Article+4

1. Cavnar, Bob. "Conflicting Reports: Were BOP Hydraulics Leaking? BP Dead Silent." //The Daily Hurricane//. 28 June 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. . 2. Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials? The author currently works as Chief Executive Officer of Luca Technologies of Golden, Colorado. It is a company that utilizes natural processes for natural gas sustainability. He has written many articles on science, politics, and current affairs with his strong background in the energy industry which includes running a private oil company.

3. What is the main topic or argument of the text? The main topic of this article is straightening out the conflicting reports sent out by BP, the Minerals Management Service, and Transocean at different times throughout the investigation process.

4. Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out. The article goes into good detail on the how the blowout preventer (BOP) works and why it //should// have worked. The stack is about 50 feet tall with multiple redundant emergency cut-off systems including rams, hole closures, as well as a failsafe which is two pistons that shear the pipe and close off the well. The BOP was manufactured by Halliburton who tested the well prior to its installation so the multiple safety mechanisms should have been in working order. What is interesting is that according to Transocean, the well was tested and passed but then just prior to the blowout there were electrical panel problems. In addition, an ROV technician reported a problem with the primary safety valve and it was reported to BP, but it was simply shut down, not repaired. Naturally, BP denies these accusations, that it cannot be determined.

5. What three quotes capture the critical import of the text? “Redundancy is key to BOP control, so there are multiple panels, accumulators, and control pods. “ “He activated the shear rams from the panel on the bridge, and reported that, even though the panel electronically went through the appropriate sequence, the hydraulic gauges showed no fluid movement. “ “The weakness of these particular [hydraulic] rams, though, is that they can't necessarily cut //all// pipe that may be in the hole.” 6. Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus. There is a lot of information that supports my research focus of the mechanical failures of the BP spill. It goes into detail on the several valves that are there, how each of them prevented oil well failures. It turns out, there was a failure in activating the valves, but only a failure on the BOP portion, not the electrical portion.

7. List at least two details or references from the text that will be useful to other members of your research group. Two details from the text that would be useful to other members of my group is that the BP workers failed to repair the BOP //even though// they were fully aware of the hazard of not having a functioning safety valve. Perhaps since Halliburton made the BOP, they are known to have other failures at different wells.