefront of my mind when I make a decision whether or not to stop other people from performing work that I think may be unsafe. My point is that we shouldn’t totally discount the lessons that have already been learned.
On another note: When I started in the industry, before I worked on semi-submersible facilities, I worked on anchor handling vessels, towing vessels (rig movers), and offshore supply vessels. I worked on several vessels that were contracted to BP. If memory serves me, BP (and all major oil companies) requires anyone working on the deck of a boat that is contracted to them to wear a certain amount of personal protective equipment (PPE), usually a hard hat, steel toed footwear, safety glasses, and maybe even a personal flotation device. I couldn’t help but notice that you were wearing little, if any, PPE in your photos from offshore. Was the boat you were aboard on hire for BP? Was the boat operator ignoring safety policies for the media?
Joe:
You're sounding a little too partisan while decrying someone else's supposed partisanship, there, bro. If the President and Secretary of Interior were "pandering" to the progressive wing of their party, they would just shut down offshore drilling permanently, not a moratorium for safety. "Politics hijacking science"...did you say the same thing when the Bush White House was censoring NASA scientists' scientific findings? I doubt it.
It's too bad that so many extremists put money and politics in front of human life and the environment.
Jefe
Bob, I watched your interview last night with Rachael Maddow. I especially appreciated your mentioning the 11 deaths that are part and parcel of this huge tragedy. The callousness and the mendacity of the Big Oil NO oil stock invested federal judge is beyond human understanding. To think there is a large swath of Americans who support and cheer on such avarice makes me despair for our country.