Ask CBS News: How Many Offshore Rigs are There?

All this week in our ongoing "Ask CBS News" segment, we've answered your questions about the Gulf oil spill. Viewers can leave questions on "CBS Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric's Twitter page or the CBS News Facebook page.

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Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf

Tonight we answered another one of your questions.

A viewer asked: "How many more of these offshore rigs are drilling around our coastal waters? And how many do not meet safety regulations?"

CBS News Investigative Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson answered: We asked the Interior Department, and they said there are 3,500 drilling rigs and platforms, 79 of them deepwater wells. Just 62 inspectors nationwide so that works out to about an average of each inspector being responsible for 56 rigs. We don't know how many of them may not meet the regulations, but if the government thinks they're a big problem, they're supposed to shut those rigs down. We do know the Deepwater Horizon somehow slipped through.

More Oil Spill Questions and Answers

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[news4watcher]

Why can't BP get large ships with some kind of vaccum system, draw up the oil and water from the surface and the underwater plumes and release the water back into the ocean? It may not clear it all but it would prevent it from spreading to the coast.

[bankersvox]

The irony is, that this disaster spill is because of WHACKO GREENIES ~ No one would be drilling one mile down, if they allowed drilling in Alaska and near shore ! or get this ON LAND ! Where these kinds of "accidents" would not be possible.

"Environmentalist miss the point-Drill only where you can SEE the Spigot !"

"Fess Up, Drill Close , Drill on Land - Greens in RETREAT - Fiasco at their Doorstep - Angry Citizens Want Answers - What Did you think would happen ! "

"Stop stupid wind and solar utopian ideas, as power costs skyrocket ! We want SAFE OIL - Land, and NEAR the SHORE - No long distance drilling or huge cargo tankers - what do you think would happen ! Greenies called IDIOTS by PRESIdENT !"

"Backlash Mounts as Oil Spills - Who is to blame ? Americans demand Answers and SAFE OIL NEAR SHORE !"

"Build more SAFE OiL PUMPS Public demands "

" Why can we have 100s of Nuclear Powered SHips but not one new Nuclear Powered City ? Public Demands Lower Costs and Less Risky Deep Oil Fiascos !"

[barbaram99]

So they put over 3500 wells rigs,platforms out there in water with no thouhgt of maintaining them..
Years ago drivers would go to a certain place to pay the guy to pass the car without looking it to see to it the car passed..It was an unsafe thing to do..I was a preteen qhen adults talked about. They bought a sticker. that was puy in the window.
They could have done the with them oil wells.Cauld they lied about the wells.. .Sure it is wrong if done..

[bobhobbs]

If there are 78 other deepwater wells, what are the chances of having another "accident" in one of them?

[wjksea]

rightbehind June 12, 2010 9:28 AM EDT
Don't forget, "government is the problem" ronny raygun.
----------------------------------------------------

Indeed it is when multinational corporations OWN the politicians and the activist corporate supreme court.

[rickwar]

In a nutshell here is the problem

"they said there are 3,500 drilling rigs and platforms, 79 of them deepwater wells. Just 62 inspectors nationwide so that works out to about an average of each inspector being responsible for 56 rigs"

Under Bush government grew, yet regulatory and inspections decreased, and not just in this department, virtually all. The results lay before us.

[rightbehind]

Don't forget, "government is the problem" ronny raygun.

[dontknowitall]

We do know the Deep Horizon somehow slipped through..Or as it is called "Who greased who's palm".

[williamsjohn333]

CBS News brings you the latest breaking world news, national news, political, business and entertainment news, as well as stories..BS News brings you the latest breaking world news, national news, political, business and entertainment news, as well as stories from 60 Minutes

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[wjksea]

thy_only-king June 11, 2010 9:24 PM EDT
Obama knows nothing about oil rigs.
How is he going to take over.
He needs to see that his inspectors
are doing their job.
---------------------------------------------
Your comment is confusing. Obama knows nothing but he needs to make his inspectors do their job at what? Inspecting something they know nothing about? ... I guess if Obama doesn't know anything but it's his job and he's failed then we the tax payer need to bail out this multinational corporation because it's our fault?