Gulf deepwater oil drilling ban is lifted by US judge

22 June 2010 22 June 2010

BonTrade

A federal US judge struck down President Obama’s 6 month oil drilling ban on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, saying the US administration had rashly concluded that because one rig failed, the others are in immediate danger.

The White House promised an immediate appeal, as White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president believes strongly that drilling for oil at such depths does not make sense and puts the safety of workers “at a danger that the president does not believe we can afford.”

The US Interior Department had halted approval of any new permits for deepwater drilling and suspended drilling of 33 exploratory oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Interior Department said it needed time to study the risks of deepwater drilling, but the lawsuit filed by Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, La., claimed there was no proof the other operations posed a threat.

Company CEO Todd Hornbeck said after the ruling that he is looking forward to getting back to work. “It’s the right thing for not only the industry but the country,” he said.