Future regs as a result of this catastrophe

quote:

---

What sort of future safeguards will be put in place to keep the next BP Oil Spill from happening just like this one?

---

I'm hoping that the RCA determines that this was due solely to BP's negligence, which means that the process & regulations we already have in place are adequate, and just need to be more closely scrutenized (here's looking at you, federal government!).

quote:

---

BOP's with multiple redundancies built in that failed.

---

The BOP and its multiple redundancies are inherently redundant. You should rarely (if ever) NEED to activate the BOP.

quote:

---

just wonder if future deep water drilling will require simultaneous drilling of a relief well

---

You may as well discontinue all drilling in the gulf. Not only is this retarded, but it will make companies send ALL of their development $$ elsewhere where they only need 1 straw to drink out of the milkshake.

quote:

---

Naturally, that would drive the cost of drilling new wells way up, but I would think that is cheaper than what BP is going to end up paying when this is all said and done.

---

Whatever BP ends up paying for this, it's still peanuts in comparison to what it costs to drill ALL the DW wells in the GOM. You would essentially almost have to double the amount invested in DW production in the future, which would decrease supply to almost nothing.

quote:

---

What else will come out of this regulation wise?

---

Hopefully, just more oversight from the MMS.

quote:

---

this is false

---

I meant that it isn't the primary mechanism for well control.

I guess I could have phrased it better.

quote:

---

from what I'm learning, apparently more oversight OF the mms is probably appropriate.

---

Agreed.

for some reason, I tend to doubt you're learning that from teh national media.

quote:

---

i believe we are the only country that doesn't require our offshore rigs to have a way to activate the BOP through a land based method.

---

Considering activation from the rig, and even direct by ROV didn't close the BOP in this case, another method closing the BOP wouldn't have helped. How to do you close the BOP from land with the rig on the seafloor?

quote:

---

we don't have this regulation because its probably expensive and big oil put an X on it.

im pretty comfortable saying it wouldn't have helped in this case...

---

My guess is we don't have this regulation for exactly as you point out. It won't do any good, not because "big oil" doesn't want to pay for it. The purpose of regulation should be increased safety, not designed to waste corporate treasure.

I still don't understand how you shut the BOP "from land" when the topside connection to the rig has been broken. Magic?

The BOP stacks will need to have 2 sets of shear rams spaced atleast 4' apart. This is to account for drill pipe tool joints which can't be sheared. Up to now, only one set was required.

quote:

---

That's all fine and dandy as long as the rig is on the surface and has power. But if it's on fire, and the generators are stopped (they will be) what receives the signal from land to trigger the device?

---

Sonic device can receive a signal from a nearby vessel or ROV. Charges could activate the Shear rams. The 4' spacing between multiple Shears is very likely in lieu of the sonic though.

Has anyone heard anything about unexpected findings in the piece of riser that was cut off the BOP?

quote:

---

Sonic device can receive a signal from a nearby vessel or ROV. Charges could activate the Shear rams. The 4' spacing between multiple Shears is very likely in lieu of the sonic though.

---

The ROV has to be attached to a vessel. Most supply boats don't have. Charges could activate the shears, but what happens when a seismic vessel is nearby and triggers the acoustic sensor? it simply isn't a workable system in the GOM. The 4-ft spacing is reasonable though.