BP cost cuts may have caused big Alaska oil spill

[catgirl]

Source: Reuters


NEW YORK (Reuters) - A powerful congressional committee said on Monday it had evidence that deep cost cuts at oil major BP Plc may have been a major factor behind pipeline corrosion that caused the largest ever onshore oil spill in Alaska last year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Over 200,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from a corroded oil transit pipeline at the 400,000 barrels per day Prudhoe Bay oil field in March 2006, sparking a congressional probe into BP's corrosion prevention practices, as well as a federal criminal investigation.

snip

However, BP e-mails and other documents "suggest that budget pressures were severe enough that some BP field managers were considering... reducing corrosion inhibitor to save money," wrote Rep. John Dingell (news, bio, voting record), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a letter sent to BP on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070430/pl_nm/bp_alaska_congress_dc;_ylt=Aq84lbPtx9L_sqXRPibkGc3MWM0F

---

Reducing corrosion inhibitor to save money....

[Judi Lynn]

1. These companies know well enough not to damage the earth, and most surely

not to cut back on costs that are needed to protect their workers, as they did in the Texas City Refinery. From the article:

BP has faced severe criticism in the United States since March 2005, when an explosion at its Texas City, Texas refinery killed 15 workers and injured scores more. The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said in its final report on the accident that BP cost cuts were a major contributing factor to an unsafe environment at the refinery.
(snip)

Why not start removing these criminals from the places where they bring harm to others, and destroy other life?

They will do this endlessly, knowing any fine is hardly worth considering. More serious measures were needed years and years ago. They should NOT be allowed to continue without deep changes.

[boilinmad]

2. Can you imagine....

.....BUDGET PRESSURES????....on an industry that makes BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of dollars in PROFITS. More, more, more.....this out of control greediness is making me sick.......:puke:

[CatholicEdHead]

4. Yep, to keep that profit margin as high as possible

not just pass records but smash them. While huge profits are being made, those who toil day to day at BP don't see much of an increase in their own pay.

[sakabatou]

5. It's money, not safety

that is their concern... -_-

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. It was just reported the CEO is resigning

Connected? Most probably.