# A Hateful Curse On BP **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 1, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941 "2010-05-01T01:09:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/101 "2010-05-02T13:56:10Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Florida’s economy is tourism based. A lot of that is Disney, but before Disney and in addition to Disney many, many tourists come to Florida for the white sandy beaches (Gulf Coast, only, East Coast of Florida has lousy sand). Right. Anyway, I think I’d better mention, I don’t have any personal objection to a ban on drilling within 125 miles of Florida coast. Whatever the people want, man. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/102 "2010-05-02T14:22:55Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > That number is closer to a _field_ output than a _well_ output number. > > [Thunder Horse field:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Horse) 300000/7 = 42800. > So yeah, it’s a _ **WORST** _ case estimate. The article said they were planning for 150,000 if the well head was missing. Do you know if it is missing or have an idea of the likelihood of it being missing? Are they just being prudent? That’s a big difference in numbers. > **[Gulf of Mexico oil spill 2010: The worst-case scenario](https://www.al.com/live/2010/04/gulf_mexico_oil_spill_worst_case.html)** > > The worst-case scenario for the broken and leaking well gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico would be the loss of the wellhead currently restricting the flow to 5,000 barrels -- or 210,000 gallons per day. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/103 "2010-05-02T14:47:55Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > The article said they were planning for 150,000 if the well head was missing. Do you know if it is missing or have an idea of the likelihood of it being missing? Don’t know, but I expect the remote subs would have noticed when they were down there, and it’d take some work to keep info like that secret. Then again, there’s reports of multiple leaks from the well piping. If the head were gone, the pipes wouldn’t be leaking. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/104 "2010-05-02T14:53:25Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Right. Anyway, I think I’d better mention, I don’t have any personal objection to a ban on drilling within 125 miles of Florida coast. Whatever the people want, man. I’m not opposed to drilling for oil; it’s something we need. But I think before you put other resources - lives or livelihoods- at risk that you’d better be damned sure that nothing can go wrong. Ditto for nuclear. Over-engineer the hell out of it. If that is too expensive, go find the oil in some other place, like Saudi Arabia, that is already a barren hellhole (oil is toxic - it’s no surprise that Saudi is a desert). If the true cost is reflected in product that helps to expedite the availability of alternate resources. If British Petroleum goes out of business because of the legal costs from this then shame on them for not having an adequate risk plan. If they are adjudged criminally negligent then I’d like to see the whole BP board serving hard jail time. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/105 "2010-05-02T15:16:33Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > The article said they were planning for 150,000 if the well head was missing. Do you know if it is missing or have an idea of the likelihood of it being missing? > Are they just being prudent? That’s a big difference in numbers. > > [Gulf of Mexico oil spill 2010: The worst-case scenario - al.com](http://blog.al.com/live/2010/04/gulf_mexico_oil_spill_worst_case.html) The wellhead, with a rather large but non-functional BOP stack atop it, remains in place. 150,000 bbl/day from a single well, especially one that hasn’t been properly completed, sounds way high under any circumstances. In addition, it’s likely the wellbore is partially blocked at or near BOP level. BTW, can’t really discuss it right now, but some things I’ve heard this morning suggest there may be some news in the next 48 hours or so about a novel plan to cap the well. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/106 "2010-05-02T20:56:58Z")
In Sept. BP pres. sent a letter to US. Minerals Management saying additional regulation is unnecessary . He said all accidents are avoidable. They should be judged by their response if one occurred. They opposed stricter regulation explaining how safety auditing was an administrative burden. They opposed eliminating voluntary compliance. From 2001-2007 there were 1400 incidents on oil rigs ,resulting in 41 deaths and hundreds of injuries. I would say they lack credibility. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/107 "2010-05-02T21:31:09Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > … about a novel plan to cap the well. “Plan A didn’t work. There is no Plan B. So we’re going with Plan Nine.” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/108 "2010-05-02T22:55:07Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So we’re going with Plan Nine." From outer space, or _ **Heaven** _? I’m a little confused by the paucity of claims that this oil spill is God’s judgement on America, or at least our lowermost tier of red-states, for something-or-other. Have all the crazy preachers gone to sleep? It’s kinda eerie not hearing from them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/109 "2010-05-03T01:42:33Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > If British Petroleum goes out of business because of the legal costs from this then shame on them for not having an adequate risk plan. If they are adjudged criminally negligent then I’d like to see the whole BP board serving hard jail time. Good luck with that. They’re nearly all British nationals and only a couple live in the US. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/110 "2010-05-03T08:45:50Z")
In before “no one could have imagined.” Or not. People should stop referring to this as a “spill.” I didn’t follow this story much at first because people made it sound like a container or ship was leaking. It’s more like an oil volcano with no end in sight. A castrophe of biblical proportions. George Carlin would be proud. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/111 "2010-05-03T16:57:38Z")
This has already been discussed upthread, but the first words out of my cow-orkers mouth this morning were ,“The oil platform explosion was a terrorist attack–there’s no doubt about it. Just like 9/11.” I didn’t bother to ask him for evidence, since he’s always going on about some conspiracy theory or another. What’s scary to me is that his wife works for the BATF, and he thinks he has “inside information”. It’s unsettling that people in government security positions actually believe that nonsense too. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/112 "2010-05-03T17:00:49Z")
I liked this article: [What Limitless Greed and Mindless Deregulation Bring](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/brian-topp/what-limitless-greed-and-mindless-deregulation-bring/article1554514/) > [@](#): > > This latest tragedy is therefore a perfect symbol of our times – and also a reminder that the consequences of limitless greed and mindless deregulation have been socialized with amazing speed. There being no more committed Marxists than corporate boards seeking to pawn the costs of their decisions onto the public sphere, which they otherwise do everything they can to tear down. > [@](#): > > Who will pay to clean up the Gulf of Mexico? Don’t bet it will be the shareholders of British Petroleum. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/113 "2010-05-03T17:10:42Z")
Late news available widely…BP has disgorged an army of representatives to offer a flat settlement of $5,000 to residents of the Gulf Coast, with, of course, the proviso that the settlement will be final, and no further payments can be expected. As lawyers gather for a feeding frenzy… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/114 "2010-05-03T17:23:06Z")
BP will say all the right things, while doing their best to do the wrong thing. They will cheat and lie to save money. Lives are unimportant. They will fight each and every law suit with the best lawyers money can buy. They will put it off like Exxon for decades. There is no remorse ,except for the lost oil. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/115 "2010-05-03T18:41:24Z")
In other environmental news, a massive spill at a wind generating site, huge amounts of air unaccounted for, but the liberal media is covering it up… ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/116 "2010-05-03T18:54:13Z")
Massey was also an example of trying to let the industry write its own regulations. Massive Fail. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/117 "2010-05-04T03:20:27Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I liked this article: > [What Limitless Greed and Mindless Deregulation Bring](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/brian-topp/what-limitless-greed-and-mindless-deregulation-bring/article1554514/) Interesting. I’ve seen this meme floated already, but it is well put in your article: > [@](#): > > What British Petroleum has done in the Gulf of Mexico is what Goldman Sachs and Citigroup and the rest of the rogue’s gallery have done to the global economy. Seems to be the case. They took Huuuuuge risks with zero contingency plan for what has occurred, and the costs are passed on to the public in the form of a ruined Gulf. Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/118 "2010-05-04T04:01:25Z")
Well, nobody could have expected… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/119 "2010-05-04T04:19:38Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Interesting. I’ve seen this meme floated already, but it is well put in your article: > Seems to be the case. They took Huuuuuge risks with zero contingency plan for what has occurred, and the costs are passed on to the public in the form of a ruined Gulf. > > Fuckers. I’m pretty sure this isn’t going to make anyone here feel better about things, but as I write this, there are at least 30 rigs carrying out operations in water depths greater than 3000 feet in the Gulf of Mexico. Operators include Anadarko, Chevron, ENI, Hess, Marathon, Murphy, Shell and numerous others. Every one of those operations is being carried out using equipment and practices more or less identical in function to those used by BP on MC 252 (with exception of a few operators using acoustically-operated backup BOP closure systems, as mentioned elsewhere). I seriously doubt that any of these operators have any more extensive blowout contingency plans than BP did (if they had a lot of equipment and personnel standing by, I’m sure they would have lent them to BP and made sure the world knew about it) and any one of those that has penetrated a viable reservor has roughly similar chances of taking a kick as occurred on MC 252. I have personal knowledge of a kick (successfully controlled) having occurred just last week on a well for another operator in the Gulf. Since there is some small, but non-zero chance that one of those kicks will turn into a blowout, BP’s situation cannot be said to be unique to them. The idea of havng pre-positioned spill control measures is obviously not inherently a bad one, but one should recognize that surface collection and barrier equipment is fairly inefficient at controlling spills, and except for the drilling of relief wells, most of what BP plans to do to control the leakage at the source has never really been tried in deepwater. Therefore it’s hard to say what a viable contingency plan for a spill of this nature would look like. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941/120 "2010-05-04T04:21:51Z")
Well. Thank you, Mr. Sunshine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hateful-curse-on-bp/537941.md?page=7)