Gulf Feds Accused of Taking Rig Helo Fuel

Apparently the issue is not "taking" of fuel, but forcing the oil rig operators to sell it to them, thus disrupting their logistics planning:

"The fact that the BSEE, through its helicopter operator, was willing to pay for the fuel was immaterial, Boustany charged, insomuch as the unscheduled and unplanned taking of fuel from rigs in the Gulf can create major logistical difficulties for operators there."​
 
Palmpilot said:
Apparently the issue is not "taking" of fuel, but forcing the oil rig operators to sell it to them, thus disrupting their logistics planning:

"The fact that the BSEE, through its helicopter operator, was willing to pay for the fuel was immaterial, Boustany charged, insomuch as the unscheduled and unplanned taking of fuel from rigs in the Gulf can create major logistical difficulties for operators there."​
Click to expand...
Bloviating from congress critters that think that offshore drilling should be entirely unsupervised. Those platforms go through a lot of fuel, selling a hundred gallons here or there is not going to break their logistics. They just don't want anyone looking over their shoulder.
 
weilke said:
Bloviating from congress critters that think that offshore drilling should be entirely unsupervised. Those platforms go through a lot of fuel, selling a hundred gallons here or there is not going to break their logistics. They just don't want anyone looking over their shoulder.
Click to expand...
Although what you say may be true, the actions described are truly chilling.

I can't imagine what it must be like to deal with a government agency that would threaten to write you up for a violation if you failed to sell them fuel for their helicopters.
 
The horror. Government helicopters terrorizing and strong-arming the helpless little mom and pop offshore oil rigs :rolleyes: My heart really goes out to them.
 
weilke said:
Bloviating from congress critters that think that offshore drilling should be entirely unsupervised. Those platforms go through a lot of fuel, selling a hundred gallons here or there is not going to break their logistics. They just don't want anyone looking over their shoulder.
Click to expand...
I should have said "allegedly" disrupting. :)
 
Just wondering ,if the inspections go better,if you give the choppers fuel,rather than sell it to them?
 
Palmpilot said:
Apparently the issue is not "taking" of fuel, but forcing the oil rig operators to sell it to them, thus disrupting their logistics planning:

"The fact that the BSEE, through its helicopter operator, was willing to pay for the fuel was immaterial, Boustany charged, insomuch as the unscheduled and unplanned taking of fuel from rigs in the Gulf can create major logistical difficulties for operators there."​
Click to expand...
I don't know how accurate the article is, but it doesn't say anywhere that the BSEE paid or offered to pay for the fuel. The part you quote suggests they might be willing to pay for the fuel, but the article uses the words "take" and "seize," and not "buy." Regardless, it isn't theirs. You want to inspect the rigs? Bring enough fuel for a round trip.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Although what you say may be true, the actions described are truly chilling.

I can't imagine what it must be like to deal with a government agency that would threaten to write you up for a violation if you failed to sell them fuel for their helicopters.
Click to expand...

If the coast Guard wants to board you and you just keep steaming without regard for the safety of the boarding party, you are going to get a violation too.
These companies operate under federal leases. It is not unreasonable to expect them to cooperate with inspections by the party that gave them the lease.
 
The all powerful government grants us all rights we have, per the constitution. These evil corporations must yield to the whims of the agencies that harass er, "inspect" them. Fuel must be surrendered, be happy and obey our overlords.
 
How many of you guys have actually worked offshore and have experience and knowledge of the logistics?
 
weilke said:
If the coast Guard wants to board you and you just keep steaming without regard for the safety of the boarding party, you are going to get a violation too.
These companies operate under federal leases. It is not unreasonable to expect them to cooperate with inspections by the party that gave them the lease.
Click to expand...
This is not what is happening. The offshore platform crew is not denying access in any way to the govt inspectors. They are expressing an unwillingness to give up their (probably very limited) stores of aviation fuel to operations which are not advancing the mission of the platform. I have worked on offshore platforms. On the platforms I worked on, just the presence of a "visiting" chopper would cause many logistical problems, since we could only handle one heli at a time.
 
paflyer said:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist...
Click to expand...
Wow! When did they start sending oil rig operators to death camps? :eek:
 
paflyer said:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist...
Click to expand...

You 'Godwin'd' a thread about an accounting issue in the oil industry. That takes talent.
 
ollopa said:
The horror. Government helicopters terrorizing and strong-arming the helpless little mom and pop offshore oil rigs :rolleyes: My heart really goes out to them.
Click to expand...

What does the size of the company have to do with the regulator's lack of proper planning to do their jobs without needing to take supplies from the regulated? You don't mind if the next cop who gives you a ticket siphons a little gas from your car to get back to the station, right? LOL.

Oh wait... I forgot. It's our job to make government's life easier. All big companies are full of boogie men and government regulators wear capes and save the children.

Anyway, besides all that...

Let's see... If we give a lease to these guys, where do you suppose they'll put the rig?

Oh, maybe right where the form they sent us says they're going to put it...

Okay, we need to get a helicopter there and back to do our jobs...

Our helicopter can't make that round trip without refueling...

Where should we put our refueling station...?

Doesn't seem like rocket science from here.

Sounds like someone did a **** poor job of logistics and travel planning to do their regulatory job.

Last I checked, our government owns thousands of helicopters capable of in-flight refueling, and ships with landing pads.

They also don't seem to have any real limits on spending to buy them.

As you say, my heart really goes out to them... Poor dears.
 
When the Coast Guard is doing a deep water search its not uncommon to use Oil Patch Fuel...Its also common around here for Coastie's to pull medical evacs off deep water boats, oil rigs and cruise ships...having the pit stop to do it at 250 miles vs 100mile offshore is a life saver...but that's a whole different situation than the article discusses...
 
I think it is more likely that they hired so many inspectors that they short fuel to make it out to the rigs.
 
PaulS said:
I think it is more likely that they hired so many inspectors that they short fuel to make it out to the rigs.
Click to expand...


More likely they are frugal in procurement and chartered fairly light helos. Full fuel payloads for overwater operations (with popup floats, suits etc.) can be pretty low. If they could use something like the USCGs Jayhawks, they wouldn"t have to refuel on their inspection runs.

They contract for this service with off shore helo operators (the 2014 notice mentions ERA). Sounds like the losing bidder (PHI?) now tries to mess with them.

These operators signed their leases knowing that they had to support the bureaus operations:

§ 250.132 What must I do when BSEE conducts an inspection?
(a) When BSEE conducts an inspection, you must provide:
(1) Access to all platforms, artificial islands, and other installations on your leases or associated with your lease, right-of-use and easement, or right-of-way; and
(2) Helicopter landing sites and refueling facilities for any helicopters we use to regulate offshore operations.

Btw. The notice states that ERA will pay for the fuel. So no 'taking' is taking place. As for their logistics, they know they are getting inspected, just need to take a little extra.

BSEE wants to avoid extra fuel stops on off-shore platforms with contract fuel. Not an unreasonable motivation if you care about the safety of your staff.

 
Last edited:
Warlock said:
When the Coast Guard is doing a deep water search its not uncommon to use Oil Patch Fuel...Its also common around here for Coastie's to pull medical evacs off deep water boats, oil rigs and cruise ships...having the pit stop to do it at 250 miles vs 100mile offshore is a life saver...but that's a whole different situation than the article discusses...
Click to expand...
Yes, Coast Guard search and rescue and medevac ops are a whole different situation. And I can assure you that any platform crew would bend over backwards to help those. No question.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top