Offshore rigs receive new mooring rules

WASHINGTON – Hoping to prevent drilling rigs from bobbing around the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a hurricane, federal regulators have issued new rules aimed at strengthening the moorings for such equipment. The Minerals Management Service says 19 moored drilling rigs and another nine jack-up drilling rigs experienced what regulators called “total failure of station-keeping ability” after hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita blew through the Gulf.