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Posts in Safety

Gov Report into Deepwater “Spreads Blame”
Andy Rowell
Sep14
After numerous delays, and even the departure of a lead investigator, later today the US government is expected to release the report into last year’s Deepwater Horizon disaster that has been undertaken by the Coast Guard and the Agency responsible for regulating offshore drilling. According to the Wall Street Journal, the federal investigation into the…
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Safety of Blow-Out Preventers “Just Hot Air”
Andy Rowell
Mar24
One of the final puzzles of the Deepwater Horizon disaster has been solved. It is a mystery no more. A question that continues to haunt many in BP and in the oil industry is why did the supposed fail-safe mechanism to prevent a blowout, called the blowout preventer (BOP), actually fail. And fail so spectacularly….
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Over 20% of Nuke Reactors on Fault Lines
Andy Rowell
Mar16
For the last two decades the nuclear industry has undertaken one of the most sophisticated public relations exercises in order to try and show the world that the technology is safe, secure, clean and green. They have very nearly succeeded. We are on the cusp of a nuclear revival, driven largely because of climate change….
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Investors Warn Over Deepwater Risks
Andy Rowell
Feb04
The oil industry may be arguing that its back to business as usual after the Deepwater Horizon blowout, but the disaster is still causing major ripples within the investment community. And now the shareholders – who together represent investments of $2.5 trillion – are coming together to force through further changes. They are arguing that…
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“Compromised” API Set for Key Safety Role
Andy Rowell
Jan31
So its back to business as usual. Bob Dudley, BP’s chief executive, is set to announce a resumption of dividend payments tomorrow as a signal to investors that the oil giant is back on track, after last year’s Deepwater disaster. The reinstatement is key for Dudley to show investor confidence before his inaugural presentation to…
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Safety Versus the Bottom Line
Andy Rowell
Oct19
Slowly but surely BP is trying to rebuild its battered image and rebuild the way it does business. Part of that process is rebuilding its internal processes and values and the way it rewards success. In an innovative move, the company has announced that performance to be judged solely on improving safety in the fourth…
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Offshore Safety Inspections Were Compromised
Andy Rowell
Oct11
Ask anyone who works say as a teacher about being inspected by government officials and they say that it is the surprise inspections that matter. If you have weeks of notice about an inspection you by its very nature have to make sure everything is in order. The kids are all behaving themselves at the…
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Chevron Safety Inspections Could be Compromised
Andy Rowell
Oct04
Late last week, the British government gave the goahead for the American oil company, Chevron to start drilling a deepwater exploratory well as part of its Lagavulin project in the waters north of the Shetland Islands. In a highly controversial move, it is the first time the new British Coalition government has granted permission for…
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Obama’s Foolish Move
Mark Floegel
Apr29
Less than a month ago, Barack Obama told us he wants to open 167 million acres of America’s continental shelf to oil drilling. At the time, he promised the nation that we have the technology to do this in a safe, clean and environmentally sound manner. Now, before the “April Fool” window has closed, we…
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BP’s “Silent Running” Slips Up Over Slick
Andy Rowell
Apr28
In BP’s magazine last year a senior company executive bragged that the company was focussed on “operational excellence” and “silent running”. “Silent Running” was a new concept within the global oil giant. The final years of Lord Browne’s reign were plagued by the Texas fire in 2005 when 15 people died and by a notorious…
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