GAIA

 

A better mousetrap arrives

BP’s Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico oil drilling rig disaster of April, 2010 was a tragedy for the 11 men killed and those affected by the oil spill that resulted.  What has gotten little attention after the first 3-4 days was the key failure of the rig’s industry standard, truck sized BOP – blowout prevention device -- which was installed at the base of the drilling pipe on the sea floor when the platform and drill were first put in place.

The BOP had 3 systems to cut off oil flow from the seabed but each failed when the rig caught fire, started drifting and sank 2 days later. The net result, according to the final government report, was breakdowns in the electrical communications systems and hydraulics.  [ www.bp.com/.../Deepwater_Horizon_Accident_Investigation_static_ ]

 

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From the lessons of the Deepwater Horizon BOP failure, the oil industry has created a better mousetrap, so to speak.

Instead of just relying on BOP installations at the time a well begins, super, mobile BOP systems have been designed that can be flown in whenever and wherever needed.  

As of May, 2012, there are 12 mobile super BOP units available and another 8 will be built by the end of 2013.

 The units, the size of a townhouse, are assembled on site from ‘kits’ that need      7 jumbo cargo planes for delivery.  . (G&M, May 9/12, B14 Wall Street Journal article “Gulf disaster spawns new tools to handle spills.”)

As fully independent units, with their own electrical, communications and hydraulic systems, these super BOP units should be able to squelch any oil drill pipe leak without surprises and failure.

Lesson learned.