Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE)

Quote of the Day :):

MR WHYBROW: I hear what my friend says, and I do note that it seems that I’m the only person who is required not to try to put words into the witness’s mouth.

No major developments in today’s transcript.  Comments and observations:

1. The discussion of the 9 5/8″ casing cementing issues is a bit imbalanced in that most of the attention is on the reinjection of fluids after the influx that  followed the casing pressure test.  Very little attention has been paid to any evidence (positive or negative) of float valve closure after the cement had been pumped.  Also, there has been almost no discussion about the timing of the casing pressure test.  This test may have created or expanded the channels in the shoe.  After the influx, it was probably a mistake to inject any fluids until the cement hardened.  At that point, it would have made sense to pressure up and test the shoe.
2. The hearings have drawn attention to the absence of well integrity, planning, and cementing elements in well control training programs.  This should be a topic for discussion by WellCap and IWCF administrators, operators, and regulators.
3. While fault-finding and fact-finding are certainly related, today’s sessions seemed skewed toward the former.  We’ve read enough to know there were serious flaws in the management systems, and are not so concerned about individual guilt.
4. The testimony indicated that oil-field units were converted to metric units after the drilling reports were written, and that these revisions were solely for the purpose of satisfying the “authorities.”  US offshore regulators started down this path many years ago and reversed course after considering the safety implications.  Perhaps there is a need for further international discussion about this topic.
5. It was interesting to learn that a rig supervisor kept excerpts from drilling reports on a personal thumb drive.  I wonder how the lawyers and IT security folks like that.
6. It seems odd that Mr. Treasure, PTT’s senior drilling representative (albeit a contractor) on the rig when some critical decisions were made, did not get to review or provide any input to the PTT submission.