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vate sector in 2014 averaged 1.7 incidents per 100 work- ers. In 2011, this was 3.5 incidents per 100 workers.

The offshore oil and gas industry strives for zero acci- dents and zero spills. Since 2010, our industry has revised existing standards or created new ones to implement the safest design, constitution and integrity of offshore infra- structure, including deepwater wells, blowout preventers, and subsea capping stacks. In fact, more than 300 stan- dards to help implement safe and reliable offshore opera- tions have been established by the energy industry. In- dustry, not government regulations, is what fuels safety innovations. In fact, one could argue that some regulations actually increase risk.

Let’s consider the well control rule I mentioned earli- er. The overly prescriptive nature of the well control rule has the potential to increase risk and reduce safety, which could lead to a de facto moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico, because if forced to choose between following an unsafe rule or not drilling, operators will walk away from the drill site. This would be a major hit to the U.S. economy. Ac-

SAVE MONEY - CALL US FIRST cording to a Wood McKenzie study, the well control rule

Choose from one of the largest could put over 100,000 jobs at risk, cost the U.S. economy upwards of $400 billion, and jeopardize as much as 35 inventories of marine equipment in percent of offshore energy production. the U.S.

The anti-fossil fuel narrative perpetuated by environ-

Domestic and

LINKS ment groups and echoed by the administration is inac- imported, in stock • CHAIN for immediate curate and lacks scienti? c backing. The facts on the long • ANCHOR delivery global history of safe seismic and drilling operations, con- • 3/4 to 4-1/2” ducted alongside the thriving offshore industries, are being weld-on and drowned out. Despite the best efforts of industry oppo-

CLEATS bolt-on types nents, the fact remains that the offshore oil and gas indus- for every • ALUMINUM try is a safe and reliable source of affordable energy and application • STEEL economic growth, and will remain so long into the future.

Many

PELICAN HOOKS sizes in • CHAIN TYPE stock for

Randall Luthi is President of immediate • WIRE ROPE TYPE delivery the National Ocean Industries

Association (NOIA), the only

No order is too large or too small; ask for our FREE CATALOG and put our gear to work on your vessel national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and 1-800-851-3429 production of both traditional and renewable energy re-

WASHINGTON CHAIN sources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.

AND SUPPLY, INC.

P.O. Box 3645 • 2901 Utah Avenue South

Seattle, Washington 98124 www.marinelink.com

Phone (206) 623-8500 • Fax (206) 621-9834

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