DISASTER IN THE GULF Experts have their doubts on well's design

[maddezmom]

The seeds of destruction for the Deepwater Horizon rig may have been planted well before its drill bits started churning into the earth a mile under the sea.

Engineering plans for the thousands of feet of pipes and joints, which BP filed with federal regulators prior to drilling, made the well particularly susceptible to a major accident, a number of industry experts say. The design left an unobstructed path for highly pressurized natural gas to reach the wellhead should safety systems fail.

One of those systems, the cement pumped between sections of pipe to seal them off from oil and gas, was far from robust, according to testimony and documents. Some tests to assure the integrity of the cement showed mixed results, while another test was simply skipped.

Gene Beck, a petroleum engineer and well expert who teaches at Texas A&M University, said a well must be designed to keep oil and gas contained in the proper well infrastructure.

“If you believe you can isolate the hydrocarbons, this well design can work,” he said, noting it's used in other wells. “But that premise is pretty weak.”

more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7022355.html

[TexasObserver]

1. This is what happens when offshore drillers are loosely regulated.

There sure be rigorous and robust government requirements if such activities are to continue.

[enough]

2. K&R (nt)

[truth2power]

3. So much for those here on other threads

who've said that BP is most qualified to handle this mess because they have some special expertise and know what they're doing.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

4. Experts have their doubts on well's design????!!!!!

You THINK?

[swilton]

5. Relying on BP

as having the monopoly of expertise to resolve this disaster (leak stoppage, healing the local human and ecological environment, future prevention) is both folly and tragic.