The energy industry really rose to the challenge following Macondo, including with investments made in Helix Containment Solutions and Marine Well Containment. In 2011, we refocused the Department of Energy research and development program towards environmental stability and safety, and looked at the issues that arose from Deepwater Horizon and also those that may be around the corner. It’s a moving playing field. Ongoing collaboration with industry ensures government is doing the right thing. Technology keeps moving and we’re producing from formations and reservoirs that would have been unthinkable years ago and that’s because industry does a very good job at marshaling capital resources, research and development.
Christopher A Smith, Acting Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy, US Department of Energy