Oil rigs in a hurricane...

[kamilyun]

What happens?  I've seen footage of one going down in the North Sea, but what typically happens in the Gulf of Mexico?  Are these platforms tethered, or do they rest on the bottom?  Is damage to the deck and superstructure usually all that happens?  Can one sink?

[Angus]

Beats me there. The N-Sea is notaurious for high waves, so I'd belive that's what would cause a topple rather than wind.
Anyway, lots of storms boiling around. Had a hurricane a couple of days ago, blew away my wife's new greenhouse 
(Windspeeds up to 200 km/h, - that would be level 4?)

[sluggish]

THis is an excellent excuse to raise the price of gas.   MUAA

[storch]

remember the rigs in the north sea are designed and built by europeans.  they are a far cry from the rigs built for the US.

[Baitman]

A lot of the Rigs in the Gulf are Jack Up rigs. This is exactly what it sounds like the rig is actually sitting on the sea floor. They are less likely to incur damage than the rigs in the North Sea which are semi submersibles. My Uncle when he was working in the North sea said that they would keep drilling in 60' waves but higher than that the compensator's would not work and they would have to stop drilling.

Any rig in the path of the hurricane would have moved off the hole or made fast for the hurricane.

The biggest damage that will happen in the gulf will be to the underwater product lines and to the refineries on the coast.
 

[Fulmar]

This will do wonders for gas prices.  Should take about 4 months for the prices to come back down again.

[Mr No Name]

gas has already bumped up .15 a gallon... makes you want to shoot a room full of speculators

[FrodeMk3]

Beats me there. The N-Sea is notaurious for high waves, so I'd belive that's what would cause a topple rather than wind.
Anyway, lots of storms boiling around. Had a hurricane a couple of days ago, blew away my wife's new greenhouse 
(Windspeeds up to 200 km/h, - that would be level 4?)

Doesn't that big Shell platform, "Bullwinkle", sit on the bottom?

[Buzzard7]

I think they should all be built to withstand North Sea conditions. Might actually save some of the Gulf platforms from hurricanes.

[Nilsen]

The north sea rigs can pretty much take whatever you throw at em.

Discovery had a show called "oil sweat and rigs" or something like that a few months ago and also a show that showed a group of guys clearing up and fixing the rigs after katrina. Very different kind of rigs from what we have up here in the colder and more exposed north. Less high tech and weather proofed, but alot cheaper and more economical to build and operate.

[FrodeMk3]

What happens?  I've seen footage of one going down in the North Sea, but what typically happens in the Gulf of Mexico?  Are these platforms tethered, or do they rest on the bottom?  Is damage to the deck and superstructure usually all that happens?  Can one sink?

Kam, this might be something you'd like to take a look at regarding Oil platforms:http://home.versatel.nl/the_sims/rig/index.htm

[kamilyun]

Excellent link, thx 

[FrodeMk3]

Excellent link, thx 

You're welcome...When you look in there, you start to see where some of the opposition to offshore drilling comes from. There's a lot of accidents in there!

[Chalenge]

Accidents occur in southeast asian seas.
Based on world wide accident rates U.S. Insurance rates climb.
Environmentalists force laws requiring more safety regulations on U.S. sites (the lowest accident rates) world wide.
Cost per employee and salaries climb with cost of insurancewith news of further accident rates and required safety training.
Politicians claim massive profits are due to soaring prices and suggest higher taxes.
Hurricanes cause speculation that accidents may occur and prices soar.
Cyclic chain continues never ending and in no particular order.

[Buzzard7]

What is the difference between an oil tanker rupturing and spilling its contents to what a platform spills when it leaks?  I would like to know. Sometimes we need to take risks. Limiting the damage to those is a big plus.

Drill and makes us energy independant please. Would love to see the world reaction to us not needing anything they offer.