60 Minutes: The Blowout Was Caused By Gross Negligence On The Part Of BP

[kpete]

60 Minutes: Critical equipment damaged weeks before blowout
by Keith Pickering
Sun May 16, 2010 at 05:39:58 PM PDT

60 Minutes may be the last bastion of real journalism on television. Tonight they did it again, interviewing Mike Williams, a surviving crewmember of the Deepwater Horizon. Key points revealed, below the jump.

1. This was the second attempt to drill a well in about the same spot. The first well had to be abandoned because the well had been drilled too fast (under pressure from BP to bring the well in quickly). Result: the rock fractured, causing loss of control of pressure in the well. Twenty-five million bucks down the drain, said BP to the crew. So they had to try again, in a rock formation known to be problematic.

2. Early on while drilling the second well (the one that eventually blew up) an accident damaged part of the blowout preventer (BOP). According to Williams, they were conducting a routine test of the annular, a ring of rubber that closes around the well at the top of the BOP stack. While the annular was closed, thus closing off the well, a driller accidentally pushed a joystick, which pulled the pipe casing up through the rubber seal at very high pressure. A short time later, after drilling had resumed, pieces of rubber began coming up from the bottom of the well. A drilling supervisor told Williams that the rubber debris was "no big deal".

3. The BOP has two redundant electronics boxes, called pods, which communicate with the surface. These are critical devices which trigger the BOP to close the well in emergency. One of the two pods was problematic and occasionally inoperable. The batteries on the BOP were also weak.

4. The well was in the process of being closed with cement plugs when the blowout occurred. The day of the blowout, there was a disagreement between the Transocean supervisor and the BP supervisor over how that should be accomplished. The Transocean guy wanted to keep mud in the well (i.e., keep pressure in the well) during the cementing. The BP guy wanted the mud pulled from the well for cementing, because it was faster and they were already behind schedule. The BP guy won the argument. If pressure had been maintained in the well during the cementing operation, the blowout would not have occurred.

The bottom line: the blowout was caused by gross negligence on the part of BP. There is no other way to spin it.

VIDEOS & MORE:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/16/60minutes/main6490197.shtml
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/16/867033/-60-Minutes:-Critical-equipment-damaged-weeks-before-blowout

[underpants]

1. That was a great piece of actual journalism

the guy jumped from 100 feet AFTER passing the boats to go to the bridge

The fisher guys reminded me of some fishermen I know from the Hampton Roads area.

Great report.

[avaistheone1]

70. Yes, that journalism blew me away.

Reminds me of some of the shit disturbing pieces of 60 Minutes early days.

Maybe the new executive producer for 60 Minutes will work out after all.

:thumbsup:

[Xipe Totec]

2. You say is as if it was a surprise...

Was it?

[ejpoeta]

22. i think the surprise is that there was actual journalism and reporting. not that BP is to blame.

[indepat]

3. But some in Congress don't want to raise that $75 million cap on liability

:grr:

[inna]

6. $75 million cap on liability??

:wtf:

There's no cap on profits, is there? Why should there be one on liability?

[Lasher]

15. indepat speaks the truth.

Congressional Democrats recently tried to raise the cap but Republicans blocked them.

[inna]

18. cap on liability should not be raised, it should be *eliminated* altogether,

as long as profits are not "capped".

[Lasher]

20. I agree but I don't think Congress even attempted to do that.

Tort reform and self-regulation, Republican ideology at work for the enrichment of all. Everything is always done best in the private sector. Just ask Greenspan.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

65. goddammit, I fucking hate republicans

I'm not kidding.

I

F.
U.
C.
K.
I.
N.
G.

HATE THEM.

[defendandprotect]

17. Forget a cap, we should be seizing BP and its assets . . .

[inna]

19. +1000

[Dr.Phool]

26. +1,000,000

[pansypoo53219]

29. OOOH,

i LIKE that idea as it's OUR OIL. go chavez on their ass.

[Enthusiast]

34. Right on!

I'm with you!

[dotymed]

44. Agreed. It is so corrupt

that these "privatized" natural resource (our resources)monopoly corporations are allowed to steal our resources, profit immensely from selling our resources back to us, then we have to pay to clean up their negligence. If we don't pay immediately, then we pay through price increases. Our whole system is for and by the wealthy. They pay "our" representatives to keep this swindle going. We have to organize and non-violently retake our government. We are millions against a small minority. I am so tired of posting this. It is way past time that the serfs demand their equality. Look at the world wide demonstrations against the elitists (you have to leave the corporate owned MSM to learn of the majority and size of these). Here, in the "land of the free", we have less rights than most of these world citizens yet we do not organize and demand a better future for our children. The patriots of the past did, or we would be totally enslaved by now. If we don't demand it and take it, we will never have any semblance of parity with the elitists. Again, they are at the most, 5% of our population. too bad we don't have the courage that other world citizens do. I realize, since raygun, we have been exposed to constant propaganda (by design), but Americans know and see the inequalities we suffer on a daily basis. We must organize our numbers and demand equality.Think where we would be if Dr. King had been satisfied with the status quo.

[indepat]

61. These are but a few of the joys of living in a RW society wherein a corrupt and venal corporatist

Congress is solely beholden to monied interests rather than the interests of the people. Moreover, as lagniappe, the administration continues to ratify many of the most egregious acts and policies of the former. :cry:

[KansDem]

47. Why not?

If we can take the bank and saving accounts, house, car, etc., from someone for smoking cannabis, then we should be seizing the assets of "citizen" BP...

[me b zola]

55. Absolutely

At the very least, the Feds should seize every drop of the oil that BP is siphoning from the site.

[fascisthunter]

63. wayyyy past time!!!!

It would be a good shot across every corporation's bow not to fuck up and to follow stricter regulations or else. Right now there is no real accountability.

[Aviation Pro]

68. +Google

And their officers should be sent to Gitmo for a liquid diet of oil.

[BrklynLiberal]

83. Absolutely!!! Criminals are not supposed to benefit from the proceeds of their crime!!

[BrklynLiberal]

82. Including the Senator from Alaska...whose citizens are STILL suffering from Exxon Valdez...!!!!!

[scentopine]

89. This is where Obama is supposed to take Rahm Emanuel

and have him kick some ass and remove the liability cap. It isn't a cap, its a license to destroy oceans.

Wanna bet the chances of that are zero? We just sold the gulf of mexico to BP for less than a penny on the dollar. Just like we are selling every last fucking job in USA to China and India for pennies on the dollar.

I am begin to loathe neo-libs as much the neo-cons. Both are toxic waste and anti-citizen. Both would happily see us enslaved.

One of the few small pleasures in life of 12 hour days, 6 days a week - going to Gulf for a few days a year. Hricanes are bad enough but not nearly as bad as this.

This is a disgrace but US tax payer will pay for it.

[pleah]

4. K&R

http://www.asherheimermann.org

[Scurrilous]

5. K & R

:thumbsup:

[RC]

7. I think that they need to let the marijuana smokers out of our prisons to make room for the

BP executives. No matter what, the guilty need to be put away for 15 to 20 years just to set an example for the rest of the oil companies.

[bertman]

24. RC, that is the best suggestion I have heard yet for dealing with this gross malfeasance. nt

[malaise]

41. You mean like the Wall Street bankers?

Don't hold your breath until the first one is taken away in chains.

[dotymed]

46. If we don't organize and demand it,

there is no chance that it will happen. Obama said "Make me". Lets do it. War crime prosecutions should be a part of our demands also. Of course, class parity, is a must.

[amborin]

8. why was BP recently nominated for a safety award?

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/30/in-ironic-twist-bp ...

[BrklynLiberal]

84. The Interior Department's Minerals Management Service personnel were LITERALLY in bed with folks

from the oil companies. Some did not even bother to use a bed...they just had sex in the offices.

[amborin]

93. yes,

but it was O who selected BP for this industry award; given its reprehensible record, how could this be?

[BrklynLiberal]

98. I think that pres shit-for-brains appointees were still taking care of business.

There should have been a clean sweep by President Obama..but not sure that is legally possible.

[moondust]

9. I'd still like to see an independent investigation that includes some Brits. n/t

[WillyT]

10. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[Oceansaway]

11. K&R...n/t

[Born_A_Truman]

12. At least someone spoke up ...

http://www.drillingahead.com/forum/topics/transocean-deepwater-horizon-1?id=3116006%3ATopic%3A99042&page=4#comments

Permalink Reply by Rachael Kun on May 3, 2010 at 12:13pm
CBS News, 60 Minutes currently working on a story about the explosion on the Deep Water Horizon Rig. We are interested in talking with anyone who was on the rig when the blow out occurred as well as people who have information on what happened. Please contact Rachael Kun at 212-975-7974 or email at [email protected]. All calls will be off the record. Thank you.

Immediately followed by:

Reply by Alan Fortune on May 3, 2010 at 8:27pm
A gentle reminder of the responsibilities of all.

ALL of us agreed to a confidentiality clause, even if we are not aware of it, when we signed on.
This is done by employees, contract, or service company people.
This does not stop us from voicing our opinions, BUT, insurance or legal people will dispute that.
The enclosed is a sample of what is being sent as a reminder.


TO ALL LLOYD’S REGISTER GROUP EMPLOYEES

By now you have probably heard about the tragic incident onboard the Transocean Deepwater Horizon, a drilling rig under contract to BP, where a blowout took place while the rig was drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Transocean and BP are clients of a number of entities within the Lloyd’s Register Group and therefore we are bound by confidentiality agreements not to divulge any information about our clients, or the services we provide, which is not in the public domain.

With many of our employees participating in industry conferences, client events and anniversary celebrations, and with continual news coverage of this incident around the world, it is vital that everyone is mindful of this requirement. Please be very careful about what you say, not only to members of the trade media, but to anyone you may speak to - colleagues, clients and personal contacts. You may express sympathy for those affected, but do not engage in any of the following:

1. speculation about any potential cause(s) of the incident
2. discussion of any work the Lloyd's Register Group has undertaken for Transocean or BP

If anyone presses you for more information, please let them know we are contractually obliged not to discuss our work for either client. All media questions should be directed to Stephanie Jones, Americas Communications Coordinator in Houston, or Mark Stokes, Group Communications Director.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Your co-operation in this matter is very much appreciated.

Regards,

Mark Stokes

[jillan]

13. That was amazing!!! I have to watch it again to hear from the man who fought to live to

tell the story.

[Lasher]

14. I saw this illuminating segment tonight.

There is no punishment too severe for those accountable.

[defendandprotect]

16. And the reverse propaganda from BP and Deepwater will be floating out shortly -- !!!

[Lindsey]

21. I'm bummed that I missed it. n/t

[defendandprotect]

25. You can probably find a repeat of 60 Minutes on the network's website ...???

[Auggie]

66. Yep. Caught it Monday morning. Highly recommended.

[sce56]

28. YouTube

The story Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0onXmlFgF8I
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N58oCgl9j2c
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfzPod_jSh8
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNkuWuicFJE

[jimlup]

23. Wow!

Thanks for posting

[TorchTheWitch]

27. It's online for anyone that missed it...

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6490348n&tag=con... ;contentAux
(Part 2 link can be found on the right side)

[PJPhreak]

30. bp is gonna need...

A Bigger Boat,Even this place ain't got Paddles Big enough

[tomm2thumbs]

31. a Must See 60 Minutes - goes right to the point of the investigation - BP is the culprit

[onestepforward]

32. Very insightful! K&R!

[Enthusiast]

33. That was the 60 Minutes of old!

What an awesome program it was.

[uponit7771]

35. Most of what the guy said was NOT He Said\She Said, there are multiple sides to a story but BP...

...side looks awfully fucked up now.

[AngryOldDem]

38. They wanted the oil, and they wanted it NOW.

The plastic from the pressure ring should have been a neon-light signal to shut that well down. The safe pressure on the drill depended solely upon that ring, as far as I could tell. The only thing BP gives a damn about is making money.

Over the years, I wonder how many industrial catastrophes could have been prevented if management had just listened to its employees?

I am in awe of that worker who described what happened. He should have testified in Congress right next to Transocean, BP, and Halliburton.

[madokie]

36. I sure wish they'd do something that stops the spill

what ever it takes short of a nuke, hell a nuke if it would do it, just stop the bleeding then worry about what needs to be worried with next but right now stop the bleeding.

[SpiralHawk]

37. BP & Monsanto = Republicon Family Values

Ptoooey

[spicegal]

39. I never doubted this was caused by gross negligence, AND it will happen

again if given the chance. When it comes to the almighty dollar, it's the way they operate.

[blindpig]

40. But what was the motivation for the 'gross negligence'?

It was profits. BP cut corners because it was more profitable to do so.

Capitalism has done this and will continue to do things like this.

Capitalism or Nature, ya can't have both.

[BrklynLiberal]

81. Yep. First of all, Greed. And then, Greed and thirdly, GREED.

[blindpig]

96. But why has greed run amok?

It is because greed is sanctioned, encouraged, by the way in which our system of production is organized. Private ownership of the means of production necessitates treating people as assets, nature as an external. If the owner does not adhere to this they will not long be an owner, they will be displaced or gobbled up by more astute owners. They might be greedy bastards or they might be a well meaning soul doing what they must in a capitalist environment to maintain or improve their place in society, the result is the same.

[Liberal In Texas]

42. And yet some repukes are calling it an "Act of God".

This is what happens without strict regulation.

[sasquuatch55]

64. Why was God drilling for oil?

nt

[Ticonderoga]

43. In the real world

This letter of "warning" to those involved is known as witness tampering.

[KansDem]

45. Then a "suck in" for this "blowout" is in order...

"Suck" all these criminals "in(to)" jail!

[scentopine]

48. Why aren't we demanding to see their papers? -nt

[scentopine]

49. Mr. President - how much oil is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico and

you are not allowed to use a lifeline to call BP.

We have 1000s of scientists, NASA, NOAA, 100 billion dollar Navy, 100s of millions invested in deep sea vehicles and research yet the only information we are allowed to receive from the spill comes straight from the mouths of BP and you parrot that to us.

This isn't a show of leadership. Its been almost a month and we still don't have the answer. You should have taken federal control of this disaster, and IMMEDIATELY sent a team of scientists to the site to get a peer reviewed indisputable answer.

It is a very viscous liquid ejecting from a pipe of very well known diameter. This is not a difficult engineering problem in age of HD cameras, robot vehicles, flow meters, physics, computer models, etc. We have deep sea research vehicles and 40 years of deep sea knowledge.

Yet, we all sit around and wait for BP to give us status updates. This is totally unacceptable. We don't borrow the Gulf from BP when they aren't using it. It isn't the oil companies private cesspool. It is ours, not the oil companies. Show some responsibility and hands on leadership for the resources you are supposed to protect as commander in chief (here is where we differ Mr. President, I think you believe the resource you need to protect is BP and Goldman Sachs, CIA, DoD, etc. Most democrats seem to agree with you judging by the high fives over your handling of this disaster. Allow me to disagree and call your performance unacceptable).

Mr. President you stepped in it with your "drill, baby, drill" routine to impress the republicans. Now you are trying to wash it off in the Gulf of Mexico.

Remember how you high fived the mass firing of union employees for poor performance? You seem to have a double standard when it comes to the middle class working families and fat cat Fortune 500 CEOs with control of treasury tax dollars and natural resources. As usual the pain and suffering will be borne out on the backs of the non-rich, common citizen while the billionaires get a walk.

[paparush]

53. Rec'ing this comment! Well said, scento!

[uponit7771]

57. Obama gets government involved, BP blames Obama like they have EVERYONE else...

...he's smart to stay out of this one and no, he doesn't even have to play a game to figure that out.

[lark]

60. Totally disagree

Sitting around doing nothing is what the Repugs are jumping on - calling it Obama's Katrina - and for once they have a glimmer of a point. He's doing nothing about this! He should fire the whole MMS team that allowed this to go on. They are all Bush plants anyway, get rid of them. Just having phony outrage is not good enough - take action. Stop all drilling immediately, get teams of scientist out on the rigs to check them out. Only let them start oup once it's been proven they are safe. Mandate backup BOP (acoustic version) and only let rigs that have these 2ndary systems in place, tested and working to restart.

Mandate scientist go and issue actual data on the flow and effects on the water, environment of the dispersants. Take action, stop sitting around mouthing platitudes, Obama.

I'd really like ALL drilling to stop, think that's the humane and sound approach, but know that won't happen unfortunately. So, in the meantime, at least make what's already happening a lot safer. Install real regulators, not people who party with the oil folks and who come from the oil folks to begin with. Freaking, do something about this catastrophe!!

[Duppers]

75. +1000

:thumbsup:

[Butch350]

90. Now...

Come back into the real world - with real world solutions.

[Duppers]

74. "he's smart to stay out of this one" !!!? WTF?!

Who gives a shit whom BP blames, uponit7771? I suspicious of anyone saying such a thing.


Why Obama Must Stop Blogging & Start Leading on the Gulf

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/obama-response-to-gulf-oil-spill-051110

[scentopine]

87. Agree - Obama is behaving like the cowardly lion -nt

[Kolesar]

73. Well, that's a bit much...eom

[Junkdrawer]

86. +1000

[ljm2002]

94. Hear, Hear!!!

Well said and I could not agree more!

[freespeechtv]

50. Have you seen that the EPA has approved of BP's using "questionable chemicals"

to disperse the oil in the gulf? Nothing like adding fuel to the fire! BP's already paid over $500 million in fines and found guilty of a felony BEFORE the Gulf disaster...now they're dragging their feet, capping their liability, and pouring MORE chemicals into the Gulf? Wish I had that kind of grace when a cop pulls me over...

http://www.freespeech.org/blog/epa-approves-bps-use-questionable-chemicals-break-oil

--caleb/FSTV

[BrklynLiberal]

85. Eventually we will find out that the chemicals used to disperse the oil were as horrific

for the environment as the oil...if not worse.

[newspeak]

97. yeah, it was on Rachel Maddow's show last night

that there were a couple different types of chemicals they could use and BP chose the one that may be more toxic and that apparently, is the one that they sell. Another words, using not the best for the environment, but one that they can recycle the money around, since it is their product. My jaw dropped--I thought of Halliburton buying the oil fire company, when they also have a business cementing. I mean how easy would it be to create the problem and have the solution right handy?

Of course, it's a different ball game where BP is concerned--but I'd rather see the less toxic product used. I think we should be getting every solution finder on board-those in Europe, Asia, wherever. This involves the ecosystem of the ocean, and I believe that the more minds to solve the problem. the better for saving more of the ocean and it's occupants.

[Uncle Joe]

51. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[Bragi]

52. BP isn't the culprit, we all are

Seriously, any society that thinks it can allow ultra-deep-sea oil extraction without eventually, as night follows day, despoiling the surrounding ocean and adjacent shorelines is self-delusional.

This "accident" was bound to happen, eventually, as will many more. We are now at war with our oceans, and I'm confident this is a war we can win.

[spanone]

54. bp CHOSE not to do maintenance that would have prevented this...THEY are to blame

[Bragi]

59. I disagree

BP is just one of the vehicles we use to extract carbon and wage war on the environment. They are no more or less guilty than other such organizations.

My basic question is this: Do you really believe that there is way of doing ultra-deep oil excavation that won't eventually result in blowouts that despoil the oceans and shorelines?

I don't. There is no evidence to show that ultra-deep oil extraction can be done without eventually doing extreme damage to our oceans.

As a society, we know this, we just think oil is more important than keeping our oceans safe.

- B

[spanone]

69. i disagree with your disagreement. they had a choice and chose not to do maintenance. criminal

there are dangers in all extractions from earth...bp CHOSE not to do it the proper way...they are responsible for this disaster

[Duval]

77. Except...Deregulation began with Reagan, and

"W" told us companies can regulate themselves. Yeah, that really works.

[happygoluckytoyou]

56. BP AT FAULT ? ? ? wait a moment i'm wiping the look of surprize offa my face.. ok im over it

[blue97keet]

58. Let's see the Tea Party give the heave-ho to "British" Petroleum

Spill Baby Spill
That's real energy independence for ya.

[The Backlash Cometh]

62. Question at the inquiry...

And how behind are you now?

[pnorman]

67. Thanks!

That was just what I was looking for!

[Beam Me Up]

71. K&R #200 n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

72. The sickening irony here is that if they get closed down..which is what they deserve..there will be

no money for the cleanup and for compensation for all those who will be suffering as a result of this criminal negligence.

I would hope that there is some way to keep the company going...making money..but that all those involved in the decision making for this rig would be sent to prison..down and dirty prison..not one of those country club places.

They should pay the ultimate price, just as any cold-blooded murderer would.

Oh, and all their personal assets should be taken and liquidated so as to add more money to a fund to help those that were killed, maimed, etc.

AND I hope this whistle blower gets rewarded, and not punished, for coming forward and telling everyone the truth.

[Rocky2007]

76. is BP oil spill has me LIVID with disgust and outrage!!!

This BP oil spill has me LIVID with disgust and outrage!!!

British Petroleum needs to be dragged to a firing squad and shot DEAD --all of them. Halliburton, Transocean and -- while we're at it, Blackwater too, just for the fun of it!

BP needs to loose the right to exist – they are just plain evil, money hungry bastards. We don't need oil this badly.

All off shore drilling needs to be stopped - NOW! No more drilling in the United State - PERIOD!

I am way beyond anger,

[Duppers]

78. R & K

Trying to keep this at the top of the page.

Thanks, kpete.

[truedelphi]

79. For the loss of a nail a kingdom was lost.

And with our current bought and paid for political system, we are losing that Gulf, and all the oxygen that it should be producing.

Screw the notion of monetary caps on liability. I am thinking it is past time for the guillotine. You cost us an ocean for your damn corpoRATe profits, you lose your neck.

[sonias]

80. Must watch reporting

First hand account by Mike Williams is going to be really, really important. He's lucky he survived. With his account, this might get investigated fully. BP is at fault pretty much due to raw greed. Profits before safety!

It's tragic that we have to suffer this disaster to make any changes to the business as usual oil industry and the regulations industry (MMS) that was pretty much working for big oil.

Kudos to 60 Minutes for the real journalism. I had forgotten what that looked like.
:applause:

[Junkdrawer]

88. K&R

[Ignis]

91. Raise your hand if you're surprised.

...

[WoodyM]

92. Whatever happened to those TV ads

from the oil industry? Those “The deeper you drill the more you…”

[Lagomorph]

95. If there hadn't been gross negligence....

...there wouldn't have been a disaster, duh.

I'm betting that if you keep drilling into a huge rock that spouts volcanoes on a regular basis, every once in a while the shit is going to hit the fan, if you aren't super careful.