BP+Individual+Post

The matrix of factors behind the science of deep water drilling help us understand the BP disaster. Drilling several thousand feet in the cold depths of the ocean is a dangerous feat, and sevreal technologies have evolved that shape today's deep water oil drilling. Scientists and engineers as well as managers are in charge of enacting certain technologies that go into deep water drilling. The argument debated is whether the technolgies were safe or whether the disaster was due to a failure in management.

Lead Question
I have explored the science of deep water drilling. This encompasses the technology and other factors that are available to drill safely thousands of feet below sea level. The goal of this investigation is to answer the following question: Is it possible to drill offshore competently and safely? This will shed light on the BP accident because it will help identify whether the BP fault was due to the lack of technology or not.

Supporting Questions
**What three quotes (from three different sources) help explain the causal factor you have identified?**

**What people and organizations were key actors? What other stakeholders should be noted?** Scientists, engineers, and managers, or those in authority are the key actors in this conflict. If the technical experts are not doing their job safely, then they have a responsibility to abandon this challenge, or to learn to keep safety design a priority. If those with managerial authority are not assessing risk well, then better training must be encompassed. This involves more modern risk analysis and a clarification of priorities in risk management.
 * “It’s just another high-priced mishap in the world of ultradeep-sea drilling—the newest, riskiest, and most technologically extreme drilling frontier.”
 * Little, Amanda Griscom. "Five Miles Deep: Pumping Oil from the Bottom of the Gulf."Wired.com. 21 Aug. 2007. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. 
 * “Innovative technologies, such as new offshore production systems, three dimension(3-D) seismic surveys, and improved drilling and completion techniques, have improved the economics of offshore activities and enabled development to occur in deeper, more remote environments.”
 * "Natural Gas 1998: Issues and Trends." (1998): 175-80. Energy Information Administration. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <[|http://http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/analysis_publications/natural_gas_1998_issues_trends/pdf/Appb.pdf]>.
 * “The databases available from both government and industry often lack the engineering-related information and environmental data that is essential to the commitment of safety-related resources and application or development of safety regulations. Even without desired data, safety planning can be improved by use of modern risk analysis, and priorities for risk management can be clarified.”
 * A Focus on Offshore Safety: Recent Reports by the Marine Board of the National Research Council. Rep. Washington, DC: Marine Board National Research Council, 1996. Print

**What further details from your sources convey the significance of the problem you have identified? Provide at least five details, with references.**

Science and technology have advanced in several realms of oil drilling. There are two significant methods in which an oil source underwater is found. In magnetic surveying, geologists map out magnetic anomalies to identify any sources due to oil deposits. The second method involves the well-developed seismic surveying. Shock waves from compressed air guns, pressurized to a few thousand psi, and explosives are used to blast sound into the ocean. Sound travels differently through different mediums, and when a change in medium is encountered, the sound reflects back up to the ship where it is recorded by hydrophones. Hydrophones are aquatic microphones. The data collected from hydrophones are used to construct 3-D spatial maps and 4-D maps as functions of time. This has been possible through the advent of computers with fast processors. In the 1920’s geologists were limited to 2-D seismology. According to EIA, by 1996, approximately 80% of wells were drilled based on 3-D seismic graphs. The main environmental concern with this technology is the sound pollution that is introduced into the oceanic environment.

There are seven types of production systems in use. A production system is a platform that provides a base where operations, drilling, and production occur. The type of platform for a drilling site depends on the depth of the well and the length of time the platform will be in use. The following table from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) outlines the offshore production systems.

Advances in drilling techniques have been made as well. Horizontal and directional drilling have advantages over traditional vertical drilling. For example, multiple diverse pay targets can be acheived and flow rates are increased.

Great pressures are encountered several thousand feet under water. Drilling mud is used for this purpose, to maintain presusre balances between the surrounding geologic material and the borehole. Drilling mud is also necessary to cool and clean the drill bit. The fluid serves as a lubrication as well to decrease friction in the borehole. Overall, drilling mud stabilizes the borehole. The type of mud is imperative in drilling. There are water based muds (WBMs), oil based muds (OBMs), and the more recent synthetic based muds (SBMs). WBMs produce the most waste, and they can be readily discarded into the ocean, as they are not toxic. OBMs are more appropriate in the type of wells drilled today; however, OBMs are toxic. SBMs have been designed to mimic the properties of OBMs while their toxicity levels have been decreased. Both SBMs and OBMs produce less waste than WBMs. SBMs are more expensive than OBMs though.

In the context of the Macondo well, additional science was used to assess the well. Pressure testing was used to determine whether any leaks were present. Scientists and engineers reported that there was a leak, but BP and Transoceanal personnel treated the negative pressure test a success. This consequently led to a fail in the Blowout Preventer.

A method used to contain the sub sea oil spill was to construct relief wells. Using directional drilling, the Macondo well was tapped to divert the oil flow elsewhere. In addition, a top kill was implemented to seal the well. This method describes a function where drilling fluid is pumped into the head of the leaking well at the seafloor. Over the course of three days, a total of 30,000 barrels of mud was pumped to seal the well. Bridging material was shot down as well to help seal the well.

**What could have offset the problems you have identified? Provide at least one reference in responding.**

Based on some statements from the Recent Reports by the Marine Board of the NRC of 1996 “Overall the offshore safety record is a good one with proven safety-related procedures and systems in place supported by workable regulations.”

Scientists and engineers seem to be paying more attention into developing safer methods of oil drilling. This is due to evidence in faster production rates, the development of technology throughout time involving platforms, types of drilling, seismic technology, the types of muds used.

However, we need to make sure that our scientists and engineers continue this trend. With riskier challenges, experts have to develop a higher sophistication of skills and technology to assure that deepwater drilling is safe.

“Adequate provision for inspection and monitoring is essential in offshore and coastal project planning and implementation; yet, these elements are often missing or their availability is too short-term to be useful in determining success.”

In the BP oil spill, it is evident that science and analysis pointed toward the correct enactment of oil drilling. From the Negative Pressure test, engineers determined that there were leaks in the well, that went ignored for some reason.

An option I propose to prevent future disasters like this is as follows: If engineers and scientists know that their imperative consultations are going ignored, there must be a method by which they can report.


 * How has this analysis advanced your understanding of the 2010 BP disaster, and of oil politics more broadly?**


 * What lessons can be drawn for disaster prevention and response in the future?**

Things learned from this is to make sure that those making important risk management decisions go through proper training. “Safety planning needs to be improved by use of modern risk analysis, and priorities for risk management can be clarified.” This could have aided in not letting that negative test go unnoticed.