Feds Remove Old Eyesore Oil Rigs

delldude

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Oct 29, 2002
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Explosive Fed. Mandate Killing Thousands of Red Snapper


MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) A federal mandate to remove old, abandoned oil and gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico is blowing up a lot more than just the rigs.

Undercover video obtained by Local 15 shows thousands of pounds of dead fish, mostly red snapper, floating to the surface after one of the controversial demolitions in the Gulf.

“Good Lord,” marine scientist Dr. Bob Shipp said, when Local 15 showed him the video. “As a scientist, I think it’s abominable.”

“A lot of [the demolitions were] hush hush, unsaid, and unseen,” Domange said, “This is the first video that’s been produced, that I’ve seen. Hopefully it shines a lot of light.”
http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/Explosive-Fed-Mandate-Killing-Thousands-of-Red/xj8T4zPamkOGc8fuT40W_Q.cspx
 
Really like the part when the Feds blew up 10,000 pounds of red snapper, the told fishermen thay were only allowed to catch up to a certain weight limit !

Besides, what's thousands of dead fish and their habitat blown to smithereens, compared to a Tree-hugger, standing on the shore, eye-balling an abandoned rig, with a tear in his eye ! Oh, the humanity !
 
Why arent the oil companies obligated to clean up their own mess? Is this yet another oil company subsidy?
 
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Really like the part when the Feds blew up 10,000 pounds of red snapper, the told fishermen thay were only allowed to catch up to a certain weight limit !
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.gov/PI/PDFImages/ESPIS/4/4254.pdf

http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Interior-Department-Issues-Idle-Iron-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/Regulations-and-Guidance/Notices-to-Lessees/2010/10-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.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/MMPA-Take-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.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/ESA_Biological_Opinion.pdf and at http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/MMPA-Take-Regulations.pdf.
 
They are. See my post above.

Your post above does nothing to negate the fact that the fed estimated maybe 800 fish would be killed per rig when in fact its in the tens of thousands....and that is the environmental issue.
There is an effort save these man made reefs.
Funny, guy can only catch so many a day but in the interest of greening the Gulf we can eliminate 100's of thousands of fish in this valiant cause.
Fed bullcrap.
 
Seems like Dell and Southwind went to the same school. Their research skill leave everything to be desired.
 
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Seems like Dell and Southwind went to the same school. Their research skill leave everything to be desired.

Here's what to send:

Dear Senator xxxxxxx:

The federal mandate to demolish abandoned oil rigs in the Gulf at the expense of red snapper and other valuable fish species plus destroying these valuable recreational fishing havens for all time is, in a word, an abomination.

If you and your staff would please take time to view the video posted to Sport Fishing magazine's web site, you will be sickened by the wanton destruction of fish and habitat.

http://www.sportfishingmag.com/blogs/top-shots/shocking-video-hundreds-red-snapper-killed-federal-rules?src=facebook

Please Senator xxxxx...I implore you to demand a moratorium on this tragedy. This is government at its worst. So many who have called for keeping these rigs in place as a boon to recreational fishing have been ignored too long.

In addition, the red snapper regulations themselves are riddled with errors. It's beyond time to remove fisheries management from under the Department of Commerce and place it under the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Only then will recreational anglers have a true voice in management decisions.

Thank you for your service to________ and the nation. I ask that you step in and represent the voting public from __________ who are recreational anglers.
 
Busy work. Declare them artifical reefs and be done with it.
Until one leaks and then what?

Have you seen the damage one of these does to ships/tankers when they come loose and move from their charted location?

If the People would actually research the regulation and the entire history behind it, they may come away with a different take. But of course, that doesn't fit into the bad government sound bite.

This policy has been in effect for several administrations.

I am fully supportive of the CCA and the artificial reef program. I have donated time and money to the cause. I have family who live in one of the areas devastated by the BP OIL spill fiasco.

This issue is not as simple as turning off a valve and getting on a boat and turning out the lights and leaving it for the fisherman....wouldn't that be nice.
 
How much are willing to pay to take the liability of future damages away from the rig operators?

This policy has been in effect for several administrations.

Never guess who accelerated the program...just sayin'

Capping/sealing the well and leaving the rig or at least the underwater superstructure in place are two different things.