Marlin Strikes Back Against Big Oil and Halts BP’s Oil Exports!

In the ultimate show of nature strikes back, BP has halted exports of Plutonio crude oil out of Angola after a 14-foot marlin allegedly “attacked” a floating oil facility. Blue Marlins are among the world’s fastest fish species, and this particular fish was certainly on a mission. Using its large speared nose, the marlin punctured a hole in a hose responsible for connecting the rig’s storage, production, and offloading facility. Whoops!

As a result of this brutal attack on BP, some 900,000 barrels of oil were kept from market. This particular oil facility has the capacity to pump $20 million worth of oil per day. How ever will the oil giant recover? Well, BP has declared a “force majure” to avoid penalties from not making their contracted number of monthly output. Thank goodness. But after all, BP is pretty good at finding legal loopholes to avoid paying damages…

This is also not the first reported fish attack on the Plutonio facility. In 2009, a school of swordfish punctured hoses used to load tankers. While it may look like marine life are in fact plotting against BP, the more likely explanation is that these oil facilities are located in marine life hot spots. Offshore facilities are likely to attract aquatic animals that see the floating platforms like as a big metal coral reef.

If history has taught us nothing, this shows “if you build it, they will come.” Next time you might want to consider using a heavier hose, BP. Just a thought.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons