Michael Bromwich the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement in an article by staff writer David Hammer of the Times Picayune fired back at the oil industry for bitching about not being granted any new permits to drill in the Gulf of Mexico. Bromwich said, the most critical missing piece in the process of approving applications for permits to drill in deepwater is the demonstration of well control and subsea containment capability. Therefore, I ask that you provide a detailed update as to when your proposed containment systems will be operational. This was in letters to Helix Energy Solutions Group and to the four industry giants, Exxon-Mobil, Shell Oil, Chevron and Conoco-Phillips.
This is the same oil industry who promised in August 2010 they would have an interim containment system ready in six months and a fully operational system in operation in 18 months. The six months has already passed and the oil industry has reneged on its promise. This writer has pointed out in past commentary in politidose that this is the real issue of the oil industry's failure concerning the BP oil blow out and spill. That after over 50 years plus of drilling in the Gulf the industry had no plan or equipment ready to cap a blow out timely or the equipment necessary to remove spilled oil from the waters in the Gulf before that oil hit shore. They told the people they did but lied thru their teeth. That is the real sad story of the BP accident.
The industry's latest failure to meet their own dead line for testing their interim containment system is part of their failed past and falsehoods. They can not be trusted. Lets hope BOEMRE holds the industry and its CEO's accountable. When one takes into account that the industry is given billions of dollars in tax subsidy by our government leaders it is easy to see why big oil is so selfish and think they can do what ever they want to do. To top it off, our elected officials and some at the Times Picayune support the obscene actions by the industry.
The four oil companies mentioned above who are paying to develop the containment system are all wealthy companies who lobby our elected officials to keep the spigot open for corporate welfare and tax breaks. They have no shame. That says it all.
