Steps Seen Needed to Blunt Storm Damage to Gulf Pipelines

Hurricane Ivan has shown that oil drillers need to do a better job of securing their platforms to prevent damage to pipelines on the sea floor, according to researchers helping the government draw lessons from last year’s massive storm.

The hurricane shut down significant parts of U.S. oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico last fall, sending prices sharply higher. Platforms were damaged by the wind and waves, but the most lasting damage was done to pipelines, preventing even healthy platforms from getting their product to shore.
AP via Star-Telegram