Environment

BP Report: We’re Not the Only Ones at Fault

A report released today by BP says that it is not the only one to blame for this summer’s oil spill. “No single factor” caused the disaster, BP said in a press release. Rather, “a sequence of failures involving a number of different parties led to the explosion and fire which killed 11 people and caused widespread pollution in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year.”

Additionally, according to its statement, “decisions made by ‘multiple companies and work teams’ contributed to the accident which [the report] says arose from ‘a complex and interlinked series of mechanical failures, human judgments, engineering design, operational implementation and team interfaces.’”

The report is the result of four month’s of investigation, and was conducted “independently by a team of over 50 technical and other specialists” and lead by BP’s head of safety and operations. Still, the release admits that the those specialists were partly “drawn from inside BP.”

“The investigation report provides critical new information on the causes of this terrible accident,” BP’s outgoing chief executive Tony Hayward said. “It is evident that a series of complex events, rather than a single mistake or failure, led to the tragedy. Multiple parties, including BP, Halliburton and Transocean, were involved.”

For the most part, the report and the release try to downplay BP’s responsibility for the accident. “Based on the report, it would appear unlikely that the well design contributed to the incident, as the investigation found that the hydrocarbons flowed up the production casing through the bottom of the well,” Hayward said.

Presenting a unified front, BP’s incoming chief executive Bob Dudley shared the sentiment: “We have said from the beginning that the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon was a shared responsibility among many entities. This report makes that conclusion even clearer, presenting a detailed analysis of the facts and recommendations for improvement both for BP and the other parties involved.

Among the report’s findings:

  • The cement and shoe track barriers –- and in particular the cement slurry that was used –- at the bottom of the Macondo well failed to contain hydrocarbons within the reservoir, as they were designed to do, and allowed gas and liquids to flow up the production casing;
  • The results of the negative pressure test were incorrectly accepted by BP and Transocean, although well integrity had not been established;
  • Over a 40-minute period, the Transocean rig crew failed to recognise and act on the influx of hydrocarbons into the well until the hydrocarbons were in the riser and rapidly flowing to the surface;
  • After the well-flow reached the rig it was routed to a mud-gas separator, causing gas to be vented directly on to the rig rather than being diverted overboard;
  • The flow of gas into the engine rooms through the ventilation system created a potential for ignition which the rig’s fire and gas system did not prevent;
  • Even after explosion and fire had disabled its crew-operated controls, the rig’s blow-out preventer on the sea-bed should have activated automatically to seal the well. But it failed to operate, probably because critical components were not working.

Of note, and to be expected, is the curious new name that BP has given the oil spill. Instead of calling it the “Deepwater Horizon” disaster, or referring to itself in the name, the company is now calling it the “Macondo well tragedy.”

You can view a video presentation of the report here.

Comments (29)

  • iwalkalone
    Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:43am

    We need a complete factual analysis regardless of who the lawyers finally convict. Irrational hatred of BP is not the answer. Prevention of more disasters will only result if all responsible parties are held accountable and corrections made across the board..

    Report Post »  
  • rdk
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:17pm

    Serious industrial accidents never or hardly ever have a singular cause. There is always a convergence of things (usually at least three) which of themselves would not cause catastrophe. BP’s diligence prior to the accident certainly was lacking, but they have stepped up; Transocean and Halliburton should do likewise. Unfortunately the division in liability will be resolved on court some years hence.

    Report Post »  
  • smartypoop
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 9:31pm

    BP is right, they are not the only ones responcible. But, it would have been alot harder for everybody else to pass the buck and blame only BP, if they didnt have such a crappy safety record. The real tragety is what this disaster will allow the government to do with this “crisis” and what it will cost the folks in the gulf and accross the nation.

    Report Post »  
  • Johnadda
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 8:04pm

    As Usual it’s not just one person or Companies FAULT, if it was then what was all the other companies and authorities doing? did they have their EYES SHUT, of course not. I will give BP CREDIT for stepping up to the plate and taking the full responsibility and agreeing to get BILLIONS of aid and assistance to all those people and animals effected,unlike the Exon Valdez disaster in Alaska that took 20yrs for people to get any money.
    Now BP feel it’s time for all the people and Companies involved and at fault to step up and take on their responsibility as well. This won’t effect the MONEY BP will still PAY that, but if others are too blame then BP should get funds from them to go into the pot and they should be held accountable to the people.

    Report Post »  
  • ron the veteran
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 6:11pm

    do they think we are stupid to think it was the cement job that failed and halaburton was at fault? i didnt see any gas bubbles comming up around the base of the well head, when it was capped it looked as if the well head was fine. so how is it halaburtons fault. dont fall for any of this crap. this president lies to cover his ass. its time to expose him for the fraud he is. wheres your birth certificate mr obama?

     
  • Lion420
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 1:05pm

    I can put it in a nutshell…all involved are crooked and at fault for some part of the problem. This includes BP, Transocean, Haliburton, and last but not least, the US fed Gov’t.

    Report Post » Lion420  
    • VegasGuy
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 1:21pm

      When you look at all the roadblocks the federal agencies created to get the spill cleaned up (stopped Louisiana from building berms, prevented skimmers from sucking up oil because they did not remove enough oil to suit EPA standards, stopped clean up crews because of life jackets, etc.), one cannot help but wonder if someone was trying to orchestrate matters to make the disaster much worse than it needed to be. It appeared the feds were trying to create an “emergency” so they could take over another industry.

      Quote: “Rule 1: Never allow a crisis to go to waste,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

      Report Post » VegasGuy  
    • PunditPawn
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 5:00pm

      Mostly the Federal Government. Businesses will repeatedly try to avoid conformance, that is why there are inspectors. When the inspectors don’t do their jobs, non-conformance occurs and in this case people may die. Real easy.

      Report Post »  
  • suran
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 12:47pm

    I agree the fault belongs to many. I, too, am sick of the “not me!” attitude when it comes to accepting responsibility. Little children place the blame on others. When will those with responsibility grow up and step up to the plate to say “I was wrong! Now I’m going to try to fix it”?

    Well, we know it won’t be Obama…he doesn’t know HOW to take responsibility….for the BAD things that are happening, that is.

    Report Post » suran  
    • modernman
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 2:40pm

      Talking about sharing the blame, can anyone recognize that Obama inherited most of the mess? Not all of the mess, but most of it. No?

      Report Post »  
    • Sophiaphile
      Posted on September 9, 2010 at 12:58am

      @Modernman: In order for that argument about responsibility to have any credibility it requires one to ignore the past 20 mos. If I’m charged with the task of trying to put out a building on fire, and I bring a blow torch and napalm, claiming that the fire was already going when I got to the scene is not really an effective way of arguing that I’m not responsible that the house, and indeed the rest of the block, burned to the ground.

      So, yes, Obama “inherited” problems, but everything he has done since has been either an opportunistic exploitation of those problems, or contributed to the deepening of the problems themselves, or both. All of which he is quite squarely responsible for.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 12:28pm

    Let’s not forget to lay some blame at the feet of the environmental extremists for pushing oil production in to deep water to start with. If this had happened in shallow water or dry land (oh my) the leak would have been capped in hours or days not months.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Toader Gloat
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 12:49pm

      Amen, brutha.

      Report Post » Shurmus  
    • GulfCoastGirl
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 1:04pm

      We had a second well explode just last week, but it was in shallow water and was easier to handle the repairs. Had there been a leak it could have been fixed in no time.

      Report Post »  
    • modernman
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 2:32pm

      Oh yeah, shame on me for complaining about dog crap in my yard and forcing the dog to go somewhere else.

      Report Post »  
    • modernman
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 2:37pm

      Are you suggesting that if I complain about the dog that craps in my yard, I am to be held responsible for the dog’s mess somewhere else? How about the owner taking responsibility and cleaning up after the dog! Drilling leaves a mess wherever it is done.

      Report Post »  
  • Libertarian Infidel
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:44am

    “a sequence of failures involving a number of different parties led to the explosion and fire which killed 11 people and caused widespread pollution in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year.” ..ohh THAT oil spill that killed 11 people and caused widespread pollution in the Gulf. I’m glad BP clarified that, because I wasn’t certain of which oil spill they were referring to.

    Report Post » Libertarian Infidel  
  • ReGina N
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:25am

    Prior to the election, BP was a VERY large contributor to the funding of the election of BHO, blind eyes were turned at all levels, and even safety awards presented 60 days before the blast. The rules and regulations were blatantly disregarded,and the administration did nothing to make sure they were implemented. Nor the Coast Guard, which was a miserable failure in this disaster. Everyone at all levels are to blame, from Deepwater Horizon straight on up to the WH. Unfortunatley, BP has been the scapegoat. I live on the Gulf Coast and it’s a crying shame what has been done to the livelihood of many of the residents, as many of my family members run business’ here from charter fishing to shrimping right on up to the resturant business. They were all placed on a back burner, given a few dollars,( not what most have been led to believe) while their lives have been completely destroyed. It’s just my opinion, had Alabama been a primarily democrat state, things would have been handled differently, as well as the other Gulf Coast states.

    Report Post »  
  • Skwerl
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:13am

    Technically BP is correct, but ultimately they are accountable. BP, as do all oil producers, should be more vigilant with their contractors and vendors. Ignorance of an issue is nothing more than setting the stage for disaster.

    Report Post »  
    • WISEPENNY
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 4:34pm

      I’ll just bet, after all the finger pointing and “tattleing” on each other, that the root cause of the well “blow-out“ that resulted in the inevitable fire that followed will turn out to be the BP ”hauncho” that decided to displace the cement with salt water instead of a good heavy batch of drilling mud like they should have done. That well would have never blew out, otherwise. I think we borrowed the old saying “penny wise and pound foolish” from the British. Ironic isn’t it?

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:08am

    BP stinks!!

    Report Post » MrButcher  
  • Joseph
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:45am

    So, someone can start a fire and then say it wasn’t entirely their faul. Why? The store sold them the matches, the distributor brought them to the store,and a company made the matches. Yeah, that makes sense…

    Report Post »  
  • thefljuggalo
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:33am

    but still the oil regulation commitee, the name of it escapes me sorry, is nowhere in any report being held responsible. if they had not been letting bp pay them off to look the other way while they were purposely cutting corners could have prevented the whole thing. what happened is an example of the “honor” we need to restore to our elected and appointed officials

    Report Post »  
  • AChristian
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:24am

    Laws limit 1) BP’s liability to $75 million, 2) Puts responsability directly on the Federal Govt. and it’s agencies, to stop the leak, and pay for the cleanup. 3) Laws were signed by the POTUS. In most cases by Billy Jeff Clinton in 1991 & 1993.

    BP shares fault. But, is NOT the only one. Just the Scapegoat for an incompetent & corrupt Administration that failed to act, and failed to live up to the Laws in place. Why is that not surprising?
    The laws were ill-concieved, and hadn’t been updated to reflect rising costs over the years. That is the fault of Clinton, Bush, & Obama. And the Congress & Senate.
    BP is the only Entity that has lived up to it’s responsability after the fact. And has gone 41/2 times over it’s liability cap. WTF? What do people want. It took Alaska almost 20 years, several court decisions, including a Supreme Court decision, and sevearl SCOTUS rejections of appeals, & Sarah Palin to collect dime one for the Exon Valdez spill. Get off BP’s back. Blame PinochioBama for not stepping up to the plate.

    Report Post »  
  • SOUTHERN GIRL2
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:00am

    the Coast Guard made the problem worse by trying to put the fire out with salt water, which caused the rig to sink….that’s when the leak started!

    Report Post »  
    • Hydejustice
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 12:33pm

      There is alot to this Southerngirl, when I was a Damage Controlmen and training firefighting to all shipboard personel. It was common practice to train the immediate dewatering of firefighting water. The reason for this is that the largest number of ships lost during WWII was due to firefighting efforts with out a balance of water evacuation. Just saying

      Report Post »  
  • Debrabate
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 9:56am

    They are correct… they are not the only one’s at fault.

    Though BP can call it whatever they want, the Deepwater Horizon Spill was a complete failure in safety, regulation and responsibility. I think that the General American public is sick and tired of the “It wasnt my fault” game.

    The builders of the well did a 1/2azz job in regard to safety. BP should have tested the shut off valve weekly/months just like real people test thier smoke alarms on a regular basis. The presidents Czar (I forget her name) should have been doing her job and getting them inspected instead of having dinners with lobbyist. (and yes I mean in the Clinton, Obama and BUSH administrations)

    As a regular American I can say that when something is wrong with my house, I dont wait until I have time to fix it… I fix it on a NOW basis.

    I just wish people would stop with excuses and start with the “I did it… I am am sorry… now let’s fix it and make sure it doesnt happen again.” I will say this… as a Gulf community resident (sort of) BP has had an excellent PR campaign out here… not sure how well it is REALLY going… but at least they are taking more responsibility than the others.

    Report Post » Debrabate  
    • DanB
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 1:51pm

      I agree. We need to stop blaming everyone else. Take our own dose of responsibility. From the top at the President on down to the unemployed. It doesn’t matter. We should all take responsibility for our actions, or lack of action.

      Unfortunately, we have a long history of blaming others. From lawsuits to even now our President, sadly.

      Report Post »  
  • GarbyBarengar
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 9:54am

    Well when you purposely avoid safety regulations in the first place to save money…

    Report Post » Stupid Windmill  

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