Uh oh: Another oil platform explodes in gulf; Update: Mile-long “oil sheen” spreading from platform; Update: All seven wells closed off
posted at 12:48 pm on September 2, 2010 by Allahpundit
Three big differences from the Deepwater explosion, right off the bat: (a) This one isn’t owned by BP (and apparently never was, contrary to what one of our commenters claimed in another thread); (b) the 13 crew members are overboard but are all alive; and (c) it’s located in shallow water, so even if the worst occurs and another leak is detected, presumably plugging it would be easier and quicker.
Mariner Energy focuses on oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Gulf of Mexico. In April, Apache Corp., another independent petroleum company, announced plans to buy Mariner in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $3.9 billion, including the assumption of about $1.2 billion of Mariner’s debt. That deal
is pending.Apache spokesman Bob Dye said the platform is in shallow water.
Responding to an oil spill in shallow water is much easier than in deepwater, where crews depend on remote-operated vehicles access equipment on the sea floor.
More from CNBC:
In comments to CNBC Thursday, a spokesman for Mariner Energy said “it doesn’t appear that there is any spill or sheen to be seen on the water” following the fire.
“The fire occurred away from the well…it wasn’t involved in the area where they had oil producing wells,” said Patrick Cassidy, a spokesman for Mariner. He added that the facility isn’t a drilling rig, but rather a production facility.
DHS claims that the rig wasn’t producing oil and gas when the explosion hit. Time to breathe easy? Maybe not: CNN’s Ed Henry is hearing from the Coast Guard that the platform was in production and that it … wasn’t equipped with a standard blowout preventer. (The crew did, however, allegedly start emergency shutdown before bailing out.) As of an hour ago, the rig was still on fire but I’m not sure what the status is now. Jindal is set to speak within an hour or so. Stand by for updates galore.
Update: WDSU says that because it’s a platform, not a rig, it’s not actively engaged in drilling.
Update: A tip from a reader who, unlike me, knows what he’s talking about:
If the platform is not a drilling platform then it doesn’t need a traditional blowout preventer. The difference being is that with drilling the oil is being forced out at a high rate, therefor need a blowout preventer that can hold back all that pressure. If this platform is a production platform, all it needs is something to stop the flow in the pipes which is flowing with much lower pressure.
Update: How much oil and gas was the platform churning out? CNN:
“Mariner has notified and is working with regulatory authorities in response to this incident,” the statement said. “The cause is not known, and an investigation will be undertaken. During the last week of August 2010, production from this facility averaged approximately 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and 1,400 barrels of oil and condensate.”
Update: Oh boy. Here we go:
The Coast Guard is saying that a mile-long oil sheen is spreading from the site off an offshore petroleum platform that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana.
The site of the explosion is west of where BP’s massive spill occurred.
Update: Ah, a comforting explanation for the sheen. It’s not oil bubbling up from the seabed; it’s oil that had already been captured and stored on the rig.
Also, Mariner indicated that the fire — which was first reported to the Coast Guard by workers on a nearby rig around 9:20 a.m. (10:20 a.m. ET) — was not sparked by an explosion. It started at one of the platform’s seven active wells, the company said, though its cause is under investigation…
Jindal said that Mariner has told him that all seven wells have been closed off and that what is burning now is from fuel in storage, and not from an active leak.
Blowback
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.
When you’re trying to get published at Live Science, demonstrate that Elvis is still alive, “prove” Global Warming, and that once again Bat-Boy is on the loose.
.
Oh yea then there’s my Bigfoot/Halliburton theory
LincolntheHun on September 2, 2010 at 3:23 PM
Neither do you.
darwin on September 2, 2010 at 3:24 PM
‘Slick’ may be sensationalizing, I also heard it described as a sheen on the water. It takes very little petroleum product to cause a square mile of sheen.
If not for Deepwater Horizon, this might have been a local story only.
slickwillie2001 on September 2, 2010 at 3:25 PM
So it’s ok for people to ask crazy questions now simply because offshore explosions have now become major news stories??????
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Specifically said.
MississippiMom on September 2, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Are you a Jones disciple? You changed the wording of my post for your “quote”.
I really like the A4 paper dot comparison! it is spot on!
Bigfoot/Halliburton? I’m gonna use that one for a long time. It is a classic description of many basement dwelling posters.
Kermit on September 2, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Hint: Whoever it is regularly deposits RMB into my offshore bank account.
DarkCurrent on September 2, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Or, if blink can’t make it down there, I’m sure our Good Lt. will attend and provide his report for us. Because he cares.
Christien on September 2, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Btw, you’re also a nutjob if you think Obama may have ordered any house fires.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:27 PM
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/07/30/did-the-government-cause-the-gulf-spill/
I’ll try to remain neutral til we know more….but to this day…the testimony on the above….bothers me. Why weren’t proper procedures followed?
capejasmine on September 2, 2010 at 3:28 PM
What about sabotage by Al Qaeda? Don’t they have a history of planning oil related terror attacks? Does that count as nutjob conspiracy theory material? We are getting pretty close to 9/11.
bitsy on September 2, 2010 at 3:28 PM
I care about facts. And mocking conspiracy theories that make no sense.
Good Lt on September 2, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Yes, it’s absolutely fine. Now that you’re clear on that how about that long vacation you’ve been planning?
darwin on September 2, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Can we all chip in to send blinky the clown a book on reading comprehension? Or failing that, a trip to the wizard of Oz to get a brain?
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 3:29 PM
That field last produced oil in May of 2009 when 13 bbls were produced.
There was diesel fuel in tanks for emergency generator power and lube oil in tanks for the compressors and pumps.
Condensate, which is clear, would make a sheen but evaporate quicker than gasoline.
Kermit on September 2, 2010 at 3:29 PM
Who defines ‘stupid’? Oh, I know… ME!!
ladyingray on September 2, 2010 at 3:30 PM
So how did the explosion happen? Do you know or would you like someone to ask a question or two and find out?
I’m sure you will have an open mind in trying to understand that I simply want to know how the damn thing blew up! I don’t think it is some grand conspiracy and have said so in this thread.
But calling people a nutjob for wanting to ask questions is, in and of itself, nutty.
catmman on September 2, 2010 at 3:30 PM
I am convinced it was the Chinese shrimping industry with minisub.
ClassicCon on September 2, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Indeed ;p
DarkCurrent on September 2, 2010 at 3:31 PM
Yes, I used the word, nutjob. The horror.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:31 PM
It’s a modern proverb that following proper procedures is more expensive. People’s natural inclination is to save money wherever, whenever, and however possible. You do the math.
This is a given for pretty much any industry.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 3:31 PM
OMG!!!! Are you for real??? ROFLMAO!!!!
capejasmine on September 2, 2010 at 3:33 PM
Has anyone seen Rosie O’Donnell with a snorkel lately?
Hmmmm.
hillbillyjim on September 2, 2010 at 3:34 PM
I want to know about the man on the Grassy Wave.
BobMbx on September 2, 2010 at 3:34 PM
More nauseating than horrifying.
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2010 at 3:34 PM
Was Admiral “Lucky Hat” Kerry, prime mover of the latest version of Cap and Tax, seen anywhere near the site? (feeling snarky)
onlineanalyst on September 2, 2010 at 3:35 PM
I never stated that there was nothing to see here. I never even stated that this couldn’t have been ecoterrorists.
I merely stated that you’re a nutjob if you’re questioning whether anyone in the executive branch had anything to do with this.
I’ll reserve judgment about whether or not Dark Star is a nutjob. He believes that Obama would have limited his involvement to a simple wink.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:35 PM
He’s simply trolling.
catmman on September 2, 2010 at 3:35 PM
hillbillyjim on September 2, 2010 at 3:34 PM
Thanks a lot for that image, buddy! Pass the mind bleach.
kingsjester on September 2, 2010 at 3:35 PM
You’ll pay! Oh, yes, you will pay!
ladyingray on September 2, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Slow down, lighten up, and realize that you should not call people nutjobs because they question something that SEEMS to be connected. Stay with me here: Oil explosions do happen frequently, but up until now, were not major news stories. Major news stories are how most people hear of events. Before today, the only major attention an oil rig explosion got was the BP disaster. The lack of attention before makes it SEEM as if these incidents are out of the ordinary and therefore could be suspicious.
You always have a choice in how you deal with people / debate them. Jumping to the nutjob label seriously demeans your own credibility and sincerity. Just seems like you want to insult people, and then, others are less likely to listen to what you have to say.
MississippiMom on September 2, 2010 at 3:36 PM
We should be so lucky; she’d probably become shark chow.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 3:36 PM
If your first response to a rig explosion is to say “hey – what’s Obama’s role in that explosion? How isn’t he responsible in some way that I’m grasping for?”, then rest assured that you’re asking a stupid question(s).
Normal questions would be: hey, what happened? What started the explosion? What safety standards were not adhered to? Were people hurt? What’s the damage that will be done as a result?
Good Lt on September 2, 2010 at 3:36 PM
capejasmine on September 2, 2010 at 3:33 PM
Her troll handlers are giving her 5 bucks for every use of the words nutjob and nutty.
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2010 at 3:36 PM
You’re not fooling anyone but yourself, Pinocchio.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 3:37 PM
Liberals don’t say that stupid questions shouldn’t be asked.
Liberals say that politically incorrect statements shouldn’t be asked.
Learn the difference.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:39 PM
I’m not the one crying about it. I’m confident enough in reality to know that I’m not.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Clearly.
Christien on September 2, 2010 at 3:42 PM
How does one ask a statement?
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2010 at 3:42 PM
Y’mean like Holder’s refusal to admit Islam has anything to do with the Fort Hood attacks. The recent UN submission fingerpointing at Arizona’s illegal immigration law? Like those kinds of conspiracy theories? Salazar’s lies to get the first moratorium in place? Like that? Whose facts do you trust? Which investigative agency? None of them have an agenda?
a capella on September 2, 2010 at 3:43 PM
In other words….if the suspicion is on a conservative…it’s valid. If it’s against a liberal…it’s politically incorrect?
capejasmine on September 2, 2010 at 3:43 PM
You do realize that you merely proved the accuracy of my first comment, right?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Quit being disingenuous. You know damn well that you were not just asking questions, so quit trying to backpedal now.
How did the explosion happen? No one knows yet, but to say that the event would simply be ignored unless some anonymous poster on some blog asked why is simply childish. You need to familiarize yourself with Occam’s razor.
This line of argument is similar to ghost hunter nerds that claim the “orb” in one of their photographs MUST be a spirit, and anyone who claims it is dust is simply living in denial.
ClassicCon on September 2, 2010 at 3:45 PM
What makes you think that Search And Rescue watch standards even have a “proper procedure” for reporting fires.
You do realize that it’s not what they do, right?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:47 PM
Colonel Mustard, in the library with a candlestick.
Chewy the Lab on September 2, 2010 at 3:48 PM
Nope!
It sure doesn’t (unless you think that Obama hired Al Qaeda to do it).
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:48 PM
Former President Clinton, is that you?
Depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is…….
MississippiMom on September 2, 2010 at 3:49 PM
Asking questions doesn’t make someone a nutjob.
Asking certain questions DOES make someone a nutjob.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:50 PM
Riggers!!1 Fire doesn’t melt steel.
carbon_footprint on September 2, 2010 at 3:50 PM
What’s the “conspiracy?” That’s just a fact.
Whgat’s the conspiracy theory? This is just something that happened.
What does a lie or half-truth from one official regarding something that happened months ago have to do with this explosion?
Let’s trust no agency and instead just rant and rave about interesting “theories.” Becuase that way, we’ll get to the bottom of this.
Good Lt on September 2, 2010 at 3:52 PM
What house fires do you think Obama ordered?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Normal questions: What happened? What are the facts? What do we know for certain?
Nutjob questions: Did you know that Obama’s energy bill has a provision that makes oil drilling more difficult? And then THIS happens? Still think it’s just “chance” or “coincidence,” you escaped mental patient? And where’s his birth certificate?”
Good Lt on September 2, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Did you read the link?
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/07/30/did-the-government-cause-the-gulf-spill/
capejasmine on September 2, 2010 at 3:55 PM
You’re confident enough in reality to know you’re not crying about it? What the hell does that mean?
Here’s reality … you’ve been whining from the beginning about people’s comments not meeting your standards.
Here’s a tip: People don’t have to meet your standards. A surprise I know. Try to be confident about living in reality with it or whatever you said.
darwin on September 2, 2010 at 3:55 PM
Hey Blinky, I got it from someone associated with that PRODUCTION PLATFORM, the they were undergoing a maintenance turnaround. Otherwise there would be no need for 13 people on that platform.
Note to self – If ever cooking for a crew on an offshore platform NEVER serve large portions of beans the night before welding is scheduled.
Kermit on September 2, 2010 at 3:55 PM
They’re nutjobs if they ask questions about Obama’s involvement prior to grasping a cursory understanding of the situation and the industry.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:55 PM
I should have used the word “question” instead of the word “statement[.]”
Are you happy with that correction?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:57 PM
How exactly am I Pinocchio?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:58 PM
I read that when Ed posted it.
And the links within the post.
What happened? Obama admin. was caught flatfooted, the response was bungled, some govt.bureaucrats tried to divert attention from/cover their incompetence (per usual when something bad happens and and nobody in the govt wants to step up and be accountable), and a massive bureaucratic clusterfark happened as a results that hindered the response and yielded the mish-mosh of incompetence we all witnessed.
Just like with the Katrina response from all levels of govt.
That’s not a conspiracy. That’s just government in action.
Good Lt on September 2, 2010 at 3:58 PM
That is your opinion, and you’re entitled to it. Just as others are entitled to their opinions. Whether or not you agree, or disagree. Leave the name calling with the grade schoolers.
capejasmine on September 2, 2010 at 4:00 PM
No
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:00 PM
Are you aware that even with the devastation that Katrina thrust on the Gulf, the rigs and platforms weathered the storm? And BTW I was sent a number of photographs of snakes on those platforms post-Katrina. Do you even have a clue re the ecology of the area and its relation to weather patterns?
onlineanalyst on September 2, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Do not ever serve beans with sauerkraut to a large group of strangers that will be spending time in the near vicinity.
Suffice it to say certain persons braved freezing rain to ‘go fishing’ after the air in the cabin reached a state that it could have killed flies.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 4:03 PM
I hope blink and El-Tee feel better about themselves after their performances today.
Christien on September 2, 2010 at 4:04 PM
Why do they say that?
Del Dolemonte on September 2, 2010 at 4:06 PM
blink on September 2, 2010 at 3:57 PM
I’m just trying to help you raise that bar above the sophomoric level, blinky. Don’t get hurt feelings now.
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2010 at 4:08 PM
Same reason blinky the clown calls people ‘nutjobs’ – it’s a backhanded way of saying ‘shut up’ to those who don’t agree with you like a bunch of bobbleheads.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 4:08 PM
At first, the WaPo was reporting the AP story that said the platform was not producing oil or gas.
Earlier the story said:
But now the latest update of the story contradicts that and says:
Trochilus on September 2, 2010 at 4:10 PM
Remind me to never eat dinner at your house.
ClassicCon on September 2, 2010 at 4:11 PM
“cane_loader said:
Yes. They’ve been known to get in the rig machinery after a hard rain and cause all kinds of problems.
cane_loader on September 2, 2010 at 2:26 PM”
——-
blink fell for it HOOK, LINE & SINKER! LOLOLOL:
“1. How can you blame Obama for a snake getting into machinery?
2. This isn’t a rig!!!!!!
3. How far off the coast is this platform?
Try again, crazyman watersnake man.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 2:45 PM”
either blink’s humor is reallllly dry, or blink is a total
cane_loader on September 2, 2010 at 4:11 PM
cretin!
lol
blink said upthread that I was blaming Obama’s snakes for the rig blow & so I couldn’t resist throwing out some troll chum.
Did you REALLY fall for that???
bwhaaaahaaaHAAAA!
cane_loader on September 2, 2010 at 4:12 PM
That was ‘camp cooking’…made even more difficult for yours truly by a bunch of guys who couldn’t grocery shop to save their souls.
It’s crazy around our house in many other ways, but not like that. ;)
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 4:13 PM
Yes, I read the link. The USGC petty officer’s testimony didn’t seem strange at all.
I’ve personally read through Search And Rescue watchstanding procedures and never saw anything about contacting a fire marshall.
Maybe someone at the Coast Guard was supposed to call or appoint a fire marshall, but it’s silly to think that this one SAR petty officer should have been the one to do it.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:13 PM
Remind me to never go camping or grocery shopping with your friends…
ClassicCon on September 2, 2010 at 4:15 PM
Of course people don’t have to meet my standards.
But if they think anyone in the executive branch of government had anything to do with this incident then they are nutjobs.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:16 PM
Hmmmmm…
Is this going to be the new “oil = bad” meme now that global warming “science” has unravled?
OMG! Industrial accidents!! Ahhhh! Ban ALL industry IMMEDIATELY!
bitsy on September 2, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Is that sheen Charlie or Martin. They’re both pretty oily and slimey.
vcferlita on September 2, 2010 at 4:18 PM
No. It doesn’t depend on that at all.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Heh. No problem. The camping days are, sadly, pretty much over…life has a funny way of splitting up buddies as time goes by.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 4:18 PM
So what will the drilling and refinery companies do if team Obama uses this for leverage to start pushing their cold-turkey approach to oil usage? How can they fight back? Surely they know they’re already on the ropes.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 4:20 PM
Are you claiming that Obama may have put snakes in the machinery of the oil platform thereby causing the explosion?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:22 PM
Birfers! Oilers! And, of course, Squirrels!
Oh, my!
Christien on September 2, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Get. A. Clue.
That isn’t even remotely about some conspiracy theory. Someone is trying to educate you (futile though that may be) on some basic ecological facts.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Are you claiming that a simple typing mistake is sophomoric?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:24 PM
But the executive branch of the government did take advantage of the other incident to shut down all Gulf drilling. There was no need to do that, in fact it went against expert advice. Thousands are jobless and they couldn’t care less. They want it dead. The quickest way to kill the US is to kill her energy.
The point is the entire democrat party, and many others want to kill the oil industry. The executive at a minimum adheres to the UN concept of sustainability, and a massive reduction in the use of natural resources.
If you want to throw the word nutjob around … aim towards people who truly deserve it, in fact make it evil nutjob.
darwin on September 2, 2010 at 4:24 PM
OK, you got me. I actually thought you were stupid enough to think Obama put snakes in the machinery. I’m happy that you’re not really that stupid.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:27 PM
You do great sandwiches.
DarkCurrent on September 2, 2010 at 4:27 PM
They don’t have to fight back at all.
This country can’t do without oil production or oil refining regardless of what Obama tries.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Close the thread. It won’t get any better than this.
hillbillyjim on September 2, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Apparently, he was merely pulling my chain, but thanks anyway.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Sub sandwiches are actually my favorite; though I’m big on pasta too.
You know that, and I know that, but the reigning elite refuses to acknowledge that. They will drive the nation over a cliff (pun intended) before they relent on their policy.
If they don’t have a plan to counter Obama’s influence or even just evacuate the USA entirely, they will all be reduced to shadows of their former selves.
Dark-Star on September 2, 2010 at 4:32 PM
He got you real good. Too bad everyone had to point it out for you to “get it,” which, of course, you still don’t. Next time, assume you’re the one who’s stupid and wrong, then work to disprove it.
Christien on September 2, 2010 at 4:33 PM
Asking “politically incorrect questions” might have possibly stopped at least one of the 9/11 attacks. Ask the gate agent at the Portland ME Jetport, who let Mohammed Atta and his colleague thru despite his deep suspicion of them and their actions. It’s haunted him ever since.
El Al Security has asked “politically incorrect questions” of their passengers for decades. Seems to have worked for them.
Del Dolemonte on September 2, 2010 at 4:34 PM
Yeah, that’s basically true.
Yes, this is absolutely true.
So that means they ordered the explosion?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:37 PM
Nope. Many upstream and downstream oil companies will do great if gasoline prices spike to $5 and $6.
Obama couldn’t turn the gasoline off completely if he tried. I’ll admit that he could devastate the country economically, but he couldn’t stop the industry.
Anyway, only a nutjob (or uninformed idiot) would think that Obama would risk anything to be involved with blowing up a production platform.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:44 PM
No, I’m judging you on the body of your work. But we have to start somewhere. Since your rhetorical skills show no hope of moving beyond the sophomoric, I figured you could at least show some respect for the language, at least, by proof-reading.
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2010 at 4:45 PM
And I shall take my own advice, next time. :)
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2010 at 4:46 PM
Who’s everyone? Many commenters were convinced that he was attempting to make some sort of ecological point or something. Something to do with his silly water snake metaphor.
And what exactly was I supposed to get?
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:48 PM
Yes, those are the exact type of politically incorrect questions that liberals don’t want asked which is what I referenced.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:51 PM
You think I showed disrespect to the English language because I didn’t thorough proofread one of my dozens of comments on here? You are disturbed.
Btw, you didn’t do a very good job keeping up with me here today.
blink on September 2, 2010 at 4:53 PM
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