Leaking Oil Well Lacked Safeguard Device

online.wsj.com...

The oil well spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico didn't have a remote-control shut-off switch used in two other major oil-producing nations as last-resort protection against underwater spills. The lack of the device, called an acoustic switch, could amplify concerns over the environmental impact of offshore drilling after the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig last week.

An acoustic trigger costs about $500,000, industry officials said. The Deepwater Horizon had a replacement cost of about $560 million, and BP says it is spending $6 million a day to battle the oil spill. On Wednesday, crews set fire to part of the oil spill in an attempt to limit environmental damage. Some major oil companies, including Royal Dutch Shell PLC and France's Total SA, sometimes use the device even where regulators don't call for it.

I have searched and have not found a thread on this . The worst oil spill in U.S. history , one that most likely will destroy our southern coast line for the next 25 years , could have been prevented but BP decided installing the acoustic safety switch was too costly.
www.americas-watchdog.com...

it's used everywhere else in the world, but the US overview of drilling got sloppy by lobbying.

I have been reading a thread at an oil driller forum that mentioned that it could have been prevented by a computer simulation.

Just too much pressure down there, and no news about the dome...

seems it could have been prevented no matter what the cost... enough is spent on things that aren't as crucial!