[worst-case scenario]

Excellent analysis of how this disaster occurred, written by a knowledgeable expert in the field of oil exploration and engineering.

While it is a scandal that the Department of the Interior greenlighted this project with waivers, the truly despicable actions appear to have been made by BP, They wrecklessly ignored common safety practices and the advice of their own engineers on the rig. Their criminal negligence led to the death of 11 brave men and the destruction of lives and habitats that watch unfolding. Their assurances that they could handle a blowout were just lies - they have no real idea how to stop this.

The entire economy of Louisiana is being ravaged by the moratorium on drilling. What is the alternative, though? To continue drilling even though we now all know that drillers have no way to stop such leaks?

At the very least, all these rigs should install acoustic BOPs - the type that would have shut down this leak and the subsequent explosion, that BP must use elsewhere, and that they eschewed on the Deep Water Horizon as a cost-cutting.

[allmost]

I would appreciate, even a flaming response, that explains the physics behind a pressurized pipe blowing out and self crimping.

[muawiyah]

The conclusion that BP did all sorts of unsafe things just to cut costs is, to a degree, insupportable. They did many unsafe things at the direct and explicit instruction of EPA.

I don't see the Director of EPA escaping the gurney at Terre Haute if a full and fair investigation is done in this event.

[Qwackertoo]

I don’t know about all this but am so looking forward to our trip to Texas in a week and half and the chance to talk to my uncle who has worked in the industry with Baroid, Halliburton, BP and currently HAL for over 35 years onshore and offshore and usually the head Mud Engineer guy and whatever else he does. I *think* his years with BP were offshore LA and down in Venz before Chavez took over everything . . . somewhere South Am and it was dangerous is all I remember as were his days in the Middle East late 70’s early 80’s but nothing like it is NOW.

[Slyfox]

I am sure this detailed report was given to Obama.

A community organizer would have a difficult time comprehending it.

[deport]

At the very least, all these rigs should install acoustic BOPs - the type that would have shut down this leak and the subsequent explosion, that BP must use elsewhere, and that they eschewed on the Deep Water Horizon as a cost-cutting.

---

Imo, A BOP is only as good as its readiness to act when called upon. I seem to remember that there were other things that may have attributed to the BOP failure such as a dead battery, a test ram installed rather than the normal ram, potential tool or joint in the BOP where the ram closure would have occurred.

[RockyMtnMan]

Environmentalist’s forcing wells to be drilled at extreme depths instead of closer to the coast. Better yet, letting oil companies drill on land instead of in the gulf.

[dila813]

The pressures that they were working on are absolutely incredible.

[plain talk]

BP caused this one all right but none of the oil companies had a plan to deal with a blowout like this. None of them.

[onedoug]

Good discussion bump

[HospiceNurse]

I will wait to see the actual analysis from the people with access to all of the facts...not speculation about what might have happened, even informed speculation.

Equipment that was supposed to work didn’t. Did they use foreign casing? Who built the blow-out preventer? Was somebody drunk or stoned? (like on the Exxon Valdez). Did they use approved practices? What did MMS approve? Did Trans-Oceanic employees cause the problem?

As far as I can see BP is the only group actually doing something and the people most critical of them may have had a hand in causing the problem in the first place.

So far, “the greatest environmental disaster ever” hasn’t even happened yet. It is all anticipation and finger pointing. There have been few beach closings. Only 30% of Gulf fishing waters are closed. It is the hype and fear mongering that has caused the current problem. BO’s moratorium based on a lie is hurting people the most.

The lawyers and the Democrats have $20 Billion reasons to promote the disaster as long as they can blame BP for it.

[mnehring]

I read on another website (so take this with a grain of salt) that an engineer who claims to have worked with this project said they may have hit a high pressure pocket that was exponentially greater than anything they experienced before and no amount of government planning or safety equipment could have prevented it with the exception of a time machine. (something like 80k psi versus the 2k psi max equipment is rated at).

[downtownconservative]

Even after there were some indications that all was not well, pumping operations continued. Returns were dumped and the return flow meter was bypassed,so the rig was effectively blind until things started to get quite serious.

Under these strange sets of circumstances, isn't it possible that this was done purposely...that someone in the chain of command on that rig was an activist seeking a disaster...a Crieghton-esque eco-terrorist?

[WKB]

Has anyone out there ever heard from,seen or mentioned the BP company man who was on the DWH when it blew out? I don’t think he is among the missing 11 men. Shouldn’t he be the one on the congressional hot seat?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting this....will put a link on the Gas Bubble thread ....:

Wolf Blitzer: “Billion potential barrels of oil” under BP well; “Could really explode” expert says

[isom35]

that bomb that exploded did noy help a whole lot /s

[broken_arrow1]

Oil ping