Bp Oil Spill Analysis

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After the BP oil spill, there were many changes to offshore drilling that were put into place for the good of everyone involved. The first step in more regulation came about on July 26, 2010, when the HOR passed a pair of bills that were aimed at promoting safer deep-water drilling and providing a better response and cleanup for oil spills. Also, the Senate Committee passed legislation to give the Coast Guard more resources to prevent future spills from happening. The first bill, the research and development bill, “…would require a greater focus on-and direct money toward- safety and environmental protection. The program currently receives $50 million per year from fees on oil and gas leases” (Weyl/Carter 1817). It told the drilling companies just how …show more content…
The inspectors do very detailed inspections of blowout preventers, devices used to immediately shut off a well that is not working properly. The most significant and impacting regulation passed was the Safety and Environmental Management System rule (SEMS). This rule required all offshore drilling companies to implement safety and environmental systems for oil and gas operations on the outer continental shelf. The SEMS rule consisted of four main provisions on offshore drilling. “…focusing on hazards analysis, management of change, operating procedures, and mechanical integrity” (Theriot 3). This gave companies the task of selecting contractors who had safe work practices and it also ensured that all the contractors were aware of the detailed operational procedures. Safety training must be an ongoing process day in and day out. Mechanical equipment must be tested and inspected daily. Finally, a checklist before new systems or equipment were used to ensure that all factors such as emergency procedures were working properly and in