BP reveals plans to safeguard water quality while drilling

Fuel giant BP will make a number of changes to the way it drills for oil in the Gulf of Mexico in order to safeguard the water quality in the area.

The company was widely condemned in 2010, when a major oil leak in the region caused untold damage to the environment.

Now, bosses at the firm are determined that the same mistakes will not be made again and four major voluntary standards will be applied in the future.

These include the use of subsea blowout preventers (BOPs) and the introduction of an independent body to check these when they are brought back to shore.

Laboratory tests will also be carried out to ensure concrete used for casing is suitable and unlikely to lead to leaks and the fourth standard will involve enhanced measures for dealing with a spill in open water.

Regional president of BP in the Gulf of Mexico James Dupree insisted the steps were being taken to rebuild trust in the company.

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation has also been involved in an oil leak in recent weeks, which affected the water quality in Bohai Bay.

Posted by Joseph Hutton