Feds say “no cause for concern” after inspecting 30 deep water drilling rigs in Gulf of Mexico

Feds check 30 oil rigs, say no “cause for concern”

ROBERT, La. — U.S. Minerals Management Service inspectors say there’s “no urgent cause for concern” regarding 30 deep water drilling rigs they’ve finished inspecting in the Gulf of Mexico.

Spokesman Lars Herbst said Friday that the inspectors’ findings will be available soon in a report. His inspectors now will examine all deep water production facilities in the Gulf.

The inspection of the drilling rigs began after an oil rig operated by BP PLC exploded and sunk on April 20 in the Gulf, killing 11 people. It’s been spilling an estimated 200,000 gallons of oil a day in the nation’s biggest oil spill since the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska in 1989.