WASHINGTON, March 21 (UPI) -- Deep-water oil and gas exploration is appropriate so long as it's safe, Washington said after granting approval for more work in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement announced that it awarded ATP Oil and Gas Corp. a permit to work in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It's the third permit awarded since a moratorium on deep-water drilling was lifted in October.
"This permit approval demonstrates that deep-water drilling can and will continue in the Gulf of Mexico provided that operators have successfully demonstrated their ability to operate safely," said BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich in a statement. "Further deep-water energy development is necessary and appropriate so long as it is done safely and in an environmentally responsible manner."
ATP contracted the Helix Well Containment Group to use technology that would stop the flow of oil should an accident happen at its rig in the gulf.
The permit is for work in the Mississippi Canyon about 90 miles south of the Louisiana coast in 4,000 feet of water. ATP began work there in 2008 and was preparing for installation of a production facility in April when the Deepwater Horizon rig sank, leading to one of the worst oil disasters in the history of the industry.
