BP Macondo Oil Leak: Gulf of Mexico, US

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by punky

Just seen some of the video from the congressional hearings. Its nothing more than an organised, thinly-veiled witch-hunt. Its a digrace. Especially from the US and their record,

its more crap orchestrated by president ambulance chaser .

[DaiNasty]

Obama has to be seen to be doing *something* and also wants to distance himself from blame.

BP is 50% American-owned. Half the directors and shareholders are American.

When the septic shareholders see their investments take a dive Obama needs to be out of the firing line.

Originally Posted by punky

Just seen some of the video from the congressional hearings. Its nothing more than an organised, thinly-veiled witch-hunt. Its a digrace. Especially from the US and their record,

Bhopal.

[heero_yuy]

There was some talk on the radio this morning that BP could just fold the US operation and walk away from it. Leaving the whole thing in Obama's lap.

[Lord Nikon]

Thinking back, BP in 1984 were demonstrating a product codenamed Rigidoil - It was a 10% maleinized polybutadiene of molecular weight 8000 with 50% of
odorless kerosene plus ester, as a diluent. The other liquid consisted of a cross-linking agent, zinversate diethanolamine also in 50% kerosene/ester. This caused the crude to become a polymer which could be scooped up, at the very least it could be used to contain the spill. It changes the equation from oil slick washing up on shore to rubber washing up on shore.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

There was some talk on the radio this morning that BP could just fold the US operation and walk away from it. Leaving the whole thing in Obama's lap.

All well and good, but the money thus far payed out and promised is still small in comparison to profits made from the american oil fields if BP stays in the market

---------- Post added at 09:48 ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 ----------

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

Thinking back, BP in 1984 were demonstrating a product codenamed Rigidoil - It was a 10% maleinized polybutadiene of molecular weight 8000 with 50% of
odorless kerosene plus ester, as a diluent. The other liquid consisted of a cross-linking agent, zinversate diethanolamine also in 50% kerosene/ester. This caused the crude to become a polymer which could be scooped up, at the very least it could be used to contain the spill. It changes the equation from oil slick washing up on shore to rubber washing up on shore.

In the lab/test areas it probably did exactly that and was extremely effective but the logistics of getting a quantity of that stuff to mix with the oil at source would be a nightmare. If they used it elsewhere it wouldn't be as effective with probably the excess compound itself becoming a pollutant and causing an even larger effected area.

[Lord Nikon]

Well, the maleinised polybutadiene is mixed with polyhydroxybutyrate to make a biodegradable toughened polymer. it is in itself biodegradable. The diethanolamine is also biodegradable, which was why Rigidoil was developed. a cure for oil spills which wouldn't in itself damage the environment.

[RizzyKing]

Having seen clips of the congressional hearing on this the US should hang it's head in shame for the way they are handling this and i think BP are being way too passive in responding to some of the nastier elements of this in the US. All the attacks on BP are for one purpose only and that is so the average american who guzzles down oil with little or no regard can continue to do so without having to stop and think that they are part of the problem. As usual the US is only interested in protecting it's own backside and as per usual they are happy to hammer someone or something else to do that.

This may well be the issue that turns public opinion in the UK against the US in the way it has turned in so many countries over the last couple of decades. Right now the US needs all the friends it has it may be a powerful country but it certainly isn't a popular one and acting this way will only continue to make it more isolated then it already is. As for obama i never did buy into all the hype and crap about him he always struck me as a complere oppurtunist and political wimp and he has shown that to be true as far as i am concerned in this episode and his dislike for the UK is hardly new or unknown the man has a serious chip on his shoulder that no national leader should advertise as openly as he does.

[punky]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Having seen clips of the congressional hearing on this the US should hang it's head in shame for the way they are handling this and i think BP are being way too passive in responding to some of the nastier elements of this in the US.

Shame they couldn't get Jack Bauer to handle the PR. He did well enough in his congressional hearings

I think the problem is not just the US want to make as much political capital out of this as possible by Tony Haywood belives/has been coached to just flagellate himself as much as possible as the more humble and contrite he appears, the less the fallout on BP would be. That would be true in the early days but now the US are pushing harder and harder, BP and Haywood should be pushing back.

I think the situation became clear earlier on when his comment "I want to get my life back" was taking out of context, quite childishly.

[Osem]

I can't believe that all BP's senior personnel involved in this matter haven't been very carefully briefed by their legal advisors with a view to avoiding or mitigating future legal action. Perhaps that has something to do with the way in which Haywood is responding.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Osem

I can't believe that all BP's senior personnel involved in this matter haven't been very carefully briefed by their legal advisors with a view to avoiding or mitigating future legal action. Perhaps that has something to do with the way in which Haywood is responding.

That is my reckoning. Don't say anything that can compromise a future investigation. Also if he appears too bolshy or sarcastic then they would probably lose some/a lot/all the support they do have in this country.

Although I did like George Galloway's strategy. I hate him with a passion but I have to give it to them, he dealt with them in the right way.

[frogstamper]

I had to raise an eyebrow watching Question Time the other night when Daily Mail "columnist" Amanda Platell went into a self-indignant rant concerning Obama's "anti-Britishness", as she saw it.
I was almost willing an audience member to get up and say, "quite right Amanda, who does he think he is bashing Britain...doesn't he realize thats the Daily Mail's job"

[vanman]

[Osem]

Of course it isn't what the American's wanted but I think Hayward has handled it in the best interests of BP which is his primary concern. His political accusors would like nothing more than for him to say something rash which could assist in a future prosecution of BP but he appears to have avoided that by stonewalling and for that they are mightily annoyed.

Contrast the indignant American demands for total co-operation and honesty in this case with their stance when it comes to assisting with UK coroner's inquests into, say, the death by friendly fire incidents in which UK forces have been killed by US servicemen and you start to see just how the US really does like to gorge on its cake and eat it. In short, the US doesn't mind doling it out but doesn't like being on the receiving end of the same tactics.

[vanman]

[M]ake no mistake: BP is operating at our direction. Every key decision and action they take must be approved by us in advance. I've designated Admiral Thad Allen, who has nearly four decades of experience responding to such disasters, as the national incident commander. And if he orders BP to do something to respond to this disaster, they are legally bound to do it.

http://wizardoflaws.blogspot.com/