AP IMPACT: Bad Cement Jobs Plague Offshore Rigs

[IScreamSundays]

Source: ABC

The tricky process of sealing an offshore oil well with cement — suspected as a major contributor to the Gulf of Mexico disaster — has failed dozens of times in the past, according to an Associated Press investigation.

Yet federal regulators give drillers a free hand in this crucial safety step — another example of lax regulation regarding events leading up to the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

Federal regulators don't regulate what type of cement is used, leaving it up to oil and gas companies. The drillers are urged to simply follow guidelines of the American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group.

Far more stringent federal and state standards and controls exist on cement work for roads, bridges and buildings.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10725598

[aquart]

1. HOW MANY OTHER WELLS ARE UNSAFE?

Or doesn't it matter now? What's another hundred billion gallons?

[truthisfreedom]

2. Who supplies this cement? Hallibuton?

I believe?

[defendandprotect]

3. How many Halliburton wells have exploded?! Another rig in Gulf 10X bigger in trouble!!

[tomm2thumbs]

4. this should be front page news - regular failures are apparently a fact of life in the oil biz

I guess you'd call this Russian Roulette, only the gun is pointing at all of us

[Downwinder]

5. Welcome to the third world. Now we see what Ecuador, the

Indians in Peru, and the tribes in the Niger delta are fighting.