The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[OakesCS]

the speculations that BP's GAB wells could produce Macondo-like hazards to near shore aquaculture and fisheries are completely fallacious. 1. The closest of BP's exploration wells is about 200 km offshore (>2x the proximity of the Macondo well) and 2. the currents there would sweep any spills to the east and the nearest land in that direction is about 300 km.

The weather and currents would potentially pose problems but as links below show, folks have been drilling in the Bight for ~50 yrs. Most of those wells were much closer to land and the local human populations
http://www.petroleum.statedevelopment.sa.gov.au/frequently_asked_questions/Petroleum_Exploration_in_the_Great_Australian_Bight

http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/energy/province-sedimentary-basin-geology/petroleum/offshore-southern-australia/bight#heading-5

this link seems to indicate that BP's GAB plans have been on the political rocks for a while
http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/bp-files-second-plan-for-great-australian-bight-drilling/