Deepwater Horizon - Transocean Oil Rig Fire

[dumgeek]

What the hell happened?

Oh man this was a major change in video. It was an overall view from about 50 feet away of the top of the bop with the kinked riser (and all the extra tubes and sh#t, I have never seen this before, wow)... that was on for seconds. A historical shot of video. Then they zoomed in. WTF is it with zooming in like this to make it appear like something tiny. This was an amazing shot.

http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:46245.asx?bkup=46260

[company man 1]

Didn't get anything, but did get a good look at the pics Alvis sent. It is definitely oil & still has pretty good velocity, but not nearly what it was before Wednesday afternoon. I think they may have set weight down with something to mash the riser more befor they pumped Wednesday afternoon & that could be why they are concentrating on the riser at the top of the stack.

This is the live feed and is much better than the http website delivered version.
http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/r...asx?bkup=46260

My feed is cut off again. I gotta go to bed. chat with yall tomorrow.

[dumgeek]

Hey alvis, I think most of the world has turned off their computers now and gone to sleep. Video feed is running at 200kbps+

[dumgeek]

Company Man 1 you should have seen that large video perspective of the overall situation. You would have seen what perhaps you've been looking for since you've been on the hunt... These guys are using this ROV cam for work, but yet at the same time, (after they see what they need to see), change the view back to public version after a short bit. This is indeed strange behavior. I can't go off and claim conspiracy in every corner, but I can definitely say it's strange. I only hope that alvis got that 1 minute overall view, and can repost it here. Thanks Alvis if you're still awake!

[alvis]

Hey alvis, I think most of the world has turned off their computers now and gone to sleep. Video feed is running at 200kbps+

Ha! Yes it is. That's some good looking video.

[wirelineone]

Am new to this forum and have spent the past three days going over the majority of the 1300 or so post and I will say that there is a lot of bullshit being said along with some informed information. I do not profess to be an expert on any of this but have been in the oilfield long enough to be able to spot those that obviously have experience and those that are ignorant (a lack of knowledge) not to confuse engineers in the mix. LOL.... What I do see are a few that have brought up some very good points. I thank all that have given there two cents worth even the ones that thier opinions were worht only two cents. Look forward to Companyman1's insight and ocasional bullshit. this forum has not only brought me up to date but has also given me a few chuckles over the past few days.

[dumgeek]

I thank all that have given there two cents worth even the ones that thier opinions were worht only two cents.

Yes, valid point, my opinion is probably worth .0001 cents here. But I enjoy the news, and hate the people hiding the truth. Just digging.

Look forward to Companyman1's insight and ocasional bullshit. this forum has not only brought me up to date but has also given me a few chuckles over the past few days.

As is the rest of us dumbasses. (Ahem only speaking for myself).

Do you have an opinion on the subject at hand? Help! Everybody wants new info!

[wirelineone]

Let the government games begin. Just heard all deepwater permits have been suspended.

[KASOL]

I am not sure if it is posted but:
Very interesting wrap up from BP:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/docu...esentation.pdf

[MichaelWSmith]

Excellent question. There are several companies who specialize in this sort of thing. ".

Thanks for the response and explanation, geodude. Very informative!

[bigmoose]

I am not sure if it is posted but:
Very interesting wrap up from BP:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/docu...esentation.pdf

Thanks for the document reference KASOL! Folks if you haven't read it, get it, read it. Page 25 depicts two possible failure scenarios. When you look at the dynamics of the seal failure flow path, along with the seal geometry on pages 45, 46, and 47; I can see why injection of mud via choke/kill lines to bullhead this well have proved ineffective. With the seal failure scenario, it appears there is full formation pressure way up high in the large diameter, low strength casing sections... Like others have said it looks like the intercept wells are the only practical and permanent solution to kill this well.

This is going to be a bad summer... for a lot of folks.

On a side note from the same document page 37 and 38: This is with respect to BOP investigation

-ROV survey found a number of hydraulic leaks on the system
-ROV identified hydraulic system errors such that test rams were being activated instead of lower variable rams
-ROV identified undocumented modifications to the hydraulic control system; the extent of these modifications is unknown at this time

Now particularly these findings as written by BP:

Maintenance
- Were the BOP and control system properly maintained?
Testing
- Was the BOP properly tested within regulation; were the primary emergency systems EDS, AMF, Autoshear and ROV Hot Stabs tested
regularly?
Modifications
- Are there as built diagrams of all modifications; is there a record of acceptance testing prior to running the BOP?
- Did modifications conducted over life of BOP impact functionality?
Leaks
- Did hydraulic leaks found during ROV interventions and previously noted in Rig log impact functionality?

Interesting don't you think? ... and on a number of levels. Your thoughts rlanasa?

[DogsDogsDogs]

Pardon for interrupting your questions, Bigmoose. Can someone comment on what CNN is showing now? There wasn't even a link to video when I got on here (about 30 mins ago), but it's up again & is a totally new view. It kinda looks like a rock formation because the plume seems to be casting shadows against the (?) rock.

[paloma]

Thanks for the reference KASOL:

Ref: Slide 13. high pressure to break circulation 3,100 psi against normal 500-700 psi followed by lower then normal circulating pressure. Did they burst the 7" liner ......

[jksoft]

Now particularly these findings as written by BP:

Maintenance
- Were the BOP and control system properly maintained?
Testing
- Was the BOP properly tested within regulation; were the primary emergency systems EDS, AMF, Autoshear and ROV Hot Stabs tested
regularly?
Modifications
- Are there as built diagrams of all modifications; is there a record of acceptance testing prior to running the BOP?
- Did modifications conducted over life of BOP impact functionality?
Leaks
- Did hydraulic leaks found during ROV interventions and previously noted in Rig log impact functionality?

One thing I found particularly interesting in the testimony of Mr. Pleasant at the hearing yesterday is he said he was responsible for the BOP. At the time same time when asked about training and maintenance on the BOP, he didn't seem to have too many specifics. Perhaps the questioners didn't ask the right questions, but it didn't sound like there was a very detailed maintenance plan or procedures for such a critical piece of equipment. I am positive that one thing that will come out of this is tighter regulation dealing with maintenance of the BOP as well as certification of workers on the BOP. Mr. Pleasant said he had never even attended any training on the BOP with the exception of a course on the electronics of the BOP, and he wasn't even aware if Cameron had other training available, although he assumed they did. I am not singling out Mr. Pleasant here, he just happened to be the one giving the testimony. This goes all the way to the top, IMHO and will be one of those expensive lessons learned.

When I think back to my submariner days, I recall that for certain pieces of critical equipment, there was a certification process for the workers, a preventive maintenance plan as well as regular testing and training.

[completenoob]

What is “drilling mud” and how toxic is it?

I don't know anything about geology and drilling, so I do appreciate all the insight to be gathered from this thread! This has become my main source for reliable background information, many thanks to all (serious) contributors.

Only during yesterday’s press briefing on CNN did it occur to me that the drilling mud used in the Top Kill operation is not in fact “organic mud”, but rather some kind of chemically engineered fluid with numerous additive components. I did a Google-search, but most of the information is for specialists only… complicated and confusing.

Can anybody here elaborate? What is this “mud” exactly? As it appears to be more or less toxic, what could be the consequence of pumping up to 50,000 gallons down into the well, with most of it being pushed out again? Of course, the leak has to be stopped no matter what -- but is this another case of fighting pollution with even more pollutants (as with the Corexit dispersant)?

Many thanks and let’s all hope for the best!

[KASOL]

MUD

A term that is generally synonymous with drilling fluid and that encompasses most fluids used in hydrocarbon drilling operations, especially fluids that contain significant amounts of suspended solids, emulsified water or oil. Mud includes all types of water-base, oil-base and synthetic-base drilling fluids. Drill-in, completion and workover fluids are sometimes called muds, although a fluid that is essentially free of solids is not strictly considered mud.

1. n. [Drilling Fluids] ID: 1871
Any of a number of liquid and gaseous fluids and mixtures of fluids and solids (as solid suspensions, mixtures and emulsions of liquids, gases and solids) used in operations to drill boreholes into the earth. Synonymous with "drilling mud" in general usage, although some prefer to reserve the term "drilling fluid" for more sophisticated and well-defined "muds." Classifications of drilling fluids has been attempted in many ways, often producing more confusion than insight. One classification scheme, given here, is based only on the mud composition by singling out the component that clearly defines the function and performance of the fluid: (1) water-base, (2) non-water-base and (3) gaseous (pneumatic). Each category has a variety of subcategories that overlap each other considerably.

or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drilling_fluid

EdiT: I am not sure but I think the kill mud is waterbased hence they can make it "Green" and it will not damage the environment.

[bigmoose]

Can someone comment on what CNN is showing now? .... It kinda looks like a rock formation because the plume seems to be casting shadows against the (?) rock.

TripleD before your post gets lost, I'll give it a shot, because I was thinking about the same thing. I figure a couple of shiploads of drilling mud could only go two places, and be temporarily stored in a third (the well). It ended up spurted out of the kink above the BOP and settled to the seafloor around the well head, or got blown out the riser. I am thinking we are perhaps seeing the riser end now in a self made pit in an artificial "mountain" of heavy drilling mud.

It could also be an illusion from the camera angle of the ROV and the lighting. Once the ROV moves we could tell for sure.

Edit: Thank you Mr. ROV Pilot for panning almost immediately after posting. :-) It sure looks like a 40 to 60 foot pit in a pile of blown out mud. Don't think the RIT is going back in the end of the riser again.

[completenoob]

MUD

EdiT: I am not sure but I think the kill mud is waterbased hence they can make it "Green" and it will not damage the environment.

Cool, thanks!

[pumpjack hand]

Pumping Jack I take it your an MWD guy. Have you drilled in this area & if so, realistically based on the few things we know about the troubles the last rig had, what is the realistic time frame & what are the odds of a good enough intercept to get a quick kill from below?

For the sake of full disclosure, Not an MWD guy, have grease under my fingernails right now, after my 86’ steel hull sank 30 miles offshore in 200’ of water in the night during a big storm I started as a on land roustabout 35 years ago and now own and operate my own rigs without investors on my own leases, am hands on from acquiring seismic to putting the well on production, mostly use my own tools, but would die for the state of the art tools they make for you guys, so I’ve never worked in the Macondo area. But my two cents (someone please help me out), depends on what ”close enough” is. RSS can’t turn on a dime, 5 degrees per 100’ or so, but if they miss it they can back up and try again, or they could run a BHA near the end that can make a severe dog leg. The magnetic tools in the BHA won’t be accurate when they get closer than 60’ or so from casing, but a gyro will. To to precisely identify the Macondo well in the final approach by running a current through the Macondo casing assumes it is still connected by then, it may already parted. As for timing, course you know, the lighter the mud, the faster the penetration rate, other factors, luck counts. As for chance of success, I’ve been on fishing jobs that have broke me several times, but never something like this, but failure is not an option. Cudda wudda shudda, General Dynamics Electric Boat Division designed a submarine oil transport in the 1960s to go under an ice sheath but never found a buyer, might’ve come in handy now to help reclaim this spill.

[bigmoose]

When I think back to my submariner days, I recall that for certain pieces of critical equipment, there was a certification process for the workers, a preventive maintenance plan as well as regular testing and training.

jk, glad you added that part! I had time yesterday to watch the hearings, and I thought Mr. Pleasant was a stand up guy. I tend to agree with your observations on his testimony. It didn't appear the he was an engineer, but sure seemed like a dedicated person. His BOP maintenance should have all been by prescribed plan, with a QC (Quality Control) signoff on such a critical piece of equipment. All those operations would have been "Diamond I" inspection points by a third party in our industry. I hope and pray BP does not try to make him a central "fall guy" in all of this... I get incensed when "suits" sacrifice the "line" in self defense... The BOP was the final line of defense, not the primary line of defense.

If you compare the testimony of the onshore well chief engineer with Mr. Pleasant you will see many differences. At this point in time, I would still choose Mr. Pleasant to watch my back.