by Randy Shannon
In a cynical political maneuver to outflank the Republican oil driller lobby, President Obama has approved offshore drilling for most of the south Atlantic coast. The oil industry claims that drilling is environmentally safe and will help wean the U.S. from foreign oil. Both claims are false. The recoverable reserves from the Atlantic coast would provide only a few days of US oil consumption.
The safety of offshore drilling is a matter of chance regardless of the cautions observed by the workers. The website below documents drilling disasters that have spilled millions of gallons of oil offshore. The offshore Atlantic current flows north, so any accident endangers the entire north Atlantic coast.
http://www.oilrigdisasters.co.uk/
The following page displays the list of rig incidents and details.
Rig Incident List
| Key: | |
|---|---|
| DS | Drillship |
| JU | Jack-up |
| LR | Land rig |
| P | Platform |
| SS | Semi-submersible |
| S | Ship |
| Rig Name / Well name | Date | Location | Fatalities | Type | Incident | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 Yrs of Azerbaijan | 1983-09-09 | Caspian Sea | 5 | JU | Sinking | Seabed failure, volcanic action |
| Actinia | 1993-02-00 | Vietnam | – | SS | Blowout | Major release |
| Adriatic IV | 2004-08-10 | Med Sea, Egypt | 0 | JU | Blowout | Fire destroyed rig and platform |
| Adriatic VII | 2005-09-28 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Major damage |
| Al Baz | 1989-04-28 | Nigeria | 5 | JU | Blowout | Burned & sank |
| Alexander L. Kielland | 1980-03-27 | Norwegian CS | 123 | SS | Collapse | Fatigue fracture caused capsize |
| Ali Baba | 1984-00-00 | UK CS | – | SS | Grounding | Broke moorings |
| Al Mariyah | 2000-04-15 | Persian Gulf | 4 | JU | Collapse | Jack failure while skidding derrick |
| AMDP-1 | 1975-09-00 | Persian Gulf | – | JU | Sinking | Sank in tow. ArabAmOilCo |
| Arabdrill 19 | 2002-09-30 | Saudi Arabia | 0 | JU | Blowout | Fire destroyed rig and platform |
| Atlantic No. 3 | 1948-03-08 | Alberta, Canada | 0 | LR | Blowout | Major release, fire |
| Baku 2 | 1976-00-00 | Caspian Sea | – | JU | Sinking | Capsized, sank, PT?, new rig |
| Banjar Panji-1 | 2006-05-29 | Java, Indonesia | – | LR | Blowout | Mud volcano, major release |
| Banzala | 1982-00-00 | Cabinda, Angola | 0 | JU | Sinking | Lost, shallow gas blowout |
| Bigfoot 2 | 1987-10-20 | GOM | – | JU | – | 2 bow legs PT |
| Blake IV | 1992-09-29 | Greenhill bay, GOM | 0 | JU | Blowout | Major release, fire |
| Bob Buschman | 1986-00-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking | Field Co |
| Bohai 2 | 1979-11-25 | Bay of Bohai, China | 72 | JU | Sinking | Storm. Sank in tow. |
| Bohai 3 | 1980-06-15 | – | 70 | JU | Blowout | Fire |
| Bohai 6 | 1981-00-00 | West Pacific | – | JU | – | Slipped on location |
| Bombay High North | 2005-07-27 | Indian Ocean | 22 | P | Fire | Boat impact |
| Bourbon Dolphin | 2007-04-12 | Atlantic Ocean | 8 | S | Sinking | Capsize, sunk |
| Byford Dolphin | 1983-11-05 | Norwegian CS | 5 | SS | Explosion | Diving accident |
| Cerveza | 1983-00-00 | – | – | P | Blowout | Abandon |
| Chevron Typhoon | 2005-09-27 | GOM | 0 | P | Hurricane | Major damage |
| Constellation | 1969-11-25 | UK CS | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| Cormorant A | 1989-04-18 | UK CS | 0(3?) | P | Explosion | Gas leak |
| C. P. Baker | 1964-06-30 | GOM | 22 | DS | Blowout | Catamaran type, explosion and fire |
| Dan Prince | 1980-10-22 | Alaska, North Pacific | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| DB29 | 1991-08-15 | South China Sea | 22 | Barge | Sinking | Typhoon |
| Deep Sea Driller | 1976-03-01 | Norwegian CS | 6 | SS | Grounding | Storm |
| Deepwater II | 1957-00-00 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Sank after hurricane |
| Dixilyn Field 81 | 1980-08-09 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Hurricane Allen, on loc |
| Dixilyn Field 82 | 1985-06-00 | Indian Ocean | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| Dixilyn Field 83 | 1986-11-20 | Indian Ocean | – | JU | Sinking | Stbd leg PT, capsized, off Bombay |
| Dixilyn Julie Ann | 1968-03-13 | GOM | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| Dixilyn 150 | 1980-00-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking | – |
| Dolphin Titan 143 | 1977-09-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking | Sank in tow, salvaged, retired |
| Drake Point L-67 | 1969-00-00 | Canadian Arctic | – | LR | Blowout | Ice volcano |
| Dresser 2 | 1968-04-28 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Overturned due to soil failure |
| D M Saunders | 1993-11-00 | Arabian Gulf | 0 | JU | Sinking | Flooded in bad weather on tow |
| Ekofisk A | 1975-00-00 | Norwegian CS | 3?/6 | P | Fire | – |
| Ekofisk B | 1977-04-22 | Norwegian CS | 0 | P | Blowout | Major release |
| Ekofisk P | 1989-00-00 | Norwegian CS | 0 | P | Fire | – |
| Elefante | 1969-00-00 | – | 0 | JU | Fire | Destroyed, Puente Maracaibo Co. |
| Enchova Central | 1984-08-16 | Enchova Field, Brazil | 37 | P | Blowout | Fire, lifeboat fell to sea |
| Enchova Central | 1988-04-24 | Enchova Field, Brazil | 0 | P | Blowout | Destroyed by fire |
| Ensco 51 | 2001-03-01 | Eugene Isl Blk 273, GOM | 0 | JU | Blowout | Setting casing string, fire |
| Ensco 64 | 2004-09-15 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Major damage |
| Estrellita | 1969-03-00 | GOM | 0 | JU | Sinking | Grounded in extreme weather |
| Five Sisters | 1989-04-00 | GOM | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| Fulmar A | 1991-08-00 | UK CS | 0 | P | Explosion | Shell |
| Funiwa Platform | 1980-01-17 | Nigeria | 0 | P | Blowout | Major release |
| Gatto Selvatico | 1976-01-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking | AGIP |
| Gemini | 1974-10-09 | – | 18 | JU | – | Punch thru, leg failure |
| Getty Platform A | 1984-05-13 | West Cameron, GOM | 1 | P | Explosion | – |
| Glomar Arctic II | 1985-01-00 | UK CS | 2 | SS | Explosion | Pump room |
| Glomar Arctic IV | 1998-07-00 | – | 2 | SS | Explosion | – |
| Glomar Baltic I | 2001-05-09 | GOM | – | JU | Blowout | – |
| Glomar Grand Isle | 1983-02-07 | ?Indonesia | – | DS | Blowout | Fire |
| Glomar Java Sea | 1983-10-25 | S. China Sea | 81 | DS | Sinking | Capsized in tropical storm Lex |
| Glomar Labrador I | 1988-00-00 | – | 0 | JU | Collision | Merchant ship |
| Gulfwind | 2005-00-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking? | Wrecked, Chiles Offshore |
| Harvey Ward | 1980-00-00 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Mudslide, total loss |
| Hasbah Platform | 1980-10-02 | Persian Gulf | 19 | P | Blowout | Major release |
| Hercules 25 | 2005-08-29 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Katrina – derrick fell on rig |
| High Island III | 2005-09-28 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Major damage |
| Interocean II | 1989-11-08 | UK CS | 0 | JU | Sinking | Flooded in bad weather on tow |
| IXTOC-1 | 1979-06-03 | Mexico | 0 | JU | Blowout | IXTOC 1 – Capped 1980 Mar 23 |
| Jalapa | 1996-04-00 | GOM | 0 | JU | Sinking | Weather, struc fail, flooding |
| Jim Cunningham | 2004-08-20 | Egypt | 0 | SS | Blowout | Fire |
| Key Biscayne | 1983-09-01 | Australia | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather. Salvg 12-83 |
| Keyes Marine 302 | 1988-02-22 | GOM | – | JU | – | PT, legs bent, total loss. |
| Keyes Marine 303 | 1990-05-30 | GOM | – | JU | Blowout | – |
| King Christian D18 | 1970-10-25 | Canadian Arctic | – | LR | Blowout | Ice volcano |
| Lake Peigneur | 1980-11-21 | Louisiana | 0 | – | Sinking | Drilled into salt mine |
| Liberacion | 1974-11-00 | South America | 0 | JU | Sinking | Weather, proced, flooding, sunk |
| Little Bob | 1968-08-00 | – | 7 | JU | Blowout | Fire off La. Coral Drilling |
| Lodgepole | 1982-10-17 | Alberta, Canada | 2 | LR | Blowout | Amoco, major H2S release |
| Lusi Mud Volcano | 2006-05-29 | Java, Indonesia | – | LR | Blowout | Mud volcano, major release |
| Maersk Endurer | 1980-10-18 | Gulf of Suez | ?3 | JU | Blowout | Derrick collapse, renamed EDC Setty |
| Maersk Giant | 2006-04-23 | Norwegian CS | 0 | JU | Blowout | Shallow gas |
| Maersk Victory | 1996-11-16 | South Australia | 0 | JU | Collapse | Punch-through, leg failure |
| Main Pass Block 41 | 1970-02-10 | GOM | – | P | Fire | Burned for 2 months |
| Marine IV | 2001-07-13 | GOM | – | JU | Blowout | – |
| Marlin 3 | 1992-08-27 | GOM | – | JU | Hurricane | Major damage, collapse |
| Marlin 4 | 1980-00-00 | South America | – | JU | Collapse | Legs damaged, seabed slide |
| Medusa Spar | 2004-09-15 | GOM | – | P | Hurricane | Damaged |
| Mighty Servant 2 | 1999-11-02 | Indonesia | 5 | S | Sinking | Hit rock |
| Mighty Servant 3 | 2006-12-06 | Angola | 0 | S | Sinking | Ballast problems |
| Mississippi Cany. 311A | 1987-11-04 | GOM | – | P | Blowout | Platform tilted |
| Mobil rig ?? | 1995-01-00 | Nigeria?? | 13? | – | Explosion | – |
| Morgan Oil Field?? | 1996-01-00 | Morgan Field, Gulf of Suez | 3 | – | Explosion | – |
| Mr Bice | 1998-06-00 | GOM | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| Mr Gus 1 | 1957-03-31 | GOM | 1 | JU | Sinking | PT, tilt, capsized H. Audrey |
| Mr Louie | 1963-05-00 | German CS | 0 | JU | Blowout | Crater |
| Mumbai High North | 2005-07-27 | Indian Ocean | 22 | P | Fire | Boat impact |
| Nabors Dolphin 105 | 2002-10-02 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Lili – collapse and capsize |
| Nabors Rig269 | 1998-07-17 | GOM | – | P | Collapse | – |
| Nabors WorkhorseIX | 1980-02-05 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Sank in tow, salvaged, in service |
| Neptune Gascogne | 1983-00-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking | Lost legs Brazil. Later Rigmar151 |
| NFX Platform A | 1999-09-09 | GOM | – | P | Blowout | Fire |
| Noble Max Smith | 2005-09-09 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Major damage in Rita |
| Nowruz Platforms | 1983-03-00 | Persian Gulf | 20 | P | Fire | Major release |
| Ocean Champion | 1980-12-00 | Port Said | 0 | JU | Grounding | Grounded in bad weather |
| Ocean Developer | 1995-08-00 | Northern Angola | – | SS | Sinking | Sank on tow |
| Ocean Express | 1976-04-15 | GOM | 13 | JU | Sinking | Capsized on tow in bad weather |
| Ocean King | 2002-08-09 | Grand Isle 93, GOM | – | JU | Blowout | Fire |
| Ocean Master II | 1977-06-00 | West Africa | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| Ocean Odyssey | 1988-09-22 | UK CS | 1 | SS | Blowout | Fire |
| Ocean Prince | 1968-03-06 | UK CS | 0 | SS | Collapse | Broke up in storm |
| Ocean Ranger | 1982-02-15 | Hibernia, N. Atlantic | 84 | SS | Sinking | Storm, Mobil |
| Ocean Warwick | 2005-08-31 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Major damage |
| Offshore Bahram | 1996-01-00 | Suez | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather on tow |
| Okha | 1980-10-00 | Arctic | 0 | JU | Grounding | Grounded in bad weather |
| Orion | 1978-02-01 | Guernsey, UK | 0 | JU | Grounding | Broke loose from barge |
| Oseberg B | 1988-00-00 | Norwegian CS | 0 | P | Collision | Sub collision – anchor chain |
| Parker 14-J | 2003-09-11 | GOM | 0 | JU | Collapse | Jacking mechanism failure |
| Pagura | 1965-00-00 | – | – | JU | Fire | Saipem |
| Penrod ??? | 1989-11-00 | GOM | 0 | – | Explosion? | – |
| Penrod 52 / Petrel | 1965-09-09 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | PT, capsized moving, H. Betsy |
| Penrod 52 | 1983-07-20 | GOM | 0 | JU | Blowout | Collapsed during blowout |
| Penrod 61 | 1985-10-28 | GOM | 1? | JU | Sinking | Sank in H. Juan |
| Petrobras P7 | 2001-06-19 | Bicudo Field, Brazil | 0 | P | Blowout | Fire |
| Petrobras P36 | 2001-03-20 | Campos Basin, Brazil | 11 | P | Sinking | Explosion |
| Petrobras P37 ?? | 2001-01-00 | Campos Field, Brazil | 2 | P | Fire | Natural gas platform |
| Petromar V | 1981-08-27 | South China Sea | – | DS | Blowout | Sank after blowout |
| Petronius A | 1998-12-03 | GOM | 0 | P | Sinking | Lift failure, dropped module |
| Piper Alpha | 1988-07-06 | UK CS | 167 | P | Fire | Explosion and loss after gas leak |
| Placid 66 | 1977-00-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking | Placid Co. |
| Placid L10a | 1983-05-15 | SNS, NL | 0 | P | Blowout | Corrosion |
| Pool 55 | 1987-00-00 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Soil failure while drilling |
| Pride 1001E | 1997-04-01 | GOM | – | P | Blowout | Fire |
| PSS Chemul | 2005-08-29 | GOM | 0 | SS | Hurricane | Major damage |
| Qatar I | 1956-12-00 | Arabian Gulf | 20 | JU | Sinking | Collapsed during tow. |
| Ranger 1 | 1979-05-10 | GOM | 8 | JU | Collapse | Fatigue, collapse |
| (Pool) Ranger 4 | 1997-00-00 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Breakthru/slide into crater |
| Rigmar 151 | 1998-01-00 | West Atlantic | 0 | JU | Sinking | Formerly Neptune Gascogne |
| Roger Buttin 3 | 1966-02-09 | West Africa | – | JU | Sinking | Fast leg penet, capsize, sank |
| Ron Tappmeyer | 1980-10-02 | Saudi Arabia | 19 | JU | Blowout | Hasbah Platform blowout |
| Rowan Fort Worth | 2005-09-28 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Rita – Beached, written off |
| Rowan Gorilla I | 1988-12-15 | North Atlantic | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather during tow |
| Rowan Halifax | 2005-09-28 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Rita – Beached, written off |
| Rowan Houston | 2002-10-02 | GOM | 0 | JU | Sinking | Lili – Collapse and capsize |
| Rowan Louisiana | 2005-09-28 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Rita – Beached, severe damage |
| Rowan New Orleans | 2005-08-31 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Katrina – Capsized, sank |
| Rowan Odessa | 1994-12-01 | GOM | 1 | JU | Fire | Leg struck pipe. Damaged, repaired |
| Rowan Odessa | 2005-09-28 | GOM | 0 | JU | Hurricane | Rita – missing, sunk? |
| Santa Fe 135 | 1988-00-00 | – | 0 | SS | Collision | B – broke loose, COD P. |
| Saipem Paguro | 1965-09-09 | Off Ravena, Italy | – | JU | Blowout | Destroyed by fire |
| Scan Sea | 1977-01-12 | West Pacific | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather during tow |
| Seacrest | 1989-11-03 | Gulf of Thailand | 91 | DS | Sinking | Typhoon Gay |
| Sea Gem | 1965-12-27 | UK CS | 13 | JU | Collapse | BP, jack collapse, brittle fracture |
| Sea Quest | 1980-01-01 | Nigeria | 0 | SS | Blowout | Sedco 135C, fire, scuttled off Nigeria |
| SedcoNo8-Rig22 | 1956-08-10 | GOM | 4 | JU | Sinking | Under construction |
| Sedco 135F | 1979-06-03 | Mexico | 0 | JU | Blowout | IXTOC 1 – Capped 1980 Mar 23 |
| Sedco 252 | 1989-00-00 | Indian Coast | 3 lost | JU | Blowout | Fire |
| Sedco J | 1989-04-00 | Offshore S. Africa | – | SS | Sinking | Capsized during tow |
| Shell Mars | 2005-08-29 | GOM | 0 | P | Hurricane | Major damage |
| Ship Shoal 246b | 1980-03-09 | GOM | 0 | P | Blowout | Killed after 1 day |
| Sleipner A | 1991-08-23 | Norwegian CS | 0 | P | Sinking | – |
| Snorre A | 2004-11-28 | Norwegian CS | 0 | P | Blowout | Seabed gas blowout |
| South Timbalier 26 | 1970-12-01 | GOM | 4 | P | Blowout | Platform lost |
| Steelhead Platform | 1987-12-20 | Cook Inlet, Alaska | 0 | P | Blowout | Fire. Unocal, Penrod rig also lost? |
| Sundowner 15 | 1996-01-24 | GOM | – | P | Blowout | Fire |
| Teledyne Movible 16 | 1989-01-08 | GOM | – | JU | Blowout | Total loss |
| Texas Tower 4 | 1961-01-15 | N. Atlantic, USA | 28 | P | Collapse | Early warning tower |
| Thunderhorse | 2005-07-10 | GOM | 0 | SS | Hurricane | List after Dennis. |
| Topper I | 1980-02-00 | GOM | 0 | JU | Sinking | Valve fail, flooding. Crestwave Co |
| Topper III | 1975-00-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking | Crestwave Co |
| Transgulf Rig 10 | 1959-00-00 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Punchthru, capsize b4 move |
| Transocean 3 | 1974-01-01 | UK CS | 0 | SS | Collapse | Leg broke, capsize |
| Transocean 7 | 2005-00-00 | – | – | JU | Sinking? | Wrecked |
| Treasure Seeker | 1984-00-00 | Norwegian CS | – | SS | Blowout | Shallow gas |
| Trinimar Marine W327 | 1973-08-08 | Venezuela | 0 | P | Blowout | Major release |
| Ubit Platform | 1996-00-00 | Nigeria | 18 | P | Fire | Explosion |
| Union Oil Platform A | 1969-01-28 | Dos Cuadras F, OCS, US | 0 | P | Blowout | Major release |
| Usumacinta | 2007-10-23 | Bay of Campeche, GOM | 22 | JU | Blowout | Storm, major release |
| Viking Explorer | 1988-09-00 | SE Borneo | 4 | DS | Blowout | Explosion and sinking. Total Oil |
| Vinland | 1984-02-22 | Sable Island, N. Atlantic | 0 | SS | Blowout | Shell, Uniacke G-72 |
| W.D.Kent | 1976-02-00 | Off Dubai | – | JU | Sinking | Sank, hit by barge in storm |
| West Gamma | 1990-08-20 | North Sea | 0 | JU | Sinking | Sank in bad weather during tow |
| West Vanguard | 1985-10-06 | Haltenbanken, Norw. NS | 1 | SS | Blowout | – |
| Zacateca | 1986-10-00 | Mexico | – | JU | Blowout | Sank. Perforadora Co |
| Yum II / Zapoteca | 1987-10-10 | Bay of Campeche, GOM | 0 | JU | Blowout | PEMEX |
| Zapata Enterprize | 1985-00-00 | Javan coast | 0 | JU | Blowout | Fire |
| Zapata Lexington | 1984-09-14 | GOM | 4 | JU | Blowout | Fire |
| Zapata Maverick I | 1965-00-00 | GOM | – | JU | Sinking | Punch thru, overturn H. Betsy |
| Zapata Scorpion | 1969-11-22 | Canary Islands | – | JU | Sinking | Sank in tow |
| Zapata Topper III | 1975-03-00 | GOM | – | JU | Blowout | Sank off La. |
Beaver County Blue: Voice of the 17th CD of Progressive Democrats of America 
I hadn’t known the accident record looked so bad. Perhaps Obama has lost track here. He needs reminding and perhaps more than that. Finding that there is not much to drill might be used to force fundamental realization before all is lost.
The U.S. Senators from N.J. both fairly ordinary Democrats want the drilling to be barred. A Florida democrat too though not in Virginia.
Anyhow that’s what the N. Y. Times said. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/04/02/02greenwire-obamas-offshore-drilling-pitch-sways-few-fence-21861
One New Jersey critic Lautenberg is pretty rich. Could Obama be calling ‘the other side’s’ bluff? Maybe we should call his bluff.
People amaze me. I was on the Steelhead blowout in 1988. It was a typical industrial accident. No more and no less. All the people who think we don’t need oil should do a little research. 27% is used for all fuels…73% is used for everything from laptops, TV’s, carpet, asphalt, tires, all plastics ( with the exception of cellulosic plastics ) 99% of all clothing, shoes, paints,
laminates, and appliances. 87% of all industrial jobs depend on oil or it bi products. We do not produce electricity with oil. Oil rigs forced to drill in 5,000 ft. of water is just courting disaster! The same oil can be drilled in 300 ft of water where an accident can be managed, at 1 mile of depth you have to deal with pressures of over 2300 psi….by the way, oil is primarily produced from molten rock, carbon, pressure and heat and steam, not dead dinosaurs or trees. At present, we have NOTHING even close to replacing oil. Most chemicals rely on oil and check your prescriptions….if you can decipher them…..you got it, there are oil bi products in many drugs. So get over it and get your facts right before you let your pious indignations overload your backsides.