Oil Spill Expert: BP Is 'Groping In the Dark'

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Dr. Ian McDonald Says BP Could Be Sucking Up Spill More Quickly Now If It Had Allowed More Accurate Estimates Of The Spill Rate

A leading scientist following the BP oil spill said Monday that if the company or the government had made realistic estimates about the amounts flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, they could have had sufficient tanker space ready on the surface to hold the crude being pumped up through a make-shift collection device.

Instead, BP officials have acknowledged they may be constrained from pumping oil up too quickly because the surface ships there now can only receive only 15,000 barrels daily.

"They're groping in the dark because they've never permitted actual estimates to be made," said Ian MacDonald, a Florida State oceanography professor. "They said a dozen times on television that 5,000 barrels a day was the rate of this spill, and all their engineering was driven by that. Clearly, they were underestimating what kind of capacity they needed."

In an extensive interview with ABC News chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross, MacDonald examined underwater video from the early days of the disaster and concluded that BP had been underestimating the scope of the spill, with little objection from the U.S Coast Guard or other federal agencies. The videos were not released until more than a month into the spill, after they were sought by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

At the time, BP defended its actions, saying it had made all the video available to federal officials.

"The video has been available to the unified command from the very beginning," said Mark Proegler, a BP spokesman. "It's always been here from the beginning. They had it."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/oil-spill-expert-bp-groping-dark/story?id=10849389

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[Botany]

2. This has to do w/ trying to keep the amount of money they have to pay out ...

.... @ the lowest possible level.

[wordpix]

4. also has to do with lack of planning---O should order oil-receiving ships to site immediately

let BP pay to get them there. If they're in the area, they should go

[JDPriestly]

32. OK, wordpix, now whose oil-receiving ships could Obama have "ordered"

to the site. Under what authority? Do you think that the Coast Guard has oil-receiving ships? The Navy? If so, how many?

Are you thinking that Obama can order private companies to send their oil-receiving ships in?

What countries do you think those ships are most likely registered in?

How do you picture this working?

[liberation]

33. Ahem... no need to "order" when the US government can "contract"

We can outsource half of our war effort to private companies, I am pretty damned sure we can contract out some of those tankers.

[wordpix]

50. absolutely, my point though was O should start acting like commander in chief & do some ordering!

and send the bills to BP

[Merchant Marine]

47. There are tankers in layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleets

Also there are vessels enrolled under the Maritime Security Program that could be called up.

[wordpix]

49. OK experts, so why wait until mid-June for another ship?

[wordpix]

51. OK, you want to make ME commander in chief? That's O's job, let him figure it out

Whatever the pres. may order or contract for, the bills should go to BP.

[Auggie]

24. +1000

[wordpix]

3. true, O should have ordered BP to get another ship ready just in case

they actually did recover significant oil, esp. since BP's estimates can't be trusted.

Now O should order any and all oil-recieving ships in the area to the siteimmediately to receive whatever oil can be captured, or seize the ships and send them there if they won't go voluntarily upon order. Can Obama handle THAT? Be a commander in chief and command!

[Titanothere]

41. No need to sieze anything, I'm sure there's plenty available in Houston or La ...

they just have to pay for them. It's not like any of the oil transport companies would turn them down.

[wordpix]

48. why don' they do it then? Why say they can't get a ship in until mid-June?

This is in another thread or two

[Titanothere]

56. Don't know. I reality I suppose those things are typically fully booked

but you'd think they'd name the price and get one unless it would result in a spill somewhere else, but I can't imagine anything's worse than this. We'll be into mid-June soon, man I hope this thing gets contained.

[global1]

5. I Don't Know That Anyone Can Calculate The Flow By Just Looking At A Video......

so the fact that the video was available to federal officials is just a red herring. BP is sitting on data that can correctly identify what the flow is and just won't release it because it would mean a tremendous amount of money in fines that they would have to pay. I got to believe that in their initial testing when finding and then drilling the well that they know with a pretty fair certainty of what the flow rate of that well is. I don't think an oil company would make such an investment in time, energy and money without such info. They are just stonewalling. They are trying to shift the story away from them and on to the government. They are deceiving us every time they open their mouth.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. BP will be dissolved through Chapter 7 bankruptcy

for both the US and the UK operations of BP.

[Kolesar]

8. Then we tar and feather former CEO Tony Hayward...eom

[aquart]

11. Did you see Colbert last night?

He did things to a Hayward lookalike. Terrible things.

[IcyPeas]

25. Yes. It was terribly....

hilarious - I thought "I shouldn't be laughing at this" but it was so "right on" And even as he was getting beat up he kept answering the questions with the same old lies. I loved that it was a turtle driving the car that kept rolling over him. So sad.

[Kolesar]

46. I made a point of watching the 7:00 rerun today

:rofl: thanks

[Desertrose]

29. Just use the feathers that are already tarred...birds can't use 'em that way.

Thanks to the bastards at BP.

[aquart]

10. Do you promise?

Because I hate them with a helpless claw clutching my heart.

[dipsydoodle]

14. I wouldn't hold your breath

on payouts if that were to occur so if you're lucky it won't happen. The value in BP is its ability to generate profits on a running basis. Grind it effectively to a halt and you'll be worse off overall.

BTW Chapter 7 ? I assume you're not an accountant.

[saigon68]

26. The Chapter 7 stay will prevent any legal action

This Co will be dead in the water

[happyslug]

37. It be Chapter 11, NOT Chapter 7

Chapter 11 is for reorganization of Corporations, even if that means the assets are sold to another corporations. For example when GM filed Chapter 11, it sold all of its assets to a new corporations whose stock holders were its major creditors, including the United Auto Workers and the the Federal Government. In the case of BP, I see the same, just that the Federal Government will become the only stockholder. i.e. to pay off the fines owned by BP do to this debacle AND then have the federal government to use the Assets of BP to pay off the damages done by this blow out. Now the Federal Government liability will be limited to what it can expect to get for BP, but the Federal Government will probably have to pay for most of the clean up anyway.

[midnight armadillo]

59. Only after all assets are transferred away

Don't think for a minute that bankruptcy will cause BP to lose a cent.

[Vinnie From Indy]

9. And you would be wrong

There are experts in fluid dynamics and such that can easily determine flow rates from video to an accurate range.

[laughingliberal]

21. Thank you. The 'no one could have predicted' defense is old, tired, and false. nt

[liberation]

34. I don't think that was the point of the original poster at all...

... in fact I think it was the opposite: BP is not releasing enough data in order to cover their asses.

[wordpix]

52. didn't I hear that meme just after 9-11? Condi Rice and gang?

[Kolesar]

7. NPR story today said that they are constrained by the size of the pipes to the surface

So there is only so much that they can draw up one mile. The rest spits out the side.

[Capitalocracy]

28. You mean the physics constrain them to a certain pipe size?

Or that they chose a size of pipe which was rather thin?

[BanzaiBonnie]

12. Yet instead of being truthful, they lie

to cover their asses.

What's wrong with them? Didn't their mothers and fathers teach them to tell the truth. You won't get in nearly as much trouble if you tell the truth when something bad happens.

[defendandprotect]

16. It's a mindset that dollars beat nature . . . . little respect for nature --

hiding the truth of this means more dollars to them --

Core of capitalism is exploitation of nature and it's a really sick mindset -- !!

Also based in "Christianity" --

"Man's Dominion Over Nature" and "Manifest Destiny" -- two licenses to the elites

to exploit with "god's" permission!

[Cal Carpenter]

18. It's not a 'mindset', it's an economic system

called capitalism.

Doesn't matter what one's mindset is - when you live under a capitalist system, greed rules. A few people benefit obscenely, and most of the people and nature be damned...It's what the system is designed to do.

[defendandprotect]

20. Trade with seashells is an "economic" system ... capitalism is based on exploitation ....

of nature -- and even of other human beings according to various myths of

"inferiority" --

Nature is all -- there's no replacement for it -- certainly not with a dollar bill!

:)

[wordpix]

53. you are right +1

[liberation]

35. Capitalism depends among other things in "confidence in the system"

so technically it is also a mindset.

There is a reason why hard core believers in Capitalism and religious fanatics share many traits in regards to their suspension of fact based logic and common sense: Markets to them always lead to optimal solutions out of sheer greed-fueled magic, in the same sense that god operates in mysterious ways when implementing her plans.

[wordpix]

55. yes, one must have faith in capitalism, just as in religion

I personally have faith not in those but in nature, which man keeps fucking up.

[defendandprotect]

57. But they turned Wall St. into a Casino and still had people believing --

just before they scammed they all! Time after time, same thing!

Anyone who remembers Nixon will remember him injecting a bit of "uncertainty" into

the stock market.

Really, slow and steady will get you 10% over time -- guaranteed --

but the way that elites really make money is by running a Casino --

sure thing for them, questionable for everyone else!!

It's the "up's" and "down's" that pay off -- not steady as you go!

:)

[BanzaiBonnie]

60. The problem is that those who a sociopaths are those

who are riding to the top in this economic system. Carly Fiorina --- 32,000 jobs cut. People thrown to the curb.

[laughingliberal]

22. Sociopaths are immune to constraints of conscience. When they display remorse, it's an act. nt

[Capitalocracy]

27. I wish that were true...

but I'm not sure that will prove to be the case.

BP STANDS FOR BALLOT POISON

Pledge not to vote for any candidates receiving campaign donations from BP in 2010.

Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/bp2010/petition.html



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113423272036102

Twitter: @bpballotpoison

[nvme]

13. k&R

[defendandprotect]

15. Was just watching hearings ... Al Franken a jewel--!! Actually challenging insanity of all this ...

We need renewal of the Moritorium on off-shore drilling --

and let's move on to alternative energy --

the first step in moving in that direction is NATIONALIZING the oil

industry -- otherwise the private control and wealth involved will continue

to move elites to stop any alternatives --

which has been going on for decades.



PS: Kaufman of Delaware has also been good -- not seeing all of hearings

"Disinsentives" when you make a mistake?

Jack Coleman/Founding Mng Partner, Energy North America is witness at moment.

Also, evidently, some witnesses who lost family members on rig?


Amy Klobuchar/Minn -- cheers to her!! "Take the risks/pay for them"

protect the taxpyer ...

Also helping push for paying "full costs" -- legal theory --

with Tom Galligan /Colby, Sawyer Coll NH -- President & Humanities Professor

When risks are discussed, the full weight of costs have to be considered.


Coleman arguing for the right to take "risks" without insurance/full payment --

and mentions NUCLEAR INDUSTRY . . . Can't wait til we get a closer look at what's

going on there!!!

This is headed: Oil Drilling & Legal Liability



Oh, Franken - "I've never seen a solar panel, or a wind turbine kill 12 people!" ---

and this is a wake up call. Coleman has a sickening smile on his face.

Franken is challenging a "poll" which suggests American public still supports off-shore drilling!

"Most of the oil is in deep water" -- 93% -- we have to go where the oil is!

[laughingliberal]

23. +1000 for Franken. eom

[liberation]

36. Franken seriously rocks.

[defendandprotect]

45. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse was also good ... others as well!

[bread_and_roses]

17. Oh woo hoo....like he kicked Wall St. ass? the health insurance vampire

ghouls ass? or the illegitimate little pResident Codpiece's plants in Mining and Minerals or other agencies (excepting NLRB, where he actually did do something) asses? Give me a break - he's too enamoured of the shiny shoes and expensive suits to kick much Oligarch ass.

[Mari333]

19. ah that headline reminds me of 1965....

[AllyCat]

30. Ya think?

[Hubert Flottz]

31. Send Arnold down there

That's his MO, 'Groping In the Dark'

[Bluebear]

38. It's OK, the Gulf will "bounce back"! We were told yesterday.

[Hulk]

39. Why not ....

...just dump a boat load...or several boat loads of rock, sand, heavy material into the spot and fill the damn thing back up? I realize there is pressure, etc...but enough weight ought to compensate for pressure, no?

This has me confused as hell. I at least realize "nuking" the damn thing is crazy as hell....no wonder the reich wingers are crazy for the idea.

[Titanothere]

44. Because there's already a 500 ton BOP sitting on top of it and it's not stopping it. No seal.

Weight enough isn't enough, you need a tight seal, which is where the nuke idea comes from; it would melt the rocks and seal the well up.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. Can't someone send something down there that would freeze at -270 F the oil coming out

-273F so it solidifies as it comes out. Somebody must have a freezing device?

[Titanothere]

43. Yeah, I think Arnold had one when he played Mr Freeze in one of the batman movies

Or maybe we could ask the Wonder Twins to go all "Form of an Ice Plugger Thingy" and stop it up. I hope that question was a joke.

[deaniac21]

42. Thank goddess that bush isn't in charge of this emergency!

[wordpix]

54. he would be bailing BP out b/c people are ganging up on the poor widdle corporation

[flyarm]

58. what's the difference? I can sure tell you don't live on the gulf! eom