Blowout May Have Caused Oil Rig Explosion in Gulf of Mexico

As the search continues for the missing workers following the catastrophic oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, many people are asking how this could have happened. 

Yesterday, a vice president of Transocean Ltd., which owns the oil rig, informed USA Today that the explosion may have been caused by a blowout.  Blowouts, also known as pressure surges, have the potential to smash steel equipment and cause columns of fire.  The risk of a blowout increases as drillers delve even deeper into layers of rock in search of oil and natural gas. 

There is no question that offshore drilling is dangerous and the hazards are even greater when oil and natural gas explorers drill thousands of feet below.  The temperature and pressure can become too much to bear.

The Tuesday night oil rig accident, which has been described as the deadliest U.S. rig accident in 23 years, has left many families wondering the fates of their loved ones.  One of the brothers of a survivor said that his brother referred to the explosion as one of the scariest things he has ever seen in his life. 

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Minerals Management Service have been urged to “conduct a swift and thorough investigation.”  There is speculation that this rig explosion will prompt calls for tougher oversight and increased regulation of the drilling industry.