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VANITY JUST ASKIN': What does it take to cause an offshore oil rig to blow up?
Vanity | 4-30-2010 | Vanity

Posted on 04/30/2010 5:11:34 AM PDT by OKSooner

So what does it take to cause an explosion on an offshore drilling rig?

How many explosions on offshore rigs have there been up 'til now?

Has anyone said anything about what caused this one to blow up?

What if I wanted to go blow up an offshore rig? How would I do it?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: energy; energyfacts; oil
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To: OKSooner
What if I wanted to go blow up an offshore rig? How would I do it?

It strikes me that this isn't exactly the wisest question to ask on a public forum. I'm sure you're not planning to blow one up, but it is the sort of question that can be misconstrued. Just sayin'.

21 posted on 04/30/2010 5:29:31 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: OKSooner
These rigs are inherently dangerous. They have all kinds of chemicals on board and there's always a danger of a natural gas leak, blowout, or crude oil leak. They have hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel stored on board. It just takes a small leak and a spark.
22 posted on 04/30/2010 5:29:38 AM PDT by mbynack (Retired USAF SMSgt)
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To: subterfuge

Yesterday obama called it an “incident”, not an accident and not a disaster

compare his reaction to his “blame- the big company and GOP lack of regulation” rhetoric after the mine disaster

and his delayed and controlled rhetoric after the underwear bomber, too, btw

swat teams ordered out to all rigs today- interesting choice of terms


23 posted on 04/30/2010 5:29:43 AM PDT by silverleaf (Karl Marx was not one of the founding fathers ....)
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Man, I had forgotten that these guys would rock when they got into a groove.
24 posted on 04/30/2010 5:31:38 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: mbynack

and that is why there is a such a history of this type of disaster happening ... right


25 posted on 04/30/2010 5:31:51 AM PDT by silverleaf (Karl Marx was not one of the founding fathers ....)
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To: combat_boots

I’d be interested in what they find, Boots.
Surprized? No, but interested.


26 posted on 04/30/2010 5:32:33 AM PDT by ozark hilljilly (When will you have enough, Mr. Obama?)
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To: OKSooner

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste, and what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you didn’t think you could do before.”

Go ahead. Ask all the questions you want. With the current WH bunch, tin foil becomes mandatory. Remember, some are even Truthers...


27 posted on 04/30/2010 5:33:31 AM PDT by LRS (Just contracts; just laws; just a constitution...)
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To: Jemian; OKSooner

The timing of this was highly coincidental. and convenient.

############

You know, I was thinking the same thing myself. Two of the areas that we have been fighting for to do domestically ie coal & oil, all of a sudden are having fatal problems connected to them. There has, all of a sudden, been two coal mining disasters, which have taken lives. Now, an oil rig blows, & has taken lives...aside from the horrible results that will stem from the oil spilling out into the ocean & drifting to shore.

Could these disasters be used to sway the masses away from domestic mining & oil production?


28 posted on 04/30/2010 5:34:36 AM PDT by Atom Smasher
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To: silverleaf
This one lacked the safety switch it should have had. http://www.americas-watchdog.com/deepwater-horizon-oil-rig-lacked-acoustic-safety-switch/

Burning off natural gas is pretty common in drilling, see it around here all the time.

It seems to be the simplest and most probable explanation. While it isn't common, it does happen.

Personally, I don't buy stock in tin foil until there is at least a little evidence I need to.

29 posted on 04/30/2010 5:35:13 AM PDT by mnehring
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To: Jemian

A robo sub to disable the blowoff preventer then one suicidal worker with a road flare just guessin’


30 posted on 04/30/2010 5:36:31 AM PDT by omega4179 (www.jdforsenate.com)
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To: OKSooner

Probably the same thing that caused a refinery to blow up today. Article on FR about it right now. Sorry, no link. Two mines, a Gulf oil rig and now a refinery in about 4 weeks. Nothing suspicious about that is there(especially with swat teams being deployed to other oil rigs)?


31 posted on 04/30/2010 5:36:44 AM PDT by calex59
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To: OKSooner
Sadly, oil rig fires and explosions happen more often than you realize. This event doesn’t even make the top 20 for deaths.

http://home.versatel.nl/the_sims/rig/index.htm

As many as shown at the link, far more fires occur and are put out before they become a problem.

32 posted on 04/30/2010 5:37:48 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: mnehring

oh OK, then the Homeland Security swat teams sent yesterday are just out there checking the hardware

no worries


33 posted on 04/30/2010 5:38:17 AM PDT by silverleaf (Karl Marx was not one of the founding fathers ....)
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To: silverleaf

Not as uncommon as you think if you research instead of relying on the media for your information. Since 2001, there have been 69 offshore deaths, 1,349 injuries and 858 fires and explosions in the Gulf, according to the federal Minerals Management Service. This one was bigger, yep, but these type of events happen.


34 posted on 04/30/2010 5:38:33 AM PDT by mnehring
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To: mad_as_he$$

If it’s so damned easy why doesn’t it happen all the time? When is the last time one blew up?


35 posted on 04/30/2010 5:38:48 AM PDT by calex59
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To: Non-Sequitur
Rigs must be some of the MOST dangerous places on earth and if mishaps occur, the most difficult places to reach and carry out rescue or recovery.

It IS suspicious that this happened NOW.

Given the many hazards inherent to off-shore drilling and the near impossibility of an accurate assessment causes, Liberals WILL take the most shameful advantage of the whole thing..... whether this WAS an accident or NOT!!

It is a set back for off-shore drilling and couldn't be worse timed. It is a tragedy for the men lost and their families, but the media will shove THAT story under the carpet.

36 posted on 04/30/2010 5:39:07 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What luck for rulers that men do not think. " Adolph Hitler)
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To: silverleaf

I chalk that up to a dumba** president looking for political cookies.


37 posted on 04/30/2010 5:39:17 AM PDT by mnehring
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To: justsaynomore

Yeah, Vice President Biden hasn’t been the highest ranking U. S. official attending funerals on behalf of the U. S.


38 posted on 04/30/2010 5:39:31 AM PDT by savedbygrace (Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord)
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To: calex59

858 fires and explosions, just on Gulf Rigs, since 2001. They just aren’t given MSM coverage.


39 posted on 04/30/2010 5:40:17 AM PDT by mnehring
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To: Maceman

I was thinking the same thing and have been standing by to see if this thread gets blowed-up by the AdminMods? (ala ZOTTAGE)


40 posted on 04/30/2010 5:40:39 AM PDT by Ludicrous
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