Repsol Makes Adjustments Before Drilling

HAVANA TIMES, Feb 7 — Technical difficulties with the Scarabeo 9 oil rig now set up off the coast of Cuba were reported last week by the US Department of the Interior’s Office of Environmental Safety and Inspection, said agency director Lars Herbst.

According to the Miami-based Café Fuerte website today, the deficiencies would have been enough to halt drilling in US waters.

However the company behind the project, Repsol YPF, said on Monday that it has taken all necessary security measures before beginning exploration off the Cuban coast, adding that it aims to ensure its performance meets international standards.

Last week the platform began drilling a well in the Exclusive Economic Zone, located 22 miles north of Havana. The work start-up was attended by the president of Repsol, though this visit was not mentioned in the Cuban press.