The following link provides a list of oil rig disasters:
http://home.versatel.nl/the_sims/rig/losses.htm
The list includes 61 disasters on rigs located in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) since 1956.
The most recent rig disasters in the GOM were ALL due to hurricanes (16 rigs lost since 2005)
The last rig lost to an accident in the GOM was the collapse of the Parker 14-J rig in September 2003, after a jacking mechanism failed. No lives lost. Technically, this was an accident that occured as part of the installation of a new rig.
The last rig in the GOM to have a blowout was in 2001 (Marine IV).
The last rig in the GOM to have a blowout and a fire was in 1999 (NFX Platform A).
How dare you cloud the issue with common sense, logic and facts!!!
SHEEESH!!!!!