http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2010/07/10/the-hunters/ A National Blog of Literature & Discussion Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:47:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2010/07/10/the-hunters/#comment-8151 Oily Engineer Dave Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:07:35 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=6151#comment-8151 Thanks for an interesting article. As a 35 year oil patch veteran, your excellent description of the underlying motivations of oil hunters struck very familiar chords. Back in the 70’s, it was my job to create the treasure – the well logs – that you rescued before escaping from your waterlogged company car so you could meet your boss in his bathrobe later in the predawn morning. However, it seems that when you left the industry you may have also left your understanding of the basic laws of physics that govern our technological capabilities. Just as the world didn’t get swallowed by a black hole at the instant Swiss researchers smashed atoms into sub particles last year, the earth won’t suddenly be dissolved by an acid stimulation used to improve the deliverability of the producing sand in a deepwater oil well. As I comment on your blog, 108 days have passed since BP failed to follow reasonable and prudent operating practices, killing 11 rig workers and allowing Macondo to blow out. The static kill has worked as engineers anticipated, the heavy fluids are again in control of the pressure, and the cement has done its job of sealing the wellbore to protect the environment. The laws of physics never fail us. P.S. - the editors of The Week magazine (August 6, 2010 edition) did a good job of slightly re-organizing your original blog entry to be a more readable story. Thanks for an interesting article. As a 35 year oil patch veteran, your excellent description of the underlying motivations of oil hunters struck very familiar chords. Back in the 70’s, it was my job to create the treasure – the well logs – that you rescued before escaping from your waterlogged company car so you could meet your boss in his bathrobe later in the predawn morning. However, it seems that when you left the industry you may have also left your understanding of the basic laws of physics that govern our technological capabilities. Just as the world didn’t get swallowed by a black hole at the instant Swiss researchers smashed atoms into sub particles last year, the earth won’t suddenly be dissolved by an acid stimulation used to improve the deliverability of the producing sand in a deepwater oil well. As I comment on your blog, 108 days have passed since BP failed to follow reasonable and prudent operating practices, killing 11 rig workers and allowing Macondo to blow out. The static kill has worked as engineers anticipated, the heavy fluids are again in control of the pressure, and the cement has done its job of sealing the wellbore to protect the environment. The laws of physics never fail us.
P.S. – the editors of The Week magazine (August 6, 2010 edition) did a good job of slightly re-organizing your original blog entry to be a more readable story.

]]> http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2010/07/10/the-hunters/#comment-7951 Jimmy Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:59:53 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=6151#comment-7951 You say "swamp," I say "wetlands." Anyway, drilling relief wells isn't exactly new. Furthermore, while it might be possible to pump cement down, would the pressure from the well really allow for a cement cap to be formed? Sure doesn't seem like it. You say “swamp,” I say “wetlands.” Anyway, drilling relief wells isn’t exactly new. Furthermore, while it might be possible to pump cement down, would the pressure from the well really allow for a cement cap to be formed? Sure doesn’t seem like it.

]]> http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2010/07/10/the-hunters/#comment-7940 Joe Reekie Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:07:27 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=6151#comment-7940 I enjoyed reading what appears to be a good story, and an insite as to how these really big oil drilling operations work. Keep writing, and I'll keep looking to find the truth behind so many issues on going, now. We have an uncontrolled, inept gov't,and a totally corrupt Congress owned and operated by most every major interest. It seemed that in the past there was always an offset (the 'free' press) to controll the excesses of our "leaders", but NO More! BIG, really BIG money now rules. May GOD Bless America. Joe Reekie K2KYQ I enjoyed reading what appears to be a good story, and an insite as to how these really big oil drilling operations work. Keep writing, and I’ll keep looking to find the truth behind so many issues on going, now. We have an uncontrolled, inept gov’t,and a totally corrupt Congress owned and operated by most every major interest. It seemed that in the past there was always an offset (the ‘free’ press) to controll the excesses of our “leaders”, but NO More! BIG, really BIG money now rules.
May GOD Bless America. Joe Reekie K2KYQ

]]> http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2010/07/10/the-hunters/#comment-7692 “The Hunters” « Open Economics Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:18:11 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=6151#comment-7692 [...] 23, 2010 by Nick Krafft A friend sent this to me- some excellent long-form friday reading on oil drilling, BP, and [...] [...] 23, 2010 by Nick Krafft A friend sent this to me- some excellent long-form friday reading on oil drilling, BP, and [...]

]]> http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2010/07/10/the-hunters/#comment-7690 Adam-Jackson » The World Outside of Tech Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:41:21 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=6151#comment-7690 [...] The Hunters [...] [...] The Hunters [...]

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