Rising cost and risk as oil companies venture into deeper waters

摘要

Built by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Deepwater Horizon was a leading-edge fifth-generation rig able to operate in up to 8,000 feet of water, having recently drilled a world record 32,000 feet deep into the earth's crust. With more companies betting on finding and producing oil in frontier deepwater areas never before attempted, the risk of accidents can only grow.