New Rules Unveiled by US Government to Prevent BP-Type Oil Spill

It has been nearly six months since the explosion onboard the oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, which claimed the lives of 11 maritime workers and sent millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Government has recently released new rules for offshore and gas drilling to help prevent a similar maritime disaster from occurring again.

According to the Interior Department, the first of two new rules is designed to strengthen requirements for safety equipment, well control systems, and blowout prevention practices conducted on offshore platforms and oil rigs. The second rule is designed to increase workplace safety by attempting to reduce the risk of human error.

"These new rules and the aggressive reform agenda we have undertaken are raising the bar for the oil and gas industry's safety and environmental practices on the Outer Continental Shelf," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

A major focus of the new rules concern the blowout preventer, which is considered to be the first line of defense when a blowout occurs. Experts believe that the blowout preventer onboard the Deepwater Horizon failed leading to the major maritime disaster. The new rules address the cementing, casing practices and the use of proper drilling fluids, which are all components associated with the blowout preventer.

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