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Oil In Gulf Contains Vast Amounts of Natural Gas

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
I guess it was an extraordinary well, with unforseen consequences. Any word on the cause yet?

The crude gushing from the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico contains vast amounts of natural gas that could pose a serious threat to the ecosystem.

Texas A&M University oceanographer, John Kessler says the oil emanating from the seafloor contains about 40% methane compared with about 5% found in typical oil deposits.

Scientists say that means huge quantities of the methane have entered the Gulf, potentially suffocating marine life.

Methane is a colorless, odorless and flammable substance that is a major component in the natural gas used to heat people's homes.

A BP spokesman says about 30 million cubic feet of natural gas is burned daily from the leak. But that doesn't account for gas that eludes containment efforts.

http://www.wrno.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=135361&article=7257432
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Cowpuncher said:
Methane is what mainly causes reservoir pressure - what did they expect?

I realize it kicked. I would think that the mud would have been a better option in a case like this, but the environmentalists don't want it used in offshore, so they use seawater.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Cracks Show BP Was Battling Gulf Well as Early as February

By Alison Fitzgerald and Joe Carroll - Jun 17, 2010

BP Plc was struggling to seal cracks in its Macondo well as far back as February, more than two months before an explosion killed 11 and spewed oil into the Gulf of Mexico.


It took 10 days to plug the first cracks, according to reports BP filed with the Minerals Management Service that were later delivered to congressional investigators. Cracks in the surrounding rock continued to complicate the drilling operation during the ensuing weeks. Left unsealed, they can allow explosive natural gas to rush up the shaft.

“Once they realized they had oil down there, all the decisions they made were designed to get that oil at the lowest cost,”
said Peter Galvin of the Center for Biological Diversity, which has been working with congressional investigators probing the disaster. “It’s been a doomed voyage from the beginning.”

http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-17/bp-struggled-with-cracks-in-gulf-well-as-early-as-february-documents-show.html

One of the good things that will come out of this disaster-- is how screwed up- and unprepared the entire Oil Industry was for such a disaster....Records and Congressional testimony show that numerous off shore oil companies relied on the same plan as BP- developed by the same company for emergencies-- including Exxon who chose to pay out record $40-$50 Billion dollar profits during the "Bush Oilmen rules period" rather than put money into R&D for either energy acquisition, purchase or updating of new rigs, or developing "safe" drilling techniques...

The farce of the whole thing became apparent to all in Congress when much of the same "emergency" program all these companies had- not only didn't address the problems - but gave specifics on how to save- and clean up the sea lions, seals, sea otters, and walruses in case of a Gulf Spill....

The problem? None of these critters live in the Gulf. :???: :wink: :lol:

And some think we should blindly kiss Big Corporate Americas hiney?
 
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Anonymous

Guest
I think you hit on something OT. You said none of those people live in the affected area. A lot of gulf coast residents are being subjected to a life altering dilema that is neither their or Mother Natures doing. This was caused by corruption and greed. The explosion may or may not be due to this. For all I know it could have happened anyway. The after effects are what I'm talking about here. There is a lot that could have and should have happened to prevent this thing from being the catastrophe it has now become. If the inhabitants of the region are going to be without an income, its only fair that BP shares in their misery. Why can't the US freeze their assets until this mess is stopped and the mess cleaned up? That is, freeze everything except money used in the cleanup and restitution. I bet if this happened some things would finally start turning around. If BP can't survive thru this, so what. Mounting evidence is already proving they acted in an irresponsible manner. I would take it further and extend this courtesy to the MMS personel that had a hand in this disaster too. The powers that can actually do something to help are to far removed to actually have a heartfelt interest.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
BAR BAR 2 said:
I think you hit on something OT. You said none of those people live in the affected area. A lot of gulf coast residents are being subjected to a life altering dilema that is neither their or Mother Natures doing. This was caused by corruption and greed. The explosion may or may not be due to this. For all I know it could have happened anyway. The after effects are what I'm talking about here. There is a lot that could have and should have happened to prevent this thing from being the catastrophe it has now become. If the inhabitants of the region are going to be without an income, its only fair that BP shares in their misery. Why can't the US freeze their assets until this mess is stopped and the mess cleaned up? That is, freeze everything except money used in the cleanup and restitution. I bet if this happened some things would finally start turning around. If BP can't survive thru this, so what. Mounting evidence is already proving they acted in an irresponsible manner. I would take it further and extend this courtesy to the MMS personel that had a hand in this disaster too. The powers that can actually do something to help are to far removed to actually have a heartfelt interest.

"irresponsible matter", how so?
 
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Anonymous

Guest
First and foremost Hypo, they obviously didn't have a sufficient reponse and containment plan in place should the unthinkable happen. They underestimated the effects of not having sufficient safety and operations inspections. They knew about fissures in the surrounding strata. There had already been burps in the line, but rather than devote resources and attention to rectifying the problems, they kept going. I'm not saying this is strictly the fault of BP. I am saying it is their responsibility to fix it though. It was their rig on their lease. If you decide to do business then you assume the risks.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
BAR BAR 2 said:
First and foremost Hypo, they obviously didn't have a sufficient reponse and containment plan in place should the unthinkable happen. They underestimated the effects of not having sufficient safety and operations inspections. They knew about fissures in the surrounding strata. There had already been burps in the line, but rather than devote resources and attention to rectifying the problems, they kept going. I'm not saying this is strictly the fault of BP. I am saying it is their responsibility to fix it though. It was their rig on their lease. If you decide to do business then you assume the risks.

Do we know if it was an operational mistake, or an equipment malfunction, yet?
 
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Anonymous

Guest
What I have heard, is it was operational error due to an equipment malfuction. Apparently they had had a few small problems that led to a bigger problem. From what I can gather and understand it was a culmination of different factors that may or may not be too much by themselves. Drilling at that depth though will magnify any problems that may occur. But, I may be out of line in my reasoning. The facts I have are what I have picked up from the news. I don't know if the American people will ever get full disclosure. I stand by my earlier post though. If BP were to have their assets frozen, I think we would start to see results.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
One of the problems in all of this, is that the media is uneducated, as far as what happens in the industry.

"Kicks" are normal happenings, they happen everyday, all across North America and Worldwide.

Yes, they were lacking in a response plan, but were also counting on the Fed. Government to uphold their part of the bargain.

Did the Government think they were collecting royalties and taxes for the sake of spending those funds on food stamps?
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Valid points Hypo. But, it was BP's rig on BP's lease. Eventhough it may have been due to error of another company, they were acting as a contrator to BP, therefore placing ultimate responsibility on BP. Regardless where the fault lies, drilling at this depth increases the risks and plans to deal with a catastrophe of this magnitude were nonexistent. At the risk of contradicting myself, I agree that "strongarming" the 20 billion was a poor tactic. Just days before Obama threatened criminal investigations would be forthcoming. Of course these people are going to go along with him. They don't want to go to jail. I'm not sure what the answer is. I just don't feel that BP should be able to keep profiting while so many people will be doing without because of their disaster. I wonder if Nonothing still thinks I'm part of your crew. lol
 
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Anonymous

Guest
That's another good point. Some will say its Bush's fault for the corruption in the MMS and the oil industry itself. Taking care of his cronies and so on. The oil industry has always been corrupt and full of greed. Does anyone remember the tv show "Dallas"? That wasn't a parody. Obama was advised of the troubles in the MMS when he took office. It doesn't matter who's fault those troubles were. The fact is, when he took office they became his troubles to deal with. Our government should have had disaster plans in place too. As much as I am for capitilism, you can't trust Big Business to always do what is right.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
BAR BAR 2 said:
Valid points Hypo. But, it was BP's rig on BP's lease. Eventhough it may have been due to error of another company, they were acting as a contrator to BP, therefore placing ultimate responsibility on BP. Regardless where the fault lies, drilling at this depth increases the risks and plans to deal with a catastrophe of this magnitude were nonexistent. At the risk of contradicting myself, I agree that "strongarming" the 20 billion was a poor tactic. Just days before Obama threatened criminal investigations would be forthcoming. Of course these people are going to go along with him. They don't want to go to jail. I'm not sure what the answer is. I just don't feel that BP should be able to keep profiting while so many people will be doing without because of their disaster. I wonder if Nonothing still thinks I'm part of your crew. lol

Are these types of operations done in other Countries, without incident? What's the drilling depth off Newfoundland?

That's the number 1 priority at this point in time, isn't it? Finding out who's at fault and who's going to pay for the disaster that no one wants to clean up?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
BAR BAR 2 said:
I wonder if Nonothing still thinks I'm part of your crew. lol

All I can say is, you better start towing the line, or else our Korean backers won't be giving us that raise they promised us.

We don't spend this time chained to our desks for nothing, :lol:
 

loomixguy

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Cracks Show BP Was Battling Gulf Well as Early as February

By Alison Fitzgerald and Joe Carroll - Jun 17, 2010

BP Plc was struggling to seal cracks in its Macondo well as far back as February, more than two months before an explosion killed 11 and spewed oil into the Gulf of Mexico.


It took 10 days to plug the first cracks, according to reports BP filed with the Minerals Management Service that were later delivered to congressional investigators. Cracks in the surrounding rock continued to complicate the drilling operation during the ensuing weeks. Left unsealed, they can allow explosive natural gas to rush up the shaft.

“Once they realized they had oil down there, all the decisions they made were designed to get that oil at the lowest cost,”
said Peter Galvin of the Center for Biological Diversity, which has been working with congressional investigators probing the disaster. “It’s been a doomed voyage from the beginning.”

http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-17/bp-struggled-with-cracks-in-gulf-well-as-early-as-february-documents-show.html

One of the good things that will come out of this disaster-- is how screwed up- and unprepared the entire Oil Industry was for such a disaster....Records and Congressional testimony show that numerous off shore oil companies relied on the same plan as BP- developed by the same company for emergencies-- including Exxon who chose to pay out record $40-$50 Billion dollar profits during the "Bush Oilmen rules period" rather than put money into R&D for either energy acquisition, purchase or updating of new rigs, or developing "safe" drilling techniques...

The farce of the whole thing became apparent to all in Congress when much of the same "emergency" program all these companies had- not only didn't address the problems - but gave specifics on how to save- and clean up the sea lions, seals, sea otters, and walruses in case of a Gulf Spill....

The problem? None of these critters live in the Gulf. :???: :wink: :lol:

And some think we should blindly kiss Big Corporate Americas hiney?

All this is eeriely similar to Slick Willie's handling of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. That was a prime example of how unprepared and screwed up law enforcement was, from the Attorney General on down. (Hint: That was handled by a Democrat administration, too.) Seems like the only thing lib administrations know is how to send lawyers, not any actual, meaningful help.

And some think we should blindly kiss TWAP's hiney? :wink:

BTW...Wasn't there a Mexican oil spill in the Gulf in the 80's that makes this new spill look like a, pardon the pun, drop in the bucket?
 

Clarencen

Well-known member
I'll jump in here now. I think the first thing we need to do now is STOP THE DAMN LEAK. We can decide who was to blame, who should pay, what regulations we need so another disaster won't happen later. Now is the time to listen to the experts, not the politicians and lawyers. It will be years before anyone is paid for their losses anyway.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
In the news on wlw Cincinatti radio this am. There was talk they may have drilled into a volcano. This is notb a hoax rather some sound science.

They said the scientists thought the pressure escaping this well was 1000 lbs per square inch. Now they are saying itys more like 100,000 pounds per square inch. There is even starting to to be speculation they maay never never bring it under control!

They now say the ammount of Methane is as much as 40 percent compared to a normal of 5 percent.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
I would have to go back and find it, but I read a thread on this forum a while ago that said a nuke may be the answer to stopping this leak. I have only heard this mentioned once on the news. Is this an option? What are the ramifications if we pursued this option. Will it work? Would it be more detrimental to the Gulf than the mess we now have?
 
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