BP, the Government, O&G Experts, and what do you have?
With the cluster fuck going on in the Gulf over BP’s irresponsible handling of an oil leak gush of proportions that most of us might never know the repercussions in sum, I bring you several thoughts on the subject:
A) Thoughts by Rachel – very unfortunate accident and then reaction by BP in a crisis. They say when the going gets tough, the tough get going, but BP has proven to be a poor communicator, they have come off as arrogant and greedy and thoroughly irresponsible and they almost make Bush/FEMA/CORPs look like innocents in Katrina with their insular cockiness. Hey, it’s our Gulf, not just your well BP.
B) this from someone who knows what is going on: BP did all the wrong things at the wrong time, ignored the signs and pushed ahead all in the name of saving money. Have even heard the the Hydrill ( the top part of the BOP with the big rubber donut that squeezes the pipe and keeps the gas and oil from coming up the riser) had been damaged the week before by some worm who closed it while they were working pipe and tore the rubber. They even had pieces of it coming across the shakers and rather than pull the BOP’s and replace it BP gave the word to continue operations, this was a week or so before the blowout, again all to save some moola. Do I hear mega law suite coming up??? I think so, rumor is the US gov will file criminal charges, after that the sky is the limit for everyone else who can get in on the lawsuit.
C) A good friend at Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries said that shrimpers are stepping up to get thousands of dollars from BP for not being able to shrimp when they wouldn’t be shrimping anyway because the shrimp aren’t ready. True that sounds greedy doesn’t it. But if you are a shrimper in Louisiana chances are a) you got screwed in Katrina, b) you know you’re going to get screwed in this oil spill mess one way or the other, and c) you are a smart cookie who knows you had been getter your money while you can.
D) This was a blog entry I saw:
There’s so much I want to say, I know I’ll miss half the things that come to mind… but I’m still amazed at the stupidity of some people. I’d like to point out the mass of idiots who think the answer is “STOP ALL DRILLING” that you are indeed very dumb. I don’t care how special your mom thinks you are, do the world a favor and shut up.
First of all, it is becoming more apparent that this spill was caused by negligence, in other words, it was preventable with the systems the rig was equipped with. Let’s say you were driving in your car, you saw a brick wall in the road, your first reaction was thinking that can’t be a brick wall in the road so you didn’t take any precautions, by the time you realize it is a brick wall you apply the brakes. Unfortunately you didn’t properly maintain your breaks and they are worn and without brake fluid. You hit the brick wall. Was that the car makers fault? Was it the auto industry as a whole that did that to you? Not hardly. Grow up.
Secondly, it is a fact that the Ixtoc spewed (approx) 420,000 a day for 9 months, the oil was never seen and the ecosystem continued. It is also a fact that oil and natural gas is excreting from the ocean floors all over the world, as we speak, as a natural occurrence. (where do you think the tar balls in Florida ans Texas are coming from?) I’m not saying this spill is ok, but get your facts straight.
Finally, for you idiots screaming “electric cars are the answer” and “we don’t need gasoline” I’d like to paint a picture of the world without carbon resources. First we’ll fire everyone involved in exploration, including the people bringing supplies to the exploration companies, and the refineries, all the way down to the gas stations and stores that sell the byproducts. Oil is not “just” gasoline. Oil is refined to make everything from gasoline to plastics and rubber, some pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, clothing, and literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions of products that you purchase every day. So basically the entire country is out of work (without the production,refining,transport, and sale of oil byproducts), half naked with no makeup/deodorant/soap, driving on dirt roads (no asphalt anymore) in our solar cars. Oh wait, the cars won’t run without tires or grease/lubricants, let’s not forget the iron ore that was mined for the metal, can’t have that either. I guess we’ll just sit at home then, stinky and ugly, and starving because you’ll now have to grow your own food. Of course this is based on the “theory” that we don’t need oil, but you get the picture. Great plan. I see you’ve thought this through.