Gulf Struggles to Recover From Rita

Silence isn't golden when it comes to the oil-and-gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico.

Recent reports from the Minerals Management Service, the arm of the Department of Interior that tracks production in the Gulf of Mexico, show little improvement in oil or natural gas production since Rita ripped through the Western Gulf of Mexico a week ago. Nearly all oil production and over 79% of natural gas production is still off-line across the Gulf of Mexico production belt.

Although early reports were sanguine on the recovery prospects in the wake of Rita, reality is different. Nearly a dozen rigs were damaged, many tossing in the open Gulf of Mexico dragging anchor chain and other below-water components along the sea floor, likely damaging pipelines and gather systems.

That is only one problem that will affect the recovery; there are a handful of others that will affect the speed of recovery. ...