Gulf oil spill

[expat]

a different perspective and light relief

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIkkr9HF_w0&feature=related

[HAL9000]

HAL9000 Wrote:

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> AFAIK, no one has claimed that a functional BOP

> would have failed to withstand the pressure in

> this case.

Until now: Second pipe may have crippled BP well's defense mechanism

[JohnL]

Papers all say Exxon are coming in with a ?100B takeover

Obama's given it the go ahead (acting as judge, jury and executioner) as the US public would rather see the Exxon CEO in charge of BP than the current management.

Not good for UK Ltd.

expat Wrote:

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> BP could go bust especially if they revoke their

> permission to operate in the States. So far the

> money they have

> spend does not even begin to make a real dent in

> their profits....

[dc]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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> I don't get the US v UK angle on this. If something similar happened here in 2010, the British government would be equally agitated.

That may be true in 2010 with the sort of news/media environment we now live in. But remember Piper Alpha - an American owned rig that blew up in the North Sea over 20 years ago with the loss of 167 lives?

The way the aftermath of that disaster was approached - with a focus on learning lessons rather than apportioning blame (including the Cullen Enquiry) - led to far-reaching reforms and improvements in safety that may not have been possible if a 'witch-hunt' had been pursued. The process was also unique of its time in that it resulted in the setting up of what was effectively a UK government sanctioned trades union under Thatcher - the OILC.

Maybe a similar approach today in the US would be appropriate? (bearing in mind that BP are committed to paying for the clean-up anyway). Unless anyone really takes seriously the idea that they will continue to block oil extraction from such deep wells in the future?

[expat]

They have fitted a new cap - here is hoping it will work...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10609115.stm

[HAL9000]

BP says oil has stopped leaking from Gulf well

If one of BP's relief wells succeeds in blocking the damaged borehole - what are the chances the other one will end up being used as a production well? With potential revenues of US$3 million a day, it could recoup the US$3 billion* spill claims in just 2 years and 9 months.

* 10^9

[expat]

I think Total should be made to pay the same as BP for the buncefield fire...

[YawnAlot]

Papers all say Exxon are coming in with a ?100B takeover

Exxon, the same company who had a major oil spill themselves........?

There's a blog on Reuters (blog.reuters) that discusses the incident. Plus the serious health damages caused to the people who cleaned it up.

[expat]

Looks like Tony Hayward ccould resign in days.

[expat]

The well now present no more danger to the environment they say:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11190710