Rig survivors: BP ordered shortcut on day of blast

[Ed Barrow]

Source: CNN

The morning the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, a BP executive and a Transocean official argued over how to proceed with the drilling, rig survivors told CNN's Anderson Cooper in an exclusive interview.

The survivors' account paints perhaps the most detailed picture yet of what happened on the deepwater rig -- and the possible causes of the April 20 explosion.

The BP official wanted workers to replace heavy mud, used to keep the well's pressure down, with lighter seawater to help speed a process that was costing an estimated $750,000 a day and was already running five weeks late, rig survivors told CNN.

BP won the argument, said Doug Brown, the rig's chief mechanic. "He basically said, 'Well, this is how it's gonna be.' "



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/08/oil.rig.warning.signs/index.html?hpt=T2

[OKNancy]

1. I think it's nice they got the interview and all

but this housewife in Oklahoma already knows all that, so I'd say it's hardly exclusive news for Anderson Cooper or CNN.

[wordpix]

2. not everyone reads what you do & I didn't know about the seawater vs. mud

so thanks for the post

[frylock]

3. so obama can start the ass-kicking with this BP official..

let's start there and move on up the chain of command.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

4. Who made the decision? I want the name. NOW!

:grr:

[Titanothere]

5. old news. Google BP Company Man and you'll find the guys name.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

7. "Company man" IS old news. His real name is not.

I've attempted to discern his name. Perhaps you can enlighten me?

[Titanothere]

10. David Vidrine

http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/where-is-bps-company-man.cfm

[Kolesar]

17. thanks a ton...eom

[Psephos]

23. His name is actually Donald Vidrine

despite what that site you posted says

[bvar22]

18. The "Company Man" on location no longer makes the decisions.

In the old days, when I worked the offshore platforms, the Company Man DID make the decisions, and took responsibility for his calls. I trusted them more, because it was also his ass on the line, and he had a direct relationship with the men he was responsible for.
He lived and ate with us.

In the late 80s, and into the 90s, ALL the offshore rigs became "wired" to Corporate HQ.
The Corporate Office had direct real time readouts and live video cameras, and continuous satellite communications with their rigs.
The "Company Men" on location then simply became "Yes Sir...Will do" puppets.

The decisions that caused the destruction of this rig, killed the men on board, and destroyed much of the Gulf was made at the home office by somebody sitting at a comfortable, safe desk.

I wasn't on this rig, and haven't been on one since the 90s, but I KNOW this is what happened.

[wordpix]

8. also, the $750K figure is news. Implies BP decided not to do the job carefully or

risk incurring the ongoing $750K/day. So they did a hurry up job leading to the disaster.

What's it costing you now, BP?

[Titanothere]

11. Standard practice for BP from what I hear. And 500k/day is a typical rate for deepwater rigs

[truedelphi]

13. In the end BP will be fine.

Both BP and Exxon made out (in the end) like bandits over the Valdez Oil Catastrophe.

Totally ruined the livelihood of many fishermen, as the herring never came back. Totally gone from that area of Alaska.

But the Supreme Court ruled in the favor of Big Oil - why should the pesky little person be recompensed for damages they have suffered. Apparently they had a choice to be rich, or middle class, and they clearly choose to be middle class, so F___ 'em, seemed to be the court's contention. (Decision was made recently.

And why do I mention BP when discussing this? Only because BP was the largest share holder in the Corporation formed to do Oil Clean Up in the Valdez AK region during 1989. Most people don't know that, but there it is - the dirty little secret. BP handled the Oil Catastrophe of 1989, very poorly, and now they cannot handle this one either. But in the end, they won't pay.

The environment, the marine species, the plankton, (and the web of life that the plankton supports) also the fisherman and the others who rely on tourism and the clean beaches lining the Gulf, they will pay. But BP will merge from this failure just like it emerged from all its past failures. Rolling in dough and continuing along its merry way.

[AllyCat]

14. Unfortunately, it won't cost them enough

For all the posturing and hearings, a little hand slap and a small fine is all these a$$holes will get. I hope I'm wrong, but I fear I am not.

[wordpix]

26. Obama/DOJ/EPA need to prosecute/fine BP to the max or kiss his admin goodbye

He will be a one-termer and go down in history as a loser unless he gets control of this for the people, fish and wildlife and cleanup. Otherwise, he's ineffective and he's gone.

[Incitatus]

6. negligent homicide?

[Woodlands Democrat]

22. I would argue Pre-Meditated Murder

They knew the BOP was damaged. They made a decision to continue drilling. They knew they were putting everyone on that rig in grave danger. They know methane gas is highly explosive. No excuse!

[Incitatus]

24. I don't think that would hold up legally.

I'm not a legal expert. But from what I understand, to argue premeditated murder, you would have to prove that the intention was to cause the accident and the deaths of the workers. Negligent homicide would be the charge from gross negligence that lead to fatalities. As far as I'm concerned, the person who made the decision to remove the mud should rot in jail for life, but legally I don't see any way that could happen.

[newspeak]

25. okay, then

negligent homicide

[alp227]

9. I've known this all along since watching the 60 Minutes interview.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/16/60minutes/main6490197.shtml

Since watching this last month I knew that something negligent was up with BP.

[Divine Discontent]

12. we've known the story for weeks, so now they know who specifically, he needs to admit who told him

that BP was not going to "waste" any more money doing things that prevented explosions for week after week. They are a corrupt company, and no one should have ever trusted BRITISH EFFINGG#$#$ PETROLEUM!!!

[CanonRay]

15. Murder: It's what I've been saying for a month

There should already be a Grand Jury impaneled.

[SKKY]

16. I keep hearing about this "BP Official"...

...It's time we make him famous. Name please.

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. Eh, read reply number 10...

[SKKY]

27. Thanks my friend...

...It was late, and had been on watch for 11 hours at the time of that post. Sleep deprivation makes things really "neat"! :patriot:

[HughMoran]

19. This is pretty old news

Not that's it's any less pathetic & criminal what BP did.

[Woodlands Democrat]

21. There are "Company Men" all over the GOM

I worked offshore GOM for 4 years. Out there, decisions are only made with one thing in mind. $$$$$$$. The "Company Man" type is the norm. They will hold safety meetings for hours, and then disregard everything talked about in the meeting to save a buck. It's the culture of the offshore work environment. Git 'er done! No matter what. "Pencil Whip" the paperwork and Git 'er done. They were trying to kill people out there in the Gulf when oil was $40 a barrel. It's only gotten worse. I never heard of a rig or platform being shut down by MMS. NEVER!! And I've been on some production platforms where only the asbestos was keeping the rust hole ridden deck in one piece.