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UK deep sea oil spill response plans questioned by MPs | UK deep sea oil spill response plans questioned by MPs |
(1 day later) | |
A committee of MPs has raised "serious doubts" about the UK's ability to combat oil spills from deep sea rigs following the BP Gulf of Mexico oil disaster last year. | A committee of MPs has raised "serious doubts" about the UK's ability to combat oil spills from deep sea rigs following the BP Gulf of Mexico oil disaster last year. |
They also warned that taxpayers could pay for a major spill in the North Sea. | They also warned that taxpayers could pay for a major spill in the North Sea. |
But they said a moratorium on deep sea drilling would undermine the UK's energy security and is unnecessary. | But they said a moratorium on deep sea drilling would undermine the UK's energy security and is unnecessary. |
Energy Minister Charles Hendry "welcomed" the report and said he would consider its recommendations in detail. | Energy Minister Charles Hendry "welcomed" the report and said he would consider its recommendations in detail. |
The report came as a US presidential commission found that decisions to cut costs and save time had contributed to last year's BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico. | The report came as a US presidential commission found that decisions to cut costs and save time had contributed to last year's BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico. |
It added that the failures were "systemic" and likely to recur without industry and government reform. | It added that the failures were "systemic" and likely to recur without industry and government reform. |
'Intimidation' | 'Intimidation' |
In the UK report, MPs singled out the "harsh conditions" off the west coast of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, where oil wells are being drilled more than 1,000 metres deep. | |
There were "serious doubts" about the ability of clean-up equipment to function in such an environment, it added. | |
Committee chairman Tim Yeo said: "The harsh and windy conditions in the North Sea would make an oil spill off the coast of Shetland very difficult to contain or clean up". | Committee chairman Tim Yeo said: "The harsh and windy conditions in the North Sea would make an oil spill off the coast of Shetland very difficult to contain or clean up". |
The report also warned that a lack of clarity surrounding liability rules in the UK "could see taxpayers pick up the tab for a major oil spill in the North Sea". | The report also warned that a lack of clarity surrounding liability rules in the UK "could see taxpayers pick up the tab for a major oil spill in the North Sea". |
And Mr Yeo questioned the response plans currently in place at oil exploration firms, saying that these must be site-specific and not generic. | |
"Companies cannot continue producing cut and paste oil spill response plans and rig operators must make it easier for staff to raise concerns without fear of intimidation," he said. | "Companies cannot continue producing cut and paste oil spill response plans and rig operators must make it easier for staff to raise concerns without fear of intimidation," he said. |
The MPs said the commercial pressures to keep on drilling were so great that workers who drew attention to safety problems "may be - or feel - intimidated by their managers". | The MPs said the commercial pressures to keep on drilling were so great that workers who drew attention to safety problems "may be - or feel - intimidated by their managers". |
They also noted contradictions in Health and Safety Executive reports about bullying and harassment on oil rigs. | They also noted contradictions in Health and Safety Executive reports about bullying and harassment on oil rigs. |
Mixed response | Mixed response |
Mr Hendry said the government welcomed the committee's "thorough and comprehensive report". | Mr Hendry said the government welcomed the committee's "thorough and comprehensive report". |
"We note in particular that the committee supports the government's view that a moratorium on UK deepwater drilling is not warranted." | "We note in particular that the committee supports the government's view that a moratorium on UK deepwater drilling is not warranted." |
Industry body Oil & Gas UK also welcomed the report's finding that a moratorium was unnecessary. | Industry body Oil & Gas UK also welcomed the report's finding that a moratorium was unnecessary. |
"We also warmly welcome the committee's utter rejection of calls for increased regulatory oversight from the European Commission," added the group's chief executive Malcolm Webb. | "We also warmly welcome the committee's utter rejection of calls for increased regulatory oversight from the European Commission," added the group's chief executive Malcolm Webb. |
He told the BBC that the industry had made "gigantic strides" in being prepared for an accident - and that the UK now had the equipment to cap a well. | |
And addressing the concerns of the report about firms' ability to deal with problems off the Scottish coast, he added: "The industry is working to develop a capping device which can be deployed in the rough waters west of Shetland." | And addressing the concerns of the report about firms' ability to deal with problems off the Scottish coast, he added: "The industry is working to develop a capping device which can be deployed in the rough waters west of Shetland." |
Mr Webb also questioned the concerns of MPs over whether oil firms would be able to afford the clean up operations in the event of a spill - saying that it was clear companies were liable to cover costs, meaning that taxpayers or the government would not lose out. | |
"The regulator has all the powers to ensure that the oil companies are carrying all the requisite insurance," he added. | "The regulator has all the powers to ensure that the oil companies are carrying all the requisite insurance," he added. |
However, the report was not universally praised. | However, the report was not universally praised. |
Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "This report lists all the reasons why a ban on deep sea drilling makes sense and then ignores its own findings". | Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "This report lists all the reasons why a ban on deep sea drilling makes sense and then ignores its own findings". |
"The oil companies have no idea how they would deal with a major spill off the coast of the UK but apparently we're supposed to trust them until they come up with an adequate plan." | "The oil companies have no idea how they would deal with a major spill off the coast of the UK but apparently we're supposed to trust them until they come up with an adequate plan." |
The MPs' report is a response to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in April last year - that blast killed 11 workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil over several months. | The MPs' report is a response to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in April last year - that blast killed 11 workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil over several months. |
The oil leak became one of the worst oil spills in history. | The oil leak became one of the worst oil spills in history. |