The deepwater horizon is about to return to the public consciousness with the release of a movie by the same name. Coast guard and bureau of energy management joint investigation of the april 20, 2010, deepwater horizon oil rig explosion in the gulf of mexico. There are approximately 3400 deepwater wells in the gulf of mexico with depths greater than 150 meters it has not been technologically and economically feasible for many years, but with rising oil prices, more companies are investing in this area. Cavnar brings his knowledge and attitude to describing the events leading up to the fire and blowout on the deepwater horizon and to its aftermath. The presumed blowout preventer bop failure is an important but secondary issue. Horizon oil spill, where escaping gas and oil destroyed the rig, killing 11. Todays drilling rigs can work at depths more than twice as deep as deepwater horizon. What caused the explosion on the deepwater horizon. Fire on the horizon, written by gcaptain founder john konrad and award winning washington post journalist tom shroder, recounts in vivid detail the life of the rig. Bp in hot water over deepwater government book talk. In the most comprehensive account to date, senior systems engineers earl boebert and james blossom show how corporate and engineering decisions, each one individually innocuous, interacted to create the disaster. The deepwater horizon was a deepwater, offshore oil drilling rig owned by transocean rig and contracted to the operator bp plc. Two weeks later, he was on its training rig receiving his first assignment.
Deepwater horizon incident joint investigation, jimmy harrell testimony witnesses testified about the april 20, 2010 explosion and eventual sinking of the deepwater horizon oil rig in the gulf of. Its also a truecrime story, the highly detailed procedural chronicle of how, on april 20. On april 20 2010, the deepwater horizon oil rig exploded in the gulf of mexico, creating the worst spill in u. The offshore drilling industry has made tremendous technological strides since a freestanding structure for drilling was built in 1937 in the gulf of mexico in 14 feet of water, more than a mile offshore. Offshore drilling has dug itself a deeper hole since.
The deepwater horizon rig, owned and operated by offshoreoildrilling company transocean and leased by oil company bp, was situated in the macondo oil prospect in the mississippi canyon, a valley in the continental shelf. The failed negative pressure test a bp investigation. Deepwater horizon an overview sciencedirect topics. Transocean, which controls a fleet of mobile offshore rigs, owned the drilling vessel deepwater horizon and operated it under contract to the petroleum producer. It is written in a concise, nononsense style, and couched in terms that a layman can understand. The film, starring mark wahlberg, highlights the heroics of the crew in getting. When i flew out there for the first time, it was just breathtaking, he says.
A new book and movie explore the causes, legacy, and drama of the oil spill. The rig was in the dark, without power, and without the dynamic positioning thrusters to maintain its location. Cst on tuesday, april 20, an explosion rocked transoceans deepwater horizon drilling rig in what has escalated into one of the nations deadliest offshore. This report examines the causes of the blowout of the macondo well that occurred in the gulf of mexico on april 20, 2010, and provides a series of recommendations, for both the oil and gas industry and government regulators, intended to reduce the likelihood and impact of any future losses of well control during offshore drilling. A pdf is a digital representation of the print book, so while it can be loaded into most ereader programs, it doesnt allow for resizable text. Scientists dove to the gulf floor for the first time since. Investigation of deepwater horizon explosion, mike williams. The rig weighed about 33,000 tons and was the length of a city block. This is most evident in relationship to the rigs blowout preventer, its final line. Deepwater horizon was never going to tap that well.
Sep 29, 2016 in deepwater horizon, oil and water dont make a good mix director peter bergs movie about the massive 2010 oil spill in the gulf of mexico ratchets up the cinematic tension, but quickly. One year after the fire and explosion on the bp deepwater horizon rig in the gulf of mexico, we round up the main points so far. What is the best book to read about the deepwater horizon. Telling the true story of the heroes behind deepwater. Fire on the horizon the untold story of deepwater horizon.
Deepwater horizon movie vs true story of mike williams, explosion. Offshore drilling has dug itself a deeper hole since deepwater horizon. Built in 2001 in south korea by hyundai heavy industries, the rig was. Just one year before the deepwater horizon drilling rig became the site of the most devastating oil spill in american history, it succeeded in. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. That well from hell, as those who labored on the rig called it, still elicits. The movies central characters are mike williams, played by mark wahlberg, and crew chief jimmy harrell, played by kurt russell. For 87 days millions watched, hearts in mouths, as more than 50,000 barrels of oil a day gushed from the sea floor into the gulf of mexico. Apr, 2020 deepwater horizon oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an april 20, 2010, explosion on the deepwater horizon oil riglocated in the gulf of mexico, approximately 41 miles 66 km off the coast of louisianaand its subsequent sinking on april 22. Deepwater well design, competency management of risks. So, we get a little bit of time with mike williams mark wahlberg and his family, including wife felicia kate hudson, before he heads off to work at his admittedly very unusual job an oildrilling rig in the gulf of mexico. On april 20, 2010, the crew of the floating drill rig deepwater horizon lost control of the macondo oil well forty miles offshore in the gulf of mexico. Mike williams pictured with mark wahlberg was a senior engineer onboard when the drilling platform exploded in april 2010 causing the death of.
The purpose of the negative pressure test on the macondo well was to purposely lower the pressure inside the wellbore in a controlled manner to ensure. At its best, the book is a fascinating look at a littleunderstood industry and a fastpaced and emotional story of the efforts to save the deepwater horizon. A deepwater horizon survivor wants you to know the men who. Deepwater horizon is amazing this movie chronicles the events of the april 20th, 2010 explosion on the offshore bp oil rig deepwater horizon. Bp had workers on the doomed deepwater horizon rig who could have prevented the missteps that led to the massive gulf of mexico oil spill, but they were not consulted, the white house oil. How far off the coast was the rig and how deep was it drilling. April 20 was a triumphant evening for british petroleum and the crew of transoceans deepwater horizon. Deepwater horizon was an ultradeepwater, dynamically positioned, semisubmersible offshore drilling rig owned by transocean. This book was written by an experienced mariner, and tells the story of the deepwater horizon and its crew from the start of the vessels construction in korea through its final sinking after the blowout and fire. On the evening of april 20, 2010, the crew of the semisubmersible drilling rig deepwater horizon was completing a temporary abandonment procedure. More buoyant oil traveled up through about a mile of water column and formed large surface slicks. Directed by peter berg and starring mark wahlberg, the movie should appeal to teens and adults who enjoy lifeanddeath stories that involve acts of heroism, courage, and sacrifice. Interim report on causes of the deepwater horizon oil rig.
Critical pieces of emergency control equipment were destroyed and damaged and could not be or were not activated. Sep 02, 2010 april 20 was a triumphant evening for british petroleum and the crew of transoceans deepwater horizon. Mar 01, 2011 the authors suggest that oil rig blowouts are inevitable. Parents need to know that deepwater horizon is an action drama based on the reallife 2010 explosion of a bp oil rig that led to 11 deaths and the greatest oil spill in history. Curt kuchta, seen here testifying on may 27, was the captain of transoceans deepwater horizon oil rig. Between 2000 and 2009, just 15 percent of oil production from us waters in.
Deepwater horizon movie gets the facts mostly right, but. Sep 30, 2016 deepwater horizon effectively turns the realworld disaster into an actiondrama thats more disturbing than thrilling to watch after spending some offtime with his wife felicia kate hudson and their 10year old daughter sydney stella allen, electrician and oil rig worker mike williams mark wahlberg prepares for another threeweek stint working aboard the deepwater horizon. The gulf oil disaster and the future of offshore drilling. Dec 26, 2010 the horizon might have been transoceans rig, but it was bps well, and it was obvious that the guys in the shack felt that the bp men were breathing down their necks.
A massive deepwater oil spill is nearly as likely today as it was in 2010, experts warn, 10 years after the disastrous explosion of bps rig in the gulf of mexico that caused an environmental. The explosion and subsequent fire resulted in the sinking of. Investigation of deepwater horizon explosion, mike. Cavnar knows his material and wants you to understand it as well. Heres the absolute best explanation of how and why it happened. In 2010 bps deepwater horizon catastrophe spiraled into the worst humanmade economic and ecological disaster in gulf coast history. Escaping gas and oil ignited, destroying the rig, killing eleven crew members, and injuring dozens more. Page on its free to the public for download, but you can buy a copy if you want.
The national commission on the bp deep water horizon oil spill and offshore drilling produced two landmark and controversial reports about the oil spill causes and consequences that are critical in understanding the governments case against bp. Now a film has been released tells the story of those working on board. The same will likely be true for deepwater horizon. Deepwater horizon was the second semisubmersible rig constructed of a class of two, although deepwater nautilus, its predecessor, is not dynamically. The movie opens with bp managers traveling to the deepwater horizon drilling rig in an attempt to expedite a project that has fallen more than a month behind at a cost of millions of dollars. May 20, 2010 the deepwater horizon rig burning last week. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The ultra deepwater drilling rig off the louisiana coast the deepwater horizon riveted the world as it experienced a devastating blowout, fire and nearly unstoppable ocean floor oil leak. Its been six years since the deepwater horizon oil rig exploded in the gulf of mexico, but for survivor mike williams, the memory is still fresh. In deepwater horizon, oil and water dont make a good mix. Deepwater drilling, or deep well drilling, is the process of creating holes by drilling rig for oil mining in deep sea. As the bp oil spill civil trial begins this week, the federal government will attempt to prove whether british petroleum bp andor any of its contractors such as transocean rig, the owner and operator of the deepwater horizon oil rig, and halliburton hal, which was responsible for pouring the cement plugs in the well, were grossly negligent and thus financially liable in causing. Apr 20, 2018 deepwater and a sexanddrugs ethics scandal force change. There are now 1,000 people involved in efforts to stop oil leaking from the rig.
Scientists noted that the prevailing paths of the gulf of mexicos loop current and a detached eddy located to the west kept much of the oil, which covered a sizable part of the gulf some three. Final moments on the deepwater horizon deepwater horizon. Mar 27, 2018 well, it was a big deal on the deepwater horizon rig because cutting the pipe didnt work. Sep 06, 2016 on april 20, 2010, the crew of the floating drill rig deepwater horizon lost control of the macondo oil well forty miles offshore in the gulf of mexico. Why was it a big deal to cut the pipe in deepwater horizon. Deepwater horizon and the gulf oil spill the key questions. In 2010 bps deepwater horizon catastrophe spiraled into the worst. Apr 28, 2014 heres the absolute best explanation of how and why it happened. The deepwater horizon lost all primary power generation ability. Why is it so hard to get answers about deepwater horizon. Although the resulting oil spill has potentially grave environmental implications, recent efforts.
The bp oil spill that started below the deepwater horizon oil rig in the gulf of mexico began last april and continued for weeks. Download a pdf of interim report on causes of the deepwater horizon oil rig blowout and ways to prevent such events by the national academy of engineering and national research council for free. The first explosion on transoceans deepwater horizon rig hit at 9. On april 20, 2010, the crew of the floating drill rig deepwater horizon lost control of the macondo oil well forty miles offshore in the gulf of. Emergency backup power sources could not be started. Check out government printing office blog on bp gulf oil spill. Jan 17, 2015 video and diagram showing the final moments of the deepwater horizon oil rig. The emergency spiraled into the worst humanmade economic and ecological disaster in gulf coast history.
Deep water horizon movie disaster movie based on the true events that occurred on an oil rig in the gulf of mexico on april 20, 2010. Therein is the books major failing, there are nothing like enough illustrations. On the night of april 20, 2010, williams, the chief electronics technician on the deepwater horizon oil rig, barely survived a devastating blowout that claimed the lives of 11 of his coworkers. Mar, 2017 deepwater horizons job was to locate an oil deposit, drill it, and move on while another rig exploited the find. The deepwater horizon disaster a suncam online continuing education course. Directed by peter berg and starring mark wahlberg, the movie should appeal to teens and adults who enjoy lifeanddeath stories that involve acts of heroism, courage. Konrad is a former transocean employeeand oil rig captain whose closest friend was chief mate on the deepwater horizon who founded the. The deepwater horizon drilling rig explosion was the april 20, 2010, explosion and subsequent fire on the deepwater horizon semisubmersible mobile offshore drilling unit modu, which was owned and operated by transocean and drilling for bp in the macondo prospect oil field about 40 miles 64 km southeast off the louisiana coast. Sep 30, 2016 deepwater horizon is a swift and suspenseful action movie, full of noise, peril, muck and fire. Apr 21, 2011 the deepwater horizon was a worldclass drilling rig manned by a topflight crew that was put in jeopardy by bp, the operator of the macondo well, through a series of costsaving decisions that. But on april 20, 2010, the deepwater horizon rig exploded and sank, killing 11 workers and injuring 17 others. Mike williams, transocean chief electronics technician and survivor of the deepwater horizon oil rig explosion, testified before investigators to recount his memory of the event.
A systems analysis of the macondo disaster 1st edition by earl boebert, james m. This book offers an extremely methodical approach to the bp deepwater horizon oil spill. The authors suggest that oil rig blowouts are inevitable. Deepwater horizon bp gulf of mexico oil spill us epa. Deepwater horizon incident joint investigation, andrea. On april 20, 2010, while drilling at the offshore bp macondo prospect, there was a blowout on the rig followed by a release of gas and in turn an explosion that killed 11 crew members. Floating 52 miles off the coast of louisiana in 5000 feet of water, the oil rig was close to. The rig was 396 by 256 ft 121 by 78 m and capable of operating in waters up to 8,000 feet 2,400 m deep, to a maximum drill depth of 30,000 ft 9,100 m. Oil moved with deepsea currents, creating a plume of oil within the deep sea.
Deepwater horizon was the second semisubmersible rig constructed of a class of two, although deepwater nautilus, its predecessor, is not dynamically positioned. Introduction the composition, competency and integration of a. Deepwater horizon incident joint investigation, chad murray. The deepwater horizon disaster, then and now, in one chart. Sep 30, 2016 on april 20 2010, the deepwater horizon oil rig exploded in the gulf of mexico, creating the worst spill in u. On april 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig deepwater horizon, operating in the macondo prospect in the gulf of mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the deepwater horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations. In september 2009, the rig drilled the deepest oil well in history at a. After they failed to properly complete the drilling of the well, and it started blowing, none of the multiple blowout preventers worked. Deepwater and a sexanddrugs ethics scandal force change. The deepwater horizon true story reveals that the rig was located 52 miles off the coast of venice, louisiana.
The oil well over which it was positioned was located on the seabed 4,993 feet 1,522 metres below the surface and extended approximately 18,000 feet 5,486 metres into the. The blowout and oil spill on the deepwater horizon in the gulf of mexico was caused by a flawed well plan that did not include enough cement between the 7inch production casing and the 9 78inch protection casing. Deepwater horizon study group working paper deepwater well design, competency management of risks 2 1. Deepwater horizon featurette shows off the films massive. The horizon might have been transoceans rig, but it was bps well, and it was obvious that the guys in the shack felt that the bp men were breathing down their necks. Deepwater horizon, which premiered september 30, is the first feature. The deepwater horizon, it has become clear, was operated in the total absence of real government regulation. More than seven weeks after bps deepwater horizon oil rig caught fire and sank, causing the worst environmental disaster in us history, what exactly happened during its. Deepwater horizon movie vs true story of mike williams.
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