Some Are Referring to the Gulf of Mexico as a Minefield

There is a lot of information circulating the Internet regarding the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion, including opinions, theories and facts.  One of the most recent topics has to do with the potential underwater minefield in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to some reporters, the Gulf of Mexico is the main disposal site for unexploded military munitions.  It has been estimated that there could be more than 30 million pounds of projectiles, chemical ordnance and bombs.  Imagine what could happen if an oil rig drilled right into one of these dangerous areas.  The outcome would be catastrophic, as it could detonate one of the bombs or other munitions.

A paper that was prepared for presentation at the 2007 Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, Texas, in 2007 stated, “Two of the latest directives from the Minerals Management Service indicate a growing concern about Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) located in close proximity to deepwater exploration and development sites within the Gulf of Mexico.”

Supposedly, the Minerals Management Service had warned oil companies about certain areas in the Gulf of Mexico, calling the locations potentially hazardous to drilling and platform and pipeline placement.

There is technology that maps out underwater hazards, including unexploded ordnance locations, but it makes you think about what can go terribly wrong if a drilling company doesn’t do the necessary research.