You can see the BOP on the bottom here:
Here you go:
NYT Today:
“The leaks were discovered Saturday in the riser, the 5,000-foot-long pipe that extended from the wellhead to the drilling platform. The riser detached from the platform after it exploded and sank, and it is now snaking up from the wellhead and back down to the sea floor. It is leaking in two places, both at the sea floor. The bends in the riser, like kinks in a garden hose, have apparently prevented a gush of oil. When the platform was on the ocean’s surface and the riser was still attached last week, oil and gas were shooting up through the riser, creating plumes of flame.”
After reading this thread for the last few days I have been impressed with the knowledge (TMS’s, downflood angle, spotting flames from diverter overboard line) and accuracy of some posters but disappionted by some of the “noise” especially inaccurate lists of names.
Assuming they were P&A or T&Aing these questions may need to be answered.
- If they ran in to the shoe to set cement plugs why not run and mechanical (EZSV)
- Was the first cement plug tested to a pressure above formation break down
- Was the first cement plug weight tested by drillstring (not density see below)
- Why does the industry use cement plugs…we all know their rate of success.see Montara
For information about PA and TA and barrier policy see Montara enquiry (Australia Government) 1st 4 days of evidence.
1 The ROV picture of pipe with oil leak is drillpipe - It looks like they were displacing riser thro DP
- How was volume in and out being monitored? I would suggest that the pumps were on direct feed as the pits would be filling with return mud from the riser hence no real volume accounting.
I would suggest a scenerio of - Lower plug pumped - no tested properly
- Cement did not set up
- Cement goes to seawater gradient as it is gelling (cause of many jack up annulus blowouts)
- Mud displaced from riser with seawater (removal of riser margin)
- Well kicks due to loss of BHP in points 3 and 4.
We all know and are trained the “hold the Tiger by the Tail” but sometimes we are “Lions being Lead by Donkeys”
[QUOTE=RDD;31636]To the Attorney looking for clients:
I’m going to say this as nice as possible. it’s hard to believe your intent is purely devoted to the lost and injured. In fact, it appears you are looking for work, probably at 30-50 percent plus expences. If by chance I needed representation, your name would be removed from my pick list. Ambulance chasing is wrong and it is in poor taste. With all this said, if you are one of the very few that work for a fair 10-15% and truly have your clients best interests at heart, my apologies.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=kjdmedic;31638]Amen my brother!! I can’t believe that law suits were filed before it was even officially confirmed of the lost! I could understand doing it quickly, but the day after the incident!!! Man, I know we need lawyers, but some should be shot!!! I do hope everything works out for the families of the lost…especially the young guy that has a small child and a pregnant wife!!! This is a said time in our industry!!![/QUOTE]
Leave him alone. He is a long time active member in good standing on this forum and his financial support helps to keep it powered up so you can write relevant maritime post. If I ever need maritime law counsel “Steve” is my “Go To” person.
[QUOTE=kwCharlie;31640]You know he was asking for information, I would agree with you 110% BUT after BP killed the finest Engineer I ever worked for because they didn’t have igniters on flare booms and the rumors going around the they were pressuring the OIM for a quick P&A so they could pull riser and get to the next job for BP I say we give the Attorneys a little slack here. [/QUOTE]
Thank you for your post. You can bet “They” were contacting their team of attorneys on the night of the incident if not by daybreak.
[QUOTE=CaptRob1;31637]At the time of this writing 09:10 on the 26th, the D.D. 3 is passing by us (at M.C. 941) and I can only guess she is heading to M.C. 252, although according to A.I.S., the do not have a destination, and their ETA is Nov 10 at 16:00.[/QUOTE]
I can confirm she is headed to M.C. 252 to drill a relief well.
[QUOTE=JDrill;31646]After reading this thread for the last few days I have been impressed with the knowledge (TMS’s, downflood angle, spotting flames from diverter overboard line) and accuracy of some posters but disappionted by some of the “noise” especially inaccurate lists of names.
Assuming they were P&A or T&Aing these questions may need to be answered.
- If they ran in to the shoe to set cement plugs why not run and mechanical (EZSV)
- Was the first cement plug tested to a pressure above formation break down
- Was the first cement plug weight tested by drillstring (not density see below)
- Why does the industry use cement plugs…we all know their rate of success.see Montara
For information about PA and TA and barrier policy see Montara enquiry (Australia Government) 1st 4 days of evidence.
1 The ROV picture of pipe with oil leak is drillpipe - It looks like they were displacing riser thro DP
- How was volume in and out being monitored? I would suggest that the pumps were on direct feed as the pits would be filling with return mud from the riser hence no real volume accounting.
I would suggest a scenerio of - Lower plug pumped - no tested properly
- Cement did not set up
- Cement goes to seawater gradient as it is gelling (cause of many jack up annulus blowouts)
- Mud displaced from riser with seawater (removal of riser margin)
- Well kicks due to loss of BHP in points 3 and 4.
We all know and are trained the “hold the Tiger by the Tail” but sometimes we are “Lions being Lead by Donkeys”[/QUOTE]
Exactly the scenario I envision…
But at some point the button should have been pushed. Why did the BOP not catch it???
I am a SSE for another company, and very, very interested to hear the whole story.
[QUOTE=Dwalt;31651]Exactly the scenario I envision…
But at some point the button should have been pushed. Why did the BOP not catch it???
Even if you don’t physically “push a button”, when the rig lost power, the deadman should have actuated closing the blind shear rams. It is pure speculation as to why this feature of the BOP did not function.
My prayers go out to all who is affected.
[QUOTE=ladymudengineer;31653][QUOTE=Dwalt;31651]Exactly the scenario I envision…
But at some point the button should have been pushed. Why did the BOP not catch it???
Even if you don’t physically “push a button”, when the rig lost power, the deadman should have actuated closing the blind shear rams. It is pure speculation as to why this feature of the BOP did not function.[/QUOTE]
What is the possibilty of the DP coming up as the BOP was closed causing the shear blades damage? The ROV picture shows the DP without any riser around it. Is this a norm in this situation?
We have confirmation the Ocean Endeavor evacuated safely last night. Diamond took the precaution as the slick from Macondo appears to be heading towards MC 211.
No word on how the ROV attempts have gone, but there’s a joint command press conference in ca. 1 hour.
[QUOTE=cajun;31660][QUOTE=ladymudengineer;31653]
What is the possibilty of the DP coming up as the BOP was closed causing the shear blades damage? The ROV picture shows the DP without any riser around it. Is this a norm in this situation?[/QUOTE]
Since the photo does not show anything but the box end of that joint of pipe it is hard to say where that DP is. it could be sticking out of the last joint of riser or the top of the BOP. If it is sticking out of the BOP that would mean the riser is no longer connected to the BOP. If it is sticking out of the top of the riser this would be the joint that would have been screwed into the topdrive when the incident occured.
If the BSR tried to close on the tool joint rather than the tubular body, this could have resulted in damage to the BSR. They are designed to close on the tubular and not at the tool joint.
BP had filed a permit with MMS on April 16th to Plug and Abandon ( P&A) the well after reaching a depth of 11,500 feet. Well short of the initial total depth (TD). I would think it to be a bit strange to not reach TD, but not unheard of.
"BP to Temporarily Abandon Well on Macondo Prospect <!-- ProjectTitle -->
Type: Status Update
<!-- Date & Blurb -->Apr. 2010 - Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon semisub, which caught fire on April 20, was on contract for BP drilling the Macondo prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 252 in 4,993 feet (1,522 meters) of water. According to Dow Jones, the well had reached a depth of at least 11,500 feet (3,502 meters), when BP filed a permit with MMS on April 16 to temporarily abandon the well. The rig, located more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Venice off Louisiana’s coast, sunk after erupting into flames from a blowout."
http://www.subseaiq.com/Data/Project.aspx?project_Id=562&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
A separate article lists the TD at 18,000 feet.http://www.energy-pedia.com/article.aspx?articleid=140028
[QUOTE=ladymudengineer;31653][QUOTE=Dwalt;31651]Exactly the scenario I envision…
But at some point the button should have been pushed. Why did the BOP not catch it???
Even if you don’t physically “push a button”, when the rig lost power, the deadman should have actuated closing the blind shear rams. It is pure speculation as to why this feature of the BOP did not function.[/QUOTE]
In regard to the “push the button”. As I understand it among the deceased were the driller, two assistant driller’s, & the toolpusher. That accounts for the vast majority of people who would have pushed the button. I am assuming the system was only equipped with a Driller’s remote & a Toolpusher’s remote. Very few rigs I know of have remotes located at the lifeboat stations.
Your right that it is nothing but speculation on the deadman. One possibility though is that it wasn’t armed.
Was the Permit for P&A or TP&A? There is a difference. Plug and abandon is just that. Plug it and abandon it and not return. Temporary Plug and Abandon is a Temp P&A where they come back and complete the well. Your first line you state P&A and the later is TP&A.
If their plans were to TP&A it would not matter what depth they were at when they requested the permit, it would matter where they planned to be when doing the TP&A… Which i am assuming the Proposed TD was +/- 18,000 ft.
The Energy-Pedia site states it was a Temp P&A.
Adrian Rose VP of TransOcean:
Rose said the crew had drilled the well to its final depth, more than 18,000 feet, and was cementing the steel casing at the time of the explosion.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/21/louisiana-oil-rig-explosi_n_545652.html
[QUOTE=ladymudengineer;31653][QUOTE=Dwalt;31651]Exactly the scenario I envision…
But at some point the button should have been pushed. Why did the BOP not catch it???
Even if you don’t physically “push a button”, when the rig lost power, the deadman should have actuated closing the blind shear rams. It is pure speculation as to why this feature of the BOP did not function.[/QUOTE]
You have to loose both Hydraulic and electronic for the deadman to fire. If some how possibly the conduit line stayed together and did not rupture or melt from heat the deadman may not have fired until the rig sank and the conduit line was broken on the riser. Highly unlikely but possible.
[QUOTE=Cajun90;31665][QUOTE=ladymudengineer;31653]
In regard to the “push the button”. As I understand it among the deceased were the driller, two assistant driller’s, & the toolpusher. That accounts for the vast majority of people who would have pushed the button. I am assuming the system was only equipped with a Driller’s remote & a Toolpusher’s remote. Very few rigs I know of have remotes located at the lifeboat stations.
Your right that it is nothing but speculation on the deadman. One possibility though is that it wasn’t armed.[/QUOTE]
I have not been on a Semi yet that did not have ESD’s in multiple locations other than the Drillers Console, and I have been on a few, some American, Some Italian.
[QUOTE=Cajun90;31665][QUOTE=ladymudengineer;31653]
In regard to the “push the button”. As I understand it among the deceased were the driller, two assistant driller’s, & the toolpusher. That accounts for the vast majority of people who would have pushed the button. [/QUOTE]
If they were indeed part of the 11, how about the Night Pusher + BP Company Man? They could have pushed it. It was also reported that the Transocean Rig Manager was on board.
[QUOTE=ExCompanyMan;31669]
If they were indeed part of the 11, how about the Night Pusher + BP Company Man? They could have pushed it. It was also reported that the Transocean Rig Manager was on board.[/QUOTE]
They had just been presented with a safety award. Where was Mgmt, from TO and bp present.
[QUOTE=x626xBlack;31668][QUOTE=Cajun90;31665]
I have not been on a Semi yet that did not have ESD’s in multiple locations other than the Drillers Console, and I have been on a few, some American, Some Italian.[/QUOTE]
Just to clarify. ESD’s are not typically functioning the BOP’s. Not saying they can’t.
In response to Slick’s post. You are correct in that the definition of a deadman system they would have had to have lost both hydraulics & comm subsea before it engaged even if it was armed. It is possible they did not lose hydraulics.