Experts are concerned about the potential risks that aging oil rigs and pipelines pose to the Gulf of Mexico. Studies show that pipelines that are often decades old have a history of spills and leaks due to aging and corrosion.
For instance, in June 1947, Stanolind Oil & Gas Co. built a spindly steel platform in shallow waters off the coast of Louisiana. The aging platform is still in operation after surviving seven category 2 hurricanes.
But, during routine maintenance on December 4, 2009, a severely corroded pipe connecting the structure to a high-pressure gas well gave way and released explosive natural gas into the air. Due to the age of the structure, the platform lacked the necessary emergency shut-off switch and the emergency valves did not close properly. Maritime workers had to flee by boat to another platform until the well was able to be shut down.
Over the past three years, federal regulators have investigated 81 accidents in the Gulf of Mexico. They determined that equipment failure was the leading cause of those accidents. Many were a result of age-related issues.
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Category: BP Oil Spill Injury Claims
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