Environmental groups are questioning the safety of drilling in Arctic waters after the sinking of a floating rig with a major loss of life
The Kolskaya rig, subcontracted to Russian exploration giant, Gazprom, sank on 18 December when it was hit by a storm while being towed back to the Eastern Russian port of Kamchatka after drilling operations in the Sea of Okhotsk. The rig capsized, killing 53 of the 67 crew members on board.
The Kolskaya floating oil rig Image: Arktimor Neftegaz Razvedka via AFP - Getty Images |
The disaster has highlighted questions already raised by global and Russian environmental organisations over the safety of drilling in such extreme conditions. The questions were initially raised by organisations such as Green Peace and the World Wildlife Fund after Gazprom sent its first floating platform, The Prirazlomnaya, into the Arctic in autumn this year. Now the organisations are petitioning for a full public inquiry and suspension of oil projects until the outcome is known.
The key issues are over the safety of both crews and environment in such extreme conditions. With the nearest port of Murmansk some 600 miles away from The Prirazlomnaya, which is capable of storing as much as 840,000 barrels of oil, there are concerns that rescue or clean-up operations would be extremely difficult should another accident occur.
There are also worries that Russia's experience of drilling in such extreme conditions is limited. However Gazprom are confident of the rig's capabilities and claim it is the first of its kind to be ice resisant.
The Kolskya sank after being hit by a severe storm while under tow. A single wave apparently caused damage to equipment and portholes, allowing in water and capsizing the rig.