WASHINGTON– Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director James Watson has been in Houston, Texas, and Houma, La., for the past two days overseeing critical efforts in response to a loss of control of a natural gas well offshore Louisiana.
While in Houston Thursday, Director Watson also met with representatives of Walter Oil & Gas Corporation and Hercules Offshore, Inc., and emphasized the Bureau’s focus on the safety of offshore workers involved in the operation and the protection of the environment.
'BSEE has already initiated an investigation into the root causes of this incident, and our focus at this time remains on the ongoing response,' Director Watson said. 'All of the workers aboard the platform were safely evacuated before the fire, but complex operations to completely secure the well will be ongoing over the coming weeks and those must be conducted safely and cautiously. Tuesday’s event and other recent incidents serve as a reminder that industry must rededicate its efforts to make safety its top priority, including in shallow water.'
The Director today visited BSEE staff and Coast Guard members working directly in response activities and well control operations in the Unified Command stood up in Houma, La.
'BSEE employees are dedicated public servants and are among our nation’s top experts in offshore oil and gas operations,' Director Watson said. 'I greatly appreciate their dedication to ensuring this well is secured safely and in a manner that protects the environment. I also appreciate and am proud of our close working relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard and our tremendous collaboration this week to ensure safety at all levels and at all times.'
In the coming days, Acting Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals Management Tommy Beaudreau and Director Watson will travel to Houston to meet with senior executives from companies operating primarily in shallow water in the Gulf of Mexico to discuss the need to remain focused on safety and risk reduction.
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