“Government investigators describe a situation in which BP repeatedly had to make “risk-based decisions,” and in every instance chose the least expensive option even though it potentially elevated the risk. That steadily whittled away at the margin of error until there was no margin left and gas found a spark on the Deepwater Horizon.”
As I have been saying on all of these threads, it is amazing to me how BP was ALWAYS taking the “it will be okay” view on all of their data coming in. They had known for MONTHS that this was a problem well. And the folks on the rig (drillers, etc.) argued with them at each point.
Pressure spike? “It is leveling out - keep removing the mud”.
Alarms? “Computer is acting up, keep going.”
Another pressure spike? “Thats what the pinchers are for.”
That last quote is direct from the BP company man from earlier testimony in replying to arguing on the rig with the driller.
And MANY of the earlier things (less stringent BOP tests, thinner casing, etc.) was done with the okay of the Federal regulators.
That's not quite the testimony. The statement wasn't made by the BP company man, it was made by the driller in response to the Company Man's order to displace the mud with seawater. The direct quote is, "I guess that's what the pinchers are for".
I wonder if this is about how Chernobyl played out, only without anyone arguing with their superiors...