Troubling testimony from BP engineer warrants Justice Department's attention [View All]

[G_j]

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/06/troubling_testimony_from_bp_en.html

Troubling testimony from BP engineer warrants Justice Department's attention: An editorial

A key question in the investigation of the Deepwater Horizon's blowout is whether BP cut corners to save money in drilling the well at the expense of safety.


<snip>

In an e-mail to Mr. Hafle and other BP engineers, Haliburton representative Jesse Gagliano argued the well needed more components to keep the tubes properly centered in the drilled hole -- a crucial factor in achieving a strong cement job. Mr. Gagliano ran a computer model April 15, five days before the well blowout, showing BP's plan would cause problems while Haliburton's proposal would reduce the risk of gas escaping.

BP's response denying Haliburton's suggestion came from Brian Morel, the junior drilling engineer working with Mr. Hafle. "It's a vertical hole, so hopefully the pipe stays centralized due to gravity," Mr. Morel wrote.


<snip>

What emerges from the e-mail is the image of a company hellbent on avoiding any additional costs in the face of a nightmarish well, ignoring numerous warnings of trouble ahead. Even an internal BP document, uncovered by congressional investigators, warned that BP's final design could allow gas to travel up all the way to the seafloor.

..more..