How Did the BP Oil Get Out of Control


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So a million gallon of oil was lost overnight. In April 20, 2010 there was an explosion in one of the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil was spilt all over the wide ocean which is still ongoing. We've seen some incident in prior times such as the Exxon Valdez spill. However, this incident is already considered as the largest oil spill in the US territory in history. The explosion lost the lives of 11 platform workers and injured 17 others. Aside from it's losses in terms of money, it has also caused much disaster to animal life. Poor Pelicans. BP oil, a British energy company, owns the drilling rig and is currently in question. Have they really gone out of control?

How To / Instruction

Difficulty: Normal

  • Step

    1

    Reports show that cost-cutting on design is one of the factor that has lead to this disaster. The desire to save has lead to spending more for losses. There was something with the design of the well, where BP, among 2 options, chose a riskier one in providing barrier to the flow of gas in the well's spaces that surrounds steel tubes, saving BP some $7 million - $10 million. Also, in closing up the well through cementation, there was a recommendation to use 21 centralizers, where BP used only six. These centralizer could have made sure that the casing went down to the center of the well bore.

  • Step

    2

    Also, the leeway in giving out permit and waiver to drilling companies has been taken a look into after the incident. A moratorium was issued on giving out permits for drilling new offshore drilling infrastructure. BP's Deepwater Horizon and hundreds more drilling projects were given waivers from full environmental reviews thus giving harsh criticisms to the federal regulators for their lack of strictness.

  • Step

    3

    Even after the event, records show that at least 29 environmental waivers for gulf drilling projects and 17 drilling permits. All which type of work are like that of the Deepwater Horizon, which is now pouring an enormous amount of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion has caused losses in a lot of areas, and it wouldn't be impossible if other projects are not well-reviewed for compliance and standards.

  • Step

    4

    Several method to solve the crisis is putting additional hazards to the Gulf. BP has now been dumping chemical dispersants such as Corexit. The hundreds of thousands of gallons is being in an effort to hasten the effect but is worsening by polluting the gulf further that the EPA ordered them to stop. It is indeed important that the oil spill must be resolve as soon as possible but steps must be considered well or else they'll worsen the situation.

  • Step

    5

    The crisis event is going to mar the alliance between UK and the US, now that fingers are being pointed on whose to be blamed and who's going to be responsible for cleaning up the spill. Also, it is also debated on how to shoulder the damage made to the marine life, the livelihood of the neighboring places on the Gulf and the Gulf economy itself. There in no definite timeline on when everything's going to be in place and to which extent this crisis is to worsen.

Tips and Warnings

  • Steps should be taken on how to resolve this issue. Suggestions should undergo thorough deliberation to and environmental factors should also be considered. But it should be done fast.

  • Everyone must be vigilant in observing how steps on cleaning this mess up is done. We can't let another incident like this happen because of some abuse which leads them to getting out of control. As they say, anything, when abused definitely goes out of control.

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