NASSAU, Bahamas, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. government representatives said they'd meet at a roundtable with Caribbean and Latin American counterparts to discuss offshore energy safety.
A two-day seminar is under way in the Bahamas to discuss regulatory and safety standards for offshore production platforms and best practices in the event of an oil spill, the U.S. State Department announced.
Offshore drilling is under renewed scrutiny following last year's oil spill in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Oil poured into the gulf for months following an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that killed 11 workers.
"The goal of the meeting is to increase regional cooperation and joint planning on responses related to offshore units and marine pollution preparedness," the State Department said.
Spanish energy company Repsol said it plans to drill exploration wells in Cuban waters of the Gulf of Mexico before the end of the year. U.S. officials said Repsol has indicated would meet U.S. standards for offshore drilling.
Brazil has said it was taking a heavy hand against Chevron following a recent minor oil spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro as the country expected major boosts to its energy sector.
