Drilling to Begin Near Deepwater Horizon Site

Drilling is set to begin again in Mississippi Canyon Block 252, the site of the infamous 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 workers and resulted in the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

In April the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement approved plans for Louisiana-based LLOG Exploration to drill a new well near the site of the BP spill. The privately owned company will be using the Sevan Luisiana, semisubmersible rig that will drill to a depth of 4,927 ft. The seadrill is working under a three year contract from Sevan Drilling ASA based in Oslo, Norway. 

Representatives from the Ocean Foundation have expressed concern over small companies drilling near the Macondo reservoir area due to the complicated nature of the work. Also, opponents raised concern over the spill response capabilities of a smaller company. It took BP, one of the world’s largest offshore operators, 87 days to cap the flow of oil following the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

However, LLOG states on its website that it has nearly 40 years’ experience in the industry and that it has drilled 850 wells in total.  The company’s recent endevours have focused on the drilling of underdeveloped area of in the Gulf of Mexico with particular focus on the Mississippi Canyon, Green Canyon, and South Timbalier.

According to statements given to the associated press, LLOG is the first company to go after the oil reserves that BP was looking for back in 2010. Additionally, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has stated that regulators have intensively reviewed LLOG’s plans for drilling the area.