Oil Rig Heading To Florida Straits

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Less than two years after the BP oil spill left the Gulf Coast reeling, a new semi-submersible oil rig is set to begin drilling in the Florida Straits around mid-December.

According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, the rig could arrive sooner than then, but the Spanish oil company operating the rig, Repsol, will not start the drilling until after hurricane season ends.

But, if there's a problem with the oil rig, the company will have to turn elsewhere for help. Because it's a Cuban oil property, the U.S. may not be able to help immediately due to the U.S. embargo on the country, according to the Herald.

A group of international businesses have started asking the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments to relax rules to make it easier for U.S. companies to help Cuba if a spill or emergency develops, the Herald reported.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)