Post-Deepwater Horizon report
On 20 April 2010 the Deepwater Horizon rig was drilling BP’s Macondo oil well - a deep-water prospect in the Gulf of Mexico - when control of the well was lost, leading to explosions which cost 11 lives and precipitated one of the worst oil spills in US history.
On 14 June 2010, while efforts were still underway to stem the flow of oil from the Macondo well, DECC Secretary of State, Chris Huhne, announced to the House of Commons that he would initiate a review of the regulatory regime around the safety and environmental control of oil and gas exploration in the UK once the causes of the US disaster had been identified.
This report contains the findings of an independently-chaired Review Panel which examined the US evidence in detail and consulted widely amongst UK stakeholders in drawing up recommendations for ways in which UK might build further on an already robust regime.
Related links
-
Written Ministerial Statement
Written Ministerial Statement by Energy Minister Charles Hendry, 14 December 2011
-
Press Notice
UK oil and gas regime has high standards but can still improve. Press Notice 14 December 2011.