Maersk Drilling will drill the first new deepwater exploration well after the Deepwater Horizon accident, which sparked debate about safety in the oil industry and prompted U.S. regulators to tighten rules for drilling off the U.S. coast.
On 21 March, MÆRSK DEVELOPER picked up anchors at its stand-by location close to shore and began its journey to its new location in the Gulf of Mexico. Once there, the rig is planned to drill the first new deepwater exploration well to be drilled since U.S. authorities imposed a moratorium on drilling activities in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident.
This is a result of months of preparations to ensure that Maersk Drilling would be ready to comply with tougher new regulation imposed by U.S. authorities in response to the accident in the Gulf of Mexico. As part of these preparations, Maersk Drilling has had a dedicated task force monitoring the situation and making recommendations for safety improvements in all areas of the business from equipment to procedures and systems as well as training of crew.
“ Having a modern and high-tech equipment meant that we more or less met all the new technical requirements, even before the new regulation was introduced, and were ready to resume drilling under the new regulation with only very minor modifications,” says Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling.
“At the same time, we have proactively addressed the issues related to safety procedures highlighted by the accident by improving our own procedures where needed and by training our crew. This ensured that we were ready to resume drilling well in advance of the moratorium being lifted,” he adds.
Maersk Drilling is not alone in responding to the new regulations and recommendations. Across the industry, action has been taken to increase safety in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
“ We believe the tightened legislation will benefit the industry in the long-term, and that it will lead to safer and more efficient drilling. Safety is deeply embedded in Maersk Drilling’s culture. Combined with our modern, high technology fleet and long experience operating in the world’s most stringently regulated areas, we welcome tightened safety regulations,” says Hemmingsen.
“We expect to see an increasing demand from oil companies for modern equipment and good safety procedures, providing Maersk Drilling with a competitive advantage,” he adds.
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Source: Maersk Drilling, March 24, 2011