ProPublica: And the first deepwater drilling permit since Death Gusher goes to….. [New]
If you haven’t guessed yet, just think which company in the whole wild world of sports shouldn’t be getting dick from this government. Sure, I knew you could….
First Deepwater Drilling Permit Since BP Spill Goes to … a Well Co-Owned by BP
Offshore drilling regulators this week approved the first deepwater drilling permit since BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster, and as many have pointed out, it’s going to a well owned and operated by Noble Energy.
But here’s a lesser-noticed fact, which Reuters reported today: BP co-owns the well—46.5 percent of it, to be exact. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the revamped offshore drilling agency, made no mention of BP’s ownership of the well in itspress release, which touted the newly approved permit as a “an important step towards safely developing deepwater energy supplies offshore.”
(BP confirmed with us its stake in the well, but referred further questions about its involvement in operating the well and its expected revenue to Noble Energy.)
Regulators had asked oil companies to prove their ability to contain oil spills occurring in deep water before granting any more permits for deepwater drilling, and two systems have been proposed—one by a company called Helix Energy Solutions and another by the Marine Well Containment Company, a group of oil companies led by Exxon. Just last month, Bromwich said that neither system was ready yet and allowing deepwater drilling would be “simply irresponsible.” He stated this week that Noble—which has acontract with Helix—”is capable of containing a subsea blowout.”
“This permit was issued for one simple reason: the operator successfully demonstrated that it can drill its deepwater well safely and that it is capable of containing a subsea blowout if it were to occur,” said agency chief Michael Bromwich. He said the agency expects more deepwater permits to be approved in the “coming weeks and months.”
Per usual, there’s some more at the link.
I’m beginning to wonder if the current regime is even remotely capable of experiencing embarrassment.
What Do You Think?
9 Responses to 'ProPublica: And the first deepwater drilling permit since Death Gusher goes to…..'
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Tim [New]
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Too bad we can’t designate a state or small country for the corporatists and wealthy tax dodgers to move to where they can do whatever they want. Except leave. They would have to live with the results of all their crappy policies. I wonder what you might call such a country?
The rest of us would then be free to live in a sensible way, debating our differences and coming up with solutions that resemble more the European and Asian social models than the rape and pillage model our Republicans and Democratic enablers (cough, cough, Obama) insist on foisting on the rest of us.
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 7:02 pm
How about Krapistan? Or maybe Somalia? Wait, that’s taken. Then again, we could just send them there, that way most of their work is already done and they can just sit around drinking Mai Tais and basking in the glory of their handiwork.
We wouldn’t want them to do any actual work, after all. What they really need is a full-contact golf course with sniper fire at the tees and landmines in the sandtraps. And they can pay for their own damn hospital care!
John [New]
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Haven’t you guys heard about the Libertarian ‘seasteading’ colonies? They’re already working on it.
Just imagine all the incredible productivity and efficiency that will be made manifest when all the Galtian overlords get to go live in a seastead by themselves.
Anybody want to take odds on how long it would take before Easter Island-style canibalism sets in?
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Perhaps we should set up a pool for that and do an online panel of futurists to give people some basis for making their guesses. The money raised could go a homeless shelter somewhere.
It would be funny to get something like this up on those big screens in the betting parlors in Vegas. The photograph alone would make it worthwhile.
Red Valhalla [New]
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Is it too cruel to propose we send the rich climate deniers (e.g. Koch brothers, again) to one of those beautiful islands in the South Pacific or the Indian Ocean that will slowly disappear with rising ocean levels?
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 7:38 pm
That’s perfect! Let’s rename them the Karmic Retribution Archipelago. Since their profligate use of carbon caused the problem, it’s only fair they get to experience the concept of “a rising tide lifts all boats” for themselves and see how that works out for them.
William Timberman [New]
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 8:46 pm
I vote for The Republic of Elbonia. The inhabitants are desperately eager to learn all about capitalism, and they have the lowest labor costs in the known universe. Even better, they always say yes when asked a question, or given an order, which will certainly please our exiled Galtistas — until they find out that yes is functionally equivalent to no in Elbonian, only nicer.
(Apologies to Scott Adams, who is one of the few real geniuses of modern times as we know them.)
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 8:59 pm
That positively sings. You can almost hear the inane, if brutishly cringing melody of their national anthem blaring through a really top notch PA system they can’t figure how to work properly because they’ve “gone Galt” and couldn’t get a proper sound person because they’re union…..
You’re referring to Douglas Adams, yes? Was Elbonia the planet populated with hair stylists, telephone sanitizers and management consultants? It’s been so long, I’ve forgotten. I guess it’s time to reread it. Buggar all.
William Timberman [New]
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 at 10:20 pm
No, Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, not Douglas Adams, creator of the Vogons.
I wanted to provide a link to a couple of the cartoons in question, but the ones I found in a quick search were iffy (too small, unless you selected an unlinkable pop-up.) Google them, though, and you can see selected ones with a few clicks. Even funnier than you think.