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A report by BP today says the initial cause of the world's worst oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a “bad cement job” by a US company.
Thousands of barrels of oil a day began gushing out of a blown-out well on April 20 causing an environmental disaster. BP was forced to set aside £20 billion for compensation claims and clean-up costs.
The 193-page report makes clear that the disastrous chain of events was triggered by the failure of a cement barrier installed by engineers Halliburton to contain oil and gas.
BP chief executive Tony Hayward, who has lost his job as a result of the storm of criticism that followed, said: “To put it simply, there was a bad cement job.”
BP's conclusion will be seen by some as an attempt to spread the blame for the catastrophic spillage. Although “multiple companies and work teams” contributed to the blast, which killed 11 workers, Halliburton and Swiss based rig owner Transocean must shoulder much of the blame, according to the report.
It found that the cement slurry barrier installed by Halliburton did not work, while BP and Transocean engineers disastrously misinterpreted the results of a “critical” safety test of the well, which should have flagged up risks of a blowout.
Once gas and oil had begun rising uncontrollably “over a 40-minute period the Transocean rig crew failed to recognise and act on the influx of hydrocarbons into the well”.
As the gas had reached the rig it was not routed overboard, allowing the highly combustible cloud to flood through ventilation systems to the engine room.
Even after the explosion, the Transocean-operated blow-out preventer on the ocean floor should have sealed the well but failed.
In a key passage in the report it found hat “improved engineering rigour, cement testing and communication of risk by Halliburton could have identified the low probablility of the cement achieving zonal isolation”.
The inquiry into the accident was carried out over four months by a team led by BP's safety head Mark Bly.
Mr Hayward added: “It would appear unlikely that the well design contributed to the incident, as the investigation found that the hydrocarbons flowed up the production casing through the bottom of the well.”
The explosion released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil to gush into the Gulf in what was described as America's worst environmental disaster. In his criticism President Obama called BP “reckless”.
He added: “We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused and we will do whatever is necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy.”
Environmental groups today said the report amounted to a “sorry catalogue” of failures but said the real blame lay with governments for allowing drilling in areas where accidents were inevitable.
Jim Footner, head of energy at Greenpeace UK, said: “Worryingly, they're just weeks away from drilling at similar depths in UK waters.
“The Government must step in right now and stop this by introducing a moratorium on deep water drilling.
“The real problem is our addiction to oil, which is pushing companies like BP to put lives and the environment at risk.
“Governments around the world must now stop the industry recklessly squeezing the last drops of oil from places like the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic and the tar sands of Canada."
Reader views (12)
Wherever the USA is involved, inevitably death follows closely.
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 10/09/2010 05:33
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- Ian, New York, 08/09/2010 23:43
You accuse me of a 'human low'
It has been said that the USA itself was the one who did 911...and if the towers had been built correctly they would have withstood fire, and not toppled. SO do not talk to me of any 'human low'
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 10/09/2010 05:27
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Scott, NY said:
As regards the spill, BP knew the cement job was substandard and went ahead with the drilling anyway. That decision was made at the highest levels.
Where is the evidence for your silly statement?. BP are not trying to shift the blame to anyone else as they clearly admit they are partly responsible, but so are a number of US firms. It's American citizens like you, who appear to accept the part that Halliburton has played in the incident, but you, and your silly loud mouthed President, are trying to lay the blame for the entire catastrophe on BP in order to protect US companies from the financial consequences of their own actions.
- pat, Brixton. London SW, 09/09/2010 15:30
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The "logic" of the innuendo attempted by this white-wash is breathtaking. If several other parties were also at fault, it does not exonerate BP. In a disaster of this magnitude, you would expect to find a collapse of the entire house of cards. BP would like to raise enough smoke to obscure the really serious allegations of gross or criminal negligence. The court will require an independent report.
- Bloke, Lambeth, 09/09/2010 12:02
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Richard Merrill, your appalling lack of sensitivity is beyond comprehension. Augment your sheer ignorance where you blame shoddy workmanship for the collapse of WTC on the 9th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack our generation has seen (undoubtedly Australian fatalities also).
Shame on you for reaching a new human low...
- Ian, New York, 08/09/2010 23:43
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Anglo, my guess is you're a typical English nutter which means any correspondence to POTUS would immediately put you on an FBI watch list. Of course you wouldn't be English if you weren't naive enough to think he'd write you back.
As regards the spill, BP knew the cement job was substandard and went ahead with the drilling anyway. That decision was made at the highest levels. Of course the Brits can never take responsibility for their actions. It's part of their national "character."
- Scott, NY, NY, 08/09/2010 19:02
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We can only hop ethat Halliburton and Transocean now do the right thing and ppublically accept their contributary liability in this awful affair.
But that is almost as unlikely as expecting President Obama to apologise to BP for his xenophic comments and seeking to put his disasterous political standing on a better footing when the foundations of his outbursts were no more than air.
The President is no fool but has made a fool of himself here and seeking to defend the indefensible wins no plaudits.
Over to you Mr President, Halliburton and Transocean.
- Robert Marshall, London, 08/09/2010 17:41
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I have never purchased any American made shoes.....but I am given to understand they have no sole, you just wear the upper....that way SOS = less work but more PRO FIT.
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 08/09/2010 15:20
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I think someone needs to re-read the report or do I mean re-write the REPORT.When a report is written it is often edited it would be interesting know if editing has taken place with this report.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 08/09/2010 15:19
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The key element is a fair arbitration, what gets at the truth. What the USA Government should have done is stopped the dividends of Transocean, Halliburton and Cameron of Texas and have them pay them into the fund. As a BP shareholder, BP did the right thing and yet the sub-contractors have, it seems, different rules.
When the truth comes out, I suspect, the negilgence of the sub-contractors will come to light. It may be more an American crisis, but BP had the money!!!!
- Andrew, London, 08/09/2010 15:15
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Quite right.
I wrote the Barack Showbama himself saying this in June and also said his anti-Brit prejudice was showing.
No reply of course ...
- Anglo, Sussex England, 08/09/2010 15:03
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Well what do you expect, dodgy work, hey it's the USA, the shuttle explodes, the twin towers fall like a deck of cards, now this...what other shoddy work have they done?...if they can save a cent they will.
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 08/09/2010 14:41
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