Three major US oil and gas trade associations have formed two new task forces to address offshore oil spill preparedness and response. The task forces will review subsea and surface spill response actions and issue recommendations, according to the American Petroleum Institute, Independent Petroleum Association of America, and National Ocean Industries Association."A recurring theme raised by the ongoing spill in the Gulf of Mexico is that the technology exists to drill successfully in deeper and deeper water, but the technology to respond to the release of oil in these environments appears not to have kept pace," said NOIA Pres. Randall B. Luthi, who introduced the idea for the...