Cementing Process

Halliburton Maritime Workers During Cementing Process

To understand the possible causes of the Transocean oil drilling disaster, a basic explanation of the disaster is needed.   The Deepwater Horizon was a semi-submersible drilling rig that was connected to the sea floor via a drilling string and a series of blowout preventer valves which were connected via a cementing process to the well head. During operation, an explosion occurred, starting a fire on and eventually sinking, the drilling rig.   Due to the failure of drilling equipment, there is a deepwater oil leak releasing an estimated 5,000+ barrels of oil per day into the gulf coast.

Haliburton and Cementing

Cementing, the term given to a complex procedure designed to leak-seal the wellhead of a deepwater drilling operation, is often performed by the Houston-based Halliburton Company.   If not done properly, the sealing process can leave weak points in the piping, allowing oil or other contaminants to leak in.   The cementing process is vital to the safety and function of the deepwater drilling process.

Recent statements by the disaster investigation team have implied that cementing may be a cause or factor in the Transocean rig’s failure.   The exact cause has yet to be determined, but high level Halliburton executives have been called to speak in front of the Congressional Energy and Commerce Committee.   Recent studies have indicated that in the last 14 years, cementing failures have been contributing factors in 18 of the last 39 oil well blowouts.

If you have suffered a personal loss or injury due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the maritime injury attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP can help.   Contact a maritime attorney online at Arnold & Itkin LLP or call our maritime law office toll free at 877-398-4972.   We will discuss your concerns and provide a candid evaluation of your claim, all as part of a free consultation.