Markey Obtains Doc's Showing BP Knew Worst Case of 100,000 Daily Possible

Markey: Internal BP Document Shows Worst Case Scenario for Spill Could Be 100,000 Barrels Per Day


WASHINGTON (June 20, 2010) -- Today Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.) released an internal BP document showing that the company's own analysis believed that a worst-case scenario, based on damage to the well bore, could result in 100,000 barrels of oil per day.
In the document, BP stated: If BOP and wellhead are removed and if we have incorrectly modeled the restrictions – the rate could be as high as ~ 100,000 barrels per day up the casing or 55,000 barrels per day up the annulus (low probability worst cases)
To read the document, CLICK HERE.
This number is in sharp contrast to BP’s initial claim that the leak was just 1,000 barrels a day. At the time this document was made available to Congress, BP claimed the leak was 5,000 barrels a day, and told Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the worst case scenario was be 60,000 barrels a day. This document tells a different story.
“Considering what is now known about BP’s problems with this well prior to the Deepwater Horizon explosion, including cementing issues, leaks in the blowout preventer and gas kicks, BP should have been more honest about the dangerous condition of the well bore,” said Markey, the chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
On Thursday, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen was asked in his daily briefing about the condition of the well bore.  He said there, “So what I would tell you is we don’t know exactly the condition of the well bore. And that’s one of the unknowns that we’re managing around in terms of risks.  And that’s the reason we didn’t go, didn’t go to excessive pressures on the top kill and decided that we’d deal with containment and then go for the final relief well.”
According to Admiral Allen: "I think that one thing that nobody knows is the condition of the well bore from below the blowout preventer down to the actual oil field itself.  And we don’t know, we don’t know if the well bore has been compromised or not."
What the BP document suggests that if the well bore is compromised or becomes compromised, we now know we could be looking at a flow rate 100 times BP's initial estimate.  Even if we can't know for certain the condition of the well bore, we should have known how much oil could flow from it--BP did.
“When the oil spill started, BP said it was only 1,000 barrels a day. Now we know it could end up being 100 times larger than that in a worst-case scenario,” said Markey. “This document raises very troubling questions about what BP knew and when they knew it. It is clear that, from the beginning, BP has not been straightforward with the government or the American people about the true size of this spill. Now the families living and working in the Gulf are suffering from their incompetence.”
“BP needs to tell us what it will do if the well bore is compromised and 100,000 barrels per day of oil spills into the ocean. At this point, we need real contingency planning, not a plan with dead scientists and walruses,” said Markey.

Questions Remain on Integrity of Well

Documents Include:

At the time this document was made available to Congress, BP claimed the leak was 5,000 barrels a day, and told Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the worst case scenario was be 60,000 barrels a day.   These documents tell a different story altoghter, which shows the reason that I've been saying all along that it was important to get independent verification of what BP was claiming and that we should NEVER trust the criminal to give us accurate information on his crime.

This information is just mind blowing especially in light of the previous information that we got from dougr from the oil drum, which suggests that the well casing is damaged and could cause a loss of the BOP before the relief wells are completed.

Now since we nor they (BP/Coast Guard) know where the casing may or may not be damaged, if the relief well is not drilled far enough down it could cause a more significant problem.

We are after all dealing with unknowns here.  What a shame that that those who are supposed to be protecting us are unwilling to be honest with us about this disaster.  It is obvious that BP has no plan, they are simply playing it by ear.

What would they do if the well bore was damaged or if the BOP is further damaged before the relief wells blow out?  They haven't been able to stop or even contain the leak as it is, and this isn't gushing at full capacity as of yet.  This should be a huge red flag that tells our government that BP should no longer be in charge of any aspect of this operation, as they are simply not going to be forthright and tell us what is going on.



Then to top off the day, we have members of the GOP now wanting us all to pray the oil spill away.
Yes, that is what I said, pray it away.

Louisiana lawmakers propose prayer to stop oil disaster

While cleanup crews and technical teams continue efforts to stop crude gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana lawmakers are proposing a different approach: prayer.
State senators designated Sunday as a day for citizens to ask for God's help dealing with the oil disaster.
"Thus far efforts made by mortals to try to solve the crisis have been to no avail," state Sen. Robert Adley said in a statement released after last week's unanimous vote for the day of prayer. "It is clearly time for a miracle for us."
The resolution names Sunday as a statewide day of prayer in Louisiana and calls on people of all religions throughout the Gulf Coast "to pray for an end to this environmental emergency, sparing us all from the destruction of both culture and livelihood."
Yes, brothers & sisters, you too can bring about the healing of the gulf and stop the oil simply by bowing your head and falling to your knees and direct your prayers skyward


Why doesn't this surprise me? Maybe Sarah Palin can get her Kenyan Witch-Doctor Priest, Rev. Muthee and he can join her down there and pray the oil out just like the can pray away the witchcraft!




And in other news, Tony Hayward took some time to reconnect with his family, and his yacht.  Reports that he was over watching his yacht "Bob" race at the Isle of Wight proved to be true, and while some reported that he was only there with his son, photos prove otherwise.

Trying to maintain a 'low profile', he was unsuccessful at that, but did manage to parttake of the race on his $700,000.00 yacht while those in the gulf were still struggling with issues like losing their business and homes.

I don't begrudge the man time with his family, but this is like rubbing salt into the wounds of those who have lost everything, are watching their environment be destroyed, while the CEO who stated he wanted his life back is out sailing on his yacht.   Talk about a PR disaster, this man is the perfect example of what not to do.