Instead of learning the lessons of Shell’s disastrous Arctic drilling campaign, the UK government is refusing to support a moratorium on Arctic drilling.
Safety
“Blundering” Shell Has to be Banned from Arctic
The latest disaster is just one more in a long list for Shell in its Arctic debacle. It gives further fuel to the fire for those who argue that oil drilling in the region should be banned.
The Math Means No KXL
Over 3,000 people marched around the White House yesterday with a simple message for President Obama: Say no once and for all to the KXL.
Tories “Dismantle” EU Offshore Safety Rules
A group of British MEPs, led by Conservative Vicky Ford, have been secretly trying to “dismantle” the EU’s offshore oil and gas safety regulation
Locals Vent Anger After Chevron Refinery Fire
The fire that engulfed Chevron’s refinery late on Monday night in Richmond, California may now be extinguished, but worrying questions remain about the company’s ongoing safety record at the refinery. The fire caused a huge toxic black cloud to sweep over the city and other parts of the San Francisco Bay area. In the direct … Read More
Gas Leak was “Impossible” Workers Told
First the good news. Over the weekend the French oil giant Total confirmed that the flare that had been burning on its abandoned Elgin rig in the North Sea had “extinguished itself.” The flare was causing real concern in case it ignited the escaping gas. With the flare out, Total has said it could begin … Read More
“No Idea How to Fix” North Sea Gas Leak
If you read any literature from the oil and gas industry it always argues that it is one of the best regulated industries in terms of safety and preparedness. This is an industry that understands the dangerous risks of drilling, prepares for it and mitigates to make sure accidents do not happen. If an accident … Read More
Gov Report into Deepwater “Spreads Blame”
After numerous delays, and even the departure of a lead investigator, later today the US government is expected to release the report into last year’s Deepwater Horizon disaster that has been undertaken by the Coast Guard and the Agency responsible for regulating offshore drilling. According to the Wall Street Journal, the federal investigation into the … Read More
Now its Yellowstone To Keystone
You would have thought that Rupert Murdoch had enough on his plate right now without one of his paper’s backing the highly controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline in an editorial yesterday. Despite the deep controversy surrounding the specific project and the safety of pipelines in general, which have been reigntied by Exxon’s Yellowstone spill, … Read More
Fracking “Causing Earthquakes”
For an industry that prides itself on precision engineering and drilling, fracking is a brutal technique with unforeseen consequences. The oil industry is trying to argue that fracking which exploits shale gas is a “game changer” that will guarantee energy security for years to come. But the industry already faces growing public opposition due to … Read More