49 Oil Platforms Damaged by Hurricane Ike

One of the many downsides to offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is the risk of an environmental disaster when you mix drilling and hurricanes. According to today's Clarion Ledger at least 49 oil platforms were destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Three years ago Hurricane's Katrina and Rita destroyed 125 rigs, platforms and pipelines, releasing 685,000 gallons of oil into the environment.

According to the AP story in the Clarion Ledger, the extent of the damage if any environmental damage occurred is not known at this point.

The report by Interior's Minerals Management Service said the agency was conducting helicopter flyovers of the Gulf waters to investigate unconfirmed reports of oil spills and oil sheens, but that it was too early to issue any definitive findings.

"There are no reports of oil impacting the shoreline or affecting birds and wildlife from releases in the Gulf of Mexico federal waters," said the agency.

I have a hard time believing that no oil was spilled by the hurricane, but I will wait and see what they find out. However the Texas Land Commissioner has already declared that no spills occurred. Maybe he should let the Interior Department know so they can call of their flyovers.