oil platform

12 Stories

Russia Tossing Charges Against Greenpeace Activists

They could be home for New Year: rep

(Newser) - Yesterday, Pussy Riot members left prison under Russia's new amnesty measure ; today, the country's charges against at least some Greenpeace activists are being dropped. RT reports that at least three of 30 crew members from the organization's Arctic Sunrise ship have seen charges dropped; the same will...

Russia Hits Greenpeace Activists With Piracy Charges

Could face 15 years in jail; more activists to be charged

(Newser) - Greenpeace said today that five of its activists who were detained after protesting at a Russian oil platform have been charged with piracy and could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. The environmental group said in a statement that activists from Brazil, Britain, Finland, and Sweden...

Iran: We Stopped Hack on Oil Rigs

Cyberattack blamed on Israel

(Newser) - Iranian oil platforms' communication networks have been hit with an attempted cyberattack—but the country's tech experts have managed to deflect it, says an official. "This attack was planned by the regime occupying Jerusalem"—not-so-subtle code for Israel—"and a few other countries," says the...

BP Faces $52B in Gulf Spill Fines

With trial to begin tomorrow, lawyers negotiating furiously

(Newser) - With the trials set to begin tomorrow for BP and the other companies involved in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, BP alone could conceivably face up to $52 billion in fines and compensation, reports the AP . Under the Clean Water Act, which requires a minimum of $1,100...

Gulf's Real Threat: Aging Oil Platforms

Old pipes, platforms raise the risk of failure, experts say

(Newser) - The massive Gulf oil spill raised the alarm about huge, state-of-the-art deep-water drilling rigs. But greater danger may actually come from the region's aging oil infrastructure, say experts. Older structures face increased risk of accidents, particularly fires—more than 50% of the 3,000 oil platforms in the Gulf are...

Oil Sheen Spotted at Platform Explosion—Or Not

Crew members safe, say they shut down active wells

(Newser) - Confusion reigns in the aftermath of today's oil platform explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. This much good news stands: All 13 crew members were rescued from the water. Everything else is changing quickly. The Coast Guard spoke of a mile-long oil slick at the site but now says it...

Gulf Coast Dreads Oil's Creep to Shore

Scope of disaster could be epic

(Newser) - President Obama headed for the Gulf Coast today, where all eyes are focused on the massive oil slick threatening to swallow the environment and economy of American shores from Louisiana to Florida. With tourist beaches, fragile marshes, marine life, and lush fishing grounds at stake, experts tried in vain to...

BP Deemed Spill 'Unlikely,' Didn't Prepare

Plan filed with feds predicted 'no significant adverse impacts'

(Newser) - The worst US oil spill in decades reached into precious shoreline habitat along the Gulf Coast as documents emerged showing British Petroleum downplayed the possibility of a catastrophic accident. In a plan filed with the federal Minerals Management Service, BP conceded a spill would impact beaches, wildlife refuges, and wilderness...

Obama Will Head to Gulf
 Obama Will Head to Gulf 
May 1, 2010 7:09 AM CDT

Obama Will Head to Gulf

President's response to oil spill could be as vital as Bush's to Katrina

(Newser) - President Obama will head to the Gulf of Mexico within the next 48 hours to get an update on efforts to contain the massive spill from an offshore drilling rig. A senior administration official says details of the trip are still being worked out, and Obama will likely travel with...

Oil Spill Endangers Obama's Drilling Plans

Growing slick expected to reach land tomorrow

(Newser) - The feds are ramping up efforts to contain the widening oil spill near Louisiana, with Janet Napolitano designating it an event of "national significance." For President Obama, it's also an event of political significance. With oil pouring into the Gulf, the environmental mess is already causing trouble for...

11 Missing After US Oil Rig Blows

No deaths reported in explosion off Gulf Coast

(Newser) - Authorities were searching early today for up to 11 missing workers who evacuated after an explosion on an oil drilling platform off the coast of Louisiana. The explosion happened around 10pm last night, while 126 workers were aboard the platform, a Coast Guard spokesman said. No deaths were reported, though...

Gustav Could Reverse Welcome Oil Trend

Hurricane, now Category 3, projected to slam into oil platforms, refineries

(Newser) - Hurricane Gustav is on path to smash into the Gulf Coast's oil-production infrastructure, which could reverse the recent downward trend in gas prices, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. More than a quarter of oil produced in the US comes from the Gulf of Mexico, and producers have already begun evacuating...

12 Stories