SMU Part of Governor's Offshore Drilling Think Tank

By BJ Austin, KERA News

Dallas, TX – SMU is one of half-a-dozen Texas universities joining Governor Rick Perry's "Gulf Project." It's a coalition of scientists and researchers working to develop the next generation in offshore drilling safety and response.

SMU's Bruce Bullock says the Maguire Energy Institute will look at training and workforce development. They'll begin with an analysis of the B-P Deepwater Horizon crew.

Bullock: There were decisions made. People made decisions to do things or not do things. Why did they make those decisions? Were they trained? Would training and development help these teams that are on rigs to perform at a higher level, to make better decisions as they go forward?

Bullock says this research on drilling safety will also extend to the Barnett Shale, and other natural gas fields. Governor Perry wants the private sector to fund the new technologies and methods identified by the "Project."

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