Feds: Inspections of deepwater oil rigs after Gulf disaster turn up only minor issues

Feds: Oil rig inspections turn up minor issues

KENNER, La. — A federal official says a blitz inspection of deepwater drilling rigs in the aftermath of the Gulf disaster turned up only “a couple of minor issues.”

Michael Saucier of the Minerals Management Service testified Wednesday at a hearing in Kenner, La.

At the same hearing, Coast Guard Capt. Hung Nguyen said the government may not have an effective safety net for making sure blowout preventers are safely manufactured and installed on oil rigs.

Saucier testified that the government isn’t required to inspect the safety devices before they are installed.

Meanwhile, a congressional investigation has revealed that there was a hydraulic system leak in the blowout preventer aboard the rig that exploded in the Gulf. It had last been inspected about 20 days before the blast.