History seems to be repeating itself. Once again, Transocean
The latest crisis
This time, it's a leak of almost 3,000 barrels in eight days in the Campos Basin, off the Brazilian coast, from a well operated by Chevron
Keep in mind that the current spill comes at a time when the rig maker has yet to reach a settlement with BP
On a positive note, unlike BP, Chevron has accepted full responsibility for the leak by admitting to a miscalculation of the pressures while targeting the concerned reservoir. To a large extent, this should remove the burden of responsibility from Transocean's shoulders. But what really can't be taken for granted is a political backlash leading to a further loss of reputation.
Calculated moves
Given that offshore drilling is picking up across the globe as onshore reserves are fast getting depleted, exploration and production companies will be wary of employing the services of Transocean. This is where management needs to carefully weigh its options.
Take the Campos Basin alone: More than 80% of Brazil crude oil is produced here. The recent Tupi oil field discovery, which is three times larger, has yet to figure prominently in terms of production. State-owned Petrobras
Foolish bottom line
It'll be interesting to see how Transocean reacts to the latest crisis. The best possible way out is to follow Chevron's footsteps and accept full responsibility. Still, that could be far-fetched, given the company's past responses in similar situations.
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