The PPJ Gazette

by: Lynn Swearingen (c) copyright 2o10 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Gulf Coast Walrus?

Alrighty folks. We can bash BP all we want, but lets face facts. As clearly pointed out today in this clever little piece, BP  had the gonads to toss together a “response plan” (including saving the non-exsistant Gulf Walrus population) dealing with oil spill issues.

However the current Administration approved the plan.

So before we go looking to “kick some gluteus maximus” overseas and tame the British Empire to our demands, we better start with our own internal issues.

Three Presidential Administrations share the blame for the current spill. In a quick little synopsis we can see:

A regional shallow hazards survey and study was carried out at the project area by KC Offshore in 1998 (Clinton). High resolution, 2D seismic data along with 3D exploration seismic data of the MC 252 was collected by Fugro Geoservices in 2003 (Bush). The prospect was initially acquired by BP at MMS Lease Sale #206 in March 2008 (Bush).

Mapping of the block was carried out by BP America in 2008 and 2009 (Bush % Obama). BP secured approval to drill the Prospect from MMS in March 2009 (Obama) without MMS requiring use of an acoustic blowout preventer actuation alternative. An exploration well was scheduled to be spudded in 2009.

On 7 October 2009 the Transocean Marianas semi-submersible rig commenced drilling, but operations were halted at 4,023 feet (1,226 m) below the sea floor on 29 November 2009, when the rig was damaged by Hurricane Ida. The Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon rig resumed drilling operations in February 2010.

In September 2009, the rig drilled the deepest oil well in history at a vertical depth of 35,050 feet (10,683 m) and measured depth of 35,055 feet (10,685 m).

At the time of the accident, Deepwater Horizon was working on BP’s Mississippi Canyon Block 252, referred to as the Macondo Prospect. The rig was last located 50 miles (80 km) off the southeast coast of Louisiana. In October 2009, BP extended the contract for Deepwater Horizon by three years, to begin in September 2010. The lease contract was worth US$544 million, a rate of $496,800 per day.

Ultimately we know the “Buck stops here” means the current Energy Secretary could have, and should have, reviewed this process before awarding BP the opportunity to continue the drilling process.

The BP incident is indicative of what we all know. The corruption, arrogance and “business as usual” attitude in our Government is unchecked.

We the people have an opportunity to fix this. The adage “there is no use crying over spilt milk” (or in this case Oil) is applicable.

All incumbents out in November and in 2012.

I’m sure they could easily find employment in the Gulf Region and maybe even the Eastern Seaboard for the next decade or so.