‘Fracking’ will be done safely, right?

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Lord Browne, was Chief Executive of BP from 1995 to 2007 and during his leadership, health and safety management deteriorated.  This led to a number of major incidents at BP‘s plants and ultimately the the March 23, 2005, explosion at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas, which killed 15 workers, injured 180 others.  He has also been considered, ultimately responsible, for the disaster of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

Instead of being held responsible for this tragic accident and others and put on trial.  He sits in the unelected House of Lords, even spending time as a member of the UK Governments Cabinet.  Pushing the exploitation of unconventional fossil fuels, through the use of slick water, high pressure horizontal fracturing, ‘fracking’ in the UK.  This person has been behind the Government’s message that ‘fracking’ will be carried out safely and will not result in any environmental or health issues!  Despite the fact, health and safety in the UK, is now down to self-regulation.

Would you trust anything this person says?

Total fined for North Sea gas leak

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

I have just seen an article about an incident, which could have been the North Seas’ Deepwater Horizon, but for favourable winds. The article in the Guardian does mention petroleum condensate causing damage to marine life: Total fined 1m North Sea gas leak. But the official press release from the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) does not mention any environmental impacts of the release: Total ep UK ltd., received record fine following largest ever North Sea gas release. There was another incident reported earlier this year: Shell fined. This is how the incident was reported in the Guardian, which includes other failures by Shell: Shell North Sea oil leak. Another major incident in a mature oil and gas field, by a major oil and gas company. There a numerous incidents that occur in the oil & gas fields, that the public never hear about: HSE offshore statistics. So how can any politician allow oil and gas production in environmentally sensitive areas or even unconventional sources, with a clear concisions?