[ale] BP knew of problems 11 months before the rig blew

[Jim Kinney]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/us/30rig.html?

Time to start pumping the well head full of execs yet?

Does anyone know of a single component compound that reacts with mixed
organics to make a solid? Drilling mud is a lubricant. They need to pump in
a fast-setting glue. However, since the article talks about the screw ups in
the valve and the cement well casing I'm concerned that with the well
pressure a plugged head will only force a leak (or blowout) near the head in
the sea floor. The cement casing is supposed to act as a reinforcement but
there are reports that the material used was substandard (thanks
Haliburton!) and poorly installed.

Maybe since the riser pipe is still attached to the head they can beat on it
with the "top cap" box and crimp it down to cut the flow. Who knows. Maybe a
slow crimping cutoff of the flow will not shock the casing and allow a
temporary blockage with the sub-floor fracturing of the crappy casing they
are worried about.

-- 
-- 
James P. Kinney III
Actively in pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness
Doing pretty well on all 3 pursuits
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