Posted in accidents, well control incidents, tagged accidents, blowouts, bp, Cameron, Halliburton, macondo, offshore oil, safety, transocean, well control on September 9, 2010| 1 Comment »
Transocean slams the BP Macondo report:
However, rig owner Transocean slammed the report, saying: “This is a self-serving report that attempts to conceal the critical factor that set the stage for the Macondo incident: BP’s fatally-flawed well design.”
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Deepwater Horizon, DOI, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, offshore oil, safety, Safety Oversight Board on September 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »
“The goal of our efforts is a culture of safety, in which protecting human life and preventing environmental disasters are the
highest priorities, while making leasing and production safer and more sustainable,” said Assistant Secretary Wilma Lewis, who chaired the Safety Oversight Board.
The report of the Department of the Interior’s Safety Oversight Board has been posted on the DOI website. The report recommends certain improvements in DOI’s offshore oil and gas regulatory program. Because of my participation in this project, I won’t comment on the specifics of the report. I will say that I was impressed by the professionalism of the Board and the DOI staff who assisted with the project. All views were openly discussed and carefully considered.
Posted in accidents, well control incidents, tagged accidents, blowouts, bp, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, offshore oil, oil spill, safety, well control on September 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Our main interest was in the flow path and BOP issues:
Flow path:
The investigation team concluded that hydrocarbon ingress was through the shoe track, rather than through a failure in the production casing itself or up the wellbore annulus and through the casing hanger seal assembly.
BOP:
Posted in accidents, well control incidents, tagged accidents, blowouts, Colin Leach, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, safety, well control on September 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »
While we wait for the Bly Report (BP), Colin Leach (without the benefit of staff and access) has issued his concise and credible report on Macondo. I recommend that you take a few minutes to read it. Many thanks to Colin for his continued leadership on offshore safety issues.Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Australia, Montara, offshore oil, oil spill, safety on September 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Julia Gillard
Martin Ferguson is likely to retain his post as Minister for Resources and Energy. We trust that he will now release the Montara Inquiry Report as promised. When has a politician ever broken a promise? Never happens in this country 🙂
Posted in accidents, well control incidents, tagged accidents, blowouts, Bly Report, BOE, bp, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, offshore oil, safety, well control on September 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »
BOE has received unconfirmed reports that BP’s internal investigation into the causes of the Macondo blowout will be released on Wednesday (8 September) in Washington, DC. The investigation team of more than 70 engineers and other staff has been headed by Mark Bly, BP’s Group VP for Safety and Operations. Stay tuned!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged energy, Labor Day, offshore oil, Offshore Wind, safety, workers on September 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Diamond Offshore Workers Receiving SAFE Award Recognition
On Labor Day 2010, BOE is proud to salute the thousands of dedicated offshore professionals, in the US and around the world, who work in remote locations under challenging conditions to provide energy for our economy and our way of life. Regardless of one’s opinion about oil and gas operations, wind projects, and other sources of offshore energy, we should all appreciate the important contributions made by offshore workers.
While investigations and enforcement actions are necessary, positive recognition is even more important, especially at times like these. The overwhelming majority of offshore workers do their jobs conscientiously and carefully, and make every effort to protect their colleagues and the environment. It is these workers who are most at risk when an accident occurs, not those of us who are sitting behind a desk philosophizing and pontificating. Their lives and the lives of their friends and colleagues are threatened when accidents occur, their “back yard” is polluted when oil is spilled, and their jobs are at stake if offshore exploration and development are curtailed.
Fortunately for us, energy exploration and production doesn’t stop on holidays. Whether they are working or enjoying the day with their friends and families, BOE wants offshore workers to know that we appreciate their important contributions. Happy Labor Day!
Posted in accidents, well control incidents, tagged accidents, blowouts, BOP, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, oil spill, safety, well control on September 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Deepwater Horizon BOP Stack
Posted in accidents, well control incidents, tagged accidents, blowouts, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, Montara, offshore oil, oil spill, safety, well control on September 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »
This article is nicely done, but like most commentary on the factors contributing to the Macondo blowout, it assumes that the well flowed in the annulus outside the production casing. Steps 1-3 would be irrelevant if the well flowed up through the shoe track and inside the production casing (ala Montara).
Posted in accidents, well control incidents, tagged blowouts, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, macondo, safety, well control on September 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »
“Under the direction of the federal science team and U.S. government engineers, BP used the Development Driller II to successfully install a fully functioning and tested Blow Out Preventer (BOP) on the cemented Macondo 252 well. Earlier today, BP lifted the damaged BOP, which will now be lifted to the surface and recovered. During the period of time between the removal of the damaged BOP and installation of the replacement BOP, there was no observable release of hydrocarbons from the well head. This procedure was undertaken in accordance with specific conditions I set forth last week in a directive authorizing this procedure. This is an important milestone as we move toward completing the relief well and permanently killing the Macondo 252 well. I will continue to provide updates as necessary.” Admiral Allen
You have to love the wording of these Unified Command announcements. I trust (hope) that the language in bold is added by the public relations staff, and that the Admiral and the science team are secure enough in their leadership roles that they don’t need to continuously remind people about their importance.
Have the Admiral and the science team also directed the operations that have not gone so well, or only the successes? In particular, we would be interested in learning about the decision making process that led to the early cessation of the dynamic top-kill, the Unified Command’s insistence that pressure be vented after the well had been capped (fortunately, this decision was reversed), and the rationale for finishing the relief well intercept.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 