What Obama said is true. There have been many advances and drilling is much safer than it was in, say, the 1920s or so. Few 'spills' (generally the result of high pressure causing a 'gusher') and many fewer deaths and injuries among the workers on the drilling platform. Improvements have continued to be made.

I believe he was ignorant, however, of the dangers in deep water drilling and drilling in general- as we all are except those in the industry or concerned closely with the industry.
He also was ignorant of MMS policies, relying, as leaders do, on what his adwisors said.

That being said, he must now see that improvements are made in the regulatory bodies and that they make 'informed' decisions, and that dangerous situations are recognized and avoided.