Sometimes in life, no matter how much we feel pity, no matter how we want to find good, and no matter how we seek fairness in our open opinions about people or situations, we find only emptiness in our open heart. As a journalist I try to find equality in my opinions and try to share an unbiased view to those that honor me by reading my work…the work I love so much and am blessed to be doing. Today, I am empty.
After an exhausting, frustrating, and angering five hours of studying the transcript of the June 17th House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, in Washington D.C., (in real words, the investigation into the role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill) I have no hope BP actually had an accident. Instead, I believe they have been grossly negligent, greedy, and uncaring, only spending the money as a public relations ploy and to avoid criminal prosecutions all the way to the top of their so – called leadership chain.
Not only did I study the transcripts, I listened to every word of the hours long grilling of Tony Hayward, absorbing the frustration of the questioners, and slowly reaching a boil as the corporate Teflon “Don” spoke with incredible hubris in his metered English intonation. As he droned on with his seventy disavowments of any connection to the largest oil disaster in the world, I was simultaneously livid and sorrowful.
I was sorrowful because I saw the CEO of one of the most powerful corporations in the world define what has become a sort of corporate human condition on this planet. With each quiet answer “Don” Hayward maintained his baleful feelings as deeply subsurface as the spewing poison dumping into U.S. waters. No matter how he claimed sorrow at the disaster, or pity for the workers that lost their lives, and their families, his true colors of red anger and black distress at the subcommittee’s troubling his day showed through the sweet English clip of his practiced words given by some high powered attorney.
My nausea rises even as I write this half a day later.
Most of the hearing was repetitive with the same answers from Hayward no matter how many times he was asked about the spill, or how the questions were phrased. With few exceptions his forthrightness was nonexistent.
In an effort to allow “Heywhat” to prepare for the hearing and actually provide information, the subcommittee carefully penned a letter to him on June 14th. Instead of actually answering the questions however, he dodged them with a professional coldness of an assassin.
What Really Happened?
I think in order to understand the hearings, one must understand what transpired on the day the rig exploded, or at least what apparently transpired. No one can actually be sure at this point according to BP, but it sure seems apparent to the workers and others, and the subcommittee sure seemed to grip what I feel is the obvious. Although it was considerably more intricate than what I can present, if nothing else but by the fact I know little about the oil drilling industry, I will try to put this in layman’s terms as I understand it. BP had an accident in the way O. J. was innocent.
Deepwater Horizon had drilled to over 18,000 feet to an oil bearing area believed to hold as much as 100 million barrels. While it isn’t a huge well by some industry standards, it was something that made BP happy at their success. They were involved at that point with installation of casing in the well.
A subtle omen to the next horrible events came by way of flickering lights and was followed by two thuds shaking the entire rig. Those ominous moments struck everyone’s psyche and they all knew instantly something was deeply wrong.
From the deepness of the ocean’s pierced bowels gas, oil, and mud erupted on the rig’s deck immediately igniting into a huge fireball. Indeed, something was deeply wrong. Almost instantaneous evacuation began, along with urgent execution of safety actions deeply embedded in the workers. Heroism was commonplace as workers helped each other, even as the life boats had to back away from the intense heat.
Thirty six hours later the Deepwater Horizon succumbed to the heat and damage by toppling over and sinking to the bottom. It came to rest upside down roughly a quarter mile from the deep hole it had drilled. Stunned workers and Coast Guard warriors watched as the huge rig’s loss raised a thousand questions punctuating their fear, sadness, and internal questions about their now uncertain futures.
What just transpired?
In the simplest terms, it is believed, although not proven, methane gas, compressed by the weight of the ocean and its depths in the earth, shot out of the well, expanded on the deck, and started a fire only quenched by the ocean itself. It also appears the gas bubble was caused by the chemical reaction of the concrete setting. The gas bubble broke seals, pipe and other barriers allowing the deadly ignition. The real question is how the methane erupted? This obviously is not a common occurrence, so why the Deepwater Horizon?
Tomorrow I will discuss, in detail, the US House of Representatives’ investigation into BP’s role in the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil disaster.
Lee Cylmer is a writer for West Orlando News Online. He can be reached at: [email protected]
