BP Trial Update IV

dead sperm whale 77 miles south of well*

A Halliburton supervisor testified yesterday that British Petroleum was warned omitting 15 centralizers would increase the risk of a blowout due to the creation of channels in the cement. He reminded BP's drill site supervisor that his company had recommended 21 centralizers to insure the well casing was properly placed. A Halliburton engineer advised similarly five days before the explosion saying the well had a "severe risk" of natural gas leaks with only six centralizers that BP planned to use. Government and spill victims' lawyers have argued BP was over budget and behind schedule on the Macondo well, prompting it to take unreasonable risks. The witness wavered in his testimony during cross examination, telling a BP lawyer that he did not consider channeling a "safety issue" and did not raise any objections when he was informed by BP that his company's recommendations would not be followed beyond telling BP representatives channeling in the cement would be the result of the less costly and time consuming procedure.

Responsibility for discounting the well pressure test, considered thene plus ultra diagnostic of well safety has been laid squarely at BP's feet. BP's drilling supervisor, Donald Vidrine was convinced negative readings were caused by a defective rubber valve, but an independent expert has testified, "even a layperson would be able to understand how the observed data from a negative pressure test should not have been interpreted as a successful test." The so-called "bladder effect" explanation for the bad results was shot down by experts from both sides as myth having no technical basis. Both Vidrine and Transocean's driller Robert Kalusza were charged with manslaughter of the eleven men killed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Vidrine, as the well owner's representative, was in the drill shack with Transocean drill operators during the testing, but he never order the failed test to be redone on the night of April 20, 2010.

Meanwhile Halliburton accused BP of creating a diversionary "mid-trial sideshow" in response to the oil company's request for discovery sanctions. Previously in October, Judge Barbier ordered Halliburton to turn over samples of cement used to attempt a seal on the Macondo well, but apparently Halliburton thought the samples were destroyed. Allegedly, it discovered samples in existence in its Lafayette lab after the trial got underway.
*there are unconfirmed reports [photos] that BP and the government erected two secure facilities to process animal carcasses including dead whales. Whales and dolphins among other marine species are protected from unauthorized taking under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Penalties can be assessed for each willful animal taking in violation of its provisions of up $20,000. 16USC §1375