Nearly two years after the worst accidental offshore oil spill in the history of the energy industry, some of the biggest companies in the world are busy pointing their legal fingers at one another in court over who has to pay what in claims, damages and fines over the deadly Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A federal judge this week ruled that BP is still obligated to a clause in its contract with Transocean that would protect the rig owner from damages related to the spill. That means BP still has to shell out money to settle claims filed by those along the southern U.S. coast impacted by the spill. BP, meanwhile, is suing Halliburton, something Halliburton said was ridiculous. If the legal mess over Chevron’s case involving Ecuador is any indication, former BP boss Tony Hayward will be pushing 80 before this gets settled.
Oil gushed from the Macondo well thousands of feet below the surface for most of the summer of 2010 before crews were finally able to control the spill. Fishing lanes were closed and the coastal tourism sector, still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, suffered dearly. Eleven rig workers were killed.
A federal report determined a faulty cement barrier was at least one of the underlying causes of the accident. In October, the government outlined seven different violations for operator BP, four for rig-owner Transocean and four for Halliburton, which worked on the cement barrier. BP sued Halliburton, which said it was looking forward to court.
The Deepwater Horizon disaster is one of the worst environmental disasters in history. In 2010, an oil rig operated by British Petroleum (BP) exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, releasing millions of gallons of crude oil into the sea. The disaster caused immense ecological damage to the Gulf, killing sea life and causing significant economic losses to the region.
BP Oil Spill Explosion Photo taken June 22, 2010. Photo courtesy Dr. Oscar Garcia / Florida State University
Compared to Ecuador
The disaster has been compared to the massive oil spill that occurred in Ecuador in the late 1990s. In both cases, an oil company was responsible for the disaster and the companies have been accused of failing to take proper precautions. In Ecuador, the company was Texaco (now Chevron), while in the Deepwater Horizon disaster it was BP.
Oil is seen on the tip of the bill of an oil-soaked pelican on an island in Barataria Bay just off the the coast of Louisiana, Sunday, May 23, 2010.
Both spills have had devastating effects on local ecosystems, communities, and economies. In Ecuador, the oil spill contaminated hundreds of miles of jungle, rivers, and streams. The oil has poisoned the land, killing wildlife, and causing health problems in local communities. In the Gulf of Mexico, the oil spill caused damage to wildlife, fisheries, and wetlands, as well as economic losses to local businesses.
Similarities
The two disasters have some similarities, but there are also some key differences. While both companies were responsible for the spills, BP was found guilty of gross negligence in the Deepwater Horizon spill, while Chevron has not been held accountable for the Ecuadorian disaster.
The Deepwater Horizon spill also had a much bigger impact on the environment, as it released 4.9 million barrels of oil compared to 1.4 million barrels in Ecuador. The Deepwater Horizon spill was also more expensive to clean up, with BP estimated to have spent over $65 billion on cleanup and compensation.
Conclusion
In addition, the Deepwater Horizon disaster has been a wake-up call for the oil industry. As well as a reminder of the need for better safety and environmental standards. Furthermore, BP has been forced to pay billions in fines and settlements. Finally and may have to pay even more in the future.
At the same time, Chevron has yet to take responsibility for the Ecuadorian disaster. Moreover and the local communities continue to suffer from the effects of the spill. It also remains to be seen if the Deepwater Horizon disaster will be a lesson for Chevron. For if the company will be held accountable for its role in the Ecuadorian oil spill.
greenlivingguy
The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from:
# Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions)
# Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman
# Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel
# Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky
# Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley
# Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke
# Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley
# Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea
# and more green living books to follow.
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