An environmental group has claimed problems with ‘faulty’ underwater bolts at oil rigs should be resolved before oil major BP can drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.
The call was made by both Greenpeace and the Wilderness Society who have urged the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to halt the plans until an issue with subsea bolts has been resolved.
According to The Australian, the Wilderness Society says the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is concerned about the bolts, which have been used by the drilling company which BP has contracted to do it work.
The company in question is Diamond Offshore.
Brian Salerno, director of the US agency, said the problem “must be” addressed due to the environment and the “high risk” associated with any kind of catastrophic incident.
NOPSEMA has previously stated that it has contacted all drilling rig operators in Australian waters requesting them to inspect connector bolts used in offshore equipment.