Do you really think that the federal government is blowing up those rigs?
A little research would have showed that "news" piece for what it was, yellow journalism.
http://www.data.boem...SPIS/4/4254.pdf
http://www.doi.gov/n...on-Guidance.cfm
It is called the Idle Iron Initiative. It was put into effect after the BP oil disaster. It updated an April 2004 NTL.
By the way, it has nothing to do with having government workers going and blasting old oil rigs just to kill fish. Imagine that.
"After all wells are plugged and abandoned, the structure is prepared for removal by flushing and cleaning all piping and equipment that contained hydrocarbons.
In accord with MMS regulations, a pipeline may be abandoned in place if it does not constitute a hazard to navigation, commercial fishing operations, or unduly interferes with other uses in the OCS. Pipelines abandoned in place need to be flushed, filled with seawater, and plugged with the ends buried at least 3 feet below the mudline. Pipelines are cut by divers or remotely operated vehicles and typically abandoned in place according to federal regulations.
The most common removal method in the GOM is to cut the deck from the jacket using torches and then lift and place the deck on a materials barge (Figure C.4) for removal to shore or an artificial reef site (Figure C.5).
The interior of the piling is then cleared using water jets to remove the mud from within the platform legs so that the explosives (or other cutting device) can be lowered 15 feet below the mudline. The explosives technician prepares and loads the charges into the legs and conductors, and then the derrick barge is backed off a safe distance and the explosives are detonated in accord with federal regulations (Figure C.6).
Piling and conductors are pulled using the derrick barge crane and placed on a cargo barge (Figure C.7), and then the jacket is lifted out of the water and welded to the materials barge for transport to shore or a reef site (Figure C.8).
The last stage in decommissioning is site clearance and verification, which is the process of eliminating or otherwise addressing potentially adverse impacts from debris and seafloor disturbances. The most common method is to trawl the area with specialized, heavy-duty trawling gear with reinforced mesh (Figure C.9)."
"Decommissioning Guidance for Wells and Platforms"
http://www.bsee.gov/...010/10-g05.aspx
8. 30 CFR 250.1712
If you propose to use explosives1 to perform well/casing severance, include the following information (pursuant to 30 CFR 250.1712(f)(12) and (14)) as part of the attachments you provide in No. 18 of Form MMS-124, Application for Permit to Modify (APM):
"A. A discussion of the reason(s) you plan to use explosives and not some other method; B. Abriefdescriptionoftheremovalmethod;
C. The proposed Explosive-Severance Scenario (see Table 1 of the MMPA regulations
at
http://www.gomr.boem...Regulations.pdf);
D. Detailed information on the explosives you will use including:
i. Type of explosives;
ii. Number and sizes of charges;
iii. Whether you are using single shot or multiple shots;
iv. If multiple shots, the sequence and timing of detonations;
v. Whether you are using a bulk or shaped charge;
vi. Depth of detonation above-mudline (AML) or below-mudline (BML); and
vii. Whether you are placing the explosives inside or outside of the casings; and
E. A description of the anchor radius/pattern for the vessel(s) you will use to perform the
severance and lifting operations.
9. 30 CFR 250.1717
After you permanently plug a well, you may submit the following to the appropriate BOEMRE GOMR District Manager in lieu of Form MMS-124, Application for Permit to Modify (APM), that is required by 30 CFR 250.1717:
1 In 2005, MMS petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for incidental-take regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to address the potential injury and/or mortality of marine mammals that could result from the use of explosives during decommissioning activities. Similarly, MMS initiated Endangered Species Act (ESA) - Section 7 Consultation efforts with NMFS to cover potential explosive-severance impacts to threatened and endangered species such as sea turtles and sperm whales. The ESA Consultation was completed in August 2006 and the final MMPA rule was published in June 2008. The mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements from the new ESA Biological Opinion (BiOp)/Incidental Take Statement (ITS) and MMPA regulations mirror one another and allow explosive charges up to 500 pounds, internal and external placement, and both above-mudline (AML) and below-mudline (BML) detonations. You can find detailed information on the 20 new explosive-severance scenarios at the BOEMRE Web sites at"
http://www.gomr.boem...cal_Opinion.pdf and at
http://www.gomr.boem...egulations.pdf.
