Another Drilling Rig Accident: Venezuela

On 5/13/10, a natural gas drilling rig platform, off the coast of Venezuela, sank. 95 workers were on board, but everyone evacuated safely. The incident occurred on the Aban Pearl platform that is part of the Mariscal Sucre offshore natural gas project. The rig is operated by Venezuela and owned by Aban Offshore Ltd.

Just last week, the Venezuelan Energy and Oil Minister was broadcast on live television from the top of the rig, celebrating the inauguration of this venture. This rig was the “center piece” of Venezuela’s major natural gas development project. Venezuela has a lot of gas to drill up. They have had trouble getting investors.

It was reported that there was no threat of a leak, and that the safety mechanisms on the rig worked properly. Lets hope so. Considering the source (Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan President), this could be in question.

OK…I find all of this strange. The rig in question is the symbolic center piece of the project. A project that has had trouble getting investors, despite there being massive reserves to drill up . And it all happens a week after the  inauguration of the project, and less than a month after the Gulf oil spill disaster? I don’t know whether we should be concerned about the human carelessness in the drilling industry, or if we should be concerned that these rigs are being attacked or sabotaged?

My other articles and coverage of the Gulf oil disaster from day 1 (newest to oldest):

The Dirty Truth About BP Gulf Oil Spill Dispersant: Nalco Corexit

The Gulf Coast Oil Spill Will Not be Stopped by BP

Congress Will Quadruple Oil Tax to Pay for Gulf Coast Spill

BP Lies Again: Live Gulf Oil Spill Web Camera is a Loop

Will Florida and Gulf Coast Residents Need to Evacuate From Oil Spill?

EPA Allowed BP to Use Toxic Banned Dispersant on Gulf Coast Oil

Workers are Getting Sick at Gulf Coast Oil Clean Up Sites

5/20/10 Satellite Images Show Gulf Oil Moving Into Current Loop

BP: Criminals! Claim Tar Balls are Not From Gulf Oil Spill

Can Our Economy Withstand The Gulf Coast Oil Spill Disaster?

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Has Become Massive and is Approaching Florida

Why BP, Transocean and Halliburton Will Get Away with Environmental Disaster

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Worse Than Exxon Valdez

The Gulf Coast Oil Spill and The 2010 Hurricane Season

Florida Declares State of Emergency

Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Rig: The Worst Environmental Disaster in Decades

Louisiana Declared State of Emergency

Louisiana Coast Oil Rig Explosion: Situation is Getting Worse

Burning Oil Rig Sinks Off The Coast of Louisiana

Explosion on Gulf Coast Oil Rig and Guess Who is Investigating The Accident