Posted on 06/12/2010 9:23:59 AM PDT by justapicker
This is the most concise explanation of the cause and events leading to the blowout I have seen. Samson is among the most well-regarded exploration companies within that business community and its president has strong words for BP. Bottom line: bad decisions under pressure.
Excerpt:
"Mr. Haywood, chief executive officer of British Petroleum, asks, "How could this happen?" The answer has largely to do with BP's inability to follow its existing well-construction policies and those of the industry generally...
Mr. Hayward and BP have taken the position that this tragedy is all about a fail-safe blow-out preventer (BOP) failing, but in reality the BOP is really the backup system, and yes we expect that it will work. However, all of the industry practice and construction systems are aimed at ensuring that one never has to use that device ...
This well failed its casing integrity test and nothing was done. The data collected during a critical operation to monitor hydrocarbon inflow was ignored and nothing was done. This spill is about human failure and it is time BP put its hand up and admitted that."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Most of the things that happened here are examples of what well control schools try to prevent. Any one of the signs of an impending blowout should have been enough to get the full attention of BP personnel on sight and those in communication with the rig. I can't imagine what result they hoped for by ignoring the signs of pending disaster.
“To save money?”
It seems I read somewhere else that it would have cost an additional million to either run more tests or re-do the cement casing. It reminds me of the Hubble, where they decided to save about a million by not doing a final test & then had to spend millions to visit the Hubble in space & essentially add ‘glasses’ because the lense wasn’t correct.
Typical foolish human behavior...
BINGO!
“...So you want a computer program to override human incompetence, not gonna happen.”
No. I want more safeguards in BOP design or at least the designs to be carefully reviewed. Here is a link about possible BOP design problems. I do not have any expertise in BOP design so I say possible BOP design problems.
http://www.businessinsider.com/bp-mistakes-2010-5#bp-knowingly-used-a-faulty-blow-out-preventer-5
Great. Tell BP to stop spending for advertising on AM radio for PR damage control and spend the money on a new and improved BOP.
Excellent article, great post. Too bad more folks don’t read it before...
Excellent article, and excellent comment from FreePaul.
The major bad calls or non calls came from the folks at the very top. not the workers or even the on site company man.
A tool like a BOP is not a substitute for responsible management.
Rather than relying on the shark repellent in the life jacket, it is better to work like hell to keep the boat from sinking. IMHO
TWB
Fantastic article. Definitely one to pass around.
Thank you for the ping. Clear and concise. I’m saving that one.
Nothing replaces competence. Competence allows one to recognize that something has gone wrong, and the confidence to proceed to correct any failures before doing anything else. Competence keeps one from forging ahead on the basis of wishful thinking, or adhering to the pressure of a schedule no matter what. Someone, or many someones, should have called a halt, a review of what was happening before going forward. Possibly this mess need never have happened, if this writer is correct.
Bump
One thing sticking in my mind is the unexpected pro-offshore drilling statement from Obama - about a week before the blowup.
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