(Waxman) BP probe finds warning signs before explosion

[kpete]

Source: Financial Times

BP probe finds warning signs before explosion

By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington

Published: May 26 2010 01:05 | Last updated: May 26 2010 01:05

A preliminary internal investigation by BP has found that there were “several new warning signs of problems” in the hours before the Deepwater Horizon explosion, according to US lawmakers who were briefed by the company on Tuesday.

A memo released by Democrats on the House energy committee said that BP has found three “flow indicators” from the well before the explosion, one of which occurred 51 minutes before the blast, a time when more fluid began to flow out of the well than was being pumped in. When the pump was shut down, 41 minutes before the explosion, the well continued to flow instead of stopping, and drill pipe pressure “unexpectedly increased”. Then, just 18 minutes before the explosion, abnormal pressures were observed by the rig crew. Eleven men died as a result of the explosion.

Henry Waxman, chairman of the energy committee, and Bart Stupak, another top lawmaker on the committee, said the new information indicated that the crew may have attempted mechanical interventions to control the pressure, to no avail.

“BP’s preliminary findings indicate that there were other events in the 24 hours before the explosion that require further inquiry,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/87cd590e-6859-11df-a52f-00144feab49a.html

[Skink]

1. Hmmm.

:shrug:

[LaPera]

2. The greedy BP needs to be charged with murder! They are responsible for the deaths

of 11 men...that is murder directly or indirectly!

[CountAllVotes]

3. BP = terrorists on American soil

arrest these criminals and water board them all!

:kick:

[ProSense]

4. BP Cites Crucial 'Mistake'

Source: Wall Street Journal

Oil giant BP PLC told congressional investigators that a decision to continue work on an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico after a test warned that something was wrong may have been a "fundamental mistake," according to a memo released by two lawmakers Tuesday.

The document describes a wide array of mistakes in the fateful final hours aboard the Deepwater Horizon—but the main revelation is that BP now says there was a clear warning sign of a "very large abnormality" in the well, but work proceeded anyway.

The rig exploded about two hours later.

The congressional memo outlines what the lawmakers say was a briefing for congressional staff by BP officials early Tuesday. Company representatives provided a preliminary report on their internal investigation of the April 20 disaster, which killed 11 workers and continues to spill thousands of barrels of oil daily into the Gulf of Mexico.


Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704026204575265701607603066.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign_4

[Webster Green]

5. Yes, we watched 60 minutes.

Say goodbye to your fucking predator corporation assholes!

[gateley]

8. I hope you're right, but I just read where buying BP stock is a good opportunity -

apparently the money men feel it will survive and prosper. Vultures. After all, look how cheaply Exxon got off and they're making billions.

[Webster Green]

10. Yeah, I know.

You're probably right. Makes me feel better ranting like that though. :banghead:

[gateley]

13. Understood. Carry on. nt

[PSPS]

6. "continues to spill thousands of barrels of oil daily"

"The congressional memo outlines what the lawmakers say was a briefing for congressional staff by BP officials early Tuesday. Company representatives provided a preliminary report on their internal investigation of the April 20 disaster, which killed 11 workers and continues to spill thousands of barrels of oil daily into the Gulf of Mexico."

As usual, WSJ slants stories to suit its advertisers, like BP itself! Saying this "continues to spill thousands of barrels of oil daily" is like saying Niagra Falls has "thousands of gallons of water spilling over it daily."

[DJ13]

7. Ah, a 'mistake'.... well that makes it all better

NOT.

[global1]

9. But Who Made The Mistake Is The Question? BP, Transocean Or Halliburton?.....

Do they say which company made the 'crucial' mistake. Do you think they are trying to lay the blame on Transocean or Halliburton or are they willing to admit that it was their own people that made this 'crucial' mistake?

[Doctor_J]

11. To paraphrase the right-wing crzies,

prosecute them all, and let God sort them out

[Dappleganger]

12. "We Fucked Up"

No shit.

[iamjoy]

14. Ya Think?

A mistake is when you step on someone's toes in a crowded elevator or put a tad too much garlic in the sauce you're making for dinner.

[defendandprotect]

15. This may conincide with the Schlumberger/? whistleblowers' report on what happened ..... ???

Evidently a company -- highly respected -- which certifies that everything has been

done properly was called in -- think he name was Schlumberger?

Someone wrote about this maybe a week ago at DU --

This whistleblower told the story --

Anyway they were called out to the rig to certify --

They found the well "still kicking" and wouldn't sign off for final stage.

They evidently felt it was a dangerous situation and called to have their personnel

removed from the rig -- BP was denying them means to leave -- helicopter?

Schlumberger personnel called their corporation and helicopter was sent out for them.

I think it was something like 6 hours later that the well blew?

Perhaps someone can connect the original article with this one?

[rudy23]

16. Here are those links you're speaking of, I believe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8340018

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6464

[defendandprotect]

18. Thanks for the links to the DU info . . . don't know if these articles are

connected to this post -- but nonetheless, won't hurt to have more people

read about the original Schlumberger event.

Thanks again -- always plan to learn how the archives work, but so far no luck!!

:)

[IScreamSundays]

17. Signs of trouble evident hour before oil rig explosion

Source: CNN

CNN) -- Oil company BP had three indications of trouble aboard the doomed drill rig Deepwater Horizon in the hour before the April 20 explosion that sank the offshore platform, congressional investigators reported Tuesday.

Witnesses reported the well was spurting liquid and pressure tests indicated "a very large abnormality" was occurring aboard the rig, according to a memo released by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday afternoon. The memo summarizes preliminary findings of BP's own investigation into the disaster, which left 11 workers dead and uncapped an undersea gusher that has spewed crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico for a month.

The well unexpectedly spouted fluid three times in the 51 minutes before the explosion and pressure on the drill pipe "unexpectedly increased" before the blast, the memo states.

And the report found that other events aboard the rig "require further inquiry," including an unexpected loss of drilling fluid five hours before the explosion that suggested a leak in the blowout preventer -- a critical piece of equipment that has failed to shut down the well. BP's investigation "raised concerns about the maintenance history, modification, inspection, and testing" of the blowout preventer, the document states.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/25/oil.spill.investigation/index.html?hpt=T1