Oil Problems

Dilemmas with Oil

Engineering is a practice, and a profession which at first can seem fairly straightforward. Its only when one begins to analyze the decision making involved with this practice when they realize the many dilemmas involved. Take drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico for example. This present case illustrates the numerous amounts of ethical dilemmas involved with the decision making aboard the BP oil rig. The most obvious dilemma is could B.P have been better prepared for such a catastrophic event. This event being oil spewing from the well at a rate of around 400,000 barrels per day, more than a mile beneath the sea. There are many arguments to be made in regards to this dilemma. Was this type of event inevitable, or was it caused by the sole actions of one company?

The BP oil rig disaster began April 20th, 2010 when an explosion and fire occurred on board the BP rig named “Deepwater Horizon”. On April 22nd, 2010 the rig inevitably sank and oil began gushing from the underwater well. After multiple failed attempts to stop the oil flow it was finally contained on June 3rd, 2010. More than a months’ worth of oil leaking at around 400,000 barrels per day dispersed into the Gulf of Mexico. The crude inevitably began affecting not only the ocean, but also the coast around it. Fishing bans were put in place in many areas of the Gulf. The dilemma arises in the question of whether this BP should have even had a chance to have such a catastrophe. Is this disaster the fault of BP for simply not going above and beyond the standard of care in order to ensure safety of the public and the protection of the environment?

One may say there are many reasons why BP cannot be held solely responsible for the disaster. One argument places the blame on the United States government. All standards of care in regards to oil are put in place by the government. When these standards aren’t enough shouldn’t the government be held responsible? If it were the...