I wasn’t going to do this but I’ve hit a weak moment and my disgust at the reporting on this and BP in general is needing relief.
These accusations about BOP standards, EIAs and such are just plain BS. Every lease sale has an EIA because it is foolish to think that any one 9 square mile block in a region is different from any other block. Almost nobody is on the take, few inspectors will ever be found to be lax. Evidence the SWAT team inspections by MMS after the blowout. The results from these inspections weren’t publicized because they didn’t find but five violations ranging in severity from a paper cup in a trash barrel near a welding station to failure to alternate the control console between BOP test A and B.
The root cause of this disaster is BP’s culture. The immediate fault in this debacle is bad well design and inexperience. For example, you don’t put a trainee on the floor in a decision making capacity like was done on the “Horizon”. An entire industry and ultimately the entire nation will suffer because BP is a bad operator and should be banished from the U.S. I am anxiously waiting to see the spectacle of legions of former oilfield workers protesting in the flowered plaza at BP Westlake Houston. Because of their arrogance over the decades BP has been banished from many places they have worked. In the case of BP, and this incident in particular, phrases like “Normalization of Deviance” and “Success-engendered optimism” come to mind. See the Challenger board of inquiry findings if you want to learn more about these characterizations.
When used correctly the equipment in drilling works as intended and drilling is safe. This disaster need never have happened. If you drive a car through a red light or fly an airplane into the ground does that make cars or airplanes unsafe? Should they be banned because the operators are stupid? If an owner removes the brake lines is it the fault of the brakes that they don’t work? We can never engineer for gross negligence or ignorance nor can we make things idiot proof. Evolution prevents this as God is always building a better idiot since we have violated the laws of survival of the fittest.
One of the major things that keeps rigs out of Norway is the acoustic disconnect which has been considered by anyone who knows anything to be suspect in function. Acoustic disconnects have improved over the years since they now use digital signaling to avoid false positive commands. They still won’t work if the subsea accumulator system is not designed properly and there is no hydraulic energy to close the BOP after the rigid conduit has failed or the charge pumps have no power to charge the system. You have to know your tools and use them correctly. Some don’t.
Far more than 99% of the commentators who are self proclaimed experts only know just barely enough to be dangerous. Dr. Bea is one who comes to mind fitting this category. He is a pitiful image of self aggrandizement.
The DOI report from May 27, 2010 was generated by mostly so called experts most of whom have never set foot on a deep water rig let alone either designed a well or BOP nor been involved in any element of operations. Many of these “experts” are Registered Professional Engineers and many of them should be investigated for having rendered a professional opinion outside their field of expertise. Most of the members of the committee, had they any real integrity, should have excused themselves.
The report is full of feel good half measures that fall into the category of acceptable and prudent oil field practice which will now be codified and paper whipped by know nothing regulators. BP didn’t do these things and their violation of accepted practice will be found to be negligent to grossly negligent.
Moreover, the report finding to declare a moratorium on deep water drilling for at least six months while another group of feel good greenies get their chance for a swipe at the industry that fuels America is downright stupid and misguided. I think it may be intentional by the obastard administration since the effect, while not immediate to most, is a clear and present danger to national security. A six month, and likely longer gap, in the production of the factory (deepwater drilling) that produces a significant and market margin impacting portion of oil used will be felt and it will not be a good feeling. I am astounded that Mr. O’Reilly, former chairman of Chevron, allowed this report to be issued under his name, of course he is not a native American either. No company can afford to pay for a minimum $185,000,000 non-productive cost over the next six months. These rigs will soon leave the Gulf if they can to go to places where the rules are allegedly tighter. Once they leave it is hard to bring them back. This industry does not turn on a dime when economic decisions are at stake. It does turn on that dime when the investment climate becomes hostile as it has in the US now. If the moratorium is not lifted soon I hope you enjoy your $5.00 a gallon gasoline. Oh, I forgot, all of those who are so morally righteous and indignant about offshore drilling or any other drilling for that matter don’t used any petroleum derived energy or products do you?
The problem rests with BP AND the federal government. Regardless of political party in control.
To be indignant that is happened after waivers were given, despite flawed surveys/reports, is unacceptable. Evidently the “experts” assembled are not experts after all.
Both BP and the gov’t are at fault ... STOP the finger pointing and the indignation and solve the problem.
To halt all drilling on land or at sea because of this is also wrong on many levels ... it is an excuse being used to foist personal agendas. It is not in the best interest of the American people, but a certain cliche of people.