At the BP oil leak Senate hearings, oil company executives pointed fingers at each other. The gulf oil spill totals more than 4 million gallons and counting. Flickr photo.
The BP oil leak made its way into the political arena Tuesday when top oil company executives testified at a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in New York. As the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continued unabated, suits from BP, Transocean and Halliburton each blamed the other guy for the disaster in the Senate hearings. To date, the BP oil leak totals 105,000 barrels based on the eyeball estimate of 5,000 barrels a day. That’s 4.4 million gallons and counting.
BP oil leak circle of blame
Responsibility for the cause of the gulf oil spill was passed among the oil company executives like an instant loan in the Senate hearings. CNNMoney.com reports that BP blamed Transocean, owners of Deepwater Horizon, the rig that exploded and sank on April 20, leaving 11 oil workers dead. Transocean blamed BP for setting the well’s specifications, and called out Halliburton, the company that built the well’s cement casing. Halliburton completed the circle of blame by pointing the finger back at BP.
Gulf oil spill update
Meanwhile, the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is poised to wreak havoc. Accuweather.com reports that winds from the southeast threaten to push the gulf oil spill toward more of the Louisiana coastline during the next few days. Winds into Thursday could push the gulf oil spill northwestward, either closer to or onto a large part of the coastline. Areas at greatest risk to the growing oil slick are from Atchafalaya Bay to Louisiana’s southeastern most point. Places northwest of Breton Sound will also be threatened. Concerns are deepening about hurricanes and the possible drift of the BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current, which passes through the Florida Straits into the Atlantic Ocean.
BP stock tanks, shareholders sue
BP stock has taken a massive hit thanks to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 3 that BP’s stock price has lost 14 percent since the oil rig it leased exploded and sank — about $20 billion in market value. The New York Times reported that BP will also take a hit on future earnings if it has to hold off on future exploration and drilling while it deals with the spill, which may cost BP at least $8 billion. The Associated Press reports that a BP stock holder has filed suit against the corporation’s top executive accusing them of pursuing cost-cutting measures at the expense of safety, while lobbying government authorities to decrease safety regulation.
BP oil leak fingerpointing
Executives testifying to lawmakers about the BP oil leak sought to absolve themselves from responsibility. In blaming Transocean, chairman and President of BP America Lamar McKay said Transocean was responsible for the safety of drilling operations. CNNMoney.com reports that McKay tried to divert the lawmakers’ attention to the blowout preventer valve that failed, saying it was owned by Transocean. In written testimony before the hearing, Transocean said there must have been a failure of the well’s cement casing, installed by Halliburton. Halliburton said either BP was responsible for faulty well specifications, or it was Transocean’s fault for a faulty blowout preventer.
Gulf oil spill the fruit of BP’s poor safety record
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was bound to happen, based on BP’s safety record — the worst of any oil company in America. The Guardian reports that BP has a recent history of disasters stemming from incomplete maintenance and faulty equipment, including a blast at a refinery in Texas City, Texas, in 2005 that killed 15 workers. A 2006 Alaskan pipeline spill occurred four years after BP had been warned about corroded pipelines. BP pleaded guilty to felony counts in the Texas blast and a misdemeanor charge in the Alaska oil spill. In the last few years BP has paid $485 million in fines and settlements to the U.S. government for environmental crimes, neglect of worker safety rules and penalties for manipulating energy markets.
i hate to say it….but there should be some death sentences handed out for this mess.
there will be mass loss of life. on TOP of the lives lost on the rig.
THIS IS MURDER.
OPEN LETTER TO THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE OIL SPILL
BP should get fined for each day the well was/is not capped. BP has had a reputation of being reliable and environmentaly friendly. Where was BP's "Emergency Preparedness plan"? This is a global disgrace, loss of life and embarrassment to the United States. Plus, it's endangerment of life and the environment.
BP should get it together…"Why not use a larger pipe and a cupulate, then another pipe to direct the oil to a tanker or containment device? Also, what about the device the "Corp of Engineers" used to clean the waters during Katrina and other hurricanes & floods? Where are the brillant engineers or plumbers? (They know how to fix all leaks.)
The people in the Gulf area haved suffered enough, now BP has helped with the dilution of the environment, economy and livelihood. In my opinion, it is BP's responsibility to give just compensation for the wrongs to the environment, the population's livelihood, future damages to health and the health of clean-up workers.
It's not time to turn a blind-eye to this situation, because it affects all of us and the planet.
Wishing all the best!
I can solve the bp oil leak! Here is how you do it. Plant 9 loads of C4 explosives about 225 feet below the sea floor around the leaks. Detonate the explosives similtaniously. The implosion effect and the weight of the earth combined with the pressure of the ocean will seal the leak. Joe z Plumber from poo dunk Idaho
its a big scam. just like 911. oil barron's are in bed with the Government.its all about lining the pocket of the rich. Hey i'd be taking the money myself if i was in there position but I would spend a crap load of money on preventative measures of dissater. they were very irresponsible.
this is getting out of hand, seems as though no one is taking responsibility.
Right. And the majority of pop media focuses on the argument over who is to blame… perhaps hiding the fact that in the long run, consumers are the ones who will pay for the damage this does to the companies. Don't even get me started on the damage the incident causes to nature… our incompetence could eventually make it necessary to leave Earth before the cataclysmic astronomical event even occurs
Here are two ideas:
One use a conventional but much larger angioplasty tube that could be expanded deep inside the tube causing it to close off or plug the unit. Obviously the rubber would have to be a heavier gauge, but once you fill it up then it will plug the hole. At that point use a compression fitting and attach a new valve.
This is the cheapest and most effective way to deal with it.. can anyone tell BP This??
Frankly, I'm quite surprised at this finger pointing. Shouldn't everyone be more concerned at this stage to find a speedy solution to this seemingly unending problem? The top executives of all the involved companies need to be working together as in "all hands on deck" rather than editing their scripted replies to "who did it" questions. In times of crisis the focus should be on crisis management. Once the situation is contained one can focus on crisis prevention. There will be plenty of time for all the finger pointing and blame gaming.
If BP does not know what to do, it should seek outside help. There are people with some pretty sound ideas. For instance check this: http://www.philtownsendideas.com/2010/05/bps-oil-…. Hopefully, one of such ideas will help solve this crisis.
V
I think the idea that Phil Townsend presents for cleanup is interesting. I'm curious to hear what other engineers think of the concept. Mr. Townsend certainly seems qualified, based on the "About Me" on his blog.